Deviate

On American Highways I: A brief history of family road-trips in the USA


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“Once again road trips are becoming more about the journey rather than the destination and I see that as a very encouraging sign that maybe people are realizing the merit of enjoying the journey.” – Richard Ratay

Richard Ratay (@RichRatay) is the author of Don’t Make Me Pull Over!, an informal history of the family road trip.

In this episode of Deviate, Rolf and Richard discuss the history of long-haul automobile travel and the interstate highway system (6:00); the effects of interstate highways on American travel culture (19:00); the station wagon and the evolution of the road trip car (35:00); and the decline of the road trip Golden Age (48:00).

Notable Links:

  • Henry Ford (founder of Ford Motor Company)
  • Horatio Nelson Jackson (automobile pioneer)
  • Desert Solitaire, by Edward Abbey (book)
  • Howard Deering Johnson (entrepreneur and businessman)
  • Motel 6 (hotel chain)
  • Ralph Teeter (inventor of cruise control)
  • I Can’t Drive 55 (song by Sammy Hagar)
  • Citizens Band Radio (short distance radio communications)
  • Convoy (song)
  • Convoy (movie)
  • Wooly Willy (toy)
  • Handheld electronic games
  • Mattel (toy manufacturing company)
  • The Sears Christmas Wish Book was (truly) great American literature (Deviate podcast episode)
  • 8-track tape (sound recording technology)
  • Bill Lear (inventor and businessman)
  • Barry Manilow (musician)
  • M*A*S*H (TV series)
  • MacArthur Park (song)
  • Duran Duran (band)
  • Herb Kelleher (founder of Southwest Airlines)
  • Airline Deregulation Act
  • The Deviate theme music comes from the title track of Cedar Van Tassel’s 2017 album Lumber.

    Note: We don’t host a “comments” section, but we’re happy to hear your questions and insights via email, at [email protected].

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    DeviateBy Rolf Potts

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