When They Shot An Episode of Route 66 At The Marriott On City line Avenue
In late October of 1961, Lower Merion and Philadelphia welcomed the cast and crew of the CBS-TV hit series, Route 66.
Inquirer TV critic, Harry Harris, described their equipment as “a sizable caravan – four huge vans, a car-toting auto hauler, a generator tractor and several other vehicles including the sports car used on the show and its look-alike stand-in.”
The opening scene of the episode that was filmed here (The Thin White Line; first aired December 8, 1961) is a night aerial shot, facing down toward what at the time was the brand new Hospitality Center. Then the camera pans up and across the city skyline and zooms in on a tight view of the clock at the top of City Hall. It is a gorgeous shot. Then they cutaway to another night shot; of the Kona Kai Restaurant in front of the Marriott on City Line Avenue.
Two guys (probably stunt doubles for the show’s stars, Martin Milner and George Maharis) jumping off the second floor balcony (with the nice view of the pool). The chase continues across the skating rink, then around to the fountains in front of the main lobby, and then on to the torch-lit lagoon that could be seen (if you had a good table) from inside the Kona Kai.
The big climax – under and on the Ben Franklin Bridge, with a panaramic shot of the Delaware River – and then the denouement, filmed on the steps of the Franklin Institute.
Click here for expanded view of text.
Great memories! Thank you for showing these places I remember like yesterday, Kona Kai, how it looked from my childhood!