Dixie Before Disney: 100 Years of Roadside Fun
A certain melancholy strikes halfway through this book when you realize that the majority of the roadside attractions it describes are no longer operating. Fortunately, these gator farms, candy stores, and motor courts have been preserved in postcard collections and treasured brochures, scattered liberally throughout this book. Hollis (Cousin Cliff: Forty Magical Years in Television, Campbells Pub., 1991) writes in a casual yet thorough style that makes him a fine tour guide for the trip. While there is a fair amount of information on the rise of tourism in the South, the majority of the book is concerned with the attractions lining the postwar roadways. There is a great deal to be learned about ourselves by looking at our idea of fun. While the cloth edition seems a bit expensive, this is a good source for anyone planning a trip down memory lane. Recommended for public or academic libraries.Thomas OConnell, Murray State Univ., KYCopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.