The Roots of Route 66"

"Route 66" began in the fall of 1960 as a new adventure series for the '60-'61 television season on CBS. It first starred Martin Milner as Tod Stiles and George Maharis as Buz Murdock, and then later Glenn Corbett as Linc Case. It was the story of two guys driving a Corvette all over the country following the sun, constantly in search of whatever new adventure each different town and job would bring. Tod and Buz were two completely opposite people in almost every way. Buz was raised in an orphanage with very little formal education. Tod's father had recently died, leaving him the Corvette. Tod is a Yale graduate who knows a little bit about many things, and he usually tries compromise as a way of solving problems. Buz, however is a street-smart scrapper with a short fuse, and he usually fights first and asks questions later. Since neither has any family left, they decide to look for adventure along Route 6 beginning in Garth, Mississippi and ending in Tampa, Florida four years later. Most of the stories were written by Sterling (sic) Silliphout (sic), a prolific writer who traveled to the various cities and towns that the stories were written about and set in to be sure the local flavor and authenticity permeated the storyline. The show was quite unique during its day because it not only featured a car as its central character, but it was the only show that was shot 100% on location.

Milner has been pleasing audiences dating back to his preteen years. He is a member of the select fraternity of those actors having starred in a series on each of the three networks--Route 66 (CBS), Adam-12 (NBC), and Swiss Family Robinson (ABC). His list of credits include directing a series of training films and on to acting in such films as "Life With Father", "The Long Gray Line", "The Sweet Smell of Success", and "Marjorie Morningstar". Milner's broadway credits include "Tunnel of Love", "The Moon is Blue", and "Sabrina Fair". His greatest recognition came when he began with "Route 66", as Tod Stiles. This role offered Milner four years of travel throughout the country offering a considerable variety and scope, involving both drama and comedy. After "Route 66", he became known as Officer Pete Malloy in "Adam-12", which aired for seven consecutive years. Recent TV movies include "Flood", "Stigma: Police Story", "Little Mo", "Crisis in Mid-Air", and "The Seekers." Milner is involved in a fund raising effort for Esperanza, a hospitla ship in South America whose doctors on board treat reidents of the Amazon River basin who otherwise would never receive medical care. The 6'1" actor imagines he'll work all his life, maybe not as hard as he does not but selecting the best that comes his way.