Roadside Distractions & The Greatest Hat Hut In The History. of The West

 November 1, 2022

   This photo speaks to me.

By Robert Frank

“Car Accident—U.S. 66, Between Winslow

and Flagstaff, Arizona”

(1956)

    For starters, my family was on this very highway a lot in the years 1955 and 1956 when we moved for the final time, to Kingman, from Iowa. I feel like I am related to the four people standing there. I can almost name them. I certainly knew people exactly like them. That's how powerful this image is in my memory. See that house back there. We lived in several houses just like that. How can you capture a world with one picture? Just like this.

    Meanwhile, here's another ridiculous sunrise over Ratcliff Ridge this morning.

Ratcliff Ridge: 6:45 A.M.

The Hat Hut Out Wickenburg Way

   If you ask me, this is the greatest hat hut in the history of the United States. Out Wickenburg way, circa 1940s. Long gone by now, but someone needs to rebuild it and here's the choice part—I'll pay for it!

The Greatest Hat Hut In the West

   The problem is, nobody cares but me and the lead guitar player in ZZ Top. We're threatening to do a history of the Cowboy hat book and if I have any say in the matter, the Hat Hut is going to be a full page in said book.

   This might get a page to boot:

A trending track on John Fusco's new CD:

   Speaking of great photographs and roadside distractions, which cover would you buy?

Dan The Man's Cover Concept #1

Dan The Man's Cover Concept #2

"Oh, thanks a lot, Dan, that's just ridiculous. How in the hell do we choose?"

—BBB