The Pungent Pass That Never Died At Least In Our Nostrils

 September 3, 2025

   It has a strange name, this pass that led the old Route 66 out of Kingman, Arizona when I was growing up.

Perfume Pass

   Yes, the I-40 bypass abandoned this now lonely stretch of road which used to be bumper to bumper in the summer time with tourists heading for California and the beaches.

   When Kathy, Uno and I attended the Mucous High School Reunion several weeks ago we stayed at Motel 6 and when I got up the next morning I looked out and saw this lonely stretch of road.

   Here is how it looked coming into Kingman from the south, at Black Bridge (the railroad bridge at middle, right) which was a notorious make-out spot in the fifties and early sixties.

Old 66 Heading Towards Perfume Pass

   Both the films Easy Rider and Two-Lane Blacktop featured this pass and in the latter film the radio is playing KAAA (Kingman Arizona Air Address) on the radio.

Two Lane On The Brain Drain

"Can't you find a better radio station?"

—Laurie Bird

   Most local Kingman teenagers did not like Wally Stone's KAAA because he didn't like Rock and we had to wait until dark to get KOMA out of Oklahoma City.

"If you're a loyal KOMA listener, kiss your sweetheart!"

—KOMA jingle that worked every time at Black Bridge, at least

Post script: it was called Perfume Pass because the Kingman sewer ponds were located in the heart of the pass.