This ’60s Adventure Series On Prime Video Is A Nostalgic Blast From The Past

“Route 66” was one of many memorable adventure series of the mid-20th Century. But it set itself apart by handling weightier themes, exploring contemporary issues, and using a quasi-anthology format that made it unlike anything on TV at the time. It was also partly responsible for the creation of an iconic 1980s action hero, and while it isn’t talked about as much as it should be today, “Route 66” has now resurfaced courtesy of Prime Video.

The landscape of TV looked a lot different in 1960 than it does today. This was the age of the classic Western show, fantasy sitcom, and adventure series. But while the Western persists via Taylor Sheridan shows and the fantasy sitcom remained popular for decades after the ’60s came to a close (remember “ALF?”) the adventure series didn’t seem to have as much longevity. Sure, Indiana Jones helped repopularize the genre on the big screen in the 1980s, but for the most part the adventure series as it was known in the mid-20th century no longer exists.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t look back at some of the great examples of the genre  — especially when they become available to stream. To that end, “Route 66” is well worth revisiting. Not only was it far more influential than its given credit for, it also hosted an array of future stars during its run four-season run.

Route 66 was not your typical adventure series

There were already several popular adventure series on TV in the early 1960s. “Star Trek” star Leonard Nimoy played eight characters on the classic adventure show “Sea Hunt,” which ran from 1958 to 1961. Meanwhile, Gardner McKay was exploring the South Pacific in “Adventures in Paradise,” which similarly straddled the turn of the decade and even hosted Alan Hale Jr. playing a bizarro version of The Skipper prior to his debut on “Gilligan’s Island.” Then, there was “Route 66.” This one started a little later than “Sea Hunt” and “Adventures in Paradise,” debuting on CBS in October 1960. It was also much less of a traditional adventure show, incorporating elements of crime drama and using a semi-anthology format to create a truly unique show.

Throughout its first three seasons, “Route 66” follows Martin Milner’s clean-cut college graduate Tod Stiles and his rough-around-the-edges friend Buz Murdock (George Maharis) as they travel the United Statest the adventures in this case didn’t concern buried treasure. Instead, “Route 66” told more grounded stories, though that isn’t to say the show wasn’t exciting. Quite the opposite, in fact

The series was created by Herbert B. Leonard and Stirling Silliphant, the same duo who created police procedural “Naked City,” which began airing on ABC in September 1958 and served as a launching pad for “Route 66.” A backdoor pilot for the show, “Four Sweet Corners,” starred Maharis alongside Robert Morris and aired in 1959. A year later “Route 66” hit the airwaves, this time with Milner next to Maharis. Across the first three seasons of the show, the duo encounter many unique characters on their search for meaning and belonging.

Route 66 deserves more recognition than it gets

“Route 66” was significant for its exploration of serious social issues in the post-war United States, combining on-location shooting with a realistic tone to give a sense of authenticity to its “adventures.” As such, calling it an adventure show doesn’t quite do it justice.

The show was also significant for hosting several major actors. Future “Star Trek” legends William Shatner and DeForest Kelley both appeared in separate episodes, as did Tina Louise who was building a solid film career at the time, prior to her debut on “Gilligan’s Island.” Robert Redford, Martin Sheen, and James Caan also appeared on the show, which underwent a major casting change in its fourth and final season that would unwittingly influence the creation of a major cinematic action hero.

One “Route 66” story about a war veteran provided inspiration for John J. Rambo in “First Blood,” David Morrell’s book on which Sylvester Stallone’s now legendary 1982 actioner was based. Morrell was evidently inspired by the Season 3 episode “Fifty Miles from Home,” in which a Vietnam veteran named Lincoln “Linc” Case (Glenn Corbett) struggled to move on from his wartime experiences. Corbett was more than just a guest star, though. When Season 4 of “Route 66” arrived, he had been given a co-starring role alongside Martin Milner, and the final season saw the duo travel together sans George Maharis, who’d left the show for health reasons.

“Route 66” ended after its fourth season, and has remained somewhat overlooked ever since, despite being one of the best shows of the 1960s. Thankfully, Prime Video has Seasons 1, 2, and 4 to watch at no extra cost for subscribers (for some reason Season 3 has to be purchased).