Phil Gordon has a unique hobby related to Route 66. As an engineer, he’s very careful not to let even his closest acquaintances know that he is passionate about collecting historic Route 66 matchcovers. With a collection beyond 5000 matchcovers, Phil has painstakingly scanned and uploaded his collection online to share with the world and Route 66 fans.

Join The Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks with Phil about one of the most unusual hobbies as a phillumenist. Highlights include:

• Matchbook versus matchcover Collecting

• Does the absence of matches in a matchcover collection diminish the value?

• Earliest history of matches and matchbook advertising

• Most popular configurations of matchbooks

• Philuminist by definition

• Transition from collecting postcards to match covers

• The original 10 matchcovers in Phil's collection

• The most coveted Route 66 matchcover: Peach Springs Garage

• What do people think of someone who has collected over 5,000 matchcovers?

• Developing an organized system for collecting and cataloging Route 66 matchcovers

  • Motels and lodgings

  • Cafes and restaurants

  • Gas stations

  • Trading Posts

• Full length matchcovers designs

• Background knowledge needed for collecting matchcovers

• Ebay scammers selling matchcovers

• Current demand for matchbooks

• Rear striker versus front striker matchbooks design changes (1973)

• Back striker safety versus rear striker

• Discovering unknown Route 66 history through match cover collecting

• The ultimate Route 66 matchcover that Phil has spent 20+ years searching for

  • Scherer's (estimated value $50)

• The holy grail of matccovers outside of Route 66: Charles Lindbergh (estimated value several thousand)

• The very first advertising: hand written matcbook covers

• First commercial matchbook ever printed

• Initial interest in posting matchovers online: Whiting brothers

• Sharing matchcovers online with the whole world

• Step by step process for uploading matchcovers

• Popularity of matchbooks today with the decline of smoking

• National organization of matchcover collectors

The Route 66 Matchcover Collector - Search wide variety of Route 66 establishments for matchcovers

Phil’s Route 66 Website: Personal website containing both postcards and matchcovers

The Route 66 Podcast pays a special tribute to Ramona Lehman, who passed away on August 2, 2023, at the age of 85 years old.

This episode was originally released in 2021 as Ramona celebrated her 50th year operating the Munger Moss Motel. 

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Ramona about

• How does an Iowa farm girl wind up on Route 66?
• Honeymooning along Route 66
• Early history of The Munger Moss Motel
• Origin of the Munger Moss Name
• Remembering her late husband, Bob Lehman
• Helping businesses along Route 66 get established
• The early days when Ramona arrived at The Munger Moss
• Discovering garages that were once part of the motel
• Ramona’s room recommendation at The Munger Moss
• Long term residents at The Munger Moss
• The Munger Moss: To sell or not to sell?
• Will the children carry on the Munger Moss tradition?
• The world famous Munger Moss Neon sign
• Celebrating 50 years at The Munger Moss
• Most memorable guests to walk through the door
• Meeting the original owner many years later – Emmitt Moss
• Maintaining the Munger Moss sign
• Constant flow of picture takers along Route 66
• Most popular Munger Moss items for sale in the lobby
• Bob Lehman’s prized toy collection
• The biggest challenge in 50 years at The Munger Moss
• The very first in-ground pool in Lebanon, Missouri arrives at The Munger Moss
• Ramona’s last vacation
• Preserving Route 66 for future generations
• Is Ramona as famous locally as she is with Route 66 travelers?
• Ramona’s Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren visiting at The Munger Moss
• Sales pitch for The Munger Moss 2021
• Next item on Ramona’s Bucket list
• A Ramona Lehman Revelation: Where hasn’t she been along Route 66?  (The answer WILL surprise you!)
• Long Live Route 66