Welcome To The Wedding
Cleveland, Ohio

Coming soon on Ohio66:
“Starring George Maharis” - by Rick Dailey

Ohio66 presents an in-depth look at the circumstances surrounding the departure of George Maharis from route 66 in the middle of the third season.

preview Starring George Maharis

OPENING SCENE ORIGINAL DRAFT  Opening scene originally planned to be filmed at a grain elevator in Portland, Oregon were Tod and Buz were working rather than the Terminal Tower in Cleveland were it was eventually filmed.

FINAL SCENE DRAFTS  Five drafts of the final scene at Stanley's house. The first three had Tod, Buz and Emily at the house with Lezema rather than just Tod as the final one does.

JIM'S STEAKHOUSE  Jim's Steakhouse on the Cuyahoga River across from the Terminal Tower is where the wedding took place. This page was created to show photos and a book written by G.L. Rockey who was raised on the upper floor of the steakhose and eventually took control of it. There are also a few behind-the-scenes color photos shot during filming.

DEMOLITION OF JIM'S STEAKHOUSE  Photos shot while visiting the demolition in 2011.

Ferro Mural - 1962
Ferro Mural - 1962

Ferro Mural - July, 2009
Ferro Mural - July, 2009

The Ferro Mural

The opening scenes of Welcome to the Wedding take place in the main concourse of Cleveland's Union Terminal. One of the most notable features of the terminal scenes is the Ferro Mural which was mounted on the south wall of the concourse.

The Ferro Mural was created by the Ferro Enamel Corporation of Cleveland for the 1939 World's Fair in New York. It was designed by J. Scott Williams and its porcelain panels were painted by Cleveland art instructor Daniel Boza.

After the fair, the mural was relocated to the Union Terminal concourse where it remained until 1982 when the concourse was renovated. Since then it has hung on the wall opposite the entrance to the Western Reserve Historical Society Museum.

Jim's Steak House - 1962
Jim's Steak House - 1962

Jim's Steak House - September 17, 2009
Jim's Steak House - September 17, 2009

Jim's Steak House

Jim's Steak House is a legendary dining establishment located on the banks of the Cuyahoga River directly across from downtown Cleveland and the Terminal Tower (Union Terminal). While researching Jim's for this site I came into contact with author G.L. Rockey - adopted son of proprietor Ray Rockey - who wrote a fascinating history of Jim's titled From the Back of the House - Memories of a Steak House Clan. Unfortunately, G.L. was away at college during the time Route 66 filmed there so he was unable to offer any personal recollections.

Jim's closed its doors for good in 1996 and after a few failed attempts to sustain other restaurant and drinking establishments at the location it became chronically vacant and in recent years has fallen into severe disrepair. I have spoken with the current owner of the property who says that he is considering tearing it all down and re-developing.

The owner also told me that he would unlock the doors and turn off the alarms so I could take photos inside (as long as I gave him copies), but unfortunately we were not able to make arrangements to do that before my last visit there on September 17, 2009. But I did take a few shots through the large plate glass windows which will have to do for now.

This shot is looking through the main room toward the windows that can be seen covered with curtains in the screen capture. If I'm not mistaken, that out-of-focus blob top-center is the reflection of my hand on the camera as it is being held against the window.

Read more about Jim's Steak House, G.L. Rockey, From the Back of the House and see a few behind-the-scenes photographs here...

Tower City Center - September 12, 2009
Tower City Center - September 12, 2009

Jim's Steak House from Tower City Center - September 12, 2009
Jim's Steak House from Tower City Center - September 12, 2009

Tower City / Jim's Steak House

The original Cleveland Union Terminal concourse was demolished in the early 1980s and in its place was built Tower City Center shown in this photo from September, 2009. The new interior is much more spacious and open than before and that arched set of windows, I believe, is approximately where the wall with the Ferro Mural once stood.

It may not be apparent to casual viewers of this episode that Cleveland Union Terminal (the railroad station) and Jim's Steak House (the wedding) are located directly across the Cuyahoga River from one another. The second photo is a view from the arched windows inside Tower City Center across the river to Jim's (center, surrounded by boats).

Terminal Tower - September 12, 2009
Terminal Tower - September 12, 2009

The Terminal Tower

A view through the skylight inside Tower City Center

Stanley's House - 1962
Stanley's House - 1962

Stanley's House - September 5, 2009
Stanley's House - September 5, 2009

Stanley's House

In an interview with the Cleveland Press while the Route 66 production crew was in town filming Welcome to the Wedding, along with Only By Cunning Glimpses and Every Father's Daughter, production manager Sam Manners mentioned that he used his boyhood home* on the west side as one of the locations.

After watching the episodes closely, I had a suspicion that this home (Rod Steiger's boyhood home - and now where his "brother" Stanley was staying - according to the story line) was it. The street address is visible in the episode so I drove over to the street Manners mentioned and found the house.

*Ohio66 was contacted by Sam's niece, Wendy, who pointed out that the house used in the episode was actually next door to Sam's original boyhood home which is visible to the right in the screen cap. A more detailed reading of the newspaper article confirms that Manners said it was filmed in his neighborhood, not in his house.

Valet Parking - 1962
Valet Parking - 1962

Valet Parking - September 5, 2009
Valet Parking - September 5, 2009

Valet Parking

This valet parking station is located in the garage on W. 6th Street that is part of the Tower City Center complex. As I approached the area taking photographs I was treated with suspicion by the on-duty valets so I put my camera away and pulled out the screen-shot prints I was carrying and shared them with the valets who were having a slow Saturday morning.

After talking with them for a while, and convincing the supervisor that my intentions were harmless, they allowed me to take all the photos I wanted.

W. 6th St. Garage - 1962
W. 6th St. Garage - 1962

W. 6th St. Garage - September 5, 2009
W. 6th St. Garage - September 5, 2009

W. 6th St. Garage

Tod pulls Stanley's Chevy out of the parking garage while Justin (Rod Steiger) sits in the back seat with a gun trained on him.

West Prospect Ave. - 1962
West Prospect Ave. - 1962

West Prospect Ave. - September 5, 2009
West Prospect Ave. - September 5, 2009

W. Prospect Ave.

Looking east on W. Prospect Ave. from W. 6th St.

That's the Terminal Tower on the left and Cleveland Union Terminal on the right.

Edwards Monument - 1962
Edwards Monument - 1962

Edwards Monument - September, 2009
Edwards Monument - September, 2009

Clarence Ransom Edwards Monument


NEAR THIS SITE STOOD THE HOUSE IN WHICH WAS BORN ON JANUARY 1, 1860

MAJOR GEN. CLARENCE RANSOM EDWARDS D.S.M.

COMMANDING OFFICER AND BELOVED "DADDY" OF THE 26TH YANKEE DIVISION, A.E.F. IN THE GREAT WORLD WAR

NO LEADER WAS MORE LOVED OR MORE RESPECTED - NO LEADER WAS A GREATER INSPIRATION TO HIS MEN.

ERECTED BY THE YANKEE DIVISION VETERANS ASSOCIATION
MCMXXXVI


The imprint on the from of the stone is "YD" for "Yankee Division."

The phone booth appears to be a completely non-functional prop. In 1962 a booth such as this would have been located next to a telephone pole and had plenty of wires for electricity and a connection to Ma Bell running out of the top and connected to the pole.

By close examination of the DVD you can also tell that there are no windows in the booth. Watch the directory blowing in the strong Lake Erie wind even when the door is closed.

The propeller-like structure to the right is a wind turbine for the renewable energy exhibits at the Great Lakes Science Center (the white building behind the turbine).

That's Cleveland Municipal Stadium in the background of the screen shot and Cleveland Browns Stadium in the new photo. Also note Lake Erie behind the stadium.

Chief Wahoo - 1962
Chief Wahoo - 1962

Chief Wahoo - September, 2009
Chief Wahoo - September, 2009

Chief Wahoo

...is the long time mascot of the Cleveland Indians Major League Baseball team. Although his image is still used on clothing and other items, his presence has been toned down considerably over the past few decades due to concerns over reinforcement of negative racial stereotypes.

This neon-lit, rotating sign once stood atop Cleveland Municipal Stadium and is now on display at the Western Reserve Historical Society.

Jim's Steak House - 1962
Jim's Steak House - 1962

Jim's Steak House - September 17, 2009
Jim's Steak House - September 17, 2009

Jim's Steak House

The original doors, steps and stainless steel railing are still there, but the beautifully landscaped yard with willow trees is now fenced off and completely overgrown with weeds.

Jim's Steak House - 1962
Jim's Steak House - 1962

Jim's Steak House - September 17, 2009
Jim's Steak House - September 17, 2009

Jim's Steak House

The parking lot.

Tod Bound and Gagged - 1962
Tod Bound and Gagged - 1962

September 5, 2009
September 5, 2009

Tod Bound and Gagged

When I approached the boyhood home of Sam Manners on this Saturday afternoon, I saw two men back by the garage working on the engine of a tractor-trailer cab so I walked up the driveway and introduced myself. I spoke with the current homeowner and showed him the screen captures of his home from this 1962 episode.

He seemed interested to talk but he was very busy getting his truck into shape for an inspection so he asked me to write down contact information on the prints and leave them in his mail box.

But as I walked back the front of the house I noticed that his wife and daughter had come out and were sitting on the porch. So I handed the prints to them and began explaining again why I was there. After a few minutes of conversation, they asked me if I would like to come inside - of course I would like to - and I made sure my camera was ready.

I had brought along a complete third season DVD set to offer as a bribe if necessary - which it wasn't - but they were such a nice family and very excited to see the screen captures that I offered it to them anyway.

Stanley's House - 1962
Stanley's House - 1962

Stanley's House - September 5, 2009
Stanley's House - September 5, 2009

Stanley's House

WARNING: Spoilers ahead - don't read if you haven't watched the episode yet.

Later that night, after arriving home from taking these photos, the neighbor of the current residents called me (since his house is seen briefly they invited him over to watch) and told me that his father-in-law had witnessed the filming so he was vaguely aware of it but the subject never came up after he purchased the home years ago. He jokingly mentioned that his neighbors are going to have nightmares for a while thinking about Rod Steiger being shot to death right inside their front door.

Terminal Tower - 1962
Terminal Tower - 1962

Terminal Tower - September 17, 2009
Terminal Tower - September 17, 2009

The Terminal Tower

A view from the lawn at Jim's Steak House.

Note the arched windows seen from the inside in a photo above. Again, that is basically where the Ferro Mural hung in the original Cleveland Union Terminal concourse featured in Welcome to the Wedding.

Censors comments
Censors comments

CBS Program Practices

CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
Program Practices, Hollywood
Date: July 23, 1962
To: Lancer Productions, Inc.
ATTN: Mr. Selmer Chalif (3)
RE: ROUTE 66 "Welcome to the Wedding"
RECEIVED: July 23, 1962

The above script is herewith approved for presentation on the CBS Television Network, with the following exceptions:

Page 23: Please avoid commercial identification of the taxi.

Page 26 & 27: It is imperative that these gunplay sequences be filmed with extreme care to avoid undue and unacceptable violence and brutality. With this in mind, we ask that you change the business of PEERS being shot three times and eliminate the business of the body jerking. We also ask that the cold-blooded killing of STANLEY be suggested off camera and the shot of STANLEY's face as he dies be eliminated.

Page 56: For the above reasons we ask that you please change the business of LEZEMA firing again after he is mortally wounded and of the policemen firing two more times as indicated in Scene 173.

Thank you very much for your cooperation.

Cc: Mr. Boris Kaplan

Please submit all revised pages for approval.

Final approval is based on completed film.

WM. H. TANKERSLEY
Director, Programming Practices, Hollywood
(signed by 'Editor' - Charles C. Pettijohn)

Nothing in this report shall affect CBS Television's rights if any, against the producer, the sponsors, or its or their advertising agency or agencies, to be indemnified against the claims, demands or causes of action of third parties arising out of the broadcasting or other use of material referred to herein.

See more photos of Jim's Steakhouse, including a few behind-the-scenes Welcome to the Wedding shots from the personal collection of G.L. Rockey here ...

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