Just pulled a section up and the top is the cheap stick on the previous owner applied and the bottom is a time from 1964. Underneath that is the hardwood floors we have throughout the house and look gorgeous but there is a black adhesive on top. I sanded it for 5 minutes and didn't get far and even tried water and goo gone with no luck. Anyone else seen this and have any idea of removing it?

http://i874.photobucket.com/albums/ab30 ... 02e033.jpg

I had that in my kitchen. Seemed like mine the asphalt/tar/adhesive from the 60s (or before) was close to 1/8" thick. After sanding for an hour making only backstrokes cross grain and going through 4- 16 grit belts: I realized it was hopeless. I had litterally gotten nowhere. I had to rip it out and install new. Hopefully you have better luck with yours though.

Even if you can sand this off, have it checked for asbestos. The company that I use to check linoleum samples has told me that manufacturers also put asbestos in mastics. So I send them samples of both the tile and the mastic, in situations like this one.

Your can get a scrape-away on it first, then sand the rest off. Make sure its a dustless set-up.
Besides, all that tile needs to come up anyway even if you wanted to install new wood over it.