NYSW F45
Active Member
This was sent to me thru an email from trainworld.com. Pretty cool to see him talk about it.
Rod Stewart & his layout
Rod Stewart & his layout
Rod Stewart talks about his layout on Jimmy Kimmel
- Thread starter NYSW F45
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Got that email today too from Trainworld. Pretty cool. Had no idea Stewart was into MRR until I saw the cover of MRR magazine 10 days ago.
The audience's reaction should surprise no one. Just reminds me that everyone is stupid at one time or another and about 75% are that way all the time.
The audience's response to Rod indicating that he is a model railroader is a sad but classic example of how the general public has come to regard our hobby, largely through the efforts of Hollywood where model railroaders have consistently been depicted as individuals with mental problems of one sort, or another for the past 20-25 years.
There was a time in American when an admission by a celebrity about being in the hobby would have definitely been met with a truly positive audience response. Back in the 1950's, when the hobby was mainstream, a number of high profile sports and entertainment figures openly talked about their layouts and their model building efforts on TV and in the press and it was held up in admiration. Likely premier among these was the Yankee's slugger Joe DiMaggio, who even hosted Lionel's TV show for a time and was used by Lionel as a selling point to adult males. Boy, how times have changed.
NYW&B
I think that you are very much mistaken, Gary. I haven't seen any other hobby as depicted in movies, or on TV, so denigrated as model railroading has been. Unless presented as a child's amusement, any adult involvement seen on film over the past 20 years has been associated with a character that was a murderer, rapist, megalomaniac, or some other deviate. Why model railroading has been so singled out as a pursuit of the deranged I cannot imagine, but throughout the last generation it is seen time and time again. As a result, the public's preception of us as a group starts out slanted towards our being truly strange individuals. This is only made worse by the fact that model trains and even Lionels, as a visible hobby for youths, or adults, has long since disappeared from mainstream America.
This situation is in stark contrast to the way our hobby was generally preceived and depicted prior to say the mid 1980's. In that earlier era one typically saw scale model trains and layouts in films as the province of some kindly grandfatherly type, who would dispense sage wisdom to some younger character. Wilford Brimley in "Our House" was a prime example of this.
Further back, in the 1950's, model railroading was actually ranked as the second most popular hobby in America and model trains as an adult hobby was accepted with open arms. I particularly recall Dodger's star Roy Campenella's appearance on Edward R. Murrow's "Face to Face" show (around 1960?), in which Roy's basement layout was featured...without any hint of laughter and in fact with admiration! Likewise, I've already related how Joe DiMaggio's association with Lionel trains was revered on TV and in the press.
NYW&B
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ho/ttothemoss
Member
Nice layout looks big i guess when you got the money the skys the limit right.
Charles Smiley
cspmovies
The silly audience reaction was exactly why I don't offer my hobby up to average situations -- unless I know people fairly well.
Usually the uninformed trivialize it by refering to it as a "train set"'. As if it was something picked up at Toys R us or something.
It's interesting that he picked American prototypes to model.
Usually the uninformed trivialize it by refering to it as a "train set"'. As if it was something picked up at Toys R us or something.
It's interesting that he picked American prototypes to model.
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Motley
Active Member
Rod's layout is featured in the new Dec. issue of MRR magazine. Apparrantly he got help with track, and wiring only. He scratchbuilds all his own structures when he's on the road sitting in a hotel room.
It sure is cool that he is one of us. Who cares if the public is surprised and chuckles that he's into model railroading. He doesn't care, why should we.
It sure is cool that he is one of us. Who cares if the public is surprised and chuckles that he's into model railroading. He doesn't care, why should we.
Got that email today too from Trainworld. Pretty cool. Had no idea Stewart was into MRR until I saw the cover of MRR magazine 10 days ago.
The audience's reaction should surprise no one. Just reminds me that everyone is stupid at one time or another and about 75% are that way all the time.
Gary B
The Fox Valley Railroad
As a long time fan of Rod's early vocal work (and kind of liking his latest) I always though he didn't have a great voice but a lot of style to deliver a song. He also always appeared better dressed than the stars of his era and a bit classier personna. His modeling reflects the same sense of style and talent. Big city, bright lights tons of details, a real eyefull. Epic work Rod, your fellow modelers aren't laughing, we are in awe!
kenw
5th Generation Texian
My 1st exposure to Rod was in 1968 on Jeff Beck's Truth album. It remains a classic today and Rod's vocals are a big part of that. Still have the album and bought the CD in order to get it in MP3 for daily use in 2010.
Also still have the vinyl of The Faces "A Nod is as good as a Wink to a Blind Horse" album with Rod on vocals, another classic.
Also still have the vinyl of The Faces "A Nod is as good as a Wink to a Blind Horse" album with Rod on vocals, another classic.
stang_crazy
Member
If i remeber correctly, he was in a issue of MRR a while back also.
The audience's response to Rod indicating that he is a model railroader is a sad but classic example of how the general public has come to regard our hobby, largely through the efforts of Hollywood where model railroaders have consistently been depicted as individuals with mental problems of one sort, or another for the past 20-25 years.
There was a time in American when an admission by a celebrity about being in the hobby would have definitely been met with a truly positive audience response. Back in the 1950's, when the hobby was mainstream, a number of high profile sports and entertainment figures openly talked about their layouts and their model building efforts on TV and in the press and it was held up in admiration. Likely premier among these was the Yankee's slugger Joe DiMaggio, who even hosted Lionel's TV show for a time and was used by Lionel as a selling point to adult males. Boy, how times have changed.
NYW&B
Last edited by a moderator:
okiecrip621
Member
rod stewart
regarding the aud. stupid is as stupid does forrest gump
regarding the aud. stupid is as stupid does forrest gump
Charles Smiley
cspmovies
To some extent, the whole Lionel thing may have worked against us. To me they represented grossly-distorted caricatures of trains compared to even the 1955 era HO, or true O scale, models.
I could see through the whole Lionel thing when I was about 12. Sinatra played with toy trains. Mel Torme collected HO scale brass locos. Hey, I just figured out why I always liked Mel's singing better.
I could see through the whole Lionel thing when I was about 12. Sinatra played with toy trains. Mel Torme collected HO scale brass locos. Hey, I just figured out why I always liked Mel's singing better.
I think that you are very much mistaken, Gary. I haven't seen any other hobby as depicted in movies, or on TV, so denigrated as model railroading has been. Unless presented as a child's amusement, any adult involvement seen on film over the past 20 years has been associated with a character that was a murderer, rapist, megalomaniac, or some other deviate. Why model railroading has been so singled out as a pursuit of the deranged I cannot imagine, but throughout the last generation it is seen time and time again. As a result, the public's preception of us as a group starts out slanted towards our being truly strange individuals. This is only made worse by the fact that model trains and even Lionels, as a visible hobby for youths, or adults, has long since disappeared from mainstream America.
This situation is in stark contrast to the way our hobby was generally preceived and depicted prior to say the mid 1980's. In that earlier era one typically saw scale model trains and layouts in films as the province of some kindly grandfatherly type, who would dispense sage wisdom to some younger character. Wilford Brimley in "Our House" was a prime example of this.
Further back, in the 1950's, model railroading was actually ranked as the second most popular hobby in America and model trains as an adult hobby was accepted with open arms. I particularly recall Dodger's star Roy Campenella's appearance on Edward R. Murrow's "Face to Face" show (around 1960?), in which Roy's basement layout was featured...without any hint of laughter and in fact with admiration! Likewise, I've already related how Joe DiMaggio's association with Lionel trains was revered on TV and in the press.
NYW&B
Last edited by a moderator:
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