Category Archives: Reviews

Farmingdale,NY, USA. January 21, 2018. At TMB Model Train Club Open House, young boy looks at train running along wall.

TMB Model Train Club: Big Room with Big (& Small) Views

1 Reply

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (annparry.com))
February 28, 2018

“ALL ABOARD!”  After photographing several Open Houses at the Train Masters of Babylon Model Train Club HQ, I’m still spellbound whenever I step into the O-gauge sized universe created with such skill and care by its members. 

Farmingdale, NY, USA. Jan. 21, 2018. BOB YORBURG, from Yorktown, inspects O-scale model train trolley town during TMB Open House at Train Masters of Babylon HQ. (© 2018 Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

Farmingdale, NY, USA. Jan. 21, 2018. BOB YORBURG, from Yorktown, inspects O-scale model train trolley town during TMB Open House at Train Masters of Babylon HQ. (© 2018 Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

When I went with friends to one of TMB’s recent open houses, we started slowly winding our way around the intricate track layouts with stunning scenery, and soon I lagged behind, since I was waiting to catch a train (photographically).

Farmingdale, New York, USA. January 21, 2018. Trolley model train speeds by old-fashioned downtown night scene at Babylon Train Masters Open House at TMB Headquarters (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, annparry.com)

Farmingdale, NY, USA. January 21, 2018. Trolley model train passes through old-fashioned downtown night scene at Babylon Train Masters Open House at TMB Headquarters. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

After a grand circular tour of the layouts, I chatted with TMB club members, and – faster than a speeding locomotive – said yes to TMB President DAVE WILLIAMS‘ offer to view, for my first time, their multi-level model train universe from high up in the Controller Loft stretching across the east wall.

Farmingdale, New York, USA. January 21, 2018. Long Island Rail Road LIRR Waiting Room at Pennsylvania Station is part of subway layout at Train Masters of Babylon during their TMB Model Train Club Open House at their Headquarters. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Farmingdale, NY, USA. January 21, 2018. Long Island Rail Road LIRR Waiting Room at Pennsylvania Station is part of subway layout at Train Masters of Babylon during their TMB Model Train Club Open House at their Headquarters. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com.)

Farmingdale, New York, USA. January 21, 2018. DAVE WILLIAMS (far right) President of TMB Train Masters of Babylon Model Train Club and other members, are up in Controller Loft high above the train layouts during TMB Open House at its HQ. (Ann Parry/annparry.com)

Farmingdale, NY, USA. Jan. 21, 2018. (R-L) TMB members DAVE WILLIAMS, President; STEVE SCAGNELLI, Secretary; JOHN MASSEY and others, work in Controller Loft high up above train layouts during Train Masters of Babylon Open House. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Farmingdale, New York, USA. January 21, 2018. TMB Model Train Club has Open House at its Headquarters. (Ann Parry/ann-parry.com)

Farmingdale, NY, USA. Jan, 21, 2018. Overhead view of Train Masters of Babylon’s Model Train Club Open House at TMB Headquarters. (© 2018 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

  • VIDEO  ‘AMTRAK STU’ CHASE tells about Train Masters of Babylon Club:

[videopress zGYoo85i]

 

TMB Model Train Club HQ 2018: PHOTO GALLERY 

Train Masters of Babylon: TMB site | 2018 Lionel Ambassadors

Nov. 30, 2016 blog post: “TMB Model Train Club’s O-mazing Open House“

CONTACT ME

SYLVIO is Simply DiVine at Hofstra

Leave a reply

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
October 31, 2017

Q:  Where does a 180-pound gorilla sit?

A:  If he’s the gentle gorilla who’s the title character of SYLVIO – the fantasy film based on “Simply Sylvio” Vine videos – he wants to sit on the floor behind a table he uses as a stage to act out scenes of “Quiet Times with Herbert Herpels” with his hand puppet Herbert.

Hempstead, New York, USA. October 30, 2017. Film event of screening of SYLVIO, a fantasy feature film, and Q and A with ALBERT BIRNEY, KENTUCKER AUDLEY, and mdoeraotr RUSSELL HARBAUGH, is hosted by Radio, Television, Film Department of Lawrence Herbert School of Communication of Hofstra University.

Hempstead, NY, USA. Oct. 30, 2017. SYLIO screening and Q&A with (R-L) ALBERT BIRNEY, KENTUCKER AUDLEY, & moderator RUSSELL HARBAUGH, is presented by Herbert School of Communication, Hofstra. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

When Vine, the hosting service for short-form videos, was online, “Simply Silvio” had over 500,000 followers. But when I heard Hofstra’s Herbert School of Communication was having a screening of SYLVIO, followed by a Q&A with ALBERT BIRNEY and KENTUCKER AUDLEY – the film’s co-directors & more – it was the first time I’d heard of the character.

Based on the movie poster, I could tell Sylvio was a gorilla who wore clothes and red sunglasses, and that’s about it, so I was curious.

Hempstead, New York, USA. October 30, 2017. At screening of SYLVIO, a fantasy feature film, Sylvia the gorilla has Harold the puppet act out scenes of

Hempstead, NY, USA. Oct. 30, 2017. At Hofstra screening of SYLVIO film, Sylvio the gorilla uses hand puppet Harold to act out scenes of “Quiet Times with Harold Herpels.”  (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

SYLVIO

Sylvio, who doesn’t speak, works at a debt collection agency and must make an outside call to collect a debt from a man who hosts a talk show in his basement.

When Sylvio arrives, he’s mistaken for a juggler and sent onstage, where he ends up dropping things that break, loudly.

The talk show audience loves this, and Sylvio ends up chained to a wild on-air persona the opposite of who he wants to be, so he has tough decisions ahead of him….

Hempstead, New York, USA. October 30, 2017. Film event of screening of SYLVIO, a fantasy feature film, and Q and A with ALBERT BIRNEY, KENTUCKER AUDLEY, and moderator RUSSELL HARBAUGH, is hosted by Radio, Television, Film Department of Lawrence Herbert School of Communication of Hofstra University.

Hempstead, NY, USA. Oct. 30, 2017.  Sylvio reluctantly becomes the “What’s the Ape Gonna Break?” TV personality, in SYLVIO, screened at Hofstra. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Q&A

After the SYLVIA screening, Albert Birney, Kentucker Audley and Prof. RUSSELL HARBAUGH held a Q&A.

VIDEO: Panel discusses the central concept of the movie,  what’s most important to Sylvio the gorilla, and more in this excerpt:

[videopress r839HpHg]

Birney is the creator of the “Simply Sylvio” Vine character, and he and Audley are the film’s directors, and, with Meghan Doherty, its screenwriters.

The gorilla who doesn’t talk and the talk show host make a solid team.

Wordlessly, Birney expressively plays Sylvio Bernardi, who at least gets to grunt a few times. I’m not surprised I didn’t figure out on my own who played Sylvio, but I didn’t even realize Audley co-starred as Al Reynolds, the financially strapped talk show host, until he talked about it.

Hempstead, NY, USA. Oct. 30, 2017. After SYLVIO film screening and a Q&A, KENTUCKER AUDLEY and ALBERT BIRNEY chat with Prof. WILLIAM JENNINGS, of Radio, Television, Film Department of Lawrence Herbert School of Communication of Hofstra University. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Hempstead, NY, USA. Oct. 30, 2017. After SYLVIO film screening and Q&A, (L-R) KENTUCKER AUDLEY & ALBERT BIRNEY chat with Prof. WILLIAM JENNINGS at Hofstra University. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

PEACE & QUIET

Sitting in the audience at Hofstra’s Breslin Hall that night, I was so moved by Sylvio and his quest to lead a simple, peaceful life that I have a feeling he’ll quietly be with me for a good while.

My SYLVIO at Hofstra event photos:  GALLERY

CONTACT ME