Bobbye Hall Book

Shelbybla1 May 24, 2006

  1. Shelbybla1

    Shelbybla1 TrainBoard Member

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    For those of you who know Bobbye Hall or shopped at her legendary hobby shop, Hall's Hobby House in Dallas, you might be interested in her autobiography, Tracks from Texas to Tokyo, which was released last week.

    I had the honor of co-authoring the book with Bobbye and am helping her spread the word about the story of her life, which includes a fascinating ride of more than 55 years in the hobby retail industry. She is officially unveiling the book June 3 in San Antonio at the Lone Star Region convention.

    For more information about the book, go to http://www.samrarail.org/LSR/BHall.htm

    or to http://www.lonestarregion.com and follow the links to conventions.

    For ordering information, go to
    http://www.bobbyehallbook.com

    Thanks,

    Tim
     
  2. Matthew Roberts

    Matthew Roberts TrainBoard Member

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    Is the hobby store still around?
     
  3. r_i_straw

    r_i_straw Mostly N Scale Staff Member

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    I believe it closed a few years ago. Papa Ben's in Houston bought a large chunk of the N Scale brass that was still in stock when Hall's closed.
     
  4. tom huffman

    tom huffman TrainBoard Member

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    no halls hobby house is closed as she retired.her employees triedto get a loan to keepit open but the bank said no.

    CTT in dallas also got a bunch of her inventory as well.

    tom
     
  5. Shelbybla1

    Shelbybla1 TrainBoard Member

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    Bobbye Hall's closed in 2001 not too long after Bobbye's 92nd birthday. Papa Ben's and CCT did get a lot of the inventory. Bobbye has been happily retired since and is still going strong at age 96.

    Watch for a special book signing by Bobbye in two weeks in Dallas.

    Tim
     
  6. watash

    watash Passed away March 7, 2010 TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Has it been that long? I started with the Hall's when Mr. had a small corner store across the street in 1945. Mrs. Phillips would drive Ronald, Bobby, Ruth and me into Dallas on week ends occasionally to buy from the Hall's Hobby Shop. Bobby Phillips and I were building kits in hopes of having HO layouts someday!
    Bob now does the TV show "Texas Country Reporter", and his older brother Ronald was my class mate. I remember riding in style in their big wine colored Hudson Terraplane sedan, the first car I road in that was air conditioned!
    None of these people would remember me now, because I always paid cash, or ordered from Hall's Catalog by mail. But I would certainly enjoy giving Bobbie a hug for all the happy hours she provided Bob, me and my Dad together. I never heard her say an unkind word to anyone; she is a dear lady!
     
  7. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    I remember my first trip to Bobbye Halls Hobby House in the early 80's. My uncle (only 7 years my senior and in high school at the time) and I were building an HO layout and my dad had given us a pretty good chunk of money, expecting us to buy the store out. Well, my uncle spent it all on Shinohara turnouts and we ate at the snack bar at Union Station and he told me to tell my dad that we had an expensive lunch so he would think we spent less than we did. They were awesome turnouts though!

    I was awestruck by the store and I would return there a dozen more times over the years mostly with my parents. (it was about a 2 hour trip one-way from my hometown) I think I went twice after moving to Dallas after college, once when they only had days left of their existence.

    I remember the "U-Boat" they had, which was actually a submarine riding on HO trucks...I think it was painted for MKT if I recall.
     
  8. watash

    watash Passed away March 7, 2010 TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    Yeah Doug,
    I remember that submarine! Did you get to see the railway cannon?
    I used to rummage around in their "scrap boxes" of brass fittings and parts to get axles and gears and stuff.
     
  9. MOPMAN

    MOPMAN TrainBoard Member

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    Some great memories

    I used to work a few blocks up the street at the DISD administration building. I would go there on my lunch hour two or three times a week (it sure beat the 40 miles I have to drive now to get to a LHS). All the engines I own except for one came from her store as well as 90% of my rolling stock. The one thing I remember most was the fact that I don't recall a time when I went to buy something, no matter what it was, she always had it in stock. It might take a while to find it, but it was there. That was also a time when you would run into the pioneers of our hobby ie Bill McLanahan, Cliff Robinson et al. IIRC Steel Graves was responsible for the MKT U-boat. I also used to do custom paint for her store during the late 70's and early 80's. The place is now a Vietnamese pool hall.
     
  10. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Hallmark certainly had a positive effect on N scale. I was happy to own some of the brass models. Very fine stuff.

    :D

    Boxcab E50
     
  11. rray

    rray Staff Member

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    I was fortunate to visit the shop on several occasions in the 80's too. I used to have a customer in Carrollton that I had to service a couple times a year, and a trip was never complete until I made the rounds of all the train shops in the area.

    That shop had some serious stuff. I used to find old Railhead kits, all kinds of great details, and out of all those trips I never bough a brass loco. They were just too rich for my blood in those days. I did finally get a Hallmark loco though, a U33C that I wanted.

    Sounds like the book might be an interesting read ;)
     
  12. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    You read it here first!

    Well, I have connections and was able to get a bootleg copy of the book :teeth: and I will concur that it IS an interesting read!

    I just finished it, and its quite amazing the path the Mrs. Hall took to achieve the success she did. Kinda reminds me of the line in Forrest Gump about destiny...in a nutshell, destiny is part "random coincidence" and part "making your own path in life". Some of the stories seem like things just fell in her lap, but in the back of your mind you know that she was just such a shrewd businesswoman that it was more likely a plan executed to perfection.

    Anyway, I applaud Mr. Blackwell on a job well done, and I think any model railroader, and especially model railroader's wives, will appreciate this book.
     
  13. Shelbybla1

    Shelbybla1 TrainBoard Member

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    Thanks, Doug. I'm glad you liked the book.

    Your copy wasn't so much bootlegged, but by virtue of your membership in the NMRA and Lone Star Region, you were afforded the opportunity to purchase one of the first books off the press! Membership has its priveleges!

    Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement on Mrs. Hall's upcoming book signing in Dallas.

    Tim
     
  14. Doug A.

    Doug A. TrainBoard Supporter

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    Tim,

    Shhhh! I'm trying to give the illusion that there are cases of security-sealed boxes of the book waiting for a midnight unveiling at every Barnes & Noble! :shade:
     
  15. txronharris

    txronharris TrainBoard Member

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    I've got nothing but fond memories of Hall's. I used to not even dread going to the Dr as a kid as long as my folks promised to take me there afterwards. My dad shopped there as a kid and I really miss it. It's closing left a big hole in the DFW hobby scene. Make sure you let everyone know about the book signing Tim. I'll take off work or do whatever it takes to be there. I'll try and find some pictures of the outside of shop right before it closed and post them.
     
  16. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

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    After I moved to Paris (Texas, that is) in 1989, I made quite a few trips to Bobbye Hall's shop. The only one on the corner of Bryan & Fitzhugh that didn't sell alcoholic beverages, and whose cluttered look made me feel at home. It was like walking in your favorite uncle's attic, with stuff stashed everywhere. And even tho it looked disorganized, the store clerks knew where everything was.

    Ms. Hall was and is a lady of the old school. Every time I spoke with her, my manners came to the forefront- it was yes ma'am and no ma'am, and thank you, ma;am when I was done shopping. She reminded me of my grandmother.

    I was saddened when Hall's closed, but am delighted to know that Ms. Hall is still alive I kicking, even at 96. When she finally "catches the westbound", it's gonna be a very dark day in the Metroplex for us hobbyists.

    Health and long life, Ms. Hall. Thanks for all the memories.
     
  17. Flash Blackman

    Flash Blackman TrainBoard Member

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    Pictures?

    Are there any pictures of Hall's store? Did the store sell items other than brass? Thanks.

    Hope I can get a copy at the LSR convention this weekend. :)
     
  18. friscobob

    friscobob Staff Member

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    Bobbye Hall's sold model railroad items in all scales, both brass & plastic. They also sold some R/C stuff as well- cars, planes, that sort of thing. But OMG, the selection of model RR goodies!!!
     
  19. Shelbybla1

    Shelbybla1 TrainBoard Member

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    Flash,

    You can get a signed copy of Tracks from Texas to Tokyo at the LSR Convention hotel on Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Ms. Hall and I will be signing copies during that time.

    Make sure you introduce yourself to me if you come through the line!

    The book has several photos of the interior and exterior of the store(s).

    See you there!

    Tim
     
  20. Shelbybla1

    Shelbybla1 TrainBoard Member

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    Bobbye Hall will be "on tour" this fall at a various train shows in Texas and Oklahoma signing copies of her book, "Tracks from Texas to Tokyo", which chronicles her life in the hobby and model train industry.

    She will sign at the following shows:

    Sept. 16-17 - Temple, TX, Train Show
    Oct. 14-15 - LMRA (Fort Worth) Train Show
    Oct. 28-29 - Cotton Belt Train Show (Tyler, TX)
    Nov. 4-5 - Texas & Pacific Railway Museum Train Show (Marshall, TX)
    Nov. 11-12 - Fort Worth Area Train Show
    Dec. 2-3 - Oklahoma City Train Show
    Jan. 13-14 - Dallas Area Train Show (Plano, TX)

    Check shows for signing times.

    Thanks,

    Tim
     

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