A New Venue and a Nostalgic Hit

We were excited to be a part of the TCA’s first event at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds. After spending the last 50 years at the UAW Hall in Parma, Ohio, this new venue promised to offer a whole new level of excitement—and it certainly didn’t disappoint. The move allowed the TCA to expand the event significantly. With more space, they were able to host additional sellers and operational layouts than ever before, which made a huge difference in the overall vibe of the event. The hall was buzzing with visitors checking out the trains, vendors showcasing a huge variety of items, and, of course, lots of people stopping by to check-out our display. It was wonderful to see so many new faces and fellow enthusiasts, all excited to share in the joy of the hobby.

This year, our club assembled the largest layout we’ve ever put together, and it was amazing to see. The display featured a massive train yard, plenty of intricate scenery, and, of course, lots of trains.

One of our members introduced a new module in celebration of the Big Chuck and Little John Show. The module recreates the show’s opening scene, bringing a little piece of Cleveland TV history to life in miniature form. The centerpiece is a replica of the Fox 8 Studio building, where Big Chuck and Little John were filmed.

Around the building are iconic characters from the show—Little Flash, Soul Man, Stash, and, of course, Big Chuck and Little John. But the real fun comes from King Kong, who is terrorizing the studio in a nod to the chaotic opening sequence that fans of the show will remember fondly. It was a blast to see people’s reactions as they reminisced about the antics of Big Chuck and Little John.