rock 'n' roll hall of fame question

[growup]

mindy and I are going to see the shows in ohio and was thinking of taking a visit to the hall of fame.

How much time do we need to thoroughly see the exhibits?

any help is appreciated

thanks

[ForYou]

Try not to rush through like I did at the opening. There's a lot of reading and the film presentations are one of the best parts but they take a little longer. On the VFC tour I went one afternoon with Laurie and a second day with Dari and Geeboss. Try to allow as much time as you can.

[Silver]

I've been there a million times, and I still can spend the whole day there every time I go.

[LakerTramp]

When I went in Feb. they were doing some construction so part of the place was closed off (by the way, Cleveland in february is a lot of fun for a So Cal guy)...anyway, I was disappointed...at least at the Hard Rock I can get a decent burger...

[BruceNut]

http://www.rockhall.com/

[ohcarol]

I'd recommend allowing at least a half a day for the regular dispays, with an option for more if there's a special exhibit that looks interesting (looks like it's "Tommy" now with Pete's handwritten manuscript!). Don't skip the movies -- I always get such a kick out of the videos of 50's and 60's HOF people, and the video where Joe Strummer talks about why being at a live rock & roll show is so special just nails it for me every time I go.

The one thing I'm always disappointed about with that place is the gift shop. I wander out so jazzed by all the music and the people's stories that I just want to give them all my money, but I can never find anything in the gift shop that's anywhere near as cool as the stuff I've seen inside.

Have fun!

[BruceNut]

I for one cant wait to hear where orthy says to visit while in Cleavland :D

[admiralkosmos]

The experience, really, for me, was sitting in the only highly amplified movie theater dead center in the heart of the rock and roll building and listen to Jimi.

Listen...really hear...James Hendrix rip the top of your head off, throw a memory or two in the skull bowel and snap that back on.

Mindblowing.

The Bruce exhibit? Disappointing at best.

The exhibits from The Wall? Immense.

It is worth seeing if you care about the art form and the history and the day I was there for Vote for Change, they had 10s and 10's of Les Pauls and other electric guitars hooked up with effects boxes and earphones and you could sit and play. I was a boy once again.

A boy with a guitar, just like Jimi once was before he stepped on the slipstream to the stars.

[indyandi]

I was there two years ago and was hugely disappointed. Maybe I should try again, but it didn't move me. Sigh. Anticipation (in this case) did not surrender to satisfaction. At the time, the Springsteen "exhibit" was a 3 foot by 6 foot wall with some handwritten lyrics and old photos. All I could do was stand there with my mouth hanging open thinking "wait, someone doesn't get it." By contrast, KISS costumes and other "important" (?? really, who decided what was important in this museum?) artifacts from the band got a whole room. And I do mean room. If a visitor walked in from, say, Australia and didn't grow up during/live through/become transformed by some great moment in the history of rock and roll, they would never be able to get an accurate understanding. Artists who didn't seem all that influential get huge exhibits, and the ones who were--and still are--get little space.

I walked away feeling confused and disappointed. I also wondered how much the politics of the music business played into the exhibits themselves. I'm from the Motor City and a huge fan of the MC5/Iggy Pop garage band punk "thing" that informed so much of and laid the groundwork for bands like Pretenders, et al. That part of the history seemed to be missing.

For someone who enjoys history, and has a deep passion for all music, I found the Country Music HOF in Nashville to be enchanting, entertaining, surprising, and fairly vibrating with the passion and energy that a love of music can give. It impressed me as an exhibit that had been mounted by people who care -- people who are fans. That same passion and commitment just didn't seem present in Cleveland.

Oh well. Like I said, maybe I should go back. Or, maybe Silver has a good idea - it might take several times to "get" it.

Try it! Hope you enjoy it or find some redeeming dimension of it that satisfies you. Report back!

Andi

[downsdway]

Curious if anyone had this experience...

A friend of mine went and she came away sad because of all the early deaths in Rock N Roll. Was it just my friend or has anyone else noticed anything similar?

[salukidave]

I love the Hall and I think they did a great job with it. I highly recommend taking in the short movies along the way. I'd say it takes about six hours if you want to give everything a halfway decent look.

[Silver]

Re. the movies - you MUST see "Mystery Train" - it shows in the first theater when you walk into the main exhibit hall on the lower level. I've seen it at least 20 times, and It gets better each time...

[MEW]

I can't wait! Thanks for the Mystery Train tip, Silver.