Railroads played a formative role in the development of the United States, but history books rarely discuss the transient community which coalesced around the rails. "Hobo Jungles" will introduce audiences to the legacy of this historically and culturally significant segment of American society. The term "hobo" is thought to have derived from "homeward bound" soldiers or from migrant farm workers called "hoe boys." In the years following the Civil War, soldiers utilized the growing infrastructure of the railroads to return home. Aroused by distant opportunities, pioneers jumped trains to reach the unsettled frontier in the West. Workers flocked to the freights to escape bad luck and to seek employment during the Great Depression.
Today, people choose to ride the rails for various reasons. Down on their luck or escaping from an often traumatic past, "stamp tramps" use the network of steel rails for transportation between different states where they collect welfare checks and food stamps. "Recreational riders" or "yuppie hoboes" hop freights for the adventure, to seek inspiration, and as a respite from the tensions and stress of their everyday lives. The younger generation of riders includes artists, punks, and college students. While traditional migrant workers are quickly disappearing, some "fruit tramps" still follow seasonal harvests by freight train.
Culturally, the Hobo's lifestyle awakened the imaginations of generations of Americans. Their exploits and adventures served as a source of modern American folklore. Enamored by the freedom offered by the rails, a generation of American artists and writers escaped from the restrictions of society. Songwriters incorporated the imagery of the road into their lyrics and blues musicians played harmonies that mimicked the sounds of the railroad. The Hobo lifestyle fostered creativity: Hobo artists, writers, and musicians have produced an abundance of drawings, poems, and songs that are representative of their distinct culture.
The adventure on the rails still resonates in our popular culture. In the last year, articles have appeared in "Details," "Soma," "The San Francisco Chronicler," and "Metro Santa Cruz." David Lamb included a chapter on Hoboes in his book "The Americans." Published books by rail riders include Gypsy Moon's recent "Done and Been," and Duffy Littlejohn's "Hopping Freight Trains In America." Several 'zines in circulation sport rail inspired artwork and articles. Hot Wired and Stim put hobo content on their web sites and there are more than a handful of sites dedicated to the art and sport of rail riding. Internet 'boes can also subscribe to the train-hopper list-serve. The Discovery channel series "Amazing America" profiled the 1995 Hobo convention in Britt, Iowa. The convention itself attracts thousands of visitors fascinated by the Hobo legacy.
Previous films about riding the rails include "The Great American Hobo" and "Here Among the Sacrificed." Filmed in 1980, "The Great American Hobo" represents the first attempt to capture the Hobo experience on the rails, and "Here Among the Sacrificed," a more recent production, documents a personal adventure. Several other films are in various stages of production. "Hobo Jungles" will differ from other hobo films by featuring four distinct personalities and taking an in-depth look at the life of each character. "Hobo Jungles" will also achieve higher production values and construct a more compelling narrative.
In the past, tensions of race and class were minimized in Hobo jungles. Removed from the structures of society, individuals were judged by their abilities. Experienced hoboes took pride in passing their wisdom and knowledge of the road onto younger riders. During the Depression, groups of strangers would share a single car on a freight and camaraderie thrived around the jungle campfire. The rails today are not as friendly: the steel rails and moving cars are no longer the only danger. Current wisdom includes watching your back and avoiding rides with strangers. Many people fear members of a gang known as the Freight Train Riders of America (FTRA) whose reputation is analogous to the Hell's Angels. But, despite some changes, the communal tradition has survived: riders continue to share their goods, exchange stories, and give advice.
In "Hobo Jungles," Worthy Entertainment will provide audiences with a documentary film about an adventure steeped in culture and tradition. Offering an escape from computers, phones, freeways, and the complexities of modern life, audiences will encounter a simpler existence marked by unstructured days and majestic views. "Hobo Jungles" will introduce a group of potentially subversive individuals who consciously reject cultural myths and societal expectations in order to experience the freedom of the road. Whether viewed on the big screen or in the classroom on CD-Rom, "Hobo Jungles" is intended to encourage dialogue about American society and our contemporary culture.