Thursford Founders Day 16th March 2008
Hello everyone Just to let you all know that the Thursford Founders Day will take place on Sunday 16th March 2008. Mechanical organs will be in play from 10am-4.30pm with Robert Wolfe shows on the Wurlitzer at 1.30pm and 3pm. The event is being organised in conjunction with FOPS, MOOS and KDV. For those of you that haven't been to Thursford before, the collection houses some very fine organs by makers such as Gavioli, Marenghi, Carl Frei, Hooghuys, Wellerhaus, Decap and Mortier and these can be found along with showmans engines, traction engines, steam rollers and the gondola and gallopers roundabout. Regards David 8)

Hi David, There also the new George Cushing hall that opened last year which has got more exibits inside. Ben :)

Hello everyone, I read with interest in 'Old Glory' that we will have unlimited access to the new hall, which is normally only viewed on the special backstage tour. See you all there. Wear your badges with pride! Rob.

Am I alone on here in being a bit disappointed how the original "Founder's Day" concept at Thursford (i.e. all the mechanical organs playing extended repertoire not normally heard on commercial open days for the benefit of enthusiasts) has been watered down in the past few years? So disappointing to travel all that way just to attend what is now the first opening of their season and listen to a book on each and then hours of Robert Wolfe's indifferent cinema organ playing...12 street rag at break neck speed, etc. I think the KDV, FOPS and MOOS, if they are really associated with this event, should do a collective moan about this change in policy to the Thursford management.

thursford founders day
Hi Jory, Robert Wolfe only plays only two half hour sessions. The theatre organ is part of the collection after all. Regards Pete

That's 2 half hours too many for me, Pete! I've never thought cinema organ nostalgia (which I like) sits very well with mechanical organ collections. One detracts from the other.

Although I won't be able to attend this event at Thursford, I sort of agree with Jory. I don't mind the Wurlitzer, but on my visits (my last was about 7 years ago) I've been somewhat frustrated - as a mechanical organ enthusiast - that an 'operator' darts from one organ to the next without so much as an introduction to the organ. And on being asked a question simply tells you to refer to the small panel by each organ. Contrast this with Paul Corin's collection in Cornwall where each question leads to a very informative conversation. I wish I'd know Thursford in George Cushing's earlier days! However, I do have George's autograph on the Mortier/Carl Frei double CD!

I don't know what the fuss is about. Robert Wolfe has played in exactly the same mechanical fashion for decades. It is a mechanical organ day is it not? :lol: :lol: :lol:

Hello everyone, Well on Founders Day you get about 1/2 hr on each organ plus the longer opening hours, so it's not to be sniffed at. The Wurlitzer keeps the numbers of normal punters up so they can justify opening for longer. It's a trade off. Let's just be thankful that we are allowed to hear these instruments at all, in a wonderful environment. Go & have a cuppa when the Wurlitzer is playing... Rob.

Anyone going to th MOOS AGM at Cotton the day before? I wont be at Thursford though, I would be ex-communicated if I went to two events the same weekend!!! Regards Robert Washington :org:

Hello everyone, To understand Jory's point of view (which I happen to agree with) you need to cast your mind back a few years to where it all began...... What set the mould for the pre-season open day now known as 'Founder's Day' was an event organised by MOOS as part of their AGM weekend at Sheringham (in 2001 if memory serves me correctly). After a lot of hassling the Thursford management, the Society was granted access on the last Sunday before the season started. Part of the agreement for going in was that the Wurlitzer was NOT played - a request they were happy to comply with as it would have meant extending Robert Wolfe's contract for another week. The day went extremely well, I think around 250 people turned up to enjoy just listening to the organs for half-hour sessions, the restaurant did a roaring trade and everyone went home happy, especially at seeing George Cushing looking so pleased at people enjoying this organs. Several people commented on how the atmosphere that day was like the old days of the 1960s before the collection was commercialised. I can't remember if it was repeated in following years, but following the death of George Cushing, it was decided to call it 'Founder's Day' in honour of the man and the mechanical organs that he had loved and collected. The organisation was taken over for a while by History in Harmony and latterly by Austin Burgess. It has only been since 2006 that the Robert Wolfe slots have been introduced, the official reason being for that year that it clashed with half term holidays (I have an e-mail from Austin confirming this) and unfortunately it seems to have stuck. The 'watering down by stealth' process has continued as I understand from local organ owners I saw there last year was Thursford had published a voucher in one of the local papers (possibly the Eastern Daily Press - I don't know for sure) giving a hefty discount off admission for the day! I don't mind hearing a well maintained and well played theatre organ but I don't care for the 'let's play everything at top speed approach'. If I want to listen to something going at Mach 2 then I'll play a recording of Concorde in full flight (it's more musical). I also have a copy of a letter Austin sent following the first 'Founder's Day that states 'have agreed to go ahead for next year and in her words “every year - while the numbers hold up” so it really is a case of - use it, or lose it.' So although I will be there and will enjoy the extended playing of the organs (and let's be quite blunt here - they need it) trust me when the Wurlitzer starts up, I'll be in the cafe, 'using the facilities' or if it's a nice day wandering around the grounds - anywhere where I can get as far away from it as possible! Jeremy.

I too, cannot believe the fuss that is being raised by the Wurlitzer organ being played for a total of 1 hour out of 6 on Sunday. Before I go on further, I should state that Robert Wolfe is a personal friend of many years. Jory's statement about "hours of Robert Wolfe's indifferent cinema organ playing" is an insult to someone who has been resident at the Museum for 27 years and is reknowned the world over for his playing. Only last year he was asked to play at the 25th Anniversary of a Wurlitzer installation in New Zealand. No other organist was invited to do this, or even considered, such is his reputation as a world-class player. I would also refer you to last years comments when it was stated that Robert's presence in 2006 actually increased the numbers on "Founders Day". Thursford are part of the "Residents First" voucher scheme in The Eastern Daily Press Newspaper which, I believe, happened to coincide with last year's opening, it was not something done just by themselves, there were many other attractions listed. The Museum needs every penny it can get during the Summer due to poor visitor numbers. Even Austin Burgess is trying to reduce the numbers attending the Summer concerts by saying in the "Old Glory" magazine that they have been cancelled this year when they have not. They take place in June, July, August and the Proms Concert is in September. The admission price for the Summer has been increased to £7.50 Adults and £7.00 Senior Citzens, a rise of 25% over last year, although this does give rides on the Gallopers, Gondolers and Childrens ride. For those that do not like the Wurlitzer they can go to the restaurant during the times it is played, but remember this; George Cushing himself loved the instrument and, during his lifetime, was a member of Robert Wolfe's Fan Club.

Thursford Founders Day 16th March 2008
Hello all, I must say that I too have known Robert Wolfe for a number of years and fully agree with Brian's posting. Whilst I appreciate that everybody has the right to their own opinion, I personally do strongly feel that some of these are being expressed in the most deliberately offensive manner possible. Why on earth must some members set out to deliberately offend? if these members do not like Robert and/or the Wurlitzer then they have a clear choice either visit but vacate the concert hall during the Wurlitzer sessions or do not visit at all. After all we all have likes and dislikes in life and find certain things offensive (for example a certain members favourite videos on 'Youtube') but most of us choose to ignore these and just get on with the things that we enjoy. At the end of the day we should be thanking Robert for his efforts at Thursford which have benefited our hobby greatly (remember some people visit the venue to hear Robert and then discover a liking for the mechanical organs) and along with the Christmas shows he has played a major part in ensuring the long term survival of the collection. I do not intend to go into this topic much further as like some other post on this forum I believe that it has been deliberately hijacked to get a argument started, but I would like to think that we could let the late George Cushing have the final word on this subject and so will quote a paragraph from his book 'Steam at Thursford': 'The Wurlitzer's were made, like the fairground organs, to entertain the ordinary people on holiday. They look different, but I think that they compliment each other, and that we did the right thing including them in the same building. After all, the cinemas started on the fairgrounds and the histories of the two kinds of instruments are interlinked. I like too see the audiences still enjoying the organs and riding on the gondolas the way they always did years ago. That way I know that things are still doing their job.' Best wishes, Trevor.

A very good day at Thursford with a lot of people present. John Cushing gave a frank talk about the collection, the costs of housing it and maintaining it and why he has run the business "his way". To see so many "as found" steam engines and rollers lined up under one roof was amazing. I suppose I ought to mention that organs played all the time we were there. A great day.