NHAHS presentation to explore the life of H. Clifton Thorbahn

For Gap resident Brett Snyder, acting vice president with the Historical Society of Salisbury Township, history is not merely a hobby. Snyder's business, PASTpaper.com, deals in rare magazines and other vintage paper items. Snyder first became interested in the life of noted Lancastrian H. Clifton Thorbahn about 10 years ago when he came across some photos and clippings of the man mounted on a board. "It was band and orchestra stuff and WGAL radio photos," said Snyder. "I thought, 'There's a story there,' but I put it aside.'" A year ago, Snyder's work brought him some copies of Lancaster Magazine, published from the 1950s to the 1970s. "The editor and owner was a guy named Thorbahn," recalled Snyder. "I thought, 'I know this name.' I looked at the scrapbook boards, and it was all his stuff."

Snyder will present the results of his research into Thorbahn's life in the New Holland Area Historical Society (NHAHS) program titled "H. Clifton Thorbahn: Lancaster Jazz Pioneer, Historian, Editor, and Publisher" on Thursday, March 16, at 7 p.m. in the chapel at Garden Spot Village, 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland. The public is invited to attend.

"When I started putting it all together, I thought, 'What a fascinating life this guy had,'" said Snyder of Thorbahn, who as a young man played checkers with Groucho Marx and then started one of the first jazz bands in Lancaster. "The band went on tour and played Warren G. Harding's inaugural ball," reported Snyder. When Thorbahn returned to Lancaster, he managed other bands. Snyder noted that Thorbahn also played the piano at silent movie theaters. "He was one of those guys who could play any song," said Snyder, who added that Thorbahn's father was orchestra director for the Lancaster schools. "There was a lot of music (talent) in the family," Snyder said.

Thorbahn also dabbled in education, serving as assistant principal at Salisbury High School and principal of Strasburg High School. In the summer of 1926, Thorbahn moved in a different direction when he co-wrote the Lancaster Pageant of Liberty, which was held at Franklin & Marshall. "It was a big historical pageant about Lancaster and the American Revolution," said Snyder, who noted that the show featured 600 singers and 400 dancers. Thorbahn segued into working for WGAL radio, where he produced, directed, and acted.

In addition to musical talents, Thorbahn began working in publishing, creating the first tourist guide for the Lancaster County, and writing history features for Lancaster Sunday News. Snyder added that Thorbahn was involved with a number of area historical societies. "He had his fingers in anything that was history."

By the end of the 1960s, Thorbahn was ready to retire, and he died in 1983. The scrapbook photos that originally inspired Snyder to research Thorbahn concentrate on his band period from 1919 through the late 1920s. "(Thorbahn) lived in a black-and-white world, but he lived a colorful life," said Snyder.

More information about NHAHS may be found at https://nhhistorical.com or by searching for "New Holland Area Historical Society" on Facebook.