The Hope Jones organ dominates the view, front and center, during the Choir Festival in the Great Auditorium, Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Paul Goldfinger photo. From the Garden State Theater Organ Society during a Choir Festival. Ushers march.
The Garden State Theatre Organ Society (GSTOS.ORG) was founded in 1973 to preserve the historic tradition of the Theatre Pipe Organ in American music. Based in northern and central New Jersey, we restore remaining specimens of the instrument where possible, encourage theatres to preserve them, and showcase them to the public for entertainment.
Paul Goldfinger photo. Preparing for a concert in the GA.
Choir Festival.
BELOW IS GORDON TURK ON THE HOPE-JONES ORGAN IN OG; FROM HIS RECORDING “SUMMER ECHOES”.
“Chanson Romance” by Claude Debussy recorded in the OG Great Auditorium.
Paul, I thoroughly enjoy reading your posts in Blogfinger: A Digital Breeze from the Jersey Shore” What I like, and what makes it unique, is that your blog identifies pertinent issues in our community, examines those issues, and provides supporting documentation. In all your discussions, the reader always knows where you personally stand.
In particular I appreciate your reporting on the proposed North End Development and the ever-on-going parking issues throughout the Grove. Just as important is your commitment to building community. Bringing together people for Garden Tours and other activities makes us all stronger. It builds connections and friendships, and establishes a network of support for one another. It’s one of the most important things you do.
I thoroughly enjoy the various pieces of music you select and was especially moved by 2CELLOS – Benedictus (by Karl Jenkins).
It would be nice to let people listen to some Ocean Grove musicians. My daughter Freya, a 5th generation Ocean Grover who lives with her husband in California, is a cellist/multi-media artist. On June 4th she joined the NY Phil at the Lincoln Center in playing a work that she had composed. Her work can be found at Cellista.net or on Facebook. There are many talented musicians in our community, and it would be nice to hear their work occasionally.
In sum, thank you for all your work. It’s part of what makes us a community.
GAYLE PACKARD, OCEAN GROVE.
Editor’s note: Thank you Gayle. You must be so proud and thrilled about Freya’s success.
Your kind words are much appreciated. The serious music offered in the Grove by the CMA is wonderful—first rate. I agree that providing opportunities for Ocean Grove musicians to perform, especially in the Great Auditorium would be amazing, and perhaps Jason Tramm and Gordon Turk would consider making that happen.
I also would like to see more small musical events such as inviting serious players to take the roll of street musicians. Currently it is a rare sighting. Below this letter is such an event when a flautist brought a small measure of joy to Main Avenue.
Tent Village. July 19, 2025. Dusk. Paul Goldfinger photo. Blogfinger.net. Click once to enlarge the “OG Underground.” It’s an evolving demographic for this historic town of Ocean Grove, NJ, USA.
This image is from the summer of 2025. Paul Goldfinger. Blogfinger.net OG
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor. Blogfinger.net. Ocean Grove, N.J. USA.
As I passed this young woman, she was watering the flowers along the edge of Tent Village in Ocean Grove, NJ, taking her time while her two small children played nearby. She and her family are here, occupying her best friend’s tent, during one of the loveliest times in the Grove—the end of August. They are from Pennsylvania, and they seemed so happy to be here.
Sometimes we have to look around through the eyes of visitors, especially those who get to stay here for awhile.
The temperate weather now is so pleasant: the light is soft, the breezes gentle, and there is no humidity. As we have pointed out, there is something ethereal about the Tent Village when it is occupied by soft spoken people, children, flowers, and, oftentimes, by the sweet sounds of the Hope-Jones organ or the voices lifted high coming from inside the Great Auditorium with glorious choral harmonies sometimes accompanied by symphonic ensembles.
But the effect is sustained mostly by the voices of those who are chatting on porches, kids on skateboards, or parents relaxing within the protective safe-zone of the Village.
When I went home and stood in my own garden near Heroes Park, a tiny boy, 3 years old, approached me and said hello. His name was Abraham, and as he stood there with me, his mom caught up. I invited them in to see our pond fish.
Abraham and his family are from Yonkers, NY, and he has been visiting the Grove for the last 3 years, while his parents have been coming for the last 7. His Mom is originally from Sweden, and aside from Abraham’s enthusiasm and a three year old’s natural cuteness, he is bilingual. He pointed to a flying insect and said, “Dragonfly.” He was correct, and his mom took it all in stride. Abraham and I conversed in Swedish/English for awhile , and then he went home to sleep.
So, a couple more visitors caught up in OG’s gentle end of summer.
THE BAND PERRY: “Gentle on My Mind” this version won a 2015 Grammy nomination. It also won Grammies in 1968 for the composer and for Glen Campbell.
“Ever smilin’ ever gentle on my mind
Gentle on my mind
You’re gentle on my mind.”
By Paul Goldfinger, MD. Editor @Blogfinger Reposted from 2011 on BF.
Nineteen years ago, when Tony Bennett appeared in the Great Auditorium for the first time, the tenor soloist in Ocean Grove, Ronald Naldi, was asked to sing the Star-Spangled Banner. He did so gladly because he is a great admirer of Mr. Bennett’s work. When Mr. Naldi learned that Tony Bennett was returning this season, he volunteered to sing the National Anthem again.
The audience of over 4,000 people was thrilled by Mr. Naldi’s performance. He was accompanied on the Hope-Jones organ by his 23 year old grandson Sean Gough of North Plainfield, New Jersey; his magnificent tenor voice resonated and soared through the massive wooden structure.
Ronald Naldi sings the National Anthem at the Bennett concert. Photo by Tracey James
Mr. Naldi is a professional singer with the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and he has been the tenor soloist in Ocean Grove for the last 38 years. Several years ago he was honored by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association when they named him “Artist-In-Residence.”
Ronald Naldi was born in New Jersey. He is a member of the Italian-American Hall of Fame. During the summer, he and his wife spend weekends in their tent. He is a member and soloist with the Great Auditorium Choir and, when he is not in the Grove or traveling around the world, he lives in North Plainfield.
We discussed the acoustics in the GA with Mr. Naldi, who has appeared throughout the world in great opera houses. He said that the acoustics are “incredible” in the GA and he loves to sing in that “unique huge” building. He told us that he sings without amplification in the GA as do all the singers and musicians who perform the famous sacred and classical works that are staged regularly in Ocean Grove each summer. The only time they use a microphone is when a recording is being made. Performing in the Great Auditorium has been likened to playing inside a giant cello.
Ronald Naldi is a Blogfinger fan, and we were delighted and privileged to be able to speak to him. He has recorded four CD’s: two are of Neapolitan music while the other two contain songs composed by Maria Lombardo and Dennis Hyams—both from New Jersey.
This song, Santa Lucia, is from Mr. Naldi’s album “Torna a Surriento.” It is a traditional Neapolitan composition from the 19th century. If you were to take the boat ride into the “Blue Grotto” off the Isle of Capri, near Naples, the boatmen like to sing this song while they row around in circles inside the grotto. If you emerge through the small opening unscathed, you will have this song reverberating in your dizzy head for days.
An early detail of the OG North End. Library of Congress map of OG and A. Park 1881. No North End hotel. There is the Ross bathing pavilion located there, by the ocean. The North End is otherwise shown as a barren lot. Click to enlarge.
By Paul Goldfinger, MD. Editor of Blogfinger.net. Latest post 7/17/2016. Our archive contains many articles about this topic. This is a sad ending.
This quote is from a 2006“New Jersey Corporate Real Estate News Blog”. Title of this article is “Town Trustees OK Redevelopment Plans.”
The date is Thursday, March 30, 2006.
It says, “The trustees of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association have approved a plan by Wesley Atlantic Village Enterprises LLC, or WAVE, to redevelop the site with a combination of a hotel, condos, retail, and other commercial space, a parking structure ad a pool. Now, the site I patently ready for redevelopment.”
According to Scott Rasmussen, president of OGCMA, “The approval culminates a several-year process during which some 50 developers showed interest in the project.”
“The project still has a way to go before ground can be broken, according to William Gannon, a local attorney who heads the WAVE partnership.”
“In the case of the WAVE partnership, the association has agreed to a 99 year renewable lease, the terms of which were not disclosed”
Gannon said that the “plans are still in the early stages, and the developer and local officials both say its design will be consistent with the community’s Victorian flavor.”
Editor: What the CMA said above: “50 developers showed interest in the project.” This sounds like nonsense…Where is the evidence that shows WAVE competing with other developers?
Editor’s note 1/25/2025: Here is a Blogfinger link about the earliest plans for the North End of OG:
