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Thorvald Martin Tandberg

(1874-1970) American restaurant manager, maître d'hôtel, author

Thorvald Martin Tandberg (June 24, 1874 - November 8, 1970) was the maître d'hôtel of the Holmenkollen Turisthotel in Norway.

Thorvald Martin Tandberg (circa 1900)

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  • After I retired in 1940, I have been urged by friends and family, to put down on paper, my many experiences in the vocation which I had adopted, the hotel and restaurant field. I know that a Memoir [is] generally written [about] services to mankind, I can lay no claim to hotel and restaurant field. I know that a memoir is written about men or woman, that [have] achieved greatness through services to mankind, such as writers, scientists or industrialists. I can make no claim to such recognition, however, as my services [have] been required in higher places, which only a few get a chance to accomplish, many in our line of business often remain at the same jobs their whole life without having the opportunity to advance themselves to higher offices. Many have tried, but only a few are chosen. I have been fortunate of being one of the few, as I at an early age of 29 became manager of one of the finest resort hotels in Norway, after spending nine years learning, first the kitchen, then the dining room, then the front office and so on. It was a wise man that made this statement: "Do not slight the man on your way up, for you will meet him on your way down". How true, for after having been on the top and as you grow older one begins to slide back. Edgar Guest has written, that it takes a heap of living to make a home, and its from the heap, that I have plucked the scraps.

Quotes about Tandberg

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  • We think we once wrote something, in connection with coincidence, about Thorvald Tandberg, of Detroit, missing a boat in 1898 that was sailing abroad — and then foundered off Cape Cod with her crew and all 157 passengers aboard. One of the summations we didn't get on that story is that if Mr. Tandberg had caught that ship — he missed it by one minute — was that America would have 51 less Americans today. For, surviving, Tandberg had many descendants, including 15 grandchildren and, thus, far, 31 great grandchildren. Today you got to watch your step crossing a street if you want descendants. Which shows how you narrow down the probabilities with the possibilities.
  • We know that quite a few people, from school days, have carried over a little feat of memory — the ability to name the capitals of all 48 states. Maybe you're one of them. Now we have heard from Thorvald Martin Tandberg, of 14280 Robson street, who has done better than that. He has memorized those 48 and the capitals of all the nations, protectorates and provinces. He says if we care to test him out by tossing such things at him as "Cyprus" he'd come back with "Necocia." Or if we tested him with "Jordan" he'd answer "Am-man." And if we thought of something tougher like "Mozambique" he'd reply "Lorena Marquis." Or say "Bhutan" and he'd quickly tell on its capital is "Punanks." He says he has about 150 of them at his tongue-tip. We think that is a pretty good memory for a fellow who is only 82.
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