THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Frank E. Tilton in Princess Ida

Frank E. Tilton (1920-24)

[Born Highton, Liverpool 26 April 1896, died Paddington, London 2 Apr 1958]

Frank Edward Tilton joined the D'Oyly Carte Repertory Opera Company chorus in March 1920. In September of that year he married D'Oyly Carte chorister Marguerite Kynaston. Tilton served with the Repertory Company until January 1924 when he transferred to the D'Oyly Carte "New" Opera Company. While with the Repertory Company Tilton appeared for some time as Giorgio in The Gondoliers (1921-23), Go-To in The Mikado (1922-23), filled in on occasion as Bill Bobstay in H.M.S. Pinafore and Pish-Tush in The Mikado during the 1921-22 season, and shared Pish-Tush and Giuseppe in The Gondoliers with Sydney Granville in 1923-24.

In January 1924 Tilton transferred to the D'Oyly Carte "New" Opera Company as principal baritone replacing Henry Millidge as Captain Corcoran in H.M.S. Pinafore, Strephon in Iolanthe, Pish-Tush in The Mikado, and Luiz in The Gondoliers. When the limited "New" Company was revamped in July Tilton's roles were Captain Corcoran, Pish-Tush, Sergeant Bouncer in Cox and Box, Old Adam Goodheart in Ruddigore, and the Lieutenant of the Tower in The Yeomen of the Guard. He left the D'Oyly Carte organization in December 1924. His marriage to Miss Kynaston ended in divorce in July 1925.

Shortly thereafter (in June 1926) Tilton married former D'Oyly Carte artist Alison Stewart. The two of them would work together in variety and musical shows in London, the British provinces, and South Africa until 1937 when Miss Stewart left the stage.

Tilton's stage career extended until at December 1956, when he appeared on tour in his native Liverpool with Derek Oldham in the musical play Summer Song. He performed in London in The Duchess of Dantzig (Daly's, 1932), Sitting Pretty (Princes, 1939), Fun and Games (Princes, 1941-42), Arsenic and Old Lace (Strand and Cambridge, 1942-46), Belinda Fair (Saville, 1949), Queen Elizabeth Slept Here (Strand, 1949-50), Charley's Aunt (Saville, 1950-51), Zip Goes a Million (Palace, 1951), and Summer Song (Princes, 1956).

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