Roger Tilton (1924-2011) was an American filmmaker and documentarian.[1][2] Tilton has been recognized as a pioneer in the development of IMAX large screen film format due to his work in the Omnimax format in the 1970s and 1980s.[3][4]

Roger Tilton
BornJanuary 14, 1924
East St. Louis, Illinois, United States
DiedMay 22, 2011
Occupation(s)Filmmaker, documentarian
Known forOmnimax; Garden Isle
SpousePat Tilton

Background

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Roger Tilton was born in East St. Louis in 1924.[5] During World War II, Tilton served as a combat merchant marine in the U.S. Navy. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Stanford University, a Master of Arts from Columbia University, and a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Iowa. In the 1950s, Tilton taught film at Columbia University and the City College of New York.[6][7]

Career

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In the 1950s, Roger Tilton founded a film company named Roger Tilton Films, Inc. Roger Tilton was an innovator in the development of Omnimax film technology.[8] In 1968, Tilton was awarded at the Atlanta Film Festival.[9] In addition to his work in cinema, Tilton also directed advertisements for television.[10]

Jazz Dance

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In his 1954 film Jazz Dance, Tilton attempted to illustrate jazz music through film.[11] In 2002, David Butler wrote that Tilton conceived Jazz Dance "as a response to the fact that 'so many films on jazz have been phony, plaster-of-Paris glamorizations of jazz. What is needed is a film which will let people experience real jazz.'"[12] The soundtrack to the film features American jazz musicians Willie "The Lion" Smith, Pee Wee Russell, and Pops Foster.

Pilots North

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Tilton's 1981 documentary Pilots North discusses bush pilots in the Canadian North. Following its release, the Edmonton Journal wrote that Pilots North "recalls a bold era" with "breath-taking photography."[13] The Edmonton Journal also celebrated the film for depicting how "pilot navigators challenged the elements to supply and service the inhabitants of the [Canadian] North and open the way for present aerial routes linking Eastern and Western Canada with the North and Far South."[13] Pilots North was narrated by Lanny Lee Hagen and Canadian aviator Stanley Ransom McMillan worked as a technical advisor for the film.[14] The score to the film was written by Canadian composer Tommy Banks.[15][16][17]

Spiker

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Tilton's 1985 feature film Spiker was a sports drama film centered on the United States Olympic volleyball team at the 1984 Summer Olympics.[18][19][20]

Personal life

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Roger Tilton was married to Pat Tilton. Roger Tilton passed away on 22 May 2011.

Filmography

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Year Title Director Writer Producer
1954 Jazz Dance[21] Yes Yes No
1958 Seven Guideposts to Good Design[22] Yes Yes Yes
1967 Revolution in Industrial Power[23] Yes Yes No
1968 Shelter: The Psychological Aspects of Disaster Nursing[24] Yes Yes Yes
1973 Garden Isle[25] Yes No No
1973 Standing Up Country[26] Yes No No
1975 Viva Baja[27] Yes No Yes
1979 The Force[28] Yes No Yes
1981 Pilots North[28] Yes No Yes
1985 Spiker[29] Yes Yes No

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Nunes, John (December 1, 1983). "Spotlight on Filming in SD County; Film to Show the Long Road to Olympic Gold". Escondido Times-Advocate. pp. 12–13.
  2. ^ Urquidez, Dina (November 29, 1981). "Local Stars Shine In Cavern Horror Flick". Carlsbad Current-Argus. p. 5.
  3. ^ Gonzalez, Blanca (2011-06-11). "Producer/Director Was Pioneer In Omnimax films". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2020-08-11.
  4. ^ "Movies". Escondido Times-Advocate. December 1, 1983. pp. 16–17.
  5. ^ "Roger Tilton - Obituary". San Diego Union-Tribune. May 29, 2011.
  6. ^ Bowie, Theodore (Spring 1955). "Art Film Roundup". College Art Journal. 14 (3): 193. doi:10.1080/15436322.1955.10795726. S2CID 191629786.
  7. ^ Fiske McCullough, Jane (July 1957). "Good Design on Film". Industrial Design. 4 (7): 17.
  8. ^ "Unique New Space Theatre for a Spectacular Multi-Media Show". American Cinematographer. 54 (8): 988–989, 1064–1065. August 1973. ProQuest 196324599 – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ "Tilton Films Score In Atlanta Festival". Back Stage. 9 (19): 7. May 10, 1968.
  10. ^ "Tilton Finishes Grocery Spot". Back Stage. 24 (51): 25. December 30, 1983.
  11. ^ Hughes, Alice (August 31, 1954). "A Woman's New York". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. p. 12.
  12. ^ Butler, David (2002). Jazz Noir: Listening to Music from Phantom Lady to The Last Seduction. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 10. ISBN 978-0275973018.
  13. ^ a b "Film Recalls A Bold Era". The Edmonton Journal. July 20, 1982. p. 79.
  14. ^ "Roger Tilton Films Pilots North". Quorum Quotes: International Quorum of Film & Video Producers: 6–7. Winter 1981.
  15. ^ Banks, Tommy (1981). "Productions of music for the Documentary and Industrial Film entitled "Pilots North"". The Provincial Archives of Alberta.
  16. ^ Banks, Tommy (1984). "Pilots North - film soundtrack for Northlands". The Provincial Archives of Alberta.
  17. ^ "Audio Production Projects". The Works Active Media. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
  18. ^ "Olympic Volleyball Team Film Subject". San Pedro News-Pilot. December 13, 1983. p. A7.
  19. ^ "Behind The Camera: Volleyball Movie Is Timed To Get An Olympic Boost". Detroit Free Press. January 20, 1984. p. 2C.
  20. ^ Mulcahy, Susan (August 26, 1984). "Stones' Families Growing: Team Work". St. Joseph News Press. p. 9F.
  21. ^ Buchanan, Jason, "After Hours: Jazz Dance - Roger Tilton", AllMovie
  22. ^ Educational Film Locator of the Consortium of University Film Centers and R. R. Bowker Company. R.R. Bowker. 1990. p. 1787. ISBN 9780835226240. OCLC 881300214.
  23. ^ "International Harvester Company Film Collection, circa 1930s-circa 1980s". digicoll.library.wisc.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-27.
  24. ^ Educational Film Locator of the Consortium of University Film Centers and R. R. Bowker Company. R.R. Bowker. 1990. p. 1797. ISBN 9780835226240. OCLC 881300214.
  25. ^ Carr, Robert E.; Hayes, R. M. (1988). Wide Screen Movies: A History and Filmography of Wide Gauge Filmmaking. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company. p. 334. ISBN 978-0899502427.
  26. ^ "Standing Up Country". Film Making. 12. Penblade Publishers: 38. 1974.
  27. ^ "Motion Pictures and Filmstrips: July-December 1975". Library of Congress Catalog of Copyright Entries: Third Series. Library of Congress Copyright Office. 1976. p. 96.
  28. ^ a b "San Diego Filmography". San Diego History Center | San Diego, CA | Our City, Our Story. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  29. ^ Spiker (1985) - Roger Tilton | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related | AllMovie, retrieved 2020-10-14
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