Roger Tilton

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
Born	(1924-01-14)January 14, 1924 East St. Louis, Illinois, United States
Died	May 22, 2011(2011-05-22) (aged 87) San Diego, California
Occupation(s)	Filmmaker, documentarian
Known for	Omnimax; Garden Isle
Spouse	Pat Tilton

Background

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

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

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

Main article: Pilots North

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

Main article: Spiker (film)

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

Roger Tilton was married to Pat Tilton. Roger Tilton died on 22 May 2011.

Filmography

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

• OmniMax