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Lamont Tilden Toronto Globe & Mail obituary
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Robert Catt
Aug 13, 2011, 11:32:00 AM8/13/11
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'This is Lamont Tilden, speaking' That voice, speaking the line that ended
thousands of CBC radio newscasts, arts and entertainment programmes, and
live broadcasts of state events on both radio and television for 40 years
has been stilled. Neil Lamont Tilden, known affectionately as Monty Tilden,
died this week in Toronto having just passed his ninety-eighth birthday.
Lamont Tilden was a presenter for the CBC from the late-1930s to the
mid-1970s. He was the longest-living CBC broadcaster from an era when
formality and precision in language and personal presentation was the
hallmark of the public broadcaster. In the early part of his career, he went
to London and a stint with the British Broadcasting Corporation to ensure
that its standard - still evident in the BBC's World Service radio and World
News television - was instilled in the CBC's presenters. According to the
letter recommending him to the BBC as a broadcaster from a Commonwealth
country, he was described as 'intelligent, a hard worker, has had valuable
experiences in radio and is particularly anxious to perfect himself by
further studies.' It is difficult to exaggerate the extent of Lamont
Tilden's broadcasting career. Many examples can be found online at the CBC
Archives. He reported on public events ranging from royal tours, the
openings of parliament and state funerals, to Santa Claus parades. In a time
before television, when cooking shows on radio had to be scripted as
dramatic performances, he could be found in Eustella Langdon's kitchen
helping her create her latest culinary treat. She always referred to him as
'Mr. Tilden,' perhaps to impress upon some listeners that his presence
helping in her 'kitchen' was a purely formal relationship. He was also in
broadcast studios presenting the country's great artists such as Glen Gould.
Whether a state occasion, a cookery program or an arts presentation, Lamont
Tilden's on-air presentation involved a greater or lesser degree of a
dignified voice. The formality might stray a bit when, for example,
broadcasting a Santa Claus parade: 'And there he is now, the old gentleman
himself, with his great white beard and red suit, greeting all the children
with a hearty `Merry Christmas'' and then rhyming off the names of children
who might be listening, including the names of his own children who indeed
were listening. His presentation on television was both on and off screen.
As a lead news presenter, he 'anchored' the national news. But he was also
heard on 'cutaway' Canadian ads on shows originating in the United States.
He extolled the virtue of cars on the weekly CBC broadcast of the CBS
eclectic entertainment programme 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' and managed the
same with cheese-related concoctions on NBC's weekly dramatic programme
'Kraft Television Theatre.' In addition to regular programming, Lamont
Tilden also 'anchored' hastily arranged news programmes now styled 'Breaking
News,' but indeed important breaking news. The most notable example,
available on the CBC's online archive, is the CBC's lengthy television
broadcast a few hours following President John F. Kennedy's assassination.
He rarely 'flubbed' a scripted line. But if he did, he quickly recovered
with an apology. One example was expressed on another 'breaking news' item:
the launching of Sputnik, the first man-made item sent into orb around the
Earth. Having said that the satellite was 'in an electric orbit,' he quickly
corrected himself with his usual aplomb and an apology to the listeners:
'I'm sorry. That's `in an elliptical orbit'.' Perhaps he was apologizing for
the news writer. The early years of Lamont Tilden's broadcasting career were
momentous times, notably when announcing the outbreak of the Second World
War and later being a steady, informative voice relating both good and bad
news. He hosted the 'Merchant Navy Program' and he was with British Prime
Minister Churchill when he addressed Canadians from the Citadel in Quebec
City. In the later years of Lamont Tilden's career he presented two major
radio music programmes: the weekly 'Folk Sounds,' devoted to important
Canadian folk music arranged by the musicologist Edith Fowke, and
'Divertimento,' a late-afternoon week-day music programme that probably was
a boon to listeners stuck in congested 'after work' traffic. He was amused
by one listener who complimented him on his 'Italian programme.' Though
Lamont Tilden retired from broadcasting in the 1970s, he continued to work
with the CBC as a language counsellor, not only instructing 'newcomers' on
the proper use of the King's English, but also giving important lessons on
breathing, how to do it and when to do it without impeding the flow of
speech. Among papers retained by his family are scripts that contain his
pencilled markings on scripts indicating emphasis and breathing. In his
years away from the microphone, the CBC sent him to northern stations to
give lessons. Elizabeth Hay's prize-winning novel Late Night on the Air
relates the lives of several unlikely people who toiled in a radio station
in Yellowknife. A reader might wonder if Lamont Tilden was the inspiration
for her unnamed character whom the CBC 'brass' sent north to improve their
standards. Lamont Tilden was born into a large family in rural southwestern
Ontario. Apparently his earliest experience in broadcasting was playing a
guitar and singing on a local station operating in Harriston in the 1920s.
In the early 1930s, he moved to Hamilton where he worked on a more
conventional station, CKOC that, as most private stations, was affiliated
with one of the two CBC radio networks. It was there that two important
events occurred. He met Lilian Williams, a librarian who, with him and
others, participated in a local drama group. He and Lilian married and had
four children - Linda, Cynthia, Janice and John. His work on CKOC also came
to the attention of the CBC in its formative years, and thus began his
association with the Corporation. Lilian Tilden, who wrote timely columns
for women in The Globe and Mail and the Family Herald died unexpectedly in
the 1960s. Later, he married Margaret Heap Sangster, who had been a pianist,
performing with her brother Harry, and had been widowed following the death
of the musicologist and broadcaster Alan Sangster. Lamont Tilden is survived
by Margaret, his children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren
living in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. One
charity that Lamont Tilden's family strongly supports is the Canadian Down
Syndrome Society. They would appreciate memorial donations in his name to
the Society or any other worthy charitable organization.
thousands of CBC radio newscasts, arts and entertainment programmes, and
live broadcasts of state events on both radio and television for 40 years
has been stilled. Neil Lamont Tilden, known affectionately as Monty Tilden,
died this week in Toronto having just passed his ninety-eighth birthday.
Lamont Tilden was a presenter for the CBC from the late-1930s to the
mid-1970s. He was the longest-living CBC broadcaster from an era when
formality and precision in language and personal presentation was the
hallmark of the public broadcaster. In the early part of his career, he went
to London and a stint with the British Broadcasting Corporation to ensure
that its standard - still evident in the BBC's World Service radio and World
News television - was instilled in the CBC's presenters. According to the
letter recommending him to the BBC as a broadcaster from a Commonwealth
country, he was described as 'intelligent, a hard worker, has had valuable
experiences in radio and is particularly anxious to perfect himself by
further studies.' It is difficult to exaggerate the extent of Lamont
Tilden's broadcasting career. Many examples can be found online at the CBC
Archives. He reported on public events ranging from royal tours, the
openings of parliament and state funerals, to Santa Claus parades. In a time
before television, when cooking shows on radio had to be scripted as
dramatic performances, he could be found in Eustella Langdon's kitchen
helping her create her latest culinary treat. She always referred to him as
'Mr. Tilden,' perhaps to impress upon some listeners that his presence
helping in her 'kitchen' was a purely formal relationship. He was also in
broadcast studios presenting the country's great artists such as Glen Gould.
Whether a state occasion, a cookery program or an arts presentation, Lamont
Tilden's on-air presentation involved a greater or lesser degree of a
dignified voice. The formality might stray a bit when, for example,
broadcasting a Santa Claus parade: 'And there he is now, the old gentleman
himself, with his great white beard and red suit, greeting all the children
with a hearty `Merry Christmas'' and then rhyming off the names of children
who might be listening, including the names of his own children who indeed
were listening. His presentation on television was both on and off screen.
As a lead news presenter, he 'anchored' the national news. But he was also
heard on 'cutaway' Canadian ads on shows originating in the United States.
He extolled the virtue of cars on the weekly CBC broadcast of the CBS
eclectic entertainment programme 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' and managed the
same with cheese-related concoctions on NBC's weekly dramatic programme
'Kraft Television Theatre.' In addition to regular programming, Lamont
Tilden also 'anchored' hastily arranged news programmes now styled 'Breaking
News,' but indeed important breaking news. The most notable example,
available on the CBC's online archive, is the CBC's lengthy television
broadcast a few hours following President John F. Kennedy's assassination.
He rarely 'flubbed' a scripted line. But if he did, he quickly recovered
with an apology. One example was expressed on another 'breaking news' item:
the launching of Sputnik, the first man-made item sent into orb around the
Earth. Having said that the satellite was 'in an electric orbit,' he quickly
corrected himself with his usual aplomb and an apology to the listeners:
'I'm sorry. That's `in an elliptical orbit'.' Perhaps he was apologizing for
the news writer. The early years of Lamont Tilden's broadcasting career were
momentous times, notably when announcing the outbreak of the Second World
War and later being a steady, informative voice relating both good and bad
news. He hosted the 'Merchant Navy Program' and he was with British Prime
Minister Churchill when he addressed Canadians from the Citadel in Quebec
City. In the later years of Lamont Tilden's career he presented two major
radio music programmes: the weekly 'Folk Sounds,' devoted to important
Canadian folk music arranged by the musicologist Edith Fowke, and
'Divertimento,' a late-afternoon week-day music programme that probably was
a boon to listeners stuck in congested 'after work' traffic. He was amused
by one listener who complimented him on his 'Italian programme.' Though
Lamont Tilden retired from broadcasting in the 1970s, he continued to work
with the CBC as a language counsellor, not only instructing 'newcomers' on
the proper use of the King's English, but also giving important lessons on
breathing, how to do it and when to do it without impeding the flow of
speech. Among papers retained by his family are scripts that contain his
pencilled markings on scripts indicating emphasis and breathing. In his
years away from the microphone, the CBC sent him to northern stations to
give lessons. Elizabeth Hay's prize-winning novel Late Night on the Air
relates the lives of several unlikely people who toiled in a radio station
in Yellowknife. A reader might wonder if Lamont Tilden was the inspiration
for her unnamed character whom the CBC 'brass' sent north to improve their
standards. Lamont Tilden was born into a large family in rural southwestern
Ontario. Apparently his earliest experience in broadcasting was playing a
guitar and singing on a local station operating in Harriston in the 1920s.
In the early 1930s, he moved to Hamilton where he worked on a more
conventional station, CKOC that, as most private stations, was affiliated
with one of the two CBC radio networks. It was there that two important
events occurred. He met Lilian Williams, a librarian who, with him and
others, participated in a local drama group. He and Lilian married and had
four children - Linda, Cynthia, Janice and John. His work on CKOC also came
to the attention of the CBC in its formative years, and thus began his
association with the Corporation. Lilian Tilden, who wrote timely columns
for women in The Globe and Mail and the Family Herald died unexpectedly in
the 1960s. Later, he married Margaret Heap Sangster, who had been a pianist,
performing with her brother Harry, and had been widowed following the death
of the musicologist and broadcaster Alan Sangster. Lamont Tilden is survived
by Margaret, his children and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren
living in Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. One
charity that Lamont Tilden's family strongly supports is the Canadian Down
Syndrome Society. They would appreciate memorial donations in his name to
the Society or any other worthy charitable organization.
http://v1.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/Deaths.20110813.93271984/BDAStory/BDA/deaths
Matthew Kruk
Aug 13, 2011, 2:26:31 PM8/13/11
to
"Robert Catt" <bob_...@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:j265dj$ate$1...@dont-email.me...
> 'This is Lamont Tilden, speaking' That voice, speaking the line that
> ended
news:j265dj$ate$1...@dont-email.me...
> 'This is Lamont Tilden, speaking' That voice, speaking the line that
> ended
Fabulous. Thanks for the post Robert.
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