Hocken Digital Collections

Sinton, Walter James : Papers

Details

Reference NumberARC-0426CreatorSinton, Walter James, 1911-1980DescriptionThis collection relates mostly to entertainment in Dunedin, although it includes items relating to other New Zealand centres and to some overseas cities, particularly London. The collection covers many genres, including opera, vaudeville, stage plays, instrumental music, and vocal and instrumental recitals. Items include articles by Sinton, diaries of musical and theatrical events, minute books, scrapbooks, programmes, music scores, publications, clippings, and photographs. Most of the nineteenth century papers are to be found in the diaries and scrapbooks. These were compiled by various authors and subsequently collected by Sinton. Also included are records of Charles Begg and Company.
Only a small part of this collection is digitised and available through Digital Collections. Information about other items can be found on the Hākena catalogue, through the Library Catalogues link above.History / BiographyThe musician and businessman Walter Sinton was born in Dunedin on 4 May 1911. He was educated at Albany Street School and Otago Boys' High School. After spending ten years working in his father's butchery he took up a job as a salesman with the music firm Charles Begg and Company in 1936. Sinton was subsequently manager of the company's branches at Timaru and Palmerston North, and in 1944 he became assistant to the general manager at Dunedin. He was manager of the Dunedin branch from 1952, and eventually bought the branch after the company was dissolved in 1971.
Sinton was a percussionist in brass bands and a well-known xylophone soloist. He formed a lasting performing partnership with the pianist Margaret Gardiner, with whom he made broadcasts and recordings. Sinton was also known as an authority on the history of entertainment in Dunedin and he contributed many articles on this subject to the Evening Star newspaper in the 1970s.
Sinton married Margaret Veda McMurray in 1939 and the couple had three children together. Predeceased by his wife, Walter Sinton died in Dunedin on 4 December 1980.
(From 'Dictionary of New Zealand Biography', www.dnzb.govt.nz)

Photograph

Pettitt Family Bell Ringers

Jock McCaw's Saxophone Band

Dunedin Ladies' Brass Band

B.L.H. de Rose, conductor

Regent Operatic Orchestra

Quintet including Arthur J. Barth and Blanche Joel

George Wallace and an audience in the Princess Theatre

Albany Street School Senior Fife and Drum Band (large format)

Charles Begg and Company [Dunedin branch] staff

Charles Begg and Company Dunedin Branch staff picnic

Charles Begg and Company branch managers' conference, Palmerston North

Begg's Choir, Dunedin

The Stella Musicale

Archival Text

Testimonial from Nellie Melba praising the acoustics of His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin

George Wallace and an audience in the Princess Theatre

Depicts Or Relates To

SubjectsPerforming ArtsTheatreOperaVaudevilleAmateur theatricalsMusicMusic TeachersDanceCinemaRadio Broadcasting

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Sinton, Walter James : Papers

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