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William Heaton Papers

folders (1.25 linear feet)

(circa 1900 – 2006)

bulk 1920-1950

Edward H. Nabb Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury, University, Salisbury, Maryland

Identifier 1993.007
Creator(s) Heaton, William
Acquisition

Donated by Dan King in 1993.
Language(s) English, English
Use Records are open for research. Copyright, including literary rights, belongs to the author(s) or their legal heirs. Permission to publish or reproduce must be obtained from the Nabb Research Center which extends beyond "fair use."
Preferred Citation "Item, collection title and identifier, box # and folder # (if applicable), Edward H. Nabb Research Center for Delmarva History and Culture, Salisbury University, Salisbury, Maryland."
Attribution Finding aid written by Emily Jester, August 2021
Related Materials

Curtis and Helen Williams' Playbill Collection (1983 – 2019)
Separated Materials

Folder 4: Songs Heaton Wrote is at the bottom of the collection.
Abstract

This collection contains items and documents from the musical career of William Heaton Whitworth, more commonly known as William Heaton, spanning circa 1900-2006 (with the bulk from 1920-1950). William Heaton was born in England in 1891 and moved to Massachusetts in 1909. He traveled the country performing with various theatre groups. In 1914, while docked in Maryland with the James Adam Floating Theatre, he met Agnes Tawes, the woman he would marry just two-weeks later in Salisbury, Maryland. He continued his musical career, playing the organ and piano for the Carolina Theatre, Palace Theatre, Hunt’s Casino Theatre and New Arcade Theatre. In 1944, Heaton and his wife opened Heaton’s Karmel Korn, a popcorn stand on the Ocean City Boardwalk. Heaton died of a heart attack in 1952, at the age of 61.

Biographical History

William Heaton Whitworth was born in England in 1891.[1] He moved to Massachusetts in 1909 where he began his musical career, traveling the country with numerous theatre groups performing musical numbers. He decided to use his middle name, Heaton, in show business, since people had a difficult time pronouncing his last name. In 1914, Heaton joined the James Adams Floating Theatre where they docked for a show in Crisfield, Maryland. While there, he met Agnes Tawes, the woman he would marry just two-weeks later in Salisbury, Maryland. Heaton continued to make music at the new Arcade Theatre that opened on Main St. in Salisbury. He also played the organ for the Ulman Opera House and Carolina Theatre, and had 3 radio shows on WSAL radio. In 1944, Heaton and his wife opened a popcorn shop on Ocean City Boardwalk, Heaton’s Karmel Korn.[2] He continued to make music and run his family’s popcorn shop until his death. Heaton died of a heart attack while driving back from Ocean City on September 17, 1952, at 61 years of age.

 

 

[1] United States Census 1930, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRHH-JFP?i=13&cc=1810731&personaUrl=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AX34Y-PM1

[2] Bunk Mann, 2021, https://mdcoastdispatch.com/2021/01/28/vanishing-ocean-city-with-bunk-mann-145/

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains items and documents from the musical career of William Heaton Whitworth, known simply as William Heaton, spanning circa 1900-2006. Within it are his scrapbook, containing advertisement clippings from shows at the Carolina Theatre, Palace Theatre, Hunt’s Casino Theatre, and New Arcade Theatre, featuring Heaton as the organist. As well as Heaton’s sheet music folder, labeled “William Heaton Organist," and many pieces of sheet music, both owned and written by Heaton. There is also a handwritten manuscript and final copy of his book, Chord Playing Accompaniment and Ear Playing for the Piano, a black and white photo of a jazz band with “Perry-Pix Photographic Illustrations Salisbury, Maryland” stamped on the back, and a copy of the sheet music for the song “The Good Old Eastern Shore,” written by Dale Wimbrow of Whaleyville, Maryland. A copy of Heaton’s obituary and a handwritten biography written by Heaton’s grandchild are also in the collection. 

Arrangement Statement See Nabb Center Staff

Subject Terms

  • Topical Terms
    • Music
  • Personal Names
    • William Heaton Whitworth
  • Location Terms
    • Ocean City (Md.)
    • Salisbury (Md.)

Inventory List

The inventory list for this item is hidden due to its length. Click the button below to view it.

Box 1:

  1.  Advertisement clippings for musical shows, undated.
    • Journal owned by William Heaton (signed Mr. William Heaton) with a cardinal on the front. Inside are clippings from newspaper advertisments for performances featuring Heaton on the organ.
  2. Sheet music folder, undated. 
    • Hardback sheet music folder. The front of the folder reads, "William Heaton Organist."
  3. Early Manuscript and Book, 1921.
    • Handwritten manuscript for Heaton's book, as well as a copy of the published book: Chord Playing Accompaniment and Ear Playing for the Piano, copyright 1921.
  4. Songs Heaton Wrote [SEPERATED], undated
    • A collection of sheet music and lyric music, handwritten by William Heaton.
    • Seperated folder is at the bottom of the collection.
  5. Scores Heaton Owned, 1917-1945.
    • A collection of sheet music owned by William Heaton. The copyright of the music spans from 1917-1945.
  6. Obituary and Handwritten Biography, 1952.
    • Scanned copy of Heaton's obituary from 1952, as well as a handwritten 2-page biography on Heaton by his grandchild. 
  7. Photo of Old Jazz Band, undated.
    • Black and white photo of a jazz band. The back of the photo reads, "Perry-Pix Photographic Illustrations Salisbury, Maryland." 
  8. Dale Wimbrow Song and Bio, 1928, 2006.
    • Sheet music for the song "The Good Old Eastern Shore" copyright 1928, and a printed out article from delmarvanow.com talking about Dale Wimbrow.

Artifacts

See Nabb Center Staff

Attachments

None