Henry Hilton Roy Schleman (February 1905 – 10 February 1952) was an English publicity agent, air force officer, editor, and author who wrote on early 20th-century jazz music.
Early life
Born at Bush Hill Park, Middlesex, the only son of Henry Anthony William Schleman (1865–1915), a master mariner, and his wife Nellie Maud Dixon, he was educated at Cranleigh School.[1][2] His father died in March 1915, when Schleman was ten.[3]
Career
In 1926, Schleman received a short-service commission into the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer.[4]
By 1929, Schleman was editor of the Western Electric Courier and the Western Electric Exhibitor, publications of the Western Electric company.[5] In May 1932, he was appointed as studio press representative of Paramount British Productions.[6] He was later a record company publicity agent for United Artists in London.[7] His book Rhythm on Record: A Complete Survey and Register of All the Principal Recorded Dance Music from 1906 to 1936, and a Who's Who of the Artists Concerned in the Making, which was printed in 1936 by Melody Maker and reprinted in 1978 by Greenwood Press[8] remains a foundational work on early jazz music.[9]
In August 1940, Schleman returned to the Royal Air Force as a pilot officer.[10] In May 1941, he was promoted to Flying Officer.[11]
Personal life
On 15 June 1940, at St Mary Abbots, Kensington, Schleman married Jean Frances Winifred Phyllis Lockhart (1909–1987), known as Freda Bruce Lockhart, a younger sister of the diplomat and spy R. H. Bruce Lockhart and the Indian Army general Rob Lockhart, herself an actress and film critic.[12][13] There were no children of the marriage.
Schleman appears to have separated from his wife by the time of his death in February 1952, at 13 Albany Crescent, Edgware, as probate on his estate valued at £6,715 was granted to May MacGregor, single woman.[14] In June 1952, under her maiden name, Freda Bruce Lockhart returned from Cape Town on RMS Andes, giving a different home address, in Holland Park, W8.[15]
Selected publications
Hilton R. Schleman, Rhythm on Record: Who's Who and Register of Recorded Dance Music 1906–1936 (London: Melody Maker, 1936)
References
- ^ "Henry Hilton Roy Schleman", in 1921 United Kingdom census, Cranleigh School, Surrey, 19 June 1921: Marital Status Single / Age 16 Years 4 Months / Birth Place Bush Hill Park, Middlesex, England / Residence Place Cranleigh School, Surrey, England
- ^ Marriages Solemnized at Saint Thomas's Church, Clapton Common, Hackney, 24 Jul 1903
- ^ "SCHLEMAN Henry Anthony William of 51 Welbeck-street Middlesex died 13 March 1915... Effects £3316" in Wills and Administrations (England and Wales) 1915 (1916), p. 163
- ^ The London Gazette, 1 October 1926, Issue:33207, p. 6297
- ^ "Western Electric Courier", The Bioscope, Wednesday 11 December 1929, p. 44
- ^ "MEN AND MOVEMENTS", Kinematograph Weekly (London, England), Thursday 12 May 1932, p. 31
- ^ Walter C. Allen, editor, Studies in Jazz Discography I (Institute for Jazz Studies at Rutgers University, 1971), p. 38
- ^ Schleman, Hilton R. Rhythm on Record, 1936/1978, ISBN 0313202575
- ^ Atkins, Jerry (1990). "Magnificent Obsession: The Discographers". JazzDiscography.com. Retrieved 8 January 2011.
- ^ The London Gazette, 20 September 1940, Issue:34949, p. 5589
- ^ The London Gazette, 11 July 1941, Issue 35217, p. 4004
- ^ "FORTHCOMING MARRIAGE: Mr H. R. Schleman–Miss F. Bruce Lockhart The engagement is announced between Hilton Roy only son of the late Captain H. A. Schleman and of Mrs Schleman, of 29 Queen Anne Street, London W., and Freda only daughter of Mr Robert Bruce Lockhart...", The Scotsman, Wednesday 1 May 1940, p. 8
- ^ "BIRTHS MARRIAGES & DEATHS... SCHLEMAN–BRUCE LOCKHART On June 15, 1940, at St. Mary Abbot's Church, Kensington, Roy Schleman to Freda Bruce Lockhart.", Kensington Post, Saturday 22 June 1940, p. 4
- ^ "SCHLEMAN Hilton Roy of 13 Albany-crescent Edgware Middlesex died 10 February 1952", Wills and Administrations (England and Wales) 1952 (1953), p. 74
- ^ "Freda Bruce Lockhart" in UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960, Port of Departure Cape Town, South Africa / Arrival Date 3 June 1952 / Port of Arrival Southampton, England / Ship Name Andes / Shipping Line Union-Castle Mail Steamship Company Ltd
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