Guest Post: Craig Dudley (Boyton) Great Grandson Of Capt. Paul Boyton

By Craig Dudley (Boyton)

It was quite early on that I was aware of who my celebrated Great Grandfather, Capt. Paul Boyton was, simply because of my closeness to my grandfather, Joseph Boyton (second oldest son of Captain Paul Boyton). Furthermore, I was raised around two of his other sons; Paul Boyton (formerly Claude Boyton, who changed his name in tribute of his brother who had died of meningitis) and Father Neil Boyton S.J. whom I admired greatly, not to mention in overwhelming awe, but it was my Grandfather Joseph who actually lived with us. He was admired and respected by many and his affiliation with the Ringling Bros Circus and his wife, Adela Evans whom he met there when she was a showgirl flyer who possessed among many other talented performing abilities.

Whenever my paternal grandmother would come to care for my sister I would be relegated to my grandfather’s bedroom which to me was the national gallery of Boyton memorabilia all over the walls..my first real look at this mysterious celebrated man of adventure…I would read my Golden Books and stare about the room’s museum waiting for my grandfather to return from work…before he even had his hat off, (and it was the straw one that fascinated me), he would be on to stories..if only I had a tape recorder or the sense to write things down as he narrated, but I was a kid, a child in fascination..it would be difficult to fall asleep with all that exciting history..I would imagine myself going down the rapids or on the Tagus River waiting for the King of Spain or unaware of the fellow making me coffee and what if Billy The Kid was-all true? A lot of my life was fashioned in that room of glorious wonder and true life imagination….various people of note in my grandfather’s life would appear even at times unannounced such as circus performers who worked with my grandmother, one I think was DRAPO THE GREAT..apart from not realizing what was truly there, something about their presence, though unaware, drove a beginning passion into me for the performing arts…many were funny and I do remember them making me laugh.

On certain occasions we received the presence of Marie Tilyou, daughter of the famed George C. Tilyou of the Steeplechase Park in Coney Island..I was led on like Speranza’s guest bio to Oscar Wilde before any reception, that Miss Tilyou was someone of reverence..however looking back and vaguely, that it was the reverse, Marie was taken by my grandfather..in a way she was attending the Court of the Boyton name, for my Great Grandfather did assist George C. Tilyou in reviving his park and always in return we were given access to the Amusement Park and Pool…we had a membership to the Long Shore Beach Club, Rockaway near Breezy Point and went there during the summers. But then one summer I found myself at the Steeplechase Pool Club which I adored and created a whole new world adventure for myself..I brought my best friend Victor and we were ever so inseparable. Marie gave the word in my parents living room that if and when we wanted to use the Amusement Park, just go to Jimmy in the Palladium, then a second new world appeared to me..it was the most exciting adventure ride of my childhood..years later in both Disneyland and Disney World never gave me the same impact as it did in Steeplechase Park, the last of the glory of Coney Island! I do remember being greeted by this revered woman, Marie Tilyou at the front gate entrance to the Pool and Park..certainly she knew we were coming, whether my grandfather was with us or not I don’t recall, but it would sound logical that he must have been, simply because Marie was there..I remember walking with her to the entrance into the pool area which was on the right not far from the entrance to the roller coaster…to me that was the world and life of innocence and every acquired emotion and sensation was the greatest gift of youth.

How unlike today in a world of unfulfilled dreams of make believe…those make believe images were still there when I was a kid roaming about Coney Island..across the street from Steeplechase Park was the Tilyou Theatre and there were my greatest memories of celluloid imagination, sitting in the box seat to the upper left of the theater with Grandfather..he loved the movies and we had Carte Blanche at the box office…”hello Mr. Boyton and Mr. Craig, two tix coming up!”

I loved the side shows which were still around up until the early sixties, especially the one near Feltman’s (which had a child’s dream of an arcade!) and that barker so convincing to what mysterious forbidden wonders were behind that curtain, that I, in a trance would give up my dime to see this terrifying image whatever, then inside , another nickel, you got to see the main event, whatever it was, you just believed it…yes, looking back we were fooled but really I ‘d be fooled again just to win back one of those days again!

 

Imagine what it was like when my Great Grandfather walked onto this desert world of Coney Island and built the first for Coney, SEA LION PARK, its first construction with SHOOT THE CHUTES to stir the imagination of those willing to be children always! There are many other stories faded now but its history will always surface from somewhere from someone who still carried on the thoughts and ideas from a bygone era…we will be remembered! Through this incredible childhood I had, it catapulted me into the professional theatre and frankly I feel I have been carrying on my family tradition as I believe Captain Paul Boyton would have wanted me to….

 

See Craig Dudley as Oscar Wilde in the one person play:

Diversions and Delights

by John Gay

March 5-8, 2015

Reserve now on the updated webpage:

www.tetcny.org