William A. Dillon | |
|---|---|
 1927 publicity photo | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | William Austin Dillon |
| Born | November 6, 1877 Cortland, New York, U.S |
| Died | February 10, 1966 (aged 88) Burbank, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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William Austin Dillon (November 6, 1877 – February 10, 1966) was an American songwriter and Vaudevillian. He is best known as the lyricist for the song "I Want A Girl (Just Like The Girl That Married Dear Old Dad)" (1911), written in collaboration with Harry Von Tilzer.[1][2], which can be heard in Show Business (1944) and The Jolson Story (1946).
Dillon was born in Cortland, New York and performed in vaudeville with his brothers John and Harry, as well as with own act, billed as the "man of a thousand songs".[3]
Dillon married in 1918 to Georgia Leola Head, daughter of George and Mary (Steen) Head.
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He quit the vaudeville stage around 1912 after injuries suffered in a car accident, but remained active in the entertainment world as a songwriter andtheater operator. Dillon eventually returned to performing for troops in World War II and made television appearances.
He died in Ithaca, New York on February 10, 1966. [4]
- ^ Clift, Gene (25 March 1962). He Got The Girl, Just As The Song Said, Daytona Beach Morning Journal
- ^ Dabes, Ruth. Man of a Thousand Songs, The Rotarian (May 1953), p. 39
- ^ (3 October 1908). London Letter, The Billboard
- ^ (11 February 1966). Will Dillon dies; Lyricist was 89; Wrote 'I Want a Girl' With Harry Von Tilzer in '11, The New York Times