During the 1920s and 30s "Bolton worked at a tremendous rate on shows … beautifully constructed, and full of fun and excruciating puns." When the Gershwins began to take a more serious tone, with "Of Thee I Sing", Bolton persisted with his "frothy confections" for other composers. He moved to London, where he wrote (or co-wrote, generally with Thompson and sometimes also with Douglas Furber) the book for "a series of highly successful romps" starring London's leading music comedy performers such as Jack Buchanan, Leslie Henson, Bobby Howes, Evelyn Laye and Elsie Randolph, in shows including "Song of the Drum" (1931), "Seeing Stars" (1935), "At the Silver Swan" (1936), "This'll Make You Whistle" (1935; film version 1936), "Swing Along" (1936), "Going Places" (1936), "Going Greek" (1937), "Hide and Seek" (1937), "The Fleet's Lit Up" (1938), "Running Riot" (1938), "Bobby Get Your Gun" (1938) and "Magyar Melody" (1939).