Brooks Atkinson
American theater critic and journalist, not a Persian or Central Asian poet.
Brooks Atkinson (November 28, 1894 – January 14, 1984) was an American theater critic and journalist, not a Persian or Central Asian poet. He worked for The New York Times from 1922 to 1960 and was called "the theater's most influential reviewer of his time."
Quick Facts
- Birth Name
- Justin Brooks Atkinson
- Birth Date
- 1894-11-28
- Birth Place
- Melrose, Massachusetts, U.S.
- Death Date
- 1984-01-14
- Death Place
- Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
- Occupation
- theater critic, war correspondent
- Years Active
- 1925–1960
- Employer
- The New York Times
- Known For
- Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Atkinson was born in Melrose, Massachusetts, to Jonathan H. Atkinson and Garafelia Taylor. He attended Harvard University, graduating in 1917, and worked at several newspapers before joining the Times. He married Oriana MacIlveen in August 1926. During World War II, he left the drama desk to report on the war, visiting Mao Zedong in Yan'an and writing favorably about the Chinese Communist Party. He served as Moscow correspondent and won the Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence in 1947. He returned to the theater beat until his retirement in 1960. He died on January 14, 1984, in Huntsville, Alabama.
Reader's Guide
Atkinson was known for his commitment to new kinds of theater and interest in all drama, including off-Broadway productions. He was a strong supporter of the Works Progress Administration and the Federal Theatre Project. His reviews could make or break a production; for example, his panning of Lawrence Riley's Return Engagement led to its closure after eight performances. He was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1960. The Mansfield Theatre in New York was named Brooks Atkinson Theatre in his honor between 1960 and 2022.
Did You Know?
- Atkinson dropped the 'J.' from his byline in 1932 and adopted a witty, direct writing style.
- He attempted to enlist in the US Navy after Pearl Harbor but was refused, then became a war correspondent in China.
- David Merrick's spoof ad for Subways Are For Sleeping had to wait for Atkinson's retirement because there was only one Brooks Atkinson in New York City.
- He came briefly out of retirement in 1965 to write a favorable review of Man of La Mancha.
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