atkinson in drama department of new york times (september 1942)
atkinson born in melrose, massachusetts jonathan h. atkinson, salesman statistician , garafelia taylor. boy, printed own newspaper (using movable type), , planned career in journalism. attended harvard university began writing boston herald. graduated harvard in 1917, , worked @ springfield daily news , boston evening transcript, assistant drama critic. in 1922, became editor of new york times book review, , in 1925 drama critic. atkinson married oriana macliveen, writer, in august 1926.
on drama desk, atkinson became known commitment new kinds of theater—he 1 of first critical admirers of eugene o neill—for interest in kinds of drama, including off-broadway productions. in 1928, said of new play front page, no 1 has ground heels in grime of police headquarters press room complain argot misrepresents gentlemen of press. in 1932 atkinson dropped j. bi-line , embraced witty, direct writing style became hallmark.
his reviews reputed have power make or break new stage production: example, panning in 1940 of lawrence riley s return engagement led comedy s closure after 8 performances, despite fact riley s previous comedy, personal appearance, had lasted on 500 performances on broadway. atkinson, dubbed conscience of theater, not comfortable influence wielded on broadway box office.
after bombing of pearl harbor in december 1941, atkinson attempted enlist in navy, refused. requested reassignment war coverage, , new york times sent him front lines war correspondent in china, covered second sino-japanese war until 1945. while in china, visited mao tse-tung in yenan , captivated mao, writing favorably on chinese communist party (ccp) movement, , against nationalist government of chiang kai-shek, saw reactionary , corrupt. after visiting yenan, wrote ccp political system best described agrarian or peasant democracy, or farm labor party. atkinson viewed chinese communist party communist in name , more democratic totalitarian; times effusively titled article yenan, chinese wonderland city.
after end of war, atkinson stayed briefly in new york before being sent moscow press correspondent; work moscow correspondent times earned him pulitzer prize correspondence in 1947.
after returning soviet union, atkinson reassigned drama desk, remained until retirement in 1960. given credit growth of off-broadway major theatrical force in 1950s, , has been cited many influential people in theatre crucial careers. david merrick s infamous spoof ad subways sleeping—in hired 7 ordinary new yorkers had same names prominent drama critics praise musical—had wait atkinson s retirement, because merrick not find right name. there 1 brooks atkinson in new york city.
atkinson elected fellow of american academy of arts , sciences in 1960. came briefly out of retirement in 1965 write favorable review of man of la mancha; review printed on first page of show s original souvenir program. after retirement, became member of players organized tribute dinner atkinson s 80th birthday attended arthur miller, elia kazan, , other prominent actors , playwrights.
he died on january 14, 1984 @ crestwood hospital in huntsville, alabama. atkinson had moved huntsville farm in durham, new york in 1981 closer family.
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