Brooks Atkinson

Date of Birth: November 28, 1894

Zodiac Sign: Sagittarius

Date of Death: January 14, 1984

Biography

Brooks Atkinson was an influential American theater critic and journalist. Born on November 28, 1894, in Melrose, Massachusetts, he went on to become one of the most respected voices in theater criticism. Atkinson graduated from Harvard University in 1917 and started his journalism career at The Boston Globe. In 1922, he joined The New York Times, where he worked for over three decades, primarily covering Broadway. His reviews were known for their wit, insight, and fairness, which earned him the respect of both readers and theater professionals. Atkinson also authored several books, including a memoir titled “Broadway,” which provides a rich history of New York theater. His contributions to the field were so significant that a Broadway theater was renamed the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in his honor in 1960. He passed away on January 14, 1984, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence theater criticism.

5 Interesting Facts about Brooks Atkinson

1. Brooks Atkinson served as a theater critic for The New York Times from 1925 to 1960.

2. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Correspondence in 1947 for his reporting on the early days of the United Nations.

3. The Brooks Atkinson Theatre on Broadway was named in his honor in 1960.

4. Atkinson was known for his ability to recognize and champion emerging talent, including playwrights such as Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller.

5. He authored several books, including “Broadway,” which is considered a seminal work on New York theater history.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from Brooks Atkinson

1. “The most deadly disease in the world is self-deception.”

2. “Good plays drive bad plays out of your head. They improve your critical sense.”

3. “It seems not to have been written. It is the quintessence of life.”

4. “The only technique that counts is the technique of making the audience feel something.”

5. “In every age ‘the good old days’ were a myth. No one ever thought they were good at the time. For every age has consisted of crises that seemed intolerable to the people who lived through them.”