''Theatre Arts Magazine'', sometimes titled ''Theatre Arts'' or ''Theatre Arts Monthly'', was a

magazine A magazine is a periodical publication, generally published on a regular schedule (often weekly or monthly), containing a variety of content. They are generally financed by advertising, purchase price, prepaid subscriptions, or by a combinatio ...

published from November 1916 to January 1964. It was established by author and critic Sheldon Warren Cheney.

History

Cheney established the magazine as a quarterly publication with the support of the

Detroit Society of Arts and Crafts College for Creative Studies (CCS) is a private art school in Detroit, Michigan. It enrolls more than 1,400 students and focuses on arts education. The college is also active in offering art education to children through its Community Arts Part ...

, which provided him with a workspace and financial support. The society's support proved short-lived. When the United States entered World War I, censorship of German art became common. Cheney criticized this practice in the magazine's August 1917 issue, leading the society to drop its support. Cheney responded by moving the magazine to New York City. Cheney served as the magazine's

editor Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, photographic, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, orga ...

until 1921, with several co-editors being added as of volume three. With Cheney's departure, Edith J.R. Isaacs took over as the lead editor. In 1924, the name of the magazine changed to ''Theatre Arts Monthly'', and its frequency of publication increased to match the new title. In 1939 the name was changed again to ''Theatre Arts''. As an editor, Isaacs included arts such as music and dance in her view of "theatre". She supported the Little Theatre Movement and the establishment of the American National Theater and Academy. She publicized emerging artists, including

Martha Graham Martha Graham (May 11, 1894 – April 1, 1991) was an American modern dancer and choreographer. Her style, the Graham technique, reshaped American dance and is still taught worldwide. Graham danced and taught for over seventy years. She wa ...

, Robert Edmond Jones,

Jo Mielziner Joseph "Jo" Mielziner (March 19, 1901 – March 15, 1976) was an American theatrical scenic, and lighting designer born in Paris, France. He was described as "the most successful set designer of the Golden era of Broadway", and worked on both sta ...

, Donald Oenslager, Eugene O'Neill, and Thornton Wilder. In 1945 the magazine was purchased by Robert W. Dowling and Henry Steeger. Isaacs retired due to health issues in 1946, and Rosamond Gilder took over as editor. Across three years, Dowling and Steeger lost some $60,000. By the beginning of 1948, they were prepared to close the magazine down, but instead, they sold it to another publication, ''Stage'', which merged with it, keeping the ''Theatre Arts'' name. Charles MacArthur became the editor. Byron Bentley took over as editor and publisher in 1962.

References

Works cited

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External links

{{Commons category, Theatre Arts Magazine
Library of Congress for ''Theatre Arts Magazine'' (1916-1923)

Library of Congress for ''Theatre Arts Monthly'' (1924-1939)

Library of Congress for ''Theatre Arts'' (1939-1964)

WorldCat for ''Theatre Arts Monthly'' (1924-1939)

WorldCat for ''Theatre Arts'' (1939-1964)
* Handley, John Guy (1960)
"A History of 'Theatre Arts' Magazine: 1916-1948."
LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 622 Visual arts magazines published in the United States Monthly magazines published in the United States Defunct magazines published in the United States Magazines established in 1916 Magazines disestablished in 1964 Magazines published in Detroit Magazines published in New York City Theatre magazines