Sheldon Warren Cheney
Encyclopedia
Sheldon Warren Cheney was an American
author, born at Berkeley, California
, the son of Lemuel Warren Cheney (1858–1921), California lawyer and writer. At first he worked in his father's real estate business, later moving to Detroit where he founded the Theatre Arts Magazine in 1916 and edited it until 1921. Cheney was one of the most significant pro-modernist theatre and art critics of the early twentieth century. He helped introduce European modernist practices in theatre to the United States. His "Theatre Arts Magazine" promoted American little theatre activity, advocated for New Stagecraft design, and nurtured new American playwrights.
Sheldon Warren Cheney was born on June 29, 1886, and grew up in Berkeley, California, in what he called “an atmosphere of literary ambition and activity.” His father, Warren Cheney, was an author of poetry and fiction, and served as editor of the popular California magazine, Overland Monthly. The younger Cheney had a passion for the art of bookmaking and, while studying architecture
at Berkeley, founded a quarterly journal for designers and collectors of bookplates—his first foray into the field of magazine publishing. He graduated in 1908 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. During his studies, Cheney also developed a love for theatre, inspired largely by performances of Greek drama he had attended at Berkeley’s outdoor Hearst Greek Theatre
. In the years immediately following his graduation, Cheney married Maud Maurice Turner and found intermittent work as an art and theatre critic.
In 1913, Cheney began studying drama at Harvard University
. While there he attended the Boston installation of New York City’s legendary Armory Show, an experience of modern art which fostered Cheney’s growing fascination with new art and theatre. He began to write on the subject of modernism, and his first book, The New Movement in the Theatre, was published in 1914. It was around this time that Cheney decided to create a new journal focused on progressive ideas in the theatre.
Cheney served as the main editor and writer for Theatre Arts Magazine from 1916-1921. Upon the October 1921 publication of the last issue of Volume V, Cheney removed himself from the editorial staff. He continued to contribute occasional articles for some years but was never again on the staff.
Cheney later remarked that he left in order to pursue professional theatre practice. He joined the Actor’s Theatre in New York briefly, but there is no record of Cheney’s actual participation in any professional work with the group.
After Cheney ceased editorship of Theatre Arts Magazine in 1921, he began writing more about modern art. His multiple editions of "A Primer on Modern Art" helped frame the discussion of modernist painting and sculpture until the 1950s.
In 1945, he departed from his usual vocation with his book, Men Who Have Walked with God, tracing mysticism through history, concentrating on eleven men from Lao-Tse and the Buddha
to Jacob Boehme and William Blake
.
Among his books are:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author, born at Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, the son of Lemuel Warren Cheney (1858–1921), California lawyer and writer. At first he worked in his father's real estate business, later moving to Detroit where he founded the Theatre Arts Magazine in 1916 and edited it until 1921. Cheney was one of the most significant pro-modernist theatre and art critics of the early twentieth century. He helped introduce European modernist practices in theatre to the United States. His "Theatre Arts Magazine" promoted American little theatre activity, advocated for New Stagecraft design, and nurtured new American playwrights.
Sheldon Warren Cheney was born on June 29, 1886, and grew up in Berkeley, California, in what he called “an atmosphere of literary ambition and activity.” His father, Warren Cheney, was an author of poetry and fiction, and served as editor of the popular California magazine, Overland Monthly. The younger Cheney had a passion for the art of bookmaking and, while studying architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
at Berkeley, founded a quarterly journal for designers and collectors of bookplates—his first foray into the field of magazine publishing. He graduated in 1908 with a bachelor’s degree in architecture. During his studies, Cheney also developed a love for theatre, inspired largely by performances of Greek drama he had attended at Berkeley’s outdoor Hearst Greek Theatre
Hearst Greek Theatre
The William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre, known locally as simply the Greek Theatre, is an 8,500-seat amphitheater owned and operated by the University of California, Berkeley in Berkeley, California, USA....
. In the years immediately following his graduation, Cheney married Maud Maurice Turner and found intermittent work as an art and theatre critic.
In 1913, Cheney began studying drama at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. While there he attended the Boston installation of New York City’s legendary Armory Show, an experience of modern art which fostered Cheney’s growing fascination with new art and theatre. He began to write on the subject of modernism, and his first book, The New Movement in the Theatre, was published in 1914. It was around this time that Cheney decided to create a new journal focused on progressive ideas in the theatre.
Cheney served as the main editor and writer for Theatre Arts Magazine from 1916-1921. Upon the October 1921 publication of the last issue of Volume V, Cheney removed himself from the editorial staff. He continued to contribute occasional articles for some years but was never again on the staff.
Cheney later remarked that he left in order to pursue professional theatre practice. He joined the Actor’s Theatre in New York briefly, but there is no record of Cheney’s actual participation in any professional work with the group.
After Cheney ceased editorship of Theatre Arts Magazine in 1921, he began writing more about modern art. His multiple editions of "A Primer on Modern Art" helped frame the discussion of modernist painting and sculpture until the 1950s.
In 1945, he departed from his usual vocation with his book, Men Who Have Walked with God, tracing mysticism through history, concentrating on eleven men from Lao-Tse and the Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
to Jacob Boehme and William Blake
William Blake
William Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker. Largely unrecognised during his lifetime, Blake is now considered a seminal figure in the history of both the poetry and visual arts of the Romantic Age...
.
Among his books are:
- The New Movement in the Theatre (1914)
- Art-Lovers Guide to the [Panama Pacific International] Exposition (1915)
- The Art Theatre (1917)
- The Open Air Theatre (1918)
- Modern Art and the Theatre (1921)
- A Primer of Modern Art (1924)
- The New World Architecture (1930)
- Art and the Machine (1936)
- The Theatre (1929)
- Stage Decorations (1928)
- 'Expressionism in Art (1934)
- Men Who Have Walked with God: Being the Story of Mysticism through the Ages Told in the Biographies of Representative Seers and Saints with Excerpts from Their Writings and Sayings (1945)[
External links
- Sheldon Cheney at the James A. Michener Art Museum
- Conversations with Sheldon Cheney: oral history transcript and related material, 1974-1977