Martin, John joseph, 1893-

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"John Martin (1893-1985) was the first critic to write full-time for a major American publication. His appointment to The New York Times demonstrated the importance of dance and hastened the development of dance criticism as an independent, specialized skill. As a tireless champion of modern dance, he helped establish it as a major American contribution to the arts. With remarkable foresight, after a period of disillusionment with the ballet, he predicted the course it could and did follow in renewing itself and reaching new heights."--introduction to the index by Malcolm McCormick, Dec. 2006.

From the description of John Martin : The dance / [scrapbooks originally compiled by John Martin and his wife ; facsimile reproduction with indexes compiled by Malcolm McCormick]. 1927-1962. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 192048264

John Martin (1893-1985) was America's first major dance critic. His early career was as an actor, publicist, and editor in both Louisville, Kentucky, and New York. After serving in World War I, Martin worked with the Chicago Little Theatre where he met his wife, Hettie Mick. Martin also studied the actor Konstantin Stanislavsky's system which emphasized moving with dramatic impulses that come from within.

In the early part of the century, ballets and other dance performances were reviewed by music or theater critics, who often had little to no interest in dance as an art. With the growth of modern dance and dancers - Ruth St. Denis, Martha Graham, and others - developing a language and protocol for dance criticism became necessary.

The New York Times hired Martin as its very first dance critic in 1927. As this was completely uncharted territory, Martin had to both educate the audience as to how to analyze what was happening onstage, and educate the dancers as to standards of professionalism. Determined that dance criticism would not become just a side note to general arts criticism, Martin began giving lectures on the role of the audience and other topics at the New School for Social Research and at Bennington College. Eventually, his thoughts on dance were compiled into his 1933 book The Modern Dance . Throughout his many articles and books over the years, Martin emphasized the need for the audience to keep an open mind to what the dancers were saying with their bodies, and for dancers to dance completely through inner compulsions, thus bringing about a truly honest art form. Other books by Martin include An Introduction to the Dance, John Martin's Book of the Dance, and America Dancing .

After retiring from the New York Times in 1962, Martin took a position at the University of California at Los Angeles. He remained there until 1967, when he returned to New York. In 1971 he moved to Saratoga Springs, New York to share a house with his close friend Zachary Solov. While in Saratoga Springs he continued to write, publishing Ruth Page: An Intimate Biograph y. He remained in there until the end of his life in 1985.

From the guide to the John Martin papers, 1890-1985, 1920-1975, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Lloyd, Margaret. Letter, 1946 Sept. 14, [Boston] to Ruth Page [Chicago] [1] p. on 1 l. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-1985. Letters to Pauline Lawrence Limón. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-. Reflections of ... : Los Angeles, Calif. : ms., 1967. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-1985. Poems to Ruth St. Denis. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Walter Sorell research files on Mary Wigman, 1927-1976 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Stravinsky-Diaghilev Foundation research files, 1920-1989. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
creatorOf Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. Ellen Van Volkenburg-Maurice Browne general correspondence, 1911- University of Michigan
referencedIn Herthel, Thomas Barnes, 1930-. John Martin, dance critic [microfilm] : a study of his critical method in the dance as theatre art / by Thomas Barnes Herthel. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-1985. "Madame Fichère" : a biography of Ruth Page. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-1985. Ruth Page : an intimate biography. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-1985. John Martin reception at Dance Collection, The New York Public Library. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Moore, Lillian. Scrapbooks. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Hellebrandt, Beatrice,. Scrapbook, no. 3: Clippings and programs. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-1985. Correspondence with Lillian Moore, 1930-62. (13 items). New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. Ellen Van Volkenburg-Maurice Browne general correspondence, 1911- University of Michigan
referencedIn Solov, Zachary, 1923-. Zachary Solov papers, 1870-2005 (bulk 1937-1977). New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-1985. Letters to Ruth St. Denis, 1935-1939. 23 items. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-1985. Miscellaneous manuscripts. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf New York Times. [Scrapbooks: Articles on the dance. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-1985. Scrapbook of clippings on New York City dance concerts, New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Hellebrandt, Beatrice,. Scrapbook, no. 2: Clippings. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Zachary Solov papers, 1870-2005, 1937-1977 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Sylvester & Harris correspondence concerning publication of Romola Nijinsky's, Nijinsky, 1923-1983 (inclusive), 1931-1951 (bulk). Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Kirstein, Lincoln, 1907-1996. Papers, ca. 1914-1991. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-1985. Letters to Helen Tamiris, Feb-May, 1965. (3 items). New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-. John Martin papers, 1890-1985 (bulk 1920-1975). New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-1985. Letter, 1929 June 21, New York to Sergeĭ Dyagilev, London. [1] p. on 1 l. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-1985. Correspondence. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Denby, Edwin, 1903-1983. [Dance scrapbook]. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
referencedIn Lincoln Kirstein papers, ca. 1914-1991 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
creatorOf Potter, Howard E. Correspondence, writings, photographs, publicity materials. New York Public Library System, NYPL
creatorOf John Martin papers, 1890-1985, 1920-1975 The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.
referencedIn Sorell, Walter, 1905-1997. Walter Sorell research files on Mary Wigman, 1927-1976. New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Page, Ruth,. Interview with Ruth Page. New York Public Libraries for the Performing Arts, Dance Collection
creatorOf Martin, John Joseph, 1893-. John Martin : The dance / [scrapbooks originally compiled by John Martin and his wife ; facsimile reproduction with indexes compiled by Malcolm McCormick]. New York Public Library System, NYPL
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith American Dance Theater (Company) corporateBody
associatedWith Berman, Eugene, 1899- person
associatedWith Browne, Maurice, 1881-1955. person
associatedWith California. University, Los Angeles. Dance Department. corporateBody
associatedWith Currier, Ruth. person
associatedWith Diaghilev, Serge, 1872-1929. person
associatedWith Hawkins, Alma M. person
associatedWith Hellebrandt, Beatrice, person
associatedWith Herthel, Thomas Barnes, 1930- person
associatedWith Indiana. University. corporateBody
associatedWith Kirstein, Lincoln, 1907-1996. person
associatedWith Lloyd, Margaret. person
associatedWith McCormick, Malcolm. person
associatedWith Moore, Lillian. person
associatedWith New York Times. corporateBody
associatedWith Page, Ruth, person
associatedWith Potter, Howard E. person
associatedWith Solov, Zachary, 1923- person
correspondedWith Sorell, Walter, 1905-1997. person
associatedWith Stravinsky-Diaghilev Foundation. corporateBody
correspondedWith Sylvester & Harris (Firm). corporateBody
associatedWith Tamiris, Helen, 1905-1966. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (State)--New York
Subject
Ballet
Ballet
Dance
Dance
Dance critics
Dance photography
Modern dance
Modern dance
Modern dance
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1893-06-02

Death 1985-05-19

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 57747659