Deakin, Irving

Irving Deakin (1894-1958) was an English-born American writer on music and dance, and a novelist, lecturer, publicity man, and radio commentator. He was educated at Eastbourne College and the Royal College of Music.

He was an editor and music critic for the British-American, London (1925-1927) and European music and theater correspondent for the International Feature Syndicate (1926-1930). He worked for a number of years, during the 1930's, 1940's and 1950's, in the press department of Hurok Attractions, Inc. He originated the radio program, Music and Ballet, on Station WQXR, New York, which ran from 1937-1943. From 1947-1948, he was general manager of the San Francisco Civic Ballet Association, and during 1957-1958 he was company manager of Ruth Page's Chicago Opera Ballet. His books on ballet are To the Ballet (1935), Ballet Profile (1936) and At the Ballet (1956). He also wrote several novels.

Irving Deakin died December 26, 1958, in New Milford, Conn., of pneumonia, following a heart attack.

From the guide to the Irving Deakin correspondence, 1934-1955, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)

Irving Deakin was born in Great Britain and studied at Eastbourne College and the Royal College of Music. A free-lance ballet and music critic, he came to the United States in the 1920's and worked as a publicity person for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Sadler's Wells Theater Ballet, and Ballet Theatre. From 1937 to 1943 he hosted a radio program entitled Music and Ballet for station WQXR, New York, and in 1947-48, was general manager for the San Francisco Civic Ballet Association. A lecturer and writer, his publications include To the Ballet (1935), Ballet Profile (1936), and At the Ballet (1956). He died, age 64, December 26, 1959, in New Milford, Connecticut.

From the guide to the Irving Deakin papers, circa 1934-circa 1955, (The New York Public Library. Jerome Robbins Dance Division.)