Encyclopedia, Difference between revisions of "William Shawn" - New World

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'''William Shawn''' (August 31, 1907 – December 8, 1992) was an [[United|American]] magazine editor who edited ''[[The New Yorker]]'' from 1952 until 1987.
  
'''William Shawn''' ([[August 31]], [[1907]] [[December 8]], [[1992]]) was an [[United|American]] magazine editor who edited ''[[The New Yorker]]'' from [[1952]] until [[1987]].
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"Mr. Shawn," as he was nearly always known, was born in [[Chicago, Illinois]], the son of Benjamin W. and Anna (Bransky) Chon.  He dropped out of the [[University of Michigan]] after two years (1925-1927) and went to [[Las Vegas, New Mexico]], where he worked on the local paper, the ''Optic''.  He returned to Chicago and worked as a journalist.  Around 1930 he changed the spelling of his last name to "Shawn."  In 1932, he and his young wife, Cecille, went to [[New York, New York|New York City]], where he tried to start a career as a composer.  Soon after their arrival, Cecille took a fact-checking job on ''The New Yorker,'' and her husband began working there in 1933.  He would be at the magazine for fifty-three years.
  
"Mr. Shawn," as he was nearly always known, was born in [[Chicago, Illinois]], the son of Benjamin W. and Anna (Bransky) Chon.  He dropped out of the [[University of Michigan]] after two years ([[1925]]-[[1927]]) and went to [[Las Vegas, New Mexico]], where he worked on the local paper, the ''Optic''.  He returned to Chicago and worked as a journalist.  Around [[1930]] he changed the spelling of his last name to "Shawn."  In [[1932]], he and his young wife, Cecille, went to [[New York, New York|New York City]], where he tried to start a career as a composerSoon after their arrival, Cecille took a fact-checking job on ''The New Yorker,'' and her husband began working there in [[1933]]He would be at the magazine for fifty-three years.
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He rose to be an editor and oversaw the magazine's coverage of [[World War II]].  In 1946, he persuaded the magazine's founder and editor, [[Harold Ross]], to run [[John Hersey]]'s story about the atomic bombing of [[Hiroshima]] as the entire contents of one issueHe left for a few months shortly after that to write on his own, but soon returnedA few weeks after Ross died in December 1951, he was named editor.
  
He rose to be an editor and oversaw the magazine's coverage of [[World War II]]In [[1946]], he persuaded the magazine's founder and editor, [[Harold Ross]], to run [[John Hersey]]'s story about the atomic bombing of [[Hiroshima]] as the entire contents of one issue.  He left for a few months shortly after that to write on his own, but soon returned. A few weeks after Ross died in December [[1951]], he was named editor.
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Shawn's quiet style was a marked contrast to Ross's noisy mannerWhereas Ross constantly wrote letters to his contributors, Shawn hated to share anything, especially on paper. His shyness was office (and New York) legend, as were his claustrophobia and fear of elevators; many of his colleagues maintain that he carried a hatchet in his briefcase, in case he became trapped. He was secretive, aloof, and cryptic about his plans for the magazine and its contents.  Shawn would buy articles and they might not run for years, if ever.  Members of the staff were given offices and salaries, even if they produced little for the magazine—[[Joseph Mitchell]], at one time a writer whose work appeared regularly, continued to come to his office from 1965 until his death in 1996 without ever publishing another word. But Shawn did give writers vast amounts of space to cover their subjects, and nearly all of them spoke of him reverently. [[J.D. Salinger]], in particular, adored him, dedicating his book "Franny and Zooey" to Shawn.
  
Shawn's quiet style was a marked contrast to Ross's noisy manner.  Whereas Ross constantly wrote letters to his contributors, Shawn hated to share anything, especially on paper. His shyness was office (and New York) legend, as were his claustrophobia and fear of elevators; many of his colleagues maintain that he carried a hatchet in his briefcase, in case he became trapped. He was secretive, aloof, and cryptic about his plans for the magazine and its contents.  Shawn would buy articles and they might not run for years, if ever.  Members of the staff were given offices and salaries, even if they produced little for the magazine—[[Joseph Mitchell]], at one time a writer whose work appeared regularly, continued to come to his office from 1965 until his death in 1996 without ever publishing another word. But Shawn did give writers vast amounts of space to cover their subjects, and nearly all of them spoke of him reverently. [[J.D. Salinger]], in particular, adored him, dedicating his book "Franny and Zooey" to Shawn.
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When [[Advance Publications]] bought the magazine in 1985, the new owners promised that the magazine's editorship would not change hands until Shawn chose to retire. But speculation about Shawn's successor, a longtime topic of publishing-world chatter, grew.  Shawn had been editor for a very long time, and the usual criticism of the magazine—that it had become stale and dull—was growing more pointed. Advance chairman S.I. Newhouse forced out Shawn in February 1987, and—after reportedly telling Shawn that he would honor his request and name his deputy, Charles McGrath, to succeed him—replaced Shawn with [[Robert Gottlieb]], the editor-in-chief of the well-regarded book publisher Alfred A. Knopf.  Shawn was given office space in the [[Brill Building]] by [[Saturday Night Live]] executive producer [[Lorne Michaels]], a longtime admirer, and soon took an editorship at [[Farrar, Straus and Giroux]], a largely honorary post that he held until his death in New York City in 1992.
 
 
When [[Advance Publications]] bought the magazine in [[1985]], the new owners promised that the magazine's editorship would not change hands until Shawn chose to retire. But speculation about Shawn's successor, a longtime topic of publishing-world chatter, grew.  Shawn had been editor for a very long time, and the usual criticism of the magazine—that it had become stale and dull—was growing more pointed. Advance chairman S.I. Newhouse forced out Shawn in February [[1987]], and—after reportedly telling Shawn that he would honor his request and name his deputy, Charles McGrath, to succeed him—replaced Shawn with [[Robert Gottlieb]], the editor-in-chief of the well-regarded book publisher Alfred A. Knopf.  Shawn soon took an editorship at [[Farrar, Straus and Giroux]], a largely honorary post that he held until his death in New York City in [[1992]].
 
  
 
In 1988 he received the [[George Polk Career Award]].
 
In 1988 he received the [[George Polk Career Award]].
  
Shawn married Cecille Lyon in [[1928]], and the couple had three children.  One is the writer and character actor [[Wallace Shawn]].  Another son, [[Allen Shawn]], married ''New Yorker'' writer [[Jamaica Kincaid]].  Allen's twin sister, Mary, is autistic and lives in an institution in Delaware. In 2007 Allen Shawn published a memoir, "Wish I Was There," centering on his own phobias. In 1996, Shawn's longtime ''New Yorker'' colleague [[Lillian Ross (journalist)|Lillian Ross]] revealed in a memoir that she and Shawn had had an affair from [[1950]] until his death, with Mrs. Shawn's knowledge.  Ms. Ross reports that Mr. Shawn was active in the upbringing of Ms. Ross' adopted son, Erik.
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Shawn married Cecille Lyon in 1928, and the couple had three children.  One is the writer and character actor [[Wallace Shawn]].  Another son, [[Allen Shawn]], married ''New Yorker'' writer [[Jamaica Kincaid]].  Allen's twin sister, Mary, is autistic and lives in an institution in Delaware. In 2007 Allen Shawn published a memoir, "Wish I Could Be There," centering on his own phobias. In 1996, Shawn's longtime ''New Yorker'' colleague [[Lillian Ross (journalist)|Lillian Ross]] revealed in a memoir that she and Shawn had had an affair from 1950 until his death, with Mrs. Shawn's knowledge.  Ms. Ross reports that Mr. Shawn was active in the upbringing of Ms. Ross' adopted son, Erik.
  
 
He was portrayed in the 2005 film ''[[Capote]]'' by [[Bob Balaban]].
 
He was portrayed in the 2005 film ''[[Capote]]'' by [[Bob Balaban]].
  
{{Credits|William_Shawn|104233395|}}
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==Further Information==
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*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A21723202 History of The New Yorker magazine under Shawn]
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*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A21723860 William Shawn's biography and career]
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{{Credits|William_Shawn|142498584|}}

Revision as of 22:51, 10 July 2007



William Shawn (August 31, 1907 – December 8, 1992) was an American magazine editor who edited The New Yorker from 1952 until 1987.

"Mr. Shawn," as he was nearly always known, was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Benjamin W. and Anna (Bransky) Chon. He dropped out of the University of Michigan after two years (1925-1927) and went to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where he worked on the local paper, the Optic. He returned to Chicago and worked as a journalist. Around 1930 he changed the spelling of his last name to "Shawn." In 1932, he and his young wife, Cecille, went to New York City, where he tried to start a career as a composer. Soon after their arrival, Cecille took a fact-checking job on The New Yorker, and her husband began working there in 1933. He would be at the magazine for fifty-three years.

He rose to be an editor and oversaw the magazine's coverage of World War II. In 1946, he persuaded the magazine's founder and editor, Harold Ross, to run John Hersey's story about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima as the entire contents of one issue. He left for a few months shortly after that to write on his own, but soon returned. A few weeks after Ross died in December 1951, he was named editor.

Shawn's quiet style was a marked contrast to Ross's noisy manner. Whereas Ross constantly wrote letters to his contributors, Shawn hated to share anything, especially on paper. His shyness was office (and New York) legend, as were his claustrophobia and fear of elevators; many of his colleagues maintain that he carried a hatchet in his briefcase, in case he became trapped. He was secretive, aloof, and cryptic about his plans for the magazine and its contents. Shawn would buy articles and they might not run for years, if ever. Members of the staff were given offices and salaries, even if they produced little for the magazine—Joseph Mitchell, at one time a writer whose work appeared regularly, continued to come to his office from 1965 until his death in 1996 without ever publishing another word. But Shawn did give writers vast amounts of space to cover their subjects, and nearly all of them spoke of him reverently. J.D. Salinger, in particular, adored him, dedicating his book "Franny and Zooey" to Shawn.

When Advance Publications bought the magazine in 1985, the new owners promised that the magazine's editorship would not change hands until Shawn chose to retire. But speculation about Shawn's successor, a longtime topic of publishing-world chatter, grew. Shawn had been editor for a very long time, and the usual criticism of the magazine—that it had become stale and dull—was growing more pointed. Advance chairman S.I. Newhouse forced out Shawn in February 1987, and—after reportedly telling Shawn that he would honor his request and name his deputy, Charles McGrath, to succeed him—replaced Shawn with Robert Gottlieb, the editor-in-chief of the well-regarded book publisher Alfred A. Knopf. Shawn was given office space in the Brill Building by Saturday Night Live executive producer Lorne Michaels, a longtime admirer, and soon took an editorship at Farrar, Straus and Giroux, a largely honorary post that he held until his death in New York City in 1992.

In 1988 he received the George Polk Career Award.

Shawn married Cecille Lyon in 1928, and the couple had three children. One is the writer and character actor Wallace Shawn. Another son, Allen Shawn, married New Yorker writer Jamaica Kincaid. Allen's twin sister, Mary, is autistic and lives in an institution in Delaware. In 2007 Allen Shawn published a memoir, "Wish I Could Be There," centering on his own phobias. In 1996, Shawn's longtime New Yorker colleague Lillian Ross revealed in a memoir that she and Shawn had had an affair from 1950 until his death, with Mrs. Shawn's knowledge. Ms. Ross reports that Mr. Shawn was active in the upbringing of Ms. Ross' adopted son, Erik.

He was portrayed in the 2005 film Capote by Bob Balaban.

Further Information


Credits

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