City University of New York (CUNY) CUNY Academic Works Publications and Research York College 2011 Robert Prosky John A. Drobnicki CUNY York College How does access to this work benefit ou?y Let us know! More information about this work at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu/yc_pubs/64 Discover additional works at: https://academicworks.cuny.edu This work is made publicly available by the City University of New York (CUNY). Contact: [email protected] Prokop 430 Eagle) edited by the Rov. Aleksander Matauszek American Press," in Sally M. Miller, cd., Tht Ethnic ing Willy Loman (D.ath ofa Saltsman) and and Ignacy Wendzinski in Missouri begin­ Press in tht Un#ed States (Westport. CT: Greenwood Galileo Galilei (Caliko). Arena Stage, the first Press, 1987); Jan Kowalik, Tht Polish Prtss in America ning in 1870. The latter only lasted two years, (San Francisco: R & E Research, 1978), 39-40; American theatre company to tour the Soviet but was replaced by Pi.lgrzym (Pilgrim), pub­ Bernard Pacyniak, "'An Historical Outline of the Polish Union (1973), provided Prosky with both a lished and edited by Jan Barzynski, which Press in America," in Frank Mochl', ed., Poles in Amtr­ steady income and job security to raise a ica: Bictntmnial Essays (Stevens Point, WI: Worz.alla subsequently became the respected Gaz~ta Publishing Company, 1978), 509-30; Samuel family in Washington, D.C. A role as a mob­ Polska Katolicka (Polish Catholic Gazette) in Bonikowski, "The Polish Press in Wisconsin," Polish ster in the 1981 film Thiifled to additional Detroit. American Studies, Vol. II, no. 1-2 (1945), 12-23; Eu­ Hollywood supporting roles (Monsignor; Th. One of the leading liberal, anti-clerical gene Obidinski, "The Polish American Press: Survival Natura!), and then to a Tony-nominated role through Adaptation," Polish Ammclln Studies, Vol. 34, publications was Ameryka-Echo founded in no. 2 (1977), 38-55; Alphon< S. Wolanin. Th, Polish as Shelly Levene in David Marne,'s Cltngarry Toledo by Antoni Paryski in 1889. Often re­ Prm (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1952); Cltn Ross (1984), which won a Special Drama ferred to as the "Polish Hearst," Paryski was Lubomyr Wynar, Encyclopedia Directory of Ethnic Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Per­ Newspapm and Periodicals in the United States (Little­ a very talented individual who popularized ton, CO: Libraries Unlimited, Inc., 1972). formance. "When actor Michael Conrad, who folk literature while at the same: time engaging played Sgt. Phil Esterhaus on Hill Stmt Blurs, in "Yellow Journalism" rivaling that ofWtlliam Prokop, Stanley A. (b. Throop, Penn­ died in 1983, Prosky joined the cast as Sgt. Randolph Hearst. Paryski produced hundreds sylvania, July 29, 1909; d. Lake Ariel, Penn­ Stan Jablonski from 1984 to 1987. Ironically, of thousands of copies of books, pamphlets, sylvania, November 11, 1977). Congressman. Prosky had earlier turned down the role of and other publications that his traveling Educated in the public schools in Throop and Coach in Cheers in 1982, not wanting to sign agents sold throughout Polonia. Other anti­ Dickson City, PA, Prokop earned B.A. and a long-term contract that would interfere with clerical publications included such journals as B.S. degrees from Villanova University. Dur­ his family life. Prosky earned a second Tony the weekly Gwiauia Polarna (The Northern ing World War II he served in the army's 30th nomination in 1988 for his role as Botvinik Star), the New York organ of the Polish So­ Infantry Division, rising from private to cap­ in Lee Blessing's A Walk in the Wool'h, for cialist Alliance in America Robotnik Polski tain. Following the war he served. as supervisor which he also received an Outer Critics Circle (The Polish Worker), and the leftist Dziennik of Lackawanna, PA, before being elected as a Award. Among his other awards are the Helen Ludowy (The People's Daily) which later be­ Democrat to the Eighty-sixth Congress (Jan­ Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in came Gks Ludowy (The People's Voice) pub­ uary 3, 1959-January 3, 1961). After an un­ a Resident Play (1995), the American Express lished by the Polish Bureau of the Communist successful bid for reelection, he served as a Tribute to an American Actor (1998), and the Party of the United States. member of the Board of Assessment Appeals Jewish Council for Aging's Productive Aging The first Polish daily in the United States of Lackawanna County and for fourteen years Award (2006). Although he played both was Kuryer Polski (Polish Courier) founded as director of veterans' affairs for the county.­ priests and Jewish roles during his long acting in Milwaukee in 1888 by Michal Kruszka. Jam" S. Pula career, Prosky was baptized an Episcopalian, To counter influence of Ameryka-Echo and SOURCE: Biographical Directory ofthe United States though descended from Roman Catholics.­ Congrns, 1774 -Prtsmt (hnp:llbioguide.congress.govl). Kuryer Polski. the Resurrectionist Order in John Drobnicki Chicago founded Dziennik Chicago.ki (Chi­ Prosky, Robert (Roben Joseph Porzuczek; SOURCES: Laurence Hooper, "The Grocer's Kid: cago Daily News) in 1890, one of the best and b. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 13, Tony Award Nominee Robert Proskyis a Working Stiff of Stage and Screen," Phi/.a.delphia, Vol. 79 (October 1930; d. Washington, D.C., December 8, most popular of Polish newspapers. Another 1988); Simi Horwitz, "Face to Face: Robert Prosky. popular publication was Detroit's Dzimnik 2008). Actor. Born into a Polish immigrant Defying God in 'The Golem,'" Back Stagt, Vol. 43 Polski (The Polish Daily News), as was the family, Prosky's introduction to the theater (April 19, 2002); and Diana McLdlan, "Do You Know conservative Catholic PolAk Ameryce (The came as stage manager for a production of Me? Robert Prosky Perfected His Craft at .Arena Stage. w Now He's Learning to be a Star," Washingtonian, Vol. Pole in America) founded in Buffalo by the Our Town while he attended Roxborough 28 (Augus' 1993). Rev. Jan Pitass. High School. After graduating from Temple The Polish American Journal was the first University in 1952, where he continued his Przybyszewski, Walenty "Val" (b. English language Polish-American newspaper involvement in student productions, he en­ Poland, February 1862; d. Michigan, February with nation-wide appeal. Gradually, as the listed in the Air Force during the Korean War. 24, 1924). Polonia activist. Migrating to second generation gave way to the third. many Following his discharge he dabbled in local America in 1873, he setcled in the heavily Pol­ publications followed the lead of Kruszka's community theatre, including the Old Acad­ ish town of Bay City, Michigan. A fiery leader Kury.r Polski which added an English-lan­ emy Players, then entered and won a televised who was active in both local politics and guage supplement in 1939 to appeal to Polish talent contest run by Michael Ellis. This led Polish patriotic affairs, Przybyszewski organ­ Americans of the younger generations. to a professional summer stock production at ized the St. Casimir Society, Group 12 of the The Polish press provided valuable infor­ Ellis' Bucks County Playhouse (1955) along­ Polish National Alliance in 1880, becoming mation to immigrants in America, keeping side Walter Matthau and William Windom. the 312th member of the Alliance. Elected them in touch with the Old Country and as­ Prosky then earned a New York Drama PNA vice censor (or deputy chief judge) in sisting them in their transition to American League scholarship to study for two years at 1885, he won election as president at the 1886 society. In addition, it also served [0 solidify the American Theatre Wing's School in New PNA convention held in Bay City. Through Polonia, increase ethnic self-awareness and in­ York, where he worked as a bookkeeper during his eH'orrs, the entire PNA board of directors formed public opinion. In 2010, leading the day at the Federal Reserve Bank and acted elected at this convention came from Bay City Polish American newspapers included Nowy in off Broadway shows at night. In 1958 he and Przybyszewski succeeded in having the Dziennik, Zgoda, Narod Polski, Dziennik won a parr in the Arena Stage (Washington, national headquarters of the Alliance moved Zwiqzkowy, Polish American Journal, and D.C.) production of Th. Front Page. In there fr~m Chicago for the one and only time Cwiazda Polarna. -Jam" S. Pula twenty~three seasons at Arena Stage (1958- in its history that it was located outside SOURCES: Anthony J. Kuzniewski, "The Polish- 82), Prosky appeared in over 130 roles includ- Chicago. At the next PNA annual convention .