Robert Davis & Henry J. Schalizki papers
Collection
0367-SCPA
Robert Donald Davis Jr. was born on September 3, 1920 in Battle Creek, Michigan, and died on February 23, 2011 in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Henry Joseph Schalizki was born on October 12, 1921 in Baltimore, Maryland, and he passed away on January 3, 2017. Together, Davis and Schalizki’s work and philanthropy influenced the theatre community in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. This collection has six series and 18 subseries, the bulk of the material dates from 1940-2011, and includes promotional photos, radio materials (including recordings), personal and professional correspondence, and many autographed objects.
Materials from this collection must be used in the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library's Irving and Margery Morgan Lowens Special Collections Room, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Please make an appointment with the curator: John Davis Tel: 301.405.9220, Email: scpa@umd.edu
18 Linear Feet
The Robert Davis and Henry Schalizki papers cover the period from 1914-2017; the bulk of the materials date from 1940-2011. The collection consists of both personal and professional papers including scripts, correspondence, programs, reports, reviews, memorabilia, clippings, articles, photographs, and audio related to their lives in the DC area: Davis’ work as an actor, radio host, and theatre critic, and Schalizki’s work as a real estate agent, including their philanthropic work in support of the D.C. theatre community.
Robert Donald Davis Jr. was born September 3, 1920 in Battle Creek, Michigan. He was active in his high school theatre and local radio before being drafted by the Navy. Davis was stationed around the country, including Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts. He then went on to work with the United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) on a six month tour in Hawaii, and various stock theatre companies along the East Coast, before settling down in D.C.
Davis’ media career began on-camera at WBAL-TV, where he hosted Television Matinee, then the highest rated show in the Baltimore-Washington area. Next he created the character Dusty, the Connecticut Avenue Hillbilly at WOL Radio, before he started hosting shows on WGMS, where he stayed for 50 years. Davis was a member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), a theatre critic, patron, and donor. He received many accolades for his contributions to the D.C. theatre community.
A realtor by trade, Henry Joseph Schalizki was born on October 12, 1921, and grew up in Baltimore. His parents were Polish immigrants. He attended the University of Baltimore School of Finance and Accounting and the Maryland Institute School of Art and Design. Schalizki was drafted into the Navy during World War II and was stationed in Chatham, Massachusetts, and Oahu, Hawaii. He was also a lifelong member of the Freemasons. Throughout his illustrious career as a realtor in the Washington, D.C. area, he was a member of several million dollar sales clubs and realtors’ boards. Schalizki received the Friendship Heights Village Council Community Service award, and gave tours of The National Theatre to friends and neighbors.
Davis and Schalizki were well-known supporters of the theatre and arts scene in the D.C. area. In 2008, after decades of supporting the arts, they received the Helen Hayes Governor’s award. They attended nearly 6,000 productions together, where Davis covered the work on stage and Schalizki connected with audiences. In 1990, Schalizki adopted Davis, and on their 62nd anniversary they married.
This collection is organized into six series and 18 subseries.
Gift of Henry J. Schalizki as stipulated in his will; gift processed June 2017.
A number of photographs and a high school diploma belonging to Bob Davis' mother Lulu Mae Davis were deaccessioned and transfered to the Historical Society of Battle Creek, Michigan.
Part of the Michelle Smith Performing Arts Library