Summary Information
John C. Landowski Papers
1905-191
- Landowski, John C., 1879-1961
Milwaukee Mss 78
0.2 c.f. (1 archives box)
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)
Newsclippings, photographs, and programs from Landowski's tenure as music director at St. Vincent de Paul and St. Hyacinth churches in Milwaukee and from the Milwaukee Polish Opera Club which he organized.
English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-mil00078 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
John C. Landowski was born in Poland on May 24, 1879, the son of a blacksmith and army trumpeter. His parents brought him to the United States when he was eight months old, and he was raised in Milwaukee. Landowski attended St. Hedwig's Grade School, and graduated in 1900 from Marquette College. That same year he became organist for St. Adalbert's Church in South Milwaukee. Following that position, Landowski spent a short time in Manistee, Michigan, and Joliet, Illinois, and at 24 years of age, he became the organist at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Manitowoc, where he also taught school. There he met his wife, Rose Mrotek, whom he married two years later.
In 1907 Landowski accepted a position as choir director and organist at St. Vincent de Paul's Church in Milwaukee, which he held until 1921. In 1921 he began as organist at St. Hyacinth's Church, where he remained until shortly before his death in 1961. In addition to playing the organ seven days a week at church, Landowski was an organizer of the Milwaukee Polish Opera Club. In 1920, Rev. Michael Domachowski of St. Vincent de Paul's Church decided to promote a musical group for the benefit of Polish young people; Rev. Domachowski chose Landowski to organize the Opera Club from choirs all over Milwaukee.
The Polish Opera Club presented an opera about once a year, under the direction of Landowski and noted Milwaukee actor Anthony J. Lukaszewski. The first production, The Bohemian Girl, was presented in 1920, initially as a parish benefit and later at the Pabst Theater. In 1921, the Opera Club presented Martha, followed by Il Trovatore (in Polish) in 1922, and in 1923 by the Polish national opera Halka, by Stanislaus Moniuszko. The Milwaukee group was the first in the United States to produce Halka in its entirety; and before rehearsals could begin, Landowski had to rewrite nearly 4,000 pages of music. Halka was the first of the Opera Club's productions to be performed in Chicago as well as in Milwaukee, and it was also the most successful endeavor of all. Following nearly a year of preparations, the Opera Club in cooperation with the American Motion Picture Company of Detroit began filming a full-length motion picture version of Halka. Most of the original Opera Club cast appeared in the film, with the exception of the leading role, which was played by Theresa Nowak, a Detroit actress, rather than Rose Saskowski, apparently because Saskowski's nose did not appear to advantage on film. Among the other major actors were Anthony Lukaszewski and Jozef Kosciuk.
During the next few years the Opera Club once again presented Martha, and subsequently, the Last Waltz (1925) and Masked Ball 1927), the first production in English. A guest artist, Albert Rappaport of the Chicago Civic Opera, was featured in Masked Ball. Although the first few productions in Milwaukee were financially successful, those following Halka were not, and rising expenses and deficits caused the Opera Club to disband in 1928.
Landowski continued his interest in light opera by working with other organizations. Under his direction, the choir at St. Hyacinth's Church presented When the Moon Rises in 1941 and Erminie in 1946. He continued to train, direct, and work with choirs for light operas until the early 1950's.
John Landowski died in 1961 at the age of 82. He was survived by his widow, a son, Anthony, and three daughters. Cecilia Geordie, Rita Spruce, and the donor of the collection, Florence Landowski.
Scope and Content Note
Although the John Landowski collection is small in size, it presents excellent visual and written documentation of his career, and of the history of the Milwaukee Polish Opera Club.
Personal papers in the John Landowski collection include a biographical sketch, a Xeroxed copy of the Landowskis' wedding announcement and photograph, news clippings concerning Landowski's activities and anniversaries as church organist, and personal and family photographs. With the photographs are several of Landowski; a photograph of Landowski and his children, the latter in costume for the production of Erminie (1946), and a 50th anniversary photo of Mr. and Mrs. Landowski. There is also a handwritten constitution, in Polish, of the St. Cecilia Choir at St. Vincent de Paul's Church (1906), and a folder of programs. Among the latter are programs from Halka, When the Moon Rises, and Erminie, and a 1958 jubilee program from St. Hyacinth's Church. The files of photographs, xeroxed copies of photographs, and news clippings of contemporary reviews together illustrate the productions of the Opera Club. Four of the Club's productions are represented, Martha, Il Trovatore, Halka, and Masked Ball, in additions to the two later operatic presentations of St. Hyacinth's Choir. There are numerous photos of actors and the casts in costume, most of whom are identified. Among the noteworthy actors are Anthony Lukaszewski, Rose Saskowski, Walter Schwabe, Eugene and Theresa Stachowiak, Anna Bartkowiak, Carl Pawinski, and Albert Rappaport.
Related Material
To supplement the Landowski papers, researchers should also consult the records and photographs of the Polish Fine Arts Club (Milwaukee Mss 63), which include photos of the Opera Club's productions of Halka, Martha, and Masked Ball, in particular portraying Rose Saskowski; the papers and photographs of Anthony J. Lukaszewski (Milwaukee SC 123), a co-founder of the Opera Club; and the papers of actor Jozef Kosciuk in the collection of M. Emil Pankiewicz (Milwaukee Mss 71). Kosciuk appeared in the 1925 film version of Halka.
Administrative/Restriction Information
Presented and loaned for copying by Florence Landowski of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1980 and 1981. Accession Number: M81-93, M81-418
Processed by Menzi Behrnd-Klodt in March 1982.
Contents List
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Biographical Sketch, undated
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Wedding Announcement and Photograph, 1905
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Box
1
Folder
1
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Miscellaneous, undated
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Box
1
Folder
2
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Constitution of St. Cecilia Choir at St. Vincent's Church, 1906
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Box
1
Folder
3
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News Clippings, 1921-1961
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Photographs, 1923, 1946, undated
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Box
1
Folder
5
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Photographs, 1941, 1958, undated
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Box
1
Folder
6
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Programs, 1923-1958
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