BROOKLYN COLLEGE LIBRARY ARCHIVES
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Accession Number #88-001
Biographical Note
JOSEPH (Skipper) DAVIDSON (1903-1981) was born into
a highly artistic family; his father grew up in the
Lower East Side of New York and received his training
from the Henry Street Settlement, the Educational Alliance,
and the Art Students League –all of which solidified
his mastery in sculpting and helped him become the dean
of American sculpture. Davidson’s uncle on the
other hand, Lawrence Davidson, was also involved in
the arts; he became a bass baritone who sang for the
Chicago Opera company and the Metropolitan Opera.
Joseph Davidson received his undergraduate education
from Boston University and earned a Masters Degree at
Teachers College of Columbia University. He did some
post-graduate work at New York University and at the
Leland Powers School of Theatre. Davidson gained some
professional experience by working at the Wharf Theatre
for three years, but decided to leave in order to pursue
a teaching career at the newly formed Brooklyn College.
As professor of theater at the School of General Studies
at Brooklyn College, then located at 27 Willoughby Street
in downtown Brooklyn, Davidson directed many plays for
evening students and also revised and created numerous
famous plays (including Yiddish ones). It is said that
he directed over 150 plays during his 44-year career
at Brooklyn College. He strongly advocated that a Yiddish
Theatre curriculum be taught, decided that a Theatre
Room at 4200 Boylan Hall was a must, and became part
of the team that believed there was a strong need for
a George Gershwin Theatre –which would eventually
become a staple of entertainment not only for the college
but for the community as well. And, as his father did
before him, Joseph Davidson became involved in events
involving the formation of the State of Israel.
Although Prof. Davidson was one of the founding professors
at Brooklyn College, worked in the theater department
for over forty years, was involved with nationally celebrated
productions elsewhere, and was highly acclaimed by both
faculty and students alike, he never received (although
not for lack of trying) a full professorship at the
college. Davidson took his complaint to a grievance
committee, but his appeal was rejected. The committee
cited the fact that he had never received a doctorate
degree.
Upon his retirement,Jo Davidson embarked on his own
professional acting career. In fact, he was in rehearsal
at the Public Theatre in Elizabeth Swados’s “The
Haggadah” at the time of his death. He was also
scheduled to play a similar part at the Mark Taper Forum
in Los Angeles where his son Gordon was artistic director
and where Davidson had established the Skipper Award
in 1979 for promising theater artists.
Joseph H. Davidson died of a heart attack on April
3, 1981 at the age of 77. His wife Alice and two other
sons, Michael and Robert, as well as his sister Ida
and two brothers, Jack and Morris survived him.
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