Background
Hartke, Gilbert Vincent was born on January 16, 1907 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Emil and Lillian (Ward) Hartke.
Hartke, Gilbert Vincent was born on January 16, 1907 in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Son of Emil and Lillian (Ward) Hartke.
Graduate, Loyola Academy, 1925. AB, Providence College, 1929. AM, Catholic University America, 1938.
Postgraduate, Northwestern University, 1941. Doctor of Laws (honorary), Notre Dame University, 1951. Doctor of Fine Arts, Providence College, 1968.
Doctor of Humane Letters, Georgetown University, 1971.
Hartke developed his curriculum during a time when drama was not considered a discipline in Catholic universities. He directed over 60 major productions at CUA, and several more for the National Players, a touring company he created. He secured the Olney Theatre, a summer stock playhouse in Olney, Maryland as a base for the Players.
He wrote five plays, and toured his students on five continents and across the United States.
He recruited playwright Leo Brady, director Alan Schneider and theatrical designer James Waring to the faculty. He also enlisted the assistance of Josephine McGarry Callan, a vocal coach, who was particularly noted for the excellence of the choral speaking she supervised in campus productions of Greek tragedy, and such plays as Thomas Stearns Eliot"s Murder in the Cathedral.
Also known as the “show-biz priest”, Father Hartke, a onetime college football player, was not a conventional Dominican friar. Still, he occupied a monk"s cell in the Dominican House of Studies across the street from CUA, and often led students in praying the rosary at a little shrine in the entrance courtyard of the building housing the Speech and Drama Department.
With his deep dramatic voice, athlete"s frame, full head of silver hair, and often dressed in his white Dominican robes, Father Hartke was an arresting presence.
Well-known and highly regarded in social, business and political circles, he played an active role in the fight against racial discrimination in Washington, District of Columbia, and served on the board of the revived Ford"s Theatre. He was close friend and confidante to actors, politicians, and presidents. In 1963, he was one of two Catholic priests (the other being Msgr Robert Paul Mohan) dispatched to the White House from the CUA to remain with the body of assassinated President John F. Kennedy until the official funeral, as requested by his widow.
In 1978, Princess Grace of Monaco visited the university to prepare for a poetry reading for the American Wildlife Fund.
Geraldine Page and Rip Torn were among the many other artists who, at Hartke"s request, came on campus to speak directly with students. Hartke was also known for his creative generosity.
When his students hit financial straits, he would first make sure they would work for their scholarships and loans and then he would go out and obtain them. Susan Sarandon worked in the university’s business office.
Jon Voight and Philip Bosco built stage scenery, and Henry Gibson worked as Hartke’s chauffeur.
In October 1981, Father Hartke was named "one of the most powerful men in Washington, District of Columbia" by the Washingtonian magazine. He had a major impact on Catholic theater, the many souls he touched personally, and the many more who benefitted from the blessings he brought to this world. Today the theatre at Catholic University bears his name.
Also an annual end of the year awards ceremony named for him: The Gilbie Awards celebrates excellence in CUA theatre.
In fact, these Tony-like awards are also shaped in his honor, resembling a robed friar.
Member American Educational Theatre Association (chairman veterans committee 1950-1952, member advisory council, president 1955), American National Theatre and Academy (corporation), American Society Aesthetics, American Association University Professors, Speech Association American, Catholic Theatre Conference Appeared in Army Chaplain, Radio-Keith-Orpheum series short subjects This Is America during World World War World War II.