Sandra Zaiter
Encyclopedia
Sandra Zaiter is an actress, television children's show host, singer, composer and former athlete in Puerto Rico
.
Zaiter was born in the Dominican Republic
, of Lebanese
Maronite Christian ancestry. Early in her life she participated in church groups, and established her residence in Puerto Rico
. Zaiter participated in the Puerto Rican production of Arriba la Gente. She soon started her television career formally by hosting the Puerto Rican version of Romper Room
on WRIK-TV channel 7, then called Rikavisión.
Zaiter was also a professional diver and swimmer, until she suffered a life threatening accident in the 1970s, when she hit her head against a rock during a dive at a beach
in Fajardo, Puerto Rico
. The accident left her paralyzed and since then she has used a wheelchair. In 1976, she won the local OTI Festival
as a composer.
Despite her life–changing accident, she continued hosting her children's shows with more energy than ever. During the late 1970s, Zaiter's fame grew as she started recording many well–known children's albums as a singer and hosted a daily television show on WRIK Rikalandia/WLUZ
. It ran until channel 7 closed its doors temporarily.
Zaiter later moved on to WKAQ-TV
, Telemundo
, where she starred, produced, wrote, and hosted, alongside Lou Briel
and Dagmar
, a children's show called Teatrimundo
, and later Telecómicas. She is the spokesperson for the Muscular Dystrophy Association
(MDA) in Puerto Rico
, and an important sponsor of the association's telethon. She is acknowledged by most Puerto Ricans as a hero
.
In the 1990s Puerto Rican actress and producer Angela Meyer
wrote and produced a drama mini–series titled Gaviota de la Esperanza (The Hope Seagull), based on Zaiter's life. It was broadcast by Telemundo
.
Zaiter hosts a weekly show called Contra Viento y Marea (Against Wind and Tide), broadcast by WIPR-TV
. Its purpose is to give guidance and assistance to the handicapped. Zaiter does public appearances, especially for the yearly presentation of the Sandra Zaiter Award to those who have distinguished themselves helping the handicapped.
As a surprise to Zaiter, one of Telemundo's studios in Puerto Rico was named after her at the launch of the mid-day show Día a Día con Raymond y Dagmar
in 2007.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
.
Zaiter was born in the Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
, of Lebanese
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
Maronite Christian ancestry. Early in her life she participated in church groups, and established her residence in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. Zaiter participated in the Puerto Rican production of Arriba la Gente. She soon started her television career formally by hosting the Puerto Rican version of Romper Room
Romper Room
Romper Room is a children's television series that ran in the United States from 1953 to 1994 as well as at various times in Australia, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico, New Zealand and the United Kingdom...
on WRIK-TV channel 7, then called Rikavisión.
Zaiter was also a professional diver and swimmer, until she suffered a life threatening accident in the 1970s, when she hit her head against a rock during a dive at a beach
Beach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
in Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Fajardo, Puerto Rico
Fajardo is a small city in Puerto Rico located in the east region of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Ceiba and east of Luquillo.Fajardo is spread over 7 wards and Downtown Fajardo , which serves as the administrative center of the city...
. The accident left her paralyzed and since then she has used a wheelchair. In 1976, she won the local OTI Festival
OTI Festival
OTI Festival was an annual singing competition, held between 1972 and 2000, among active member countries of the Organización de Televisión Iberoamericana .- Venues and Presenters :- Winners :-By country:...
as a composer.
Despite her life–changing accident, she continued hosting her children's shows with more energy than ever. During the late 1970s, Zaiter's fame grew as she started recording many well–known children's albums as a singer and hosted a daily television show on WRIK Rikalandia/WLUZ
WSTE
WSTE-DT is a full-power television station licensed to Ponce, Puerto Rico. It transmits on digital channel 7 over a four-site distributed transmission system.WSTE is owned by Univision and is operated by the network as well through WLII in Caguas...
. It ran until channel 7 closed its doors temporarily.
Zaiter later moved on to WKAQ-TV
WKAQ-TV
WKAQ-TV is a full-power television station located in San Juan, Puerto Rico transmitting over digital 2.1. The station is owned and operated by NBCUniversal and is branded simply as Telemundo....
, Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
, where she starred, produced, wrote, and hosted, alongside Lou Briel
Lou Briel
Lou Briel, is a Puerto Rican singer, composer, comedian, producer, pianist, and host, among other things.-Early Years with Anexo 3:...
and Dagmar
Dagmar (Puerto Rico entertainer)
Dagmar , is a Puerto Rican television host, comedian and singer.-Early years:Dagmar Rivera was born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Dorado, Puerto Rico. She started her career as a teenage singer in 1976. The only hit single of her first album was Soy la Mañana , by Puerto Rican composer Rafi...
, a children's show called Teatrimundo
Teatrimundo
Teatrimundo was a children's television series broadcast by WKAQ-TV in Puerto Rico in the late 1980s, in the form of edutainment. It was loosely inspired by The Muppet Show...
, and later Telecómicas. She is the spokesperson for the Muscular Dystrophy Association
Muscular Dystrophy Association
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is an American organization which combats muscular dystrophy and diseases of the nervous system and muscular system in general by funding research, providing medical and community services, and educating health professionals and the general public...
(MDA) in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, and an important sponsor of the association's telethon. She is acknowledged by most Puerto Ricans as a hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
.
In the 1990s Puerto Rican actress and producer Angela Meyer
Angela Meyer
Ángela Meyer is an actress, comedian and producer of television and theatrical works.-Early years:...
wrote and produced a drama mini–series titled Gaviota de la Esperanza (The Hope Seagull), based on Zaiter's life. It was broadcast by Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
.
Zaiter hosts a weekly show called Contra Viento y Marea (Against Wind and Tide), broadcast by WIPR-TV
WIPR-TV
WIPR-TV is an non-commercial educational, full-power public television station located in San Juan, Puerto Rico transmitting over analog channel 6, digital 43. The station is owned and operated by Corporación de Puerto Rico para la Difusión Pública ...
. Its purpose is to give guidance and assistance to the handicapped. Zaiter does public appearances, especially for the yearly presentation of the Sandra Zaiter Award to those who have distinguished themselves helping the handicapped.
As a surprise to Zaiter, one of Telemundo's studios in Puerto Rico was named after her at the launch of the mid-day show Día a Día con Raymond y Dagmar
Día a Día con Raymond y Dagmar
Día a Día con Raymond y Dagmar is a new variety program at 11:00 am on WKAQ-TV Telemundo Puerto Rico with Raymond Arrieta and Dagmar.-Comedy characters:Some of the comedic characters perform by Raymond at the show are:...
in 2007.
External links
See also
- List of people from Puerto Rico
- List of television presenters/Puerto Rico
- List of composers by nationality