Teatro Yagüez
Encyclopedia
The Teatro Yagüez in Puerto Rico
is a historic building that today is a performing arts
theater. It is located at Candelaria (formerly Calle McKinley)
and Dr. Basora Streets, in the city of Mayagüez
. It consists of the Lucy Boscana Hall and the Roberto Cole Cafe Theater.
from Italy
in the early 19th century. They settled in the town of San German. Very early in the 20th century Francisco tried to build a theatre in the town of San German but was unable to due to the existing religious culture then, who considered a theatre as a "bad influence' on the local population. Maymón was an entrepreneur by vocation, and he would not be stopped. He moved to Mayaguez where he became one of the pioneers of the industry of cinematography
in the island of Puerto Rico, introducing this new form of Visual Art early in the beginning of the 20th century by showing silent film
s throughout the nearby towns and becoming the exclusive distributor for 'Nicholas Power' movie projectors throughout the Caribbean islands. The 'Nicholas Power' company was located in New York. With the help of his business partners Mr. Jose Rahola and Mr. Fundador Vargas, he imported movies from the Pathé Company in Europe
, showing them in town centers (plazas) under the stars and at the old Mayaguez Municipal Theater ('Teatro Municipal'). The latter no longer exists, as it was destroyed in the 1918 earthquake that hit the city and was never rebuilt, since the Teatro Yagüez had become the city's preferred gathering place for Opera, plays, concerts, and silent movies.
Francisco purchased the land where the Yaguez sits today around 1905. The construction of the first Teatro Yagüez building began around 1907; The formal inauguration was in 1909. Materials such as the cement was imported from Germany, interior ceilings from Italy, tiles and carpets from Spain. An architectural jewel, the Teatro Yagüez began as a neo-baroque
style Opera House, years later turning into a silent movie theater. Incorrectly described as art deco style, however, the art deco movement developed years after the theater's first construction and later reconstruction.
Maymón suffered a great loss, when on June 20, 1919, a fire destroyed his beloved Teatro Yagüez. The World Almanac and Book of Facts
states that 150 people died in the fire, although the records are vague and mostly sensationalist. According to the evidence, investigations after the fire exonerated him of all culpability, and indeed pointed the finger at local entities (namely the Municipal government body at the time), who had an interest in the location (the land) where the Teatro Yagüez stood, and who indeed, tried to purchase the land after the fire, and being unable to purchase it, attempted to expropriate it but without any success. The Teatro Yagüez was rebuilt after a lawsuit between Francisco Maymón and the Municipal Council of the City, in which Francisco Maymón prevailed.
"The current building was the product of one of the most brilliant architects of the era, Sabàs Honoré
, who reconstructed the theater after the June 1919 fire."
Francisco Maymon's son and daughter, Miguel A. Maymón Camuñas, and Petra Maymón Cernuda inherited the Teatro Yagüez in 1954 after Francisco's passing. In 1959, Miguel purchased his sister's share in the Yagüez, becoming sole proprietor of the Teatro Yagüez.
In 1976, the U.S. government sent a Bicentennial Commission to Puerto Rico, who declared the Teatro Yagüez a landmark. Under the administration of Benjamin Cole, the municipality of Mayagüez purchased the Yagüez in 1980 and restored it to its original magnificence in 1984. It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
in 1985.
The Teatro Yaguez is still in use today. It remains as a beautiful reminder of the history of theater and arts of the early 20th century in Puerto Rico. Its stage and auditorium were renamed as Lucy Boscana
Hall in December 2008, in tribute to the Mayagüez-born actress and teacher.
Maymón called the Teatro Yagüez: La Catedral Del Arte Sonoro. (The Cathedral of Sonorous Art), a nickname that has prevailed to this day as the Yaguez is visually and architecturally, a Cathedral.
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...
is a historic building that today is a performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
theater. It is located at Candelaria (formerly Calle McKinley)
Calle de la Candelaria (Mayagüez)
Calle de la Candelaria is the parallel street aside the Calle Méndez Vigo in the western Puerto Rico municipality of Mayagüez. It has a length of about 1.20 miles. The street is oriented west-east with traffic running one-way eastbound...
and Dr. Basora Streets, in the city of Mayagüez
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Mayagüez is the eighth-largest municipality of Puerto Rico. Originally founded as "Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria" it is also known as "La Sultana del Oeste" , "Ciudad de las Aguas Puras" , or "Ciudad del Mangó"...
. It consists of the Lucy Boscana Hall and the Roberto Cole Cafe Theater.
History
It was originally erected by Francisco Maymón Palmer in 1909. Mr. Maymón's parents emigrated to Puerto RicoPuerto 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...
from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
in the early 19th century. They settled in the town of San German. Very early in the 20th century Francisco tried to build a theatre in the town of San German but was unable to due to the existing religious culture then, who considered a theatre as a "bad influence' on the local population. Maymón was an entrepreneur by vocation, and he would not be stopped. He moved to Mayaguez where he became one of the pioneers of the industry of cinematography
Cinematography
Cinematography is the making of lighting and camera choices when recording photographic images for cinema. It is closely related to the art of still photography...
in the island of Puerto Rico, introducing this new form of Visual Art early in the beginning of the 20th century by showing silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
s throughout the nearby towns and becoming the exclusive distributor for 'Nicholas Power' movie projectors throughout the Caribbean islands. The 'Nicholas Power' company was located in New York. With the help of his business partners Mr. Jose Rahola and Mr. Fundador Vargas, he imported movies from the Pathé Company in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, showing them in town centers (plazas) under the stars and at the old Mayaguez Municipal Theater ('Teatro Municipal'). The latter no longer exists, as it was destroyed in the 1918 earthquake that hit the city and was never rebuilt, since the Teatro Yagüez had become the city's preferred gathering place for Opera, plays, concerts, and silent movies.
Francisco purchased the land where the Yaguez sits today around 1905. The construction of the first Teatro Yagüez building began around 1907; The formal inauguration was in 1909. Materials such as the cement was imported from Germany, interior ceilings from Italy, tiles and carpets from Spain. An architectural jewel, the Teatro Yagüez began as a neo-baroque
Neo-baroque
The Baroque Revival or Neo-baroque was an architectural style of the late 19th century. The term is used to describe architecture which displays important aspects of Baroque style, but is not of the Baroque period proper—i.e., the 17th and 18th centuries.Some examples of Neo-baroque architecture:*...
style Opera House, years later turning into a silent movie theater. Incorrectly described as art deco style, however, the art deco movement developed years after the theater's first construction and later reconstruction.
Maymón suffered a great loss, when on June 20, 1919, a fire destroyed his beloved Teatro Yagüez. The World Almanac and Book of Facts
World Almanac
In 1993 Scripps sold the Almanac to K-III .The World Almanac was sold to Ripplewood Holdings' WRC Media in 1999. Ripplewood bought Reader's Digest and the book was then produced by the World Almanac Education Group, which was owned by The Reader's Digest Association...
states that 150 people died in the fire, although the records are vague and mostly sensationalist. According to the evidence, investigations after the fire exonerated him of all culpability, and indeed pointed the finger at local entities (namely the Municipal government body at the time), who had an interest in the location (the land) where the Teatro Yagüez stood, and who indeed, tried to purchase the land after the fire, and being unable to purchase it, attempted to expropriate it but without any success. The Teatro Yagüez was rebuilt after a lawsuit between Francisco Maymón and the Municipal Council of the City, in which Francisco Maymón prevailed.
"The current building was the product of one of the most brilliant architects of the era, Sabàs Honoré
Sabàs Honoré
Sabàs Honoré was an architect in Puerto Rico.He was "one of the most brilliant architects of the era".He designed at least two buildings that are listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places:...
, who reconstructed the theater after the June 1919 fire."
Francisco Maymon's son and daughter, Miguel A. Maymón Camuñas, and Petra Maymón Cernuda inherited the Teatro Yagüez in 1954 after Francisco's passing. In 1959, Miguel purchased his sister's share in the Yagüez, becoming sole proprietor of the Teatro Yagüez.
In 1976, the U.S. government sent a Bicentennial Commission to Puerto Rico, who declared the Teatro Yagüez a landmark. Under the administration of Benjamin Cole, the municipality of Mayagüez purchased the Yagüez in 1980 and restored it to its original magnificence in 1984. It was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1985.
The Teatro Yaguez is still in use today. It remains as a beautiful reminder of the history of theater and arts of the early 20th century in Puerto Rico. Its stage and auditorium were renamed as Lucy Boscana
Lucy Boscana
Lucy Boscana was an actress and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's television industry.-Early years:Boscana was born in the city of Mayagüez which is located on the west coast of Puerto Rico. Her family moved to the United States when she was a child because of the economic crisis in the island...
Hall in December 2008, in tribute to the Mayagüez-born actress and teacher.
Maymón called the Teatro Yagüez: La Catedral Del Arte Sonoro. (The Cathedral of Sonorous Art), a nickname that has prevailed to this day as the Yaguez is visually and architecturally, a Cathedral.