a walking tour: mexican revolution sites in el paso and juarez - Faculty

20. Teatro Alc3zar-506 S. EI Paso.
In 1915, the basement of the Alcazar theater was used
to store weapons for the Huertista counterrevolutionaries.
It was owned by Mexican American politicos
Ike and Frank Alderete, who allegedly helped El Paso
Mayor Tom Lea Sr. purchase arms and 25,000 rounds
of ammunition for the deposed right-wing dictator,
Victoriano Huerta, in his attempt to topple the revolutionary
government of Mexico.
21. Teatro Colon-509 S. EI Paso.
The theater was established by Silvio Lacoma in 1919
to cater to affluent Mexican refugees hungry for
movies, theater, comedy and opera productions featuring
the best Spanish-language performers from all
over the world-La Familia Bell, Virginia Fabregaz,
Los Hermanos Arei, Don Catarino, Nelly Fernandez.
In later years, Mexican superstars such as Cantinflas,
Pedro Infante and Tin Tan would make appearances
at the Colon as well. The Colon became the secondlongest
continually operating Hispanic theater in U.S.
history before closing its doors in 1976.
22. La Patria Offices-317 S. El Paso.
Silvestre Terrazas, the black sheep of the Chihuahuan
oligarchic family, published his newspaper out of
these offices between 1919 and 1925. La Patria was a
pro-Villista Spanish-language newspaper serving the
Mexicano communities in Texas. In 1915, Silvestre
Terrazas was Pancho Villa's right-hand man, helping
him run the administrative part of the Chihuahuan
government during Villa's brief stint as state governor.
Before being exiled to El Paso, Terrazas had published
E! COrTeo de ChihUahua. When his newspaper
supported the candidacy of Francisco Madero, Diaz
branded Terrazas as an "enemy of the state." In El
Paso, he acted as a liaison between Villa and Carranza
as purchasing agent for arms and ammunition.
23. Teatro Hidalgo-311 S. El Paso.
One of several theaters catering to the Mexican colony
in El Paso. A three-reel mm was shown in this theater
of the 1911 Battle ofJuarez. Mabel Silva, Pancho Villa's
Sister-in-law, was an employee at the movie house.
24. Alhambra Theater-209 S. El Paso.
The Alhambra Theater cost its owner Rodolfo Cruz
$150,000 to construct in 1914. The building with its
classical Arabic facade was designed by architect
Henry Trost, who designed more than 200 buildings
in El Paso during the first part of the 1900s. In addition
to movies, the Alhambra also held Spanish
.•
Silvestre Terrazas (second on left) and the staff
of his newspaper La Patria in EI Paso Street, 1921.
(EI Paso Puhlic Library)
The Alhambra Theater, ca. 1916
(Aultman Collection, EI Paso Public Library)
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