Hispanic theatre flourished in the United States from the mid-nineteenth
century until the beginning of the Second World War-a fact that few
theatre historians know. A History of Hispanic Theatre in the United
States: Origins to 1940 is the very first study of this rich tradition,
filled with details about plays, authors, artists, companies, houses,
directors, and theatrical circuits.
Sixteen years of research in public and private archives in the United
States, Mexico, Spain, and Puerto Rico inform this study. In addition,
Kanellos located former performers and playwrights, forgotten scripts,
and old photographs to bring the life and vitality of live theatre to
his text. He organizes the book around the cities where Hispanic theatre
was particularly active, including Los Angeles, San Antonio, New York,
and Tampa, as well as cities on the touring circuit, such as Laredo, El
Paso, Tucson, and San Francisco.
Kanellos charts the major achievements of Hispanic theatre in each
city-playwriting in Los Angeles, vaudeville and tent theatre in San
Antonio, Cuban/Spanish theatre in Tampa, and pan-Hispanism in New
York-as well as the individual careers of several actors, writers, and
directors. And he uncovers many gaps in the record-reminders that
despite its popularity, Hispanic theatre was often undervalued and
unrecorded.