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Plays Images #1 and 2:
Historic Postcard of Padua Hills Theatre Stage about 1960
Photo attributed to Irene Welch Garner
Los californios® Collection
Members of The Mexican Players - Left to right (Please Help Identify these members):
#1 _____, #2 _____, #3 Gustavo Alfaro, #4 _____, #5 _____, #6 _____, #7 Rogelio Alfaro,
#8 _____, #9 _____, #10 _____, #11 _____, #12 _____, #13 _____
Thanks to Linda Cervon for identification of Gustavo.
The description on the back of this postcard reads: “The Mexican
Players in a scene from a comedy of the state of Michoacan in Mexico. The sets, the costumes,
the music and the dances are always authentic for the region represented. Whether in Spanish
or English the plays are written for, and are easily understood by English speaking audiences.”
Front of Program for Ysidro,
performed April 1 to May 16, 1936.
A Fiesta honoring San Ysidro
Patron saint of the farmers
Los californios® Collection
Contributed by Robin Shane, who says:
“I believe history and its preservation [are] important.”
Back of Program
Program for ¡Qué bonito México!,
performed July 15 to August 29, 1936.
Los californios® Collection
Contributed by Robin Shane
Back of Program
Note that Hilda Ramírez de Jara is Assistant Director in this production.
Front of Program for
It Rained in Ixtlán del Río,
performed January 8 to February 20, 1937.
It Rained in Ixtlán del Río
A two-act play performed by The Mexican Players.
This play was also performed in 1936.
Los californios® Collection
Flyer for De la obscuridad,
performed September 13 to October 21, 1940.
This flyer characterizes the play as “The dramatic story of
a brother’s valiant sacrifice.”
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Flyer for Serenata tapatía,
performed June 12 to July 20, 1946.
Serenata tapatía — “A play of Guadalajara,
its gay señoritas, dashing charros and their charming music.”
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Flyer and program for Serenata tapatía contributed by Jan Sobieralski.
Program for Serenata tapatía,
performed June 12 to July 20, 1946.
Los californios® Collection
Jan Sobieralski writes: “I was going through some old boxes of
papers from my family and found a flyer for the a play called Serenata tapatía that played
June 12 to July 20 and we believe in 1946. My parents were on a bike trip in 1946 on a tandem from Seattle
to Costa Rica and I guessing may have seen this play since they loved regional theatre.”
Back of Program: Serenata tapatía
Note that Jesse Ruíz is an Assistant for this play and
that Hilda Ramírez de Jara is the Assistant Director.
Flyer for Celaya Stop,
performed July 24 to August 31, 1946.
Celaya Stop — “A comedy of a Mexican Railway Station.” This
play was also performed in 1947.
Los californios® Collection
Program for Vote por la Reina,
performed August 18 to October 2, 1948.
Los californios® Collection
Gloria Calderon Goodman writes:
In the late 40’s and early 50’s my grandmother, Aurora Guerrero, founder of the still popular Cielito Lindo taquito
stand on Olvera Street, took my mother and me several times for the most unforgettable evenings of dining and wonderful
spirit raising presentations of Mexican music, singing and dance. After dinner and a show we were treated to chocolate
caliente y pan dulce.
I was just a teen, but so fortunate to be able to recall visions of those warm romantic evenings in that cozy theater
restaurant nestled in those fragrant foothills. Such a pity that things have to change. I am sure my daughters would have
enjoyed learning more of their culture in such a beautiful way.
Note that Jesse Ruíz is in this production in the character of Chon.
Through much of the 1990s Jesse was still directing and producing the Padua Hills version of Las Posadas
in San Diego, California: in Old Town, at churches, and at Sherman Heights Community Center — with Los
californios® playing the music as remembered by Jesse.
Click here for more about the Padua Hills annual productions of the pastorela,
“Las posadas.”
Back of Program
Note that Hilda Ramírez de Jara is Assistant Director in this production.
Program for Festivales,
performed October 6 to November 20, 1948.
Los californios® Collection
Contributed by Robin Shane
The “Festivales” program provided a venue to showcase songs and dances from
various areas in Mexico. This program was repeated on a regular basis, including in 1947, 1950, 1951, 1956 and 1957.
Back of Program
Note that Hilda Ramírez de Jara is Assistant Director in this production.
Program for Festivales,
performed October 18 to November 25, 1950.
Los californios® Collection
The “Festivales” program provided a venue to showcase songs and dances from
various areas in Mexico. This program was repeated on a regular basis, including in 1947, 1948, 1951, 1956 and 1957.
For a picture of the cast for this performance, please see the lead picture on the
Padua Hills Theatre Home Page.
Plays Images #12 & 13
Historical photograph by Irene Welch Garner
Alfaro Family Collection
Subject matter experts visited Padua Hills Theatre to bring authentic dances, music and
costuming for programs. This artist came in preparation for the Festivales program in 1950.
Flyer for Margarita,
January 10 to February 17, 1951.
“A comedy of a girl, two suitors, and three fiestas . . the Day of the
Three Kings, Candelaria, and Carnival.”
Los californios® Collection
Many productions included educational components about Mexican culture.
Flyer for 16 de Septiembre,
performed August 13 to August 31 and October 1 to October 11, 1952.
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Program for 16 de Septiembre
Los californios® Collection
Plays featuring pride in their Mexican history and heritage were a staple of
The Mexican Player’s repertoire. Also note the annotation on the front of the program that this
is the group’s 166th production.
Back of Program
Note that Hilda Ramírez de Jara wrote, directed and performed in this production.
Flyer for Viva la fiesta
performed October 15 to November 22, 1952.
“Mexico pictured through its celebrations, songs and dances.”
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Flyer for Cielo mexicano,
performed July 27 to September 17, 1955.
“Mexican skies. If you are Mexican ... take pride in it.”
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Program for Las Canacuas,
performed May 16 to June 23, 1956.
Los californios® Collection
Education about regional traditions was often worked into the stories. This
program was repeated on a regular basis, including in 1935, 1940, 1941, 1960 and 1958.
Back of Program
Flyer for Las Canacuas
performed January 13 to February 27, 1960.
“A comedy of romantic Michoacan” — performed by
The Mexican Players. Las Canacuas was also performed in 1935, 1940, 1941, 1956 and 1958.
Los californios® Collection
Flyer for Veracruz,
performed June 8 to July 23, 1960.
“Veracruz: Life, Love and Music of a Tropical Village”
Los californios® Collection
Announcment for Festival Folklorical Mexicano,
Featuring Guadalupe Rubio and Aida de la Torre, and opening Padua’s 34th season.
Scan contriputed by Aida de la Torre’s son, C.D. Sellinger,
who notes that “My mother was a player at Padua Hills
many years ago, along whith her sister, Alicia Flores.
This would have been in the early 60’s.”
Historical photograph attributed to Irene Welch Garner
News Article for La Llorona del Río,
with Aida de la Torre and Rogelio Alfaro.
Scan contriputed by Aida de la Torre’s son,
C.D. Sellinger
Historical photograph attributed to Irene Welch Garner
Program for Serenata Ranchera,
performed March 1 to April 22, 1972.
Caroline Cameron-Yarp writes:
“I attended this performance on a field trip with my 8th grade Spanish class many years ago.
When I googled “Padua Hills Theatre” to see if it was still in existence, I was led to your web site. Enjoy!”
Los californios® Collection
Contributed by Caroline Cameron-Yarp
Back of Program
Another trip to Padua Hills is remembered in this account from Joan Webb:
“In about 1945, my Spanish class from Glendale High School attended a performance given by the Mexican Players.
Long time ago but my memory of a beautiful afternoon in the mountain setting is one I still enjoy.”
San Miguel and the Hermit:
Coloquio in “Carnaval de Veracruz,”
performed July 26 to September 9, 1961.
Image #25
Historical photograph by Irene Welch Garner
Alfaro Family Collection
Characters and their costumes might appear in multiple productions — like
this example of San Miguel and the hermit showing up outside of Las Posadas.
The woman second from the right is Aida Mitten.
Thanks to Linda Cervon for identification.
Program for Tropical Veracruz , 1972
performed June 7 to July 22, 1972.
Scans contributed by Douglas Freund
Douglas Freund writes:
“I was sorting through some family papers when I came across a flyer for the
Padua Hills Theatre from 1972. I remember going to the Theatre with my folks at this time, and the experience
was magical. I was charmed to find such a nice web page dedicated to this venue, but noticed that you do not include
an image of the flyer for the show that we saw: Tropical Veracruz. Perhaps this scan will be of use!”
Back of Program
Douglas Freund also supplied the scan of this insert that accompanied his program.
Linda Yarnell of Laurinburg, NC shares her memories of Padua Hills Theatre:
“In 1958, my sister, Elizabeth and brother-in-law, Fred Beebe arranged for a friend
to take me to Padua Hills for my 24th birthday, as they were going to be out of town. Fred, a Presbyterian
minister, had just established Claremont’s first Presbyterian church. It was a surprise to me when I was
served a birthday cake with a sparkler on top, and I was serenaded by the musicians singing the lovely
Las Mananitas. The show in the theater, and the fiesta afterwards, made an unforgettable and magic evening.”
Image #26
Historical photograph by Irene Welch Garner
Alfaro Family Collection
A Scene on Stage — performed by The Mexican Players
Do you recognize these plays or the performers? If so, please let us
know so we can add that information to this site.
Image #27
Historical photograph by Irene Welch Garner
Alfaro Family Collection
A Scene on Stage — performed by The Mexican Players
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