California Romance Image #1 — Photo attributed to Irene Welch Garner
Los californios® Collection
Please help us identify the names of these performers.
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California Romance Image #1 — Photo attributed to Irene Welch Garner Please help us identify the names of these performers. |
Padua Hills Theatre is located on a part of the historic Rancho San José. This circumstance helped inspire interpretations of this near-to-home heritage in addition to Mexican culture. Padua became both a repository of music and dances from Mexican-era California, and a resource for preserving that culture.
Presentations of those California-specific themes included:
El rancho San Antonio — July 16 - September 10, 1932 (Alternating with Serenata Mexicana)
Mañanitas californianas — January 2 - February 9, 1946
Por el camino real — February 23 - April 2, 1949
Festivales de California — October 19 - November 26, 1949
Conchita — May 15 - June 22, 1957
Rancho viejo — June 4 - July 26, 1958
Trovador californiano — March 4 - April 18, 1959
California Romance — March 2 - April 16, 1960
California Romance — March 1 - April 15, 1961
In a 1998 Memorial Day Weekend interview (and day of dancing) with Albert S. Pill, a collector and popular teacher of California and Mexican folk dances, Mr. Pill talked about taking the dances he had collected to Padua Hills — for the purpose of having Padua Hills musicians make recordings of the music for him to use in teaching the dances.
California Romance Image #2
Los Californios® Collection
California Romance Image #3 — Photo attributed to Irene Welch Garner
Los Californios® Collection
California Romance Image #4 — Clarence Palomares and Juanita Ávila de Palomares, 1963.
From the Fages Collection.
Now in Los Californios® Collection.
Californio descendents often participated in events at Padua Hills Theatre, celebrating and preserving their cultural identity and heritage, and sharing with The Mexican Players for their performances. The Palomares family were popular contributers.
California Romance Image #5 — Historical photograph by Irene Welch Garner
Alfaro Family Collection
California Romance Images #6 & #7 — Historical photographs by Irene Welch Garner
Alfaro Family Collection
California Romance Images #8, 9 & #10 — Historical photographs by Irene Welch Garner
Alfaro Family Collection
Plays Images #28, 29, 30 & 31 — Por el camino real — 1949
Los Californios® Collection
Por el Camino Real: “A comedy-romance of Old California.”
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If your family has recollections of Padua Hills Theatre that you would like to share on this web site, © Vykki Mende Gray, 2007 All rights reserved.
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