Musical Theater in Mexican Los Angeles, 1910-1940

FAIN: FB-56863-13

John Koegel
California State University, Fullerton (Fullerton, CA 92831-3599)

My book investigates how during the first half of the twentieth century Mexican performers and theatrical and musical impresarios promoted in Los Angeles a very broad repertory of theatrical genres--always with music--as a cultural product for commercial consumption, and as a means by which local Mexican working-class audiences could construct and reinforce a strong, positive sense of ethnic self-identification while enjoying up-to-date popular theatrical and musical entertainment. The history of Mexican theater in Los Angeles is found in its Spanish-language newspapers, recordings, musical scores, playscripts, and other sources. In order to be able to write a thick description of the use of music in this ethnic theater tradition, I need to examine and analyze various documentary sources, including newspaper coverage of the Spanish-language stage in Los Angeles' daily Mexican press.