Teófilo Villavicencio Marxuach
Encyclopedia
Teófilo Villavicencio Marxuach (October 2, 1912-February 29, 1992) was a pioneer in Puerto Rican
radio broadcasting. Joaquín Agusty Ramírez, Rafael Quiñones Vidal
, and Villavicencio are considered (in that order) the three most important important Puerto Rican pioneers of radio broadcasting.
.
. He was the official on air voice of the informational and entertainment programs sponsored by the West Indies Advertising Company, his programs served as the permanent radio home of popular local orchestras such as those headed by the Brothers Morales
, Mario Dumont, Rafael Petitón Guzmán, and Carmelo Díaz Soler. He was also host on various occasions to native artists such as Arturo Somohano
, Emilio Bouret, Daniel Capa, Arturo Cortés, Lolita Cuevas, Alfonso López Prado, Ernestico Mantilla, Armando Ríos Araujo, Rafael Seijo, Lolita Traviso and Germán Vázquez, as well as to international stars (including Pedro Vargas
, Hugo del Carril
, the Argentine Paulina Singerman, and Carlos Gardel
).
Villavicencio Marxuach followed the West Indies Advertising Company to their own newly inaugurated radio station in 1942, where he hosted the news program Diario de La Democracia and El Batey, which was both a news and musical variety show
, and that he continued to host until 1960. After leaving radio he worked as spokesman for the Puerto Rican Department of Commerce, as a frequent articles contributor for the newspaper El Mundo
, and finally as a columnist
for El Vocero
. Villavicencio Marxuach was a member of the Puerto Rican Independence Party
and a follower of independence advocates Pedro Albizu Campos
and Luis Llorens Torres
, an interest which resulted in the 1977 publication of Luis Llorens Torres, maestro en lo sencillo.
). The marriage produced two sons Ever and José Rafael. Villavicencio Marxuach died in Río Piedras in 1992.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
radio broadcasting. Joaquín Agusty Ramírez, Rafael Quiñones Vidal
Rafael Quiñones Vidal
Rafael Quiñones Vidal was a journalist and a radio and television Master of Ceremonies....
, and Villavicencio are considered (in that order) the three most important important Puerto Rican pioneers of radio broadcasting.
Early years
Villavicencio Marxuach was born in the town of Santurce to Rafael Villavicencio Plumey and Teresa Marxuach Plumey de Villavicencio; his maternal uncle was Lieutenant Colonel Teófilo MarxuachTeofilo Marxuach
Lieutenant Colonel Teófilo Marxuach, , was the person who ordered the first shot fired in World War I on behalf of the United States on an armed German supply ship trying to force its way out of the San Juan Bay...
.
Radio broadcasting career
Previous to working as a radio host he worked as a print journalistJournalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
. He was the official on air voice of the informational and entertainment programs sponsored by the West Indies Advertising Company, his programs served as the permanent radio home of popular local orchestras such as those headed by the Brothers Morales
Noro Morales
Norosbaldo Morales was a Puerto Rican pianist and bandleader.-Biography:Morales learned several instruments as a child. He played in Venezuela from 1924 to 1930, then returned to Puerto Rico to play with Rafaél Muñoz. He emigrated to New York City in 1935, and played there with Alberto Socarras...
, Mario Dumont, Rafael Petitón Guzmán, and Carmelo Díaz Soler. He was also host on various occasions to native artists such as Arturo Somohano
Arturo Somohano
Arturo Somohano was a musical composer and the director of the San Juan Symphony Orchestra, which is now named after him.-Early years:...
, Emilio Bouret, Daniel Capa, Arturo Cortés, Lolita Cuevas, Alfonso López Prado, Ernestico Mantilla, Armando Ríos Araujo, Rafael Seijo, Lolita Traviso and Germán Vázquez, as well as to international stars (including Pedro Vargas
Pedro Vargas
Pedro Vargas Mata was a Mexican singer and actor, from the golden age of Mexican cinema. He was known as the "Nightingale of the Americas".-Biography:...
, Hugo del Carril
Hugo del Carril
Pierre Bruno Hugo Fontana otherwise known as Hugo del Carril was an Argentine film actor, film director and tango singer of the classic era.-Early life:...
, the Argentine Paulina Singerman, and Carlos Gardel
Carlos Gardel
Carlos Gardel was a singer, songwriter and actor, and is perhaps the most prominent figure in the history of tango. He was born in Toulouse, France, although he never acknowledged his birthplace publicly, and there are still claims of his birth in Uruguay. He lived in Argentina from the age of two...
).
Villavicencio Marxuach followed the West Indies Advertising Company to their own newly inaugurated radio station in 1942, where he hosted the news program Diario de La Democracia and El Batey, which was both a news and musical variety show
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
, and that he continued to host until 1960. After leaving radio he worked as spokesman for the Puerto Rican Department of Commerce, as a frequent articles contributor for the newspaper El Mundo
El Mundo (Puerto Rico)
-History:El Mundo was founded in 1919 by Romualdo Real.In 1929, former corrector-turned-administrator Angel Ramos and journalist José Coll Vidal, bought the newspaper when Real retired. In 1946 Ramos was the sole owner of the newspaper.-Acquisitions:...
, and finally as a columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
for El Vocero
El Vocero
El Vocero is a Puerto Rican newspaper that is published in San Juan.Published since 1974, El Vocero was at first the third of the four largest Puerto Rico newspapers, trailing El Mundo and El Nuevo Día and leading The San Juan Star in sales...
. Villavicencio Marxuach was a member of the Puerto Rican Independence Party
Puerto Rican Independence Party
The Puerto Rican Independence Party is a Puerto Rican political party that campaigns for the independence of Puerto Rico from United States suzerainty....
and a follower of independence advocates Pedro Albizu Campos
Pedro Albizu Campos
Don Pedro Albizu Campos was a Puerto Rican politician and one of the leading figures in the Puerto Rican independence movement. He was the leader and president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party from 1930 until his death...
and Luis Llorens Torres
Luis Lloréns Torres
Luis Llorens Torres , was a Puerto Rican poet, playwright, and politician. He was an advocate for the independence of Puerto Rico.-Early years:...
, an interest which resulted in the 1977 publication of Luis Llorens Torres, maestro en lo sencillo.
Later years
Teófilo Villavicencio Marxuach married Gloria Sabater in 1941 (Ms. Sabater worked for a time as personal secretary to alcaldesa Felisa Rincón de GautierFelisa Rincón de Gautier
Felisa Rincón de GautierThis name uses Spanish marriage naming customs; the first is the maiden family name "Rincón" and the second or matrimonial family name is "Gautier"...
). The marriage produced two sons Ever and José Rafael. Villavicencio Marxuach died in Río Piedras in 1992.
See also
- Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts of the 1950sPuerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts of the 1950sThe Puerto Rican Nationalist Party Revolts of the 1950s was a call for independence and uprising by the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party against United States Government rule of Puerto Rico and against the approval of the creation of the political status "Free Associated State" for Puerto Rico which...
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- Puerto Rican Nationalist PartyPuerto Rican Nationalist PartyThe Puerto Rican Nationalist Party was founded on September 17, 1922. Its main objective is to work for Puerto Rican Independence.In 1919, José Coll y Cuchí, a member of the Union Party of Puerto Rico, felt that the Union Party was not doing enough for the cause of Puerto Rican independence and he...
- Other members of the MarxuachMarxuachMarxuach is a Catalan surname shared by the following people:*Javier Grillo-Marxuach*Francisco J. Marxuach*Acisclo Marxuach y Plumey*Jaume Marxuach i Flaquer*José María Marxuach Echavarría*Rafael Marxuach y Abrams*Teófilo Marxuach y Plumey...
family
External links
- La radio difusión commercial en Puerto Rico cumple 80 años http://www.prpop.org/noticias/may08/radio_80_may04.shtml