Tomas Muñiz
Encyclopedia
Tomás Muñiz Souffront was a well known Puerto Rican
radio
and television
producer. He is sometimes respectfully called by the general public in Puerto Rico
as Don Tomás Muñiz, to differentiate him from his namesake and son, Tommy Muñiz
As a young man, Tomás Muñiz worked as a real estate agent, and later as an advertising copy writer -and later executive- of the West Indies Advertising Company (WIAC). He later produced radio shows and administered the agency's radio station
, WIAC-AM
in San Juan. He was one of the first persons to give José Miguel Agrelot
work. He also worked with a large number of other entertainers, notably Luis Vigoreaux
.
Tomás Muñiz met Juan Bautista García
, an immigrant from Corsica
, when they became neighbors during the 1940s. The two men and their families forged a friendship, and, when Tomás Muñiz was working across the island on show business related events, Mr. García often helped by doing various things, not including any participation in the events themselves.
Lucas Tomás Muñiz later on became owner of Teleluz, a major competitor of WAPA-TV
and Canal 2
.
Tomás Muñiz was the patriarch of a show business family: one of his seven children, Tommy
, is a media legend in Puerto Rico, as is his grandson Rafo Muñiz
, also a television producer. Yet another grandson, Pedro Muñiz, starred as Alfonsina Molinari's father in the short lived 1989 television show Maripili and is also a television producer and film director.
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
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
producer. He is sometimes respectfully called by the general public in Puerto Rico
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...
as Don Tomás Muñiz, to differentiate him from his namesake and son, Tommy Muñiz
Tommy Muñiz
Lucas Tomás Muñiz Ramírez , better known as Tommy Muñiz, was a Puerto Rican comedy and drama actor, media producer, businessman and network owner...
As a young man, Tomás Muñiz worked as a real estate agent, and later as an advertising copy writer -and later executive- of the West Indies Advertising Company (WIAC). He later produced radio shows and administered the agency's radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
, WIAC-AM
WIAC (AM)
WIAC is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. Licensed to San Juan, Puerto Rico , it serves the Puerto Rico area...
in San Juan. He was one of the first persons to give José Miguel Agrelot
José Miguel Agrelot
Giuseppe Michael Agrelot , better known as José Miguel Agrelot, was a comedian, radio and television host and media icon in Puerto Rico...
work. He also worked with a large number of other entertainers, notably Luis Vigoreaux
Luis Vigoreaux
Luis Vigoreaux Rivera was a Puerto Rican radio and television show host, announcer, comedian and producer. The son of a sugar worker, Vigoreaux became one of the most popular television entertainers in Puerto Rico's history....
.
Tomás Muñiz met Juan Bautista García
Juan Bautista Garcia
Juan Bautista Garcia , born Jean Baptiste Romanacce, was a Corsican immigrant to Puerto Rico whose life and family became the inspiration for one of Puerto Rico's most successful television shows in history, Los Garcia....
, an immigrant from Corsica
Corsica
Corsica is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is located west of Italy, southeast of the French mainland, and north of the island of Sardinia....
, when they became neighbors during the 1940s. The two men and their families forged a friendship, and, when Tomás Muñiz was working across the island on show business related events, Mr. García often helped by doing various things, not including any participation in the events themselves.
Lucas Tomás Muñiz later on became owner of Teleluz, a major competitor of WAPA-TV
WAPA-TV
WAPA-TV is an independent television station located in San Juan, Puerto Rico transmitting over digital channel 27, virtual channel 4. The station is owned by InterMedia Partners and is branded as WAPA Television....
and Canal 2
Telemundo Puerto Rico
The name Telemundo Puerto Rico may represent:* WKAQ-TV, a Telemundo station in San Juan, Puerto Rico* Telemundo Puerto Rico , a former Spanish-language cable network...
.
Tomás Muñiz was the patriarch of a show business family: one of his seven children, Tommy
Tommy Muñiz
Lucas Tomás Muñiz Ramírez , better known as Tommy Muñiz, was a Puerto Rican comedy and drama actor, media producer, businessman and network owner...
, is a media legend in Puerto Rico, as is his grandson Rafo Muñiz
Rafo Muñiz
Rafo Muñiz is a Puerto Rican actor, comedian, director and, more notably, producer of television shows and concerts.The son of legendary comic actor and producer Tommy Muñiz and brother of Pedro Muñiz; who is also a producer and actor, Rafo began acting as the young neighbor of M\"Miguel" in ...
, also a television producer. Yet another grandson, Pedro Muñiz, starred as Alfonsina Molinari's father in the short lived 1989 television show Maripili and is also a television producer and film director.