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1-14 of 14
- Actress
- Soundtrack
In a world weary of war and dispirited by the ravages of the Great Depression, Hollywood at the turn of the 1940s concocted a wildly popular, effective lot of escapist fare (though often cheaply made) to regale the sick at heart worldwide. Universal Pictures, more often than not, led in producing such films. We know about the monster movies: wolf men, invisible men -- and invisible women too, for that matter. We know about Sherlock Holmes chasing not killer hounds in 1890 but chasing killer Nazis a half- century later. Such were among typical Universal "B" productions. Enter Maria de Santo Silas -- Maria Montez. This daughter of a Spanish diplomat traveled extensively after being educated in the Canary Islands and attempted, albeit unsuccessfully, to establish herself as a stage actress in Europe. In 1940 she found herself in New York City, a model. Her screen career began in 1941, with Universal casting her in bit parts. On account of her strikingly exotic looks and her exotic accent, the studio soon paired her with other "exotics" (Sabu and Turhan Bey), and usually with a more "home-style" hero (Jon Hall), in a series of low-budget adventures, filmed in Technicolor and situated in fantasy lands, with Montez herself often situated in revealing dress. With Montez threatened by all manner of nastiness -- from evil caliphs to man-eating sharks to her own cobra-worshipping twin sister (!) -- her pictures soon became immensely popular, even though she could not really act, could not dance and could not sing. Audiences flocked to see her films, just to witness the trials and endurance of an alluring beauty in distress (as well, perhaps, as to glimpse some scantily clad, beauteous flesh). The Depression having long since passed, the end of World War II meant also the end of flying carpets and sand dunes and deadly reptiles as potential subjects for attracting moviegoers. That bit of history, plus a bit of girth added to Montez's frame, led her and her husband, the actor Jean-Pierre Aumont, to abandon Hollywood for Europe, where she would appear in a handful of French and Italian adventure films. On 7 September 1951 Maria Montez was discovered drowned in her bath, possibly having first suffered a heart attack.- Actress
- Additional Crew
On a sultry July 7th evening in Barahona, Dominican Republic, little Milagros Padilla (a.k.a. Ludo Vika) merengued into this world. The vivacious daughter of Manuel and Teresa Padilla, never stopped dancing. When her father moved the family to Puerto Rico, Ludo snuck out of the house to attend Sarita Ayala's dance school. Sarita was so impressed with Ludo's talent that she gave her a full scholarship and for Ludo there was no turning back. It wasn't long before she set her sights on Europe, where her dancing graced the stages of Italy, France, and Germany. Vegas was next. She and dance partner Bill Spinning would go on to become one of the premier and most respected Adagio acts in Vegas history.
After the loss of her sister Matilde to AIDS, Ludo knew the silent beauty of a dancer would have to give way to powerful words if she was going to spread the message of safe sex in honor of her fallen sister. The tenacious Island girl would turn to the world of stand-up comedy to spread that message. She soon positioned herself to open for some of the great comedians of our times including Paul Rodriquez and George Lopez.
The witty Ludo was then noticed by Hollywood, getting her first big break in the cult classic comedy, "The Crazysitter" with Ed Begley Jr. and Carol Kane. Ludo was also asked to star in two groundbreaking American-style sitcoms for Telemundo and produced by Sony television. The shows, "Solo En America" and "Viva Vegas" saw a whole new Spanish speaking audience fall in love with the gifted actress.
Next, Ludo chronicled her incredible story in a one-woman show called, L.V.'s Under the Mango Tree to huge critical and popular success. Its message would go on to inspire countless young Latina women to embrace the dance of life with courage and persistence. A dance in which Ludo Vika has not yet finished.- Soundtrack
Michel El Buenon was born in Barahona, Dominican Republic.- Actress
Consuelo Gracia Vidal aka Julia Andre was one of the younger sisters of Maria Montez aka "The Queen of Technicolor" and she went to Hollywood to make a career under the wing of her famous sister.
Consuelo was the daughter of Isidoro Gracia y García, a Spaniard from Garafía, La Palma, Canary Islands (Spain), and Regla María Teresa Vidal y Recio, a Dominican of Criollo descent.
She was the 7th child of the couple, her older siblings being Isidoro Rafael (b. 1911), Maria África "Maria Montez" (b. 1912), Aquilino Mario (b. 1914), Joaquín David (b. 1915), Luis Antonio (b. 1923), and Ada "Adita" (b. 1924); and her younger being Jaime (b. 1928), Luz "Lucita" (b. 1929), and Teresita Montez (b. 1930).
In 1932 her oldest sister Maria left Barahona to Hollywood and there she became famous. Thanks to this, Maria sent gifts to her family, and her younger sisters Adita, Consuelo and Lucita were the first girls in Barahona to wear the latest fashions.
When Maria's husband Jean-Pierre Aumont left Hollywood to fight in the Second World War (1943), Maria decided that her sisters must go to Hollywood and start a career there, so one year later, Lucita, Adita and Consuelo (Teresita was still very young), went to Hollywood where they studied English and dramatic art. The three sisters were very good at it and even Universal Pictures approved that Maria, with Lucita and Consuelo attended together the most important events so everybody may meet them.
Maria was very happy to have her sisters under her wing, and they lived together in the same big house, as in the old days in Barahona when they were little.
Although Maria put big efforts in her younger sisters to succeed as actresses, they preferred a more classic way of life, and soon found love. Consuelo got married to Universal publicist Kenneth Carter in August 1946.
Consuelo had a great Hollywood promotion and in 1947 while being pregnant of her first child, she had a small role in "Pirates of Monterey" but she didn't pursue a film career as she wasn't fluent with the English language.
She worked for a short time as a model but she quit as she became mother of four children: Ken (born in 1947 or 1948), William, Jimmy and Cristina.
After Maria's premature passing in 1951 aged only 39, Consuelo went to live to Southern California with her family and her sister Adita.
In February 2009 she was living in a clinic in Los Angeles as she suffered from Alzheimer's disease. As for 14th January 2012, Consuelo was still alive.- Teresa Gracia Vidal aka Teresita Montez was an international model and occasional actress in the 1950s, and the youngest sister of Holywood actress Maria Montez, "Queen of Technicolor".
Teresita was the youngest child of Isidoro Gracia y García, a Spaniard from Garafía, La Palma, Canary Islands (Spain), and Regla María Teresa Vidal y Recio, a Dominican of Criollo descent.
She was the ninth child, her older siblings being Isidoro Rafael (b. 1911), Maria África "Maria Montez" (b. 1912), Aquilino Mario (b. 1914), Joaquín David (b. 1915), Luis Antonio (b. 1923), Ada "Adita" (b. 1924), Consuelo aka Julia Andre (b.1925), Jaime (b. 1928), and Luz "Lucita" (b. 1929).
In 1932 her oldest sister Maria left Barahona to Hollywood and there she became famous. Thanks to this, Maria sent gifts to her family.
Teresita was the last of Maria's siblings to go to Hollywood to make a career under the wing of her famous sister.
Soon after Teresita arrived to Hollywood, María and her husband Jean-Pierre Aumont decided to go to live to France, so in 1948, all of them and Maria's and Teresita's sister Ada went to Paris. In due time, this was the best option as Teresita preferred fashion than cinema.
In France, after taking modeling lessons, she began modeling in 1949 and she was booked for Vogue magazine and usually modeled Jacques Heim designs. The photographers who mainly worked with her were Willy Maywald and Georges Saad and was regularly seen in fashion spreads in magazines like L'Officiel and L'Art et la Mode.
On September 7, 1951, Teresita and her sister Adita, who were living together with María and Jean-Pierre, found the body of her sister Maria in her bathtub and managed to take her out from here, immediately they called the emergency services and the firefighters but nothing could be done to revive the Dominican Star.
In 1952 Teresita was dating Yves Manuel, whom she later married, and by 1956/57 they had their daughter Raina Paris.
Around 1959 Teresita had a strong and passionate relationship with Italian actor Maurizio Arena that meant the ending of her marriage to Yves Manuel. However, her relationship with the Italian actor didn't last as he fooled her.
In 1963 Teresita attended her niece Tina Aumont's wedding with Christian Marquand, and as Teresita kept some jewels of María, in due time she gave them to Tina.
Teresita traveled a lot, she first lived in France, then she had been in Mallorca (Spain), Brussels (Belgium), then she lived in Vienna (Austria), and Los Angeles (USA).
Later on, she went to live to Mexico to be close to her sister Lucita and her nephews Yves, Jean-Pierre and Marco Flavio Leleu.
In 2016 she decided to go to Brussels, Belgium, and with the help of her only child Raïna Paris, she settled there for good.
She lived there until her passing, on 17th January 2023 at 93 years old. - Writer
- Producer
- Actor
Milton Peláez was born on 15 April 1945 in Barahona, Dominican Republic. He was a writer and producer, known for Con Cuquín (1986), El Show de Noticias (1973) and El Sabroshow (1985). He died on 4 July 2006 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.- Frank Adolfo was born on 15 June 1944 in Barahona, Dominican Republic. He was a producer, known for Juventud 13 (1972), El 11 a 12 del 13 (1972) and Un Block para la Escuela (1964). He died on 12 November 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Casandra Damirón was born on 12 March 1919 in Barahona, Dominican Republic. She was an actress, known for Las canciones unidas (1960), Las pecadoras (1968) and El Show de Napoleón Dihmes (1963). She was married to Luis Rivera and Andrés Moreta. She died on 5 December 1983 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.- Aníbal De Peña was born on 11 May 1933 in Barahona, Dominican Republic. He died on 17 September 2023 in Plano, Texas, USA.
- Edinson Volquez was born on 3 July 1983 in Barahona, Dominican Republic.
- Felix Heredia was born on 18 June 1975 in Barahona, Dominican Republic.
- Ted Martinez was born on 10 September 1947 in Barahona, Dominican Republic.
- Julio Lugo was born on 16 November 1975 in Barahona, Dominican Republic. He was married to Surki and ???. He died on 15 November 2021 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
- Music Department
Cuso Cuevas was born on 24 October 1942 in Barahona, Dominican Republic. He is known for The Lost City (2005), BBC Stevie Wonder 1981 Documentary and Sábado Original (1980). He died on 15 December 2019 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.