Teatro Yagüez facts for kids
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Teatro Yaguez
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 Location in Puerto Rico
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| Location | Calle Candelaria y Calle Dr. Basora Mayagüez, Puerto Rico |
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| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1909 |
| Architect | Sabas Honore et al. |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003086 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 2, 1985 |
The Teatro Yagüez is a famous historic theater in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. It is a special place for performing arts like plays, concerts, and shows. You can find it on Candelaria Street and Dr. Basora Streets. Inside, the theater has two main parts: the Lucy Boscana Hall and the Roberto Cole Cafe Theater.
Contents
History of Teatro Yagüez
Building the First Theater
The first Teatro Yagüez was built by Francisco Maymón Palmer. He was an entrepreneur whose parents came to Puerto Rico from Italy. Francisco wanted to build a theater in San German, but people there thought theaters were a "bad influence."
So, Francisco moved to Mayagüez. He became a pioneer in showing movies in Puerto Rico. He brought silent films to the island. He also became the only distributor for 'Nicholas Power Co.' movie projectors in the Caribbean.
Francisco worked with partners, Mr. Jose Rahola and Mr. Fundador Vargas. They imported movies from Europe. They showed these films in town squares and at the old Mayagüez Municipal Theater.
Original Construction and Design
Francisco bought the land for the theater around 1905. Construction of the first Teatro Yagüez began in 1907. It officially opened in 1909.
Special materials were used to build it. Cement came from Germany, and interior ceilings from Italy. Tiles and carpets were imported from Spain. The theater was designed in a neo-baroque style. It started as an opera house and later showed silent movies.
The Fire and Rebuilding
On June 19, 1919, a big fire destroyed the Teatro Yagüez. Investigations later suggested the fire was likely caused by nitrate films stored inside the theater. These old films were very flammable.
After the fire, Francisco Maymón rebuilt the theater. It reopened on March 21, 1921. The new building was designed by a talented architect named José Sabàs Honoré.
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Ownership and Restoration
Francisco Maymón's children, Miguel A. Maymón Camuñas and Petra Maymón Cernuda, inherited the theater in 1954. In 1959, Miguel became the sole owner.
In 1976, the U.S. government recognized the Teatro Yagüez as an important landmark. The city of Mayagüez bought the theater in 1980. They restored it to its original beauty by 1984.
The theater was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It was also listed on the Puerto Rico Register of Historic Sites and Zones in 2003.
Teatro Yagüez Today
The Teatro Yagüez has been fully restored and is still in use today. It is a beautiful reminder of the history of arts in Puerto Rico. In December 2008, its stage and auditorium were renamed the Lucy Boscana Hall. This was done to honor Lucy Boscana, a famous actress and teacher from Mayagüez.
Francisco Maymón called the Teatro Yagüez "La Catedral Del Arte Sonoro." This means "The Cathedral of Sonorous Art." This nickname is still used today because the theater looks like a grand cathedral.
See also
In Spanish: Teatro Yagüez para niños
