Villa Alegre (TV series)

"Villa Alegre" (Spanish for "Happy Village" or "Joyous Town"), a children's television show, was the first national bilingual (Spanish/English) program in the United States.Carmina Danini. "Rivas-Estrella was part of the first national bilingual TV show," "San Antonio Express-News", January 25, 2006, State & Metro section, p. 4B.] It was produced by Bilingual Children's Television as its inaugural project on the company's founding in 1970. [http://www.retroland.com/pages/retropedia/tv/item/6184/ Retrolandia: "Villa Alegre"] . Retrieved July 15, 2007.] "Villa Alegre" debuted on the PBS network in 1973 and ran there until funding disputes ended the project in 1980.2nd ref] 2nd Retrolandia ref] During its run, the show won a Peabody Award along with many other honors.Victor Payan. [http://www.inmotionmagazine.com/mesparza.html "Interview with Moctesuma Esparza: From the L.A. High School walkouts to "Selena" and "The Disappearance of Garcia Lorca,"] "In Motion Magazine", May 21, 1998. Retrieved July 15, 2007.] The show was also seen in syndication on commercial stations in some markets, on at least a weekly basis.

Much like another bilingual children's show of the era, "Carrascolendas" (produced at KLRN in Austin, Texas), "Villa Alegre" centered on life in a Mexican village. The program had an upbeat, catchy mariachi-flavored theme song, which ended with adults and kids shouting "¡Villa Alegre!"

Actors and staff

On leaving politics following the Watergate scandal in the mid-1970s, Cuba-born activist Raúl Espinosa went on to produce "Villa Alegre".John Lovejoy. "Revolution to Republican - Raúl Espinosa fled Cuba and became a bigwig in U.S. politics," "Ledger Dispatch" (California), November 10, 2000, News section, page 1.] Other producers included Moctesuma Esparza, who worked on only the first season"Villa Alegre" on Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 15, 2007.] , and David Ochoa."Militant found career in films," "Rocky Mountain News" (Colorado), May 21, 1994, Local section, special feature "La Gente", page 74A.] . Actress Carmen Zapata starred in the program for nine seasons in the role of "Doña Luz,"Lowe Kilmer. "Celebrities" (column), "Watertown Daily Times" (New York), October 7, 2003, Lifestyles & Leisure section, page B2.] Matt S. Meier, Conchita Franco Serri, and Richard A. Garcia. "Notable Latino Americans: A Biographical Dictionary", Westport, Conn. Greenwood Press, 1997, page 410: "Most important, in her role of Doña Luz she was, for nine years, the heart and soul of the Public Broadcasting System's bilingual program, 'Villa Alegre.'"] and Marisela, the Mexican-American singer-actress, appeared on the show in her youth.Blanca Arroyo. "Ahora 'sin él', pero lista para volver - La cantante confiesa que a los 15 años tuvo un tórrido romance con Marco Antonio Solís y que le 'encantaría' trabajar otra vez con 'El Buki Mayor,'" ["Now 'Without Him', but ready to return: The singer confesses that at age 15 she had a torrid romance with Marco Antonio Solís and that she would be 'delighted' to work again with 'El Buki Mayor'"] , "La Opinión" (Los Angeles, California), May 6, 2001, Espectáculos section. (In Spanish)] The show was directed by Argentinian actor and director Alejandro Rey.Associated Press. "Alejandro Rey, 57, starred in TV's 'The Flying Nun,'" "San José Mercury-News", May 23, 1987, Local News section, page 10B.]

Notes

External links

*imdb title|id=0205707|title=Villa Alegre
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=122698937 "Villa Alegre" information at Myspace.com]