Lights flicker. Right here, where we stand before this plaque, history was made at Estudios Cinematográficos Baires. This wasn’t just a studio. It was the heart of Argentine cinema’s golden age.
Estudios Cinematográficos Baires emerged in the late 1930s. Eduardo Bedoya partnered with Natalio Botana. Botana owned and directed the newspaper Crítica. Together, they envisioned a cinematic division of Botana’s journalistic empire. Baires Films SRL was born.
Don Torcuato became its home. The studio quickly attracted Argentina’s biggest stars. Luis Arata graced its stages. Enrique Santos Discépolo brought his unique talent. Mecha Ortiz captivated audiences. Jorge Rigaud added his charm. These were just a few of the luminaries who walked these halls.
Many films shot at Estudios Cinematográficos Baires have become national treasures. Consider Mateo from 1937. Daniel Tinayre directed it. It starred Luis Arata and Enrique Santos Discépolo. Then there’s Último Refugio. John Reinhardt directed this 1941 film. Mecha Ortiz and Jorge Rigaud starred. La hora de las sorpresas also delighted audiences in 1941. Daniel Tinayre directed Pedro Quartucci and Rosita Moreno. Ceniza al viento closed out 1942. Luis Saslavsky directed Berta Singerman and Pedro López Lagar.
Estudios Cinematográficos Baires provided a platform for rising stars. Eva Duarte made her acting debut here. She starred in Una Novia en Apuros. This studio was more than bricks and mortar. It launched careers.
Natalio Botana’s death in 1943 cast a shadow. The studio faced closure partly due to a celluloid shortage during World War II. The doors shut. The dream seemed over.
But the story doesn’t end there. In 1949, Estudios Cinematográficos Baires was reborn. It reopened to serve Artistas Argentinos Asociados. The legacy continued, albeit in a new era.
The spirit of Estudios Cinematográficos Baires lives on. Today, Polka Producciones occupies the space. Yet, the echoes of classic films remain. The films Dock Sud and Mercado de Abasto were filmed here. Almost the entire saga of Los Cinco Grandes del Buen Humor was shot here. Also El Jefe, La Patagonia Rebelde, Tiempo de Revancha, and La Noche de los Lápices.
Plans are underway to reconstruct the entrance tower. It will house the Leonardo Favio Popular Library and Film Museum. A professional training center for audiovisual technicians will also be built. This ensures that the spirit of Estudios Cinematográficos Baires inspires future generations. As you stand before this plaque, remember the magic. Remember the stars. Remember the legacy of Estudios Cinematográficos Baires. It was a cornerstone of Argentine cinema.