Think of Madrid in 1968. The Sociedad General de Autores de España placed the Antonio Paso Cano Plaque here. It honors the renowned playwright and librettist Antonio Paso y Cano who died in this house.
Antonio Paso y Cano was born Antonio Afán de Ribera y Cano in Granada. That was on September 9 1868. He passed away in Madrid on July 11 1958. He was 89 years old.
Antonio Paso’s mother was Antonia Cano. His grandfather was the writer Antonio Joaquín Afán de Ribera. His half-brother Manuel Paso y Cano played a fatherly role. Manuel was a bohemian poet and journalist. Antonio took his first surname from Manuel.
He studied philosophy and literature with the Escolapios in Granada. Antonio Paso was the father of Antonio Paso Díaz. He also fathered Enrique Paso Díaz and Manuel Paso Andrés who was also known as Alfonso Paso Gil. He had seven more children. His second wife was actress Carmen Andrés.
At fifteen he became a writer for the newspaper El Defensor de Granada. In 1890 he moved to Madrid. There he joined the editorial staff of several newspapers. He became editor-in-chief of La Correspondencia Militar. His first play La Candelada premiered in 1894. He collaborated with the weekly Germinal in 1897-1898.
Throughout his life he actively collaborated with the Sociedad General de Autores de España. He held various positions in this institution. He even became its president. Affected by his alcoholic brother’s death he founded the Montepío de Autores Españoles. It was to protect incapacitated authors and their descendants. In 1945 he received a tribute from theater people.
Antonio Paso y Cano was a prolific writer. He wrote over a thousand theatrical pieces. Among them are notable works of lyric theater. These include revues such as El arte de ser bonita. There were also zarzuelas like Paso de ataque. Other famous works include El asombro de Damasco and El niño judío.
His successes spanned all genres. He was a major author in Spain’s early 20th century. Antonio Paso continuously succeeded in popular theaters. Teatro Eslava and Teatro Martín saw triumphs. Works like La caída de la tarde and Ojo por Ojo were hits.
The Antonio Paso Cano Plaque serves as a reminder. It honors a man who significantly contributed to Spanish theater. His legacy endures in the numerous plays and zarzuelas he penned. The plaque marks not just his death but also his vibrant life. It celebrates his dedication to the arts and fellow writers. His work continues to resonate. It echoes through the streets of Madrid and beyond.