Remember the thrill of Libertad Lamarque’s opening night? That was 1960 at the Teatro Blanquita. Right here before us stood a marvel a testament to the vibrant heart of Mexico City.
The Teatro Blanquita wasn’t just a theatre. It was a cultural phenomenon. Built on the site of the old Plaza Villamil it rose from the ashes of the demolished Circo Orrin. That circus was legendary for Ricardo Bell’s clown acts. The circus owners even founded the Roma neighborhood.
Margo Su and her husband Felix Cervantes had a dream. They used lottery winnings to buy the land. They first created the Teatro-Salón Margo. It faced criticism for its popular and sometimes risqué shows. Eventually deemed unsafe it was demolished. Undeterred they built the Teatro Blanquita. They named it after Felix’s cousin Blanca Eva Cervantes.
The Teatro Blanquita quickly became one of Mexico City’s most popular venues. Cantinflas, Tin Tan and Lucha Villa all graced its stage. It even attracted literary giants like Carlos Fuentes and Gabriel García Márquez. Carlos Monsiváis famously called it a “treasure trove” preserving the best of Mexico’s popular culture.
For seventeen years Francis a famous travesti performer captivated audiences. This caused a lot of controversy. The Teatro Blanquita’s shows were often deemed vulgar. This stigma followed it for decades.
Margo Su managed the theatre until 1993. In 1999 OCESA took over. They modernized it and brought in big acts. But sadly the final curtain fell in 2015 with La Gusana Ciega’s performance. Today the building stands silent. Its doors are locked. But the memory of its legendary performances lives on. The Teatro Blanquita lives on in the hearts of those who remember its glory days. A cultural landmark. A place where dreams took flight.