Ramón Rivero
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Ramón Rivero (May 29, 1909 – August 24, 1956) — better known as Diplo — was a comedian and actor from Nagüabo, Puerto Rico.
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[edit] Biography
Ramón Rivero was baptized as Arturo Ramón Máximo Ortiz del Rivero, but later, due to a petition from his father (because another son was a priest, and having a comedian in the family ran against propriety), he changed his name to Ramón Rivero, before adding the nickname "Diplo." A law was passed in 2006 commemorating his life. This extremely versatile and renaissance artist is considered today, over half a century after his death, as the most original, versatile and the best actor/comedian in the history of Puerto Rico. Unfortunately, his success was also fleeting and ended on August 24, 1956 when Ramón Rivero died from natural causes, at the early age of 47.
With his popular comedy, and through his famous character "Diplo," Ramón Rivero entertained and made Puerto Ricans laugh for more than 30 years, at a time when the island was undergoing its most difficult social, economic, and industrial revolution; the reason why Ramón Rivero and his "Diplo" have now become part of the collective consciousness of Puerto Ricans around the globe.
Those old enough still remember when the whole island laughed aloud, listening to Ramón Rivero's "Calderón" in his outrageously funny radio broadcast of El Tremendo Hotel. Those daily 15 minutes made it possible for them to forget, for a while at least, about hunger, disease and want, helping them gain strength for their constant struggle.
On many occasions, Ramón Rivero proved that he was more than a great show-man, demonstrating his quality as a human being, defending victims of injustice during student revolts at the University of Puerto Rico, and (against his self-interest), leading the first actors' strike on the island. Foreign artists, marooned in Puerto Rico, always found a helping hand and unconditional assistance from Ramón Rivero.
He was the first artist in Puerto Rico to promote a radio marathon to raise funds for cancer research; then walked from the capital city of San Juan, across the island, to Ponce (up and down the treacherous mountain roads of Cayey, known as "La Piquiña") during 4 arduous days and nights, sleeping in tents on the outskirts of towns along the route, while exhorting the people to cooperate with the noble cause.
During the Second World War, Ramón Rivero packed his acting troupe the "Farándula Bohemia," and traveled to Panama and other U.S. bases throughout Central America, to entertain Puerto Rican soldiers in training, returning with letters and messages for their mothers and wives, and, many times, adding anonymous contributions from his own pocket.
Ramón Rivero was a man who always carried with him his love of country, and people still remember his "call to arms" during his radio broadcast of El Tremendo Hotel, exhorting his countrymen to expel from Puerto Rico a foreign newspaperwoman who had published an article in the U.S. stating that "Puerto Rican men sold their women to the American servicemen."
Besides his extremely successful career on radio and theater, (his plays include classics of popular theater in Puerto Rico, such as Mosquilandia, El Príncipe Wuele-Wuele, A Mi Me Matan Pero Yo Gozo, Ese Niño Es Mio, Hay Que Defenderse, La Familia del Lío and El Tremendo Hotel), Ramón Rivero (Diplo) produced the first comedy show on local TV, La Taberna India, winning the highest praise from his fans, who named him "Rey de la Farándula" (King of Show-business) y "Señor Televisión" (Mr. Television).
Besides writing more than 3000 scripts for radio, theater, television and motion pictures, Ramón Rivero wrote the insightful ¿Por qué se ríe la gente? (What Makes People Laugh), and El Album de la Radio, (1940-1948), a significant study and the first historical record of the radio industry in Puerto Rico.
In Cuba, he filmed Una Gallega en la Habana with Niní Marshall, known throughout South American as the best Spanish speaking comedienne of the time. In P.R. he played the lead in what is possibly the best motion picture ever made in Puerto Rico, Los Peloteros, (the Baseball Players), and was working on a major motion picture with Rita Hayworth, when he died suddenly of a congenital aneurysm.
Ramón Rivero composed many songs, including the popular and beloved boleros Donde Quiera Que Tu Vayas, and Por qué Será, and the internationally renowned Ole Don Pepito. He wrote parodies to dozens of Mexican "rancheras" and Argentinean tangos, entertaining men, women and children alike.
During the days preceding his death, Ramón Rivero had been planning to travel with his performing troupe to the town of Yabucoa, to help the town, after it was devastated by the Santa Clara hurricane.
It was not to be, and the island woke up on 24 August 1956 to the terrible cry, "¡Murió Diplo!" (Diplo is Dead!)
No doubt, Ramón Rivero, better known as (Diplo) was a giant in the history or Puerto Rico, and almost half a century later, his legacy lives on.
[edit] Death
Far beyond the quasi racist antics of the beloved Puerto Rican Black Face Auteur, Diplo is most fondly remembered by fans who probably never new his "work". He has become part of island sexual lore as his rumored exploits with Hollywood actresses, such as Rita Hayworth, set a standard which was unheard-of at the time. Not until recently, have titans such as Ricky Martin come close to matching the wish-fulfilling status of Diplo.
However, as it is said of great warriors, it is with death that come our chance for true glory. And indeed like a proud member of our community did Diplo die. One fateful August 24, 1956 after a dinner banquet to celebrate the signing of a future movie with Ms. Hayworth, Diplo went home with a lovely waitress with whom he'd spent all night flirting at the banquet. As was his unfaltering routine since his teenage years in Naguabo, Diplo enjoyed a death defying rump after meals. This was to be his last. Diplo died on August 24, 1956 of a congenital aneurysm over a lovely banquet waitress, of natural causes.
[edit] References
- Biography of Ramón Rivero. San Juan, Puerto Rico: Fundación Ramón Rivero. (Used with permission)
