Historic Chinatown's Premier Theater, open since 1948. The Azteca Theater, built by Gustavo Acosta , opened Nov. 30, 1948 and was the first Spanish language theater in the Central Valley. It was run for many years by Arturo Tirado, whose family was also involved in theater in Los Angeles. Fresno's Chinatown Central Chinatown is bordered by Fresno Street to Ventura Street, and Highway 99 to H Street. The redevelopment area also includes the island formed by the Highway 99 and Freeway 41 interchange. Visit Chinatown group Links: Azteca Cinema Treasures Arturo Tirado and the Teatro Azteca: An article for sale: California History Romualdo Tirado films Follow us! Facebook in English Facebook in Spanish Azteca Twitter Azteca YouTube Azteca Blog References: California History Magazine Volume 83, No. 4 Arturo R. Tirado and the Teatro Azteca: Mexican Popular Culture in the Central San Joaquin Valley, by Manuel G. Gonzales 83-46

THE AZTECA THEATER IN CHINATOWN Follow us! Events and Activities: In English    -    En Espanol   Directions Azteca Theater 838 F Street Fresno, CA 93706 Next door on weekend nights hear music from La Fiesta! Visit our neighbors down the street: Full Circle Brewing Co 620 F Street Eat across the street: Salaam Seafoods 841 F Street Romualdo Tirado Birth: Sep. 3, 1880 Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain Death: Oct. 17, 1963 Los Angeles, California Romualdo's son Arturo ran the Azteca Theater for many years. Excerpt: Brief History of Hispanic Theater in the United States "The raggedly dressed underdog, the pelado, comes to the fore with his low-class dialect and acerbic satire. A forerunner of characters like Cantinflas, the pelado really originates in the humble tent theaters that evolved in Mexico and existed in the Southwest of the United States until the 1950s. With roots in the circus clown tradition, and a costume and dialect that embody poverty and marginality, the pelado was free to improvise and exchange witticisms with his audiences that often embodied working class distrust of societal institutions and the upper classes. Although the pelado or peladito, as he was affectionately called, was often criticized for his low humor and scandalous language, theater critics today consider the character to be a genuine and original Mexican contribution to the history of theater. One actor who played the pelado to perfection was not even a Mexican but a Spaniard: Romualdo Tirado. He is without a doubt the most important figure in the history of the Hispanic stage of this period. Tirado was an impresario, director, singer, actor and the author of numerous revistas. Tirado had emigrated to Mexico around the turn of the century and developed a career on the stage there for fifteen years before re-settling in Los Angeles in the late teens. In the City of Angels, Tirado became a prime mover in the Hispanic theatrical and cinematic industries as a theater-owner and movie producer, and just as importantly, he was also one of the catalysts that brought about the writing and staging of local plays and revistas."

From our Blog: Most recent entries Cesar Chavez, the Azteca Theater and the March to Sacramento The Story of the Azteca Theater Photographer's Model: Azteca Theater Fresno's Chinatown tunnels surround Teatro Azteca neighborhood Azteca Videos Fresno Buddhist Obon Festival Chinese New Year Parade 2010 Theater Policy: I Heard You from the Snack Line! Intermission: Let's all go to the lobby! Our gallery: Stars and Movies Movies posters and stars of the past Classic Photographs Featuring classic Hollywood stars of the 30s and 40s by Gerald Hurrell. PayPal

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