Early Spanish-Language Theatre around the Border
There were a handful of successful touring Spanish-language theatre companies in Texas around 1900, but one of the longest lasting and most popular companies was the "Compania" headed by Carlos Villalongin.
It was founded in 1848 by Encarnacion Hernandez, a charismatic actor and director from Nuevo Leon. He created a touring theatrical company comprised mainly of his family: namely his wife, Antonia Pineda, and his multiple children. They toured around Northern Mexico and occasionally crossed the border into Texas for performances.
Carlos Villalongin, born to a theatrical family in Chihuahua, joined the company along with his siblings and quickly became one of the troupe's star actors. He later married Encarnacion's daughter, Herlinda Hernandez. After Encarnacion's death in 1888, the company was run by his widow Antonia until her retirement in 1904. During her management the company increased their appearances in Texas and gained in popularity and size.
After his mother-in-law's retirement, Carlos Villalongin became the head of the Compania. Though still mainly based in Northern Mexico, in 1911 Villalongin contracted with a San Antonio theatre to establish a residency. The Mexican Revolution made Villalongin and his company decide to stay in San Antonio, as did other theatre troupes. The civil war contributed to a large influx of Spanish-language theatre to Texas which had a significant impact on the Spanish-speaking communities there.
The Compania Villalongin stayed in San Antonio and performed in multiple theaters along with other companies. Resident companies were based on family groups and just like the merging of the Hernandez and Villalongin families, the company names would change to reflect the new make up after a change. The Compania went by several names during its tenure including La Companía Dramática Hernández-Villalongin, La Companía Cómico Dramática Carlos Villalongin, and later La Compania Lirico-Dramatica Villalongin y Saldana.
No matter the name the companies went under, they always represented a coming together of the community, especially the Spanish-speaking residents. The connection to the community and its strength in San Antonio is evidenced by the "Noche Mexicana" event hosted in the Teatro Nacional in 1924, also the year that Carlos Villalongin officially disbanded his company.
See below for some of the members of the Compania and the Hernandez-Villalongin family. Look at the map to see places where the Compania visited, including different places in San Antonio's Old Town!
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This disbandment in 1924 was due to a variety of factors, including the growing popularity of Hollywood movies and Mexican cinema in Texas, the aging members of the troupe, and the onset of the Great Depression.