María Conesa
 |
María Conesa | |
|---|---|
| Born | María Conesa December 12, 1882 |
| Died | September 4, 1978 (aged 95) Mexico City, México |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Other names | La Gatita Blanca |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1901–1978 |
| Spouse | Manuel Sanz |
María Conesa, also know as La Gatita Blanca (The White Kitten) (December 12, 1882 – September 09, 1978), was a Spanish born-Mexican stage, television, film actress and vedette. She was one of the principal stars of the Revue and Vaudeville in México and Latin America in the early XX century.
Biography
She began her career in the stage company Aurora Infantil in Spain with her sister Teresita Conesa. Both highlighted in the many stages. This caused that one of the stage actresses of the company know as La Zarina, envious of the girls, ordered to his brother her murdered. Teresita died stabbed on the spot, and María was saved by a miracle. Overcome the tragedy, María's father did everything possible to make her a big star.[1]
She arrived to Mexico in 1901 with a company of children actors who played zarzuela at the Teatro Principal, doing a small role in La verbena de la Paloma. On November 1, 1907 was presented at the Teatro Albisu of Havana (Cuba), with La Gatita Blanca (The White Kitten), getting an overwhelming success. This nickname would keep for life. Her major sucess did not originate from her vocal powers but the playfulness of her performances in the dances, accompanied by suggestive lyrics caused the sense in the public.
She returned to Mexico in November 1907, and consecrated as very first vaudeville star by the public of Barcelona and Havana, appearing again in the Principal with her ultimate creation: La Gatita Blanca. She is also known as "the little mother of the Spanish" for her generosity to the poor fellow. Her other big hits were La alegre trompetería and Las musas latinas. Her popularity was so great that even a political party with her name was created: the PCE (Partido Conesista Estudiantil), which defended her of the attacks of the public and the press. In 1909 debuted at the Teatro Colón, with scandals and provoked severe criticism in the press.
Political events in Mexico made her return to Spain in 1912, but she was an institution in the country, and returned the same year reappearing in the Teatro Colón in 1914 with a great excitement by review and public. Reappeared with the play The girl kisses , although the greatest success that season scored with La bella Lucerito.
In the heart of the Mexican Revolution, María continued the function. She had said: The bullets respect me. From 1915-1923, Conesa acted in the most important theaters in Mexico City and toured the interior of the republic. Known as the vaudeville star of the Revolution, Pancho Villa fell in love with her when she cut a button shirt in the play La spercheleras. He threatened to kidnap her, but she finally scuttled to the the revolutionary.
Later, Conesa together with Esperanza Iris and Prudencia Griffell, formed a stage group knows as Las Tres Gracias. María also gave impetus to the careers of other celebrated vaudeville stars, such as Celia Montalvan, Lupe Rivas Cacho, Aurora Walker La Walkiria, Mimí Derba and Lupe Vélez.[2]