Paquito Cordero

Paquito Cordero (born Fransisco Cordero Baez in 1932 in Santurce, Puerto Rico) was a comedian and T.V. producer who was also one of the pioneers of Puerto Rican television.

Related Topics:
1932 - Santurce, Puerto Rico - Puerto Rican - Television

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Paguito was born to Don Paco and Doña Berta Cordero in Santurce, a poor section of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Paquito attended Santurce Central High School upon finishing his primary and secondary education. He was a member of his high school's drama club and participated in its plays, where he discovered the art of comedy. Paquito was geatly influenced by his aunt on his father's side, Mapy Cortes. Mapy Cortes had moved to Mexico from Puerto Rico, where she became a famous actress. There she met and married the equally famous Mexican actor, Fernando Cortes. After Paquito graduated from high school, he enrolled and attended the University of Puerto Rico and married his childhood sweetheart a hairdresser whom everyone knew as "Chiqui". With Chiqui he had three children, two boys and one girl.

Related Topics:
Mapy Cortes - Mexico - Fernando Cortes - University of Puerto Rico

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Paquito auditioned for a role in a comedy skit which was transmitted through Radio El Mundo and was hired. He did this during his spare time. His aunt Mapy and her husband Fernando returned to the island and presented an idea for a comedy show to Mr. Angel Ramos, owner of El Mundo Enterprises. On March 28, 1954, Puerto Rico received its first television transmition from Angel Ramos' WKAQ-TV Telemundo Channel 2. The first comedy show to go on the air was "Mapy Y Papi" with Mapy and Fernando Cortes, Maria Judith Franco and Paquito Cordero.

Related Topics:
Mr. Angel Ramos - March 28 - 1954 - Telemundo - Channel 2

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Recognizing the comical talents of Paquito, Telemundo came up with the idea of joining him with comedian Ramon "Diplo" Rivero in a new comedy show called "La Taverna India" (The India Tavern). Paquito played the role of "Reguerete", an inocent but wise blackman. In order for Paquito to get "into" character, he had to smear black makeup on his face and hands. During this period in his life, he fell in love with one of the show's dancers, a young girl by the name of Nora. He soon divorced his first wife and asked Nora to marry him, which she did and together they had a daughter.

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In the 1960's, Paquito formed his own production company which he named Paquito Cordero Productions, Inc. His younger sister, Bertita became his assistant and eventually his younger brother, Jorge, would also join the company in the future as a co-producer. On January 11, 1965, Telemundo transmitted the first program produced by Paquito called "El Show de las 12" (The 12 O'Clock Show). The first show included the participation of El Gran Combo, Tito Lara, Los Hispanos and Olga y Tony. It also included a section within the show, dedicated to the teenage crowd, called "Canta la Juventud" (Singing Youth). This section included the participation of Alfred D. Herger and Puerto Rican teen idols Lucecita Benitez and Chucho Avellanet "El Show de Las 12" had Miguel Angel Alvarez as the animator and Eddie Miro as the script writter. The show was a success and was watched by over 80% of the population, becoming one of Puerto Rico's most beloved programs for over 40 years.

Related Topics:
1960 - January 11 - 1965 - El Gran Combo - Tito Lara - Alfred D. Herger - Lucecita Benitez - Chucho Avellanet - Miguel Angel Alvarez - Eddie Miro

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Paquito also produced the following popular shows: "El Show Sultana", "2 a Go Go", "Walter, las Estrellas Y Usted" (Walter, the Stars and You), "Mi Hippie Me Encanta" with Yo Yo Boing (I Love My Hippy), "Su Estrella Favorita" (Your Favorite Star), "El Show de Iris Chacon" and "Jueves de Gala" with Eddie Miro and Marisol Malaret.

Related Topics:
Walter - Yo Yo Boing - Iris Chacon - Eddie Miro - Marisol Malaret

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On April 14, 1983, Telemundo was sold to John Blair and Co. and finally, in 2004 became part of the NBC Universal network. This lead to many changes and one of the changes was the substitution of locally produced programs with programs produced in other countries such as Mexico.

Related Topics:
April 14 - 1983 - NBC Universal

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On May 6, 2004, televison producers Paquito Cordero and Tommy Muñiz received a special recognition on behave of the Camara of Representatives of Puerto Rico as part of the celebration of the 50 years of uninterrupted transmisión on the Telemundo and Televicentro channels.

Related Topics:
May 6 - 2004 - Tommy Muñiz

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On February 25, 2005, Telemundo canceled Paquito Cordero's "El Show de las 12", the longest running television show in Puerto Rico. Telemundo no longer transmits locally produced television programs and thus, is no longer a source of income to the local artistic class.

Related Topics:
February 25 - 2005

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On the last airing of the show, Eddie Miro took the microphone and said these words:

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Señoras y Señores..., "El Show de las 12" ha muerto

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(Ladies and Gentlemen..., "The 12 O'Clock Show" has died)

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Señoras y Señores..., reflexionemos ante su deseso

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(Ladies and Gentlemen..., a moment of silence for the deceased)

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