Cacho Fontana
Encyclopedia
Jorge "Cacho" Fontana is an Argentine radio and television personality.
section of Buenos Aires
, he was the only child of Nieves Filgueiras and Antonio Palese. He began his career in show business
at age sixteen, when Jorge Loguarro, a friend and coworker who moonlighted as a stage presenter, invited him to do likewise at the Salón Argentino on Corrientes Avenue
. The company hired Palese as a presenter for their traveling show, and the young man adopted his stage name: Jorge "Cacho" Fontana.
He debuted on the radio in Argentina
in 1950 when a chance encounter with radio host Roberto González Rivero ("Riverito") at the Huracán Stadium
resulted in his being hired as an announcer on Riverito's Peña de tango, on Radio del Pueblo. He then worked with radio theater host Julio César Barton, and as a sportscaster
for Chacarita Juniors
. He replaced Carlos Carella, who began career in film, at the popular El Chantecler revue
and became acquainted with Argentine comedy greats Tita Merello
and Luis Sandrini
as a stand-in for host Jaime Font Saravia in El Relámpago ("The Thunderbolt"), where the duo starred under the direction of Miguel Coronatto Paz. Coronatto Paz later hired Fontana on a permanent basis. His first marriage, to Dora Palma, ended after two years; they had one daughter.
Fontana hosted a morning show, beginning in 1955, with María Esther Vignola and Rina Morán on Radio El Mundo. The "Fontana Show" was a success, and the show attracted prestigious producers such as Alberto Migré
, Hugo Moser
, Abel Santa Cruz, and Relámpago producer Miguel Coronatto Paz. He premiered on Argentine television in 1956, hosting the quiz show
Odol Pregunta on Channel 7
, and a talk show
, La Campana de Cristal. His producer on Channel 7, Guillermo Brizuela Méndez, would become a friend and mentor to the young star. He appeared in numerous advertising
spots in subsequent years, as well as in sportscasting, and would work with leading Argentine football
announcer José María Muñoz during the 1966 FIFA World Cup
.
The Fontana Show on Radio El Mundo ended in 1967. Fontana joined Radio Rivadavia, and he and Muñoz became the station's signature football announcers during eight years. Fontana also covered boxing
, and was on hand for Nicolino Locche
's 1968 Light Welterweight
World Championship win, as well as for Ringo Bonavena's controversial loss against Muhammad Ali
in 1970. He served as chief news correspondent during the 1970 ceremony bestowing the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
to Dr. Luis Federico Leloir
. The Fontana Show returned on the airwaves as a four-hour, live current events and interview program. The show became known for its on-site reporting, and its host often interviewed guests in their cars with a mobile unit
plugged into the cigarette lighter. The popular program helped launch the careers of Carlos Abrevaya, Adolfo Castelo
, and Jorge Guinzburg
, among others.
Fontana had a twelve-year relationship with tango vocalist Beba Bidart, and in 1970 married model Liliana Caldini, with whom he had twin daughters. He left Radio Rivadavia in December 1973 to pursue an offer from Spanish radio network Cadena SER
, where he continued his morning show format. He returned to Argentina in 1977, and joined Channel 13
. The new program would feature more international news by incorporating a VCR and imported news footage, hence the name: "VideoShow." The show was a success, and on August 17, 1978, Fontana's VideoShow was given the honor of inaugurating the nation's first color television
station, ATC
.
The sinking of the ARA General Belgrano
on May 2, 1982, at the height of the Falklands War
, prompted Fontana to organize a telethon for the benefit of the troops, 24 horas por Malvinas, hosted with Lidia Elsa Satragno
on May 7–8. The marathon 24-hour event, which raised us$1.5 million as well as sundries and valuables, would become a serious setback to his career, however. Following the Argentine defeat five weeks later, revelations surfaced that the donations, as well as the Islas Malvinas Patriotic Fund these were deposited into (totaling us$54 million), were largely misappropriated by the Galtieri
regime.
His marriage to Liliana Caldini ended acrimoniously after twelve years. Fontana returned to radio in 1983 as co-host of the comedy series Chapucai, with Nito Artaza, on LOR Radio Argentina
. He transferred to LRA Radio Nacional
the following year to host Fontana Nacional, and earned a contract as spokesperson for local dairy products maker La Serenísima
. The Radio Nacional studio was located across the street from Atahualpa Yupanqui
's Buenos Aires address, and the noted folk singer-songwriter became a frequent, impromptu co-host. He returned to Radio Rivadavia as host of Sexta Edición (Sixth Edition) in 1986. Co-hosted by Antonio Carrizo
, Héctor Larrea
, and José María Muñoz, the show restored Fontana's prominence in the medium during the late 1980s.
The contract as spokesman for La Serenísima ended in 1989, and though the Fontana Show returned on Radio Rivadavia in 1992, its cancellation in 1993 marked the effective end of Fontana's storied career. He would appear only sporadically in advertisements or special programs in later years. The avuncular host, winner of 14 Martín Fierro Awards
(as well as one for lifetime achievement) and a Ondas Prize
from Spain, considered leaving the country where his name had been a household word. Fontana's relationship with Marcela Tiraboschi ended in the early 1990s amid lawsuits, and he later struggled with alcoholism
and drug addiction. His mother died in 2006 at age 101, and in 2009 he underwent a coronary artery bypass surgery
. He overcame these challenges, however, later appearing in the Cosquín Festival
(one of the most important recurring events in Argentine music) and returning as a spokesman for La Serenísima.
Life and work
Born Norberto Palese in the BarracasBarracas
Barracas is a barrio, or district, in the southeast part of the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is located between the railroad of Ferrocarril General Manuel Belgrano and the Riachuelo River, and the streets Regimiento de Patricios, Defensa, Caseros, Vélez Sársfield, Amancio Alcorta, Lafayette,...
section of Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, he was the only child of Nieves Filgueiras and Antonio Palese. He began his career in show business
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
at age sixteen, when Jorge Loguarro, a friend and coworker who moonlighted as a stage presenter, invited him to do likewise at the Salón Argentino on Corrientes Avenue
Corrientes Avenue
Avenida Corrientes is one of the principal thoroughfares of the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires. The street is intimately tied to the tango and the porteño sense of identity...
. The company hired Palese as a presenter for their traveling show, and the young man adopted his stage name: Jorge "Cacho" Fontana.
He debuted on the radio in Argentina
Radio in Argentina
Radio in Argentina is an important facet of the nation's media and culture. Radio, which was first broadcast in Argentina in 1920, has been widely enjoyed in Argentina since the 1930s. Radio broadcast stations totaled around 150 active AM stations, 1,150 FM stations, and 6 registered shortwave...
in 1950 when a chance encounter with radio host Roberto González Rivero ("Riverito") at the Huracán Stadium
Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó
Estadio Tomás Adolfo Ducó is a stadium in Argentina. It is located in the Parque Patricios neighborhood of Buenos Aires. Argentine football club Huracán owns this stadium, which was built thanks to the support of the Argentinian Army, especially due to the efforts of Tomás Ducó....
resulted in his being hired as an announcer on Riverito's Peña de tango, on Radio del Pueblo. He then worked with radio theater host Julio César Barton, and as a sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
for Chacarita Juniors
Chacarita Juniors
Club Atlético Chacarita Juniors is an Argentine sports club from Villa Maipú, General San Martín Partido in Greater Buenos Aires, which football squad is currently playing in the Primera B Nacional, the second division of the Argentine football league system.The club was founded on May 1, 1906, in...
. He replaced Carlos Carella, who began career in film, at the popular El Chantecler revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
and became acquainted with Argentine comedy greats Tita Merello
Tita Merello
Laura Ana Merello best known as Tita Merello was a prominent Argentine film actress, tango dancer and singer...
and Luis Sandrini
Luis Sandrini
Luis Sandrini was a prolific Argentine comic film actor and film producer. He has made over 80 appearances in film between 1933 and 1980....
as a stand-in for host Jaime Font Saravia in El Relámpago ("The Thunderbolt"), where the duo starred under the direction of Miguel Coronatto Paz. Coronatto Paz later hired Fontana on a permanent basis. His first marriage, to Dora Palma, ended after two years; they had one daughter.
Fontana hosted a morning show, beginning in 1955, with María Esther Vignola and Rina Morán on Radio El Mundo. The "Fontana Show" was a success, and the show attracted prestigious producers such as Alberto Migré
Alberto Migré
Alberto Migré, pseudonime of "Felipe Alberto Milletari Miagro" was an Argentine TV screenwriter and producer, specialized on telenovelas.-Family Background:...
, Hugo Moser
Hugo Moser
Hugo Moser is an Argentinan television/film producer and screenwriter who was born April 14, 1926 in the city of Monkey's Eyebrow, Arizona and died December 16 of 2003 in Buenos Aires...
, Abel Santa Cruz, and Relámpago producer Miguel Coronatto Paz. He premiered on Argentine television in 1956, hosting the quiz show
Quiz Show
Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film produced and directed by Robert Redford. Adapted by Paul Attanasio from Richard Goodwin's memoir Remembering America, the film is based upon the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s...
Odol Pregunta on Channel 7
Canal 7 Argentina
Canal Siete, TV Pública or TV Pública Digital is an Argentine television network founded on October 17, 1951. Between 1979 and 1999, the network was known as Argentina Televisora Color . During the 1978 World Cup, it was known as A78TV.Owned, financed and operated by the Argentine State, Canal 7 is...
, and a talk show
Talk show
A talk show or chat show is a television program or radio program where one person discuss various topics put forth by a talk show host....
, La Campana de Cristal. His producer on Channel 7, Guillermo Brizuela Méndez, would become a friend and mentor to the young star. He appeared in numerous advertising
Television advertisement
A television advertisement or television commercial, often just commercial, advert, ad, or ad-film – is a span of television programming produced and paid for by an organization that conveys a message, typically one intended to market a product...
spots in subsequent years, as well as in sportscasting, and would work with leading Argentine football
Football in Argentina
Football in Argentina is the most popular sport, the one with the most players and is the most popular recreational sport, played from childhood into old age...
announcer José María Muñoz during the 1966 FIFA World Cup
1966 FIFA World Cup
The 1966 FIFA World Cup, the eighth staging of the World Cup, was held in England from 11 July to 30 July. England beat West Germany 4–2 in the final, winning the World Cup for the first time, so becoming the first host to win the tournament since Italy in 1934.-Host selection:England was chosen as...
.
The Fontana Show on Radio El Mundo ended in 1967. Fontana joined Radio Rivadavia, and he and Muñoz became the station's signature football announcers during eight years. Fontana also covered boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, and was on hand for Nicolino Locche
Nicolino Locche
Nicolino Locche was an Argentine boxer from Tunuyán, Mendoza. He was of Italian origin, with his ancestors coming from Sardinia...
's 1968 Light Welterweight
Light welterweight
-Professional boxing:The light welterweight class is a weight division in professional boxing that has a limit of 63.5 kg or 140 pounds...
World Championship win, as well as for Ringo Bonavena's controversial loss against Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
in 1970. He served as chief news correspondent during the 1970 ceremony bestowing the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine administered by the Nobel Foundation, is awarded once a year for outstanding discoveries in the field of life science and medicine. It is one of five Nobel Prizes established in 1895 by Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, in his will...
to Dr. Luis Federico Leloir
Luis Federico Leloir
Luis Federico Leloir was an Argentine doctor and biochemist who received the 1970 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He was the first Spanish-speaking scientist to ever receive the award...
. The Fontana Show returned on the airwaves as a four-hour, live current events and interview program. The show became known for its on-site reporting, and its host often interviewed guests in their cars with a mobile unit
Outside broadcasting
Outside broadcasting is the electronic field production of television or radio programmes from a mobile remote broadcast television studio. Professional video camera and microphone signals come into the production truck for processing, recording and possibly transmission...
plugged into the cigarette lighter. The popular program helped launch the careers of Carlos Abrevaya, Adolfo Castelo
Adolfo Castelo
Adolfo Castelo was a journalist and television host in Argentina.Castelo, who started working in graphic journalism, was the creator of several publications, including the political journalism magazine TXT, which he edited until his death.He also participated in memorable television shows in...
, and Jorge Guinzburg
Jorge Guinzburg
Jorge Ariel Guinzburg was an Argentine journalist, theatrical producer, humorist, and TV and radio host.-Background:...
, among others.
Fontana had a twelve-year relationship with tango vocalist Beba Bidart, and in 1970 married model Liliana Caldini, with whom he had twin daughters. He left Radio Rivadavia in December 1973 to pursue an offer from Spanish radio network Cadena SER
Cadena SER
La Cadena SER is Spain's premier radio network in terms of both seniority and audience share...
, where he continued his morning show format. He returned to Argentina in 1977, and joined Channel 13
Canal 13 (Argentina)
El Trece is an Argentine television network and the flagship station of the same network, located in the capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires.- Foundation :...
. The new program would feature more international news by incorporating a VCR and imported news footage, hence the name: "VideoShow." The show was a success, and on August 17, 1978, Fontana's VideoShow was given the honor of inaugurating the nation's first color television
Color television
Color television is part of the history of television, the technology of television and practices associated with television's transmission of moving images in color video....
station, ATC
Canal 7 Argentina
Canal Siete, TV Pública or TV Pública Digital is an Argentine television network founded on October 17, 1951. Between 1979 and 1999, the network was known as Argentina Televisora Color . During the 1978 World Cup, it was known as A78TV.Owned, financed and operated by the Argentine State, Canal 7 is...
.
The sinking of the ARA General Belgrano
ARA General Belgrano
The ARA General Belgrano was an Argentine Navy light cruiser in service from 1951 until 1982. Formerly the , she saw action in the Pacific theater of World War II before being sold to Argentina. After almost 31 years of service, she was sunk during the Falklands War by the Royal Navy submarine ...
on May 2, 1982, at the height of the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
, prompted Fontana to organize a telethon for the benefit of the troops, 24 horas por Malvinas, hosted with Lidia Elsa Satragno
Lidia Elsa Satragno
Lidia Elsa Satragno is an entertainer and politician in Argentina, where she's popularly known as "Pinky."-Life and times:...
on May 7–8. The marathon 24-hour event, which raised us$1.5 million as well as sundries and valuables, would become a serious setback to his career, however. Following the Argentine defeat five weeks later, revelations surfaced that the donations, as well as the Islas Malvinas Patriotic Fund these were deposited into (totaling us$54 million), were largely misappropriated by the Galtieri
Leopoldo Galtieri
Leopoldo Fortunato Galtieri Castelli was an Argentine general and President of Argentina from December 22, 1981 to June 18, 1982, during the last military dictatorship . The death squad Intelligence Battalion 601 directly reported to him...
regime.
His marriage to Liliana Caldini ended acrimoniously after twelve years. Fontana returned to radio in 1983 as co-host of the comedy series Chapucai, with Nito Artaza, on LOR Radio Argentina
LOR Radio Argentina
Created by Enrique Telémaco Susini, LOR Radio Argentina was the first national broadcast radio station in Argentina. It operated continuously from 1920 to 1997.- First Broadcast :...
. He transferred to LRA Radio Nacional
LRA Radio Nacional
LRA Radio Nacional, also known as Radio Nacional Argentina, is the Argentine national radio, and part of the national public media system. It started transmitting in 1937 as LRA Radio del Estado changing its name to the current one in 1957...
the following year to host Fontana Nacional, and earned a contract as spokesperson for local dairy products maker La Serenísima
La Serenísima
-Development:La Serenísima was established in 1929 by Antonino Mastellone, a cheese-maker from Sardinia who arrived in Argentina in 1925. Mastellone named his venture in honor of La Serenissima, a World War I-era Italian Air Force battalion which on orders to bombard Vienna, released a load of...
. The Radio Nacional studio was located across the street from Atahualpa Yupanqui
Atahualpa Yupanqui
Atahualpa Yupanqui was an Argentine singer, songwriter, guitarist, and writer. He is considered the most important Argentine folk musician of the 20th century....
's Buenos Aires address, and the noted folk singer-songwriter became a frequent, impromptu co-host. He returned to Radio Rivadavia as host of Sexta Edición (Sixth Edition) in 1986. Co-hosted by Antonio Carrizo
Antonio Carrizo
Antonio Carrizo is a noted Argentine radio and television presenter.-Life and work:Born in General Villegas, in western Buenos Aires Province, his first experience in broadcasting was during his teens at the helm of a transit media vehicle, from which he could be heard hawking Mejoral, a...
, Héctor Larrea
Héctor Larrea
-Life and work:Larrea was born in Bragado, Buenos Aires Province, in 1938. He lost his father at age nine, and found comfort with his mother in radio broadcasting, particularly Tango shows. He participated in high school plays, and following graduation, attended the Institute of Higher Radio...
, and José María Muñoz, the show restored Fontana's prominence in the medium during the late 1980s.
The contract as spokesman for La Serenísima ended in 1989, and though the Fontana Show returned on Radio Rivadavia in 1992, its cancellation in 1993 marked the effective end of Fontana's storied career. He would appear only sporadically in advertisements or special programs in later years. The avuncular host, winner of 14 Martín Fierro Awards
Martín Fierro Awards
Martín Fierro is the name of the most prominent awards for Argentine radio and television, granted by APTRA, the Association of Argentine Television and Radio Journalists. The awards were first given in 1959, limited to television. The next year, the awards adopted its current name, after José...
(as well as one for lifetime achievement) and a Ondas Prize
Premios Ondas
The Premios Ondas have been given since 1954 by Radio Barcelona, a subsidiary of Cadena SER, in recognition of professionals in the fields of radio and television broadcasting, the cinema, and the music industry.Past winners have included R.E.M., U2, The Corrs, Eric Clapton, the Red Hot Chili...
from Spain, considered leaving the country where his name had been a household word. Fontana's relationship with Marcela Tiraboschi ended in the early 1990s amid lawsuits, and he later struggled with alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and drug addiction. His mother died in 2006 at age 101, and in 2009 he underwent a coronary artery bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and colloquially heart bypass or bypass surgery is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease...
. He overcame these challenges, however, later appearing in the Cosquín Festival
Cosquín Festival
The Cosquín Folk Festival is one of the most important folk music festivals of Argentina, and most important in Latin America....
(one of the most important recurring events in Argentine music) and returning as a spokesman for La Serenísima.