José Marroquín Leal
Encyclopedia
José Marroquín Leal was a Mexican
actor
, notable for playing a clown
known as Pipo. He hosted a children's TV show in Monterrey
. He was locally known as "El Rey de los Payasos" (King of the clowns) and hosted the show from 1964 until his death in 1998.
School of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León
. Through this position, he developed a friendship with TV host Horacio Alvarado Ortiz which later helped him start his career in mass media.
In 1961, XHX-TV
bought the licensing rights to make the Mexican version of Bozo the Clown
, and José Marroquín was invited to play the role of Bozo. After much deliberation, José Marroquín accepted. The show aired in Mexico on December 18, 1961. During this show, the segment Aventuritas (little adventures) was started, a segment that would later evolve Aventuritas de Pipo.
He continued playing Bozo the Clown until his license expired in 1963. The network decided not renew the license, on budget
concerns. At this time, José Marroquín and other executives at the network, decided to create a new character and concept. Creative Artists Francisco Castillo and Carlos Velazquez were supervised by Marroquín to develop this new concept.
On January 20, 1964, the show and the clown "Pipo" where born. His costume consisted of orange hair, oversized shoes, and a round, red nose. It was first aired in front of a live audience. It was an instant hit, and it became a tradition for children in Monterrey
to tune in to Pipo every afternoon.
José Marroquín later created other characters for the show, most notably Profesor Pilocho (played by Carlos Torres), intended to be Pipo's guidance.
The Aventuritas de Pipo segment was also very popular. On every show Pipo and Profesor Pilocho would have an adventure somewhere, always stepping against Los malitos ("the meanies").
The show aired for 34 years on XEFB-TV
until February 6, 1998, when Jose Marroquin failed to show up on the set. When associates and friends arrived to Marroquin's home later that day they found he had died in his sleep.
A downtown street in Monterrey, Nuevo León
and a park in Guadalupe
, Nuevo León
have been renamed in his honor.
Recently, conmemorating the 50th anniversary of the first television broadcasts in Monterrey, an actor was cast to reprise the character, and is playing the role for the new generations.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, notable for playing a clown
Clown
Clowns are comic performers stereotypically characterized by the grotesque image of the circus clown's colored wigs, stylistic makeup, outlandish costumes, unusually large footwear, and red nose, which evolved to project their actions to large audiences. Other less grotesque styles have also...
known as Pipo. He hosted a children's TV show in Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
. He was locally known as "El Rey de los Payasos" (King of the clowns) and hosted the show from 1964 until his death in 1998.
Biography
He was Director of the DramaDrama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
School of the Autonomous University of Nuevo León
Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León
The Autonomous University of Nuevo León is a public university with seven campuses across the Northern state of Nuevo León, Mexico. Founded as University of Nuevo León on 25 September 1933, it is the oldest and largest university in the state in terms of student population and it is currently...
. Through this position, he developed a friendship with TV host Horacio Alvarado Ortiz which later helped him start his career in mass media.
In 1961, XHX-TV
XHX-TV
XHX-TV is the television call sign for the Televisa television station channel 10 in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The station is affiliated to the Canal de las Estrellas....
bought the licensing rights to make the Mexican version of Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown
Bozo the Clown is a clown character very popular in the United States, peaking in the 1960s as a result of widespread franchising in early television.Originally created by Alan W...
, and José Marroquín was invited to play the role of Bozo. After much deliberation, José Marroquín accepted. The show aired in Mexico on December 18, 1961. During this show, the segment Aventuritas (little adventures) was started, a segment that would later evolve Aventuritas de Pipo.
He continued playing Bozo the Clown until his license expired in 1963. The network decided not renew the license, on budget
Budget
A budget is a financial plan and a list of all planned expenses and revenues. It is a plan for saving, borrowing and spending. A budget is an important concept in microeconomics, which uses a budget line to illustrate the trade-offs between two or more goods...
concerns. At this time, José Marroquín and other executives at the network, decided to create a new character and concept. Creative Artists Francisco Castillo and Carlos Velazquez were supervised by Marroquín to develop this new concept.
On January 20, 1964, the show and the clown "Pipo" where born. His costume consisted of orange hair, oversized shoes, and a round, red nose. It was first aired in front of a live audience. It was an instant hit, and it became a tradition for children in Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
to tune in to Pipo every afternoon.
José Marroquín later created other characters for the show, most notably Profesor Pilocho (played by Carlos Torres), intended to be Pipo's guidance.
The Aventuritas de Pipo segment was also very popular. On every show Pipo and Profesor Pilocho would have an adventure somewhere, always stepping against Los malitos ("the meanies").
The show aired for 34 years on XEFB-TV
XEFB-TV
XEFB is the television call sign for the Televisa television station in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon.In addition to local news and programming, XEFB also airs a selection of Televisa's programming, mostly taken from FOROtv. XEFB also airs local programming, generally reruns of XHCNL programs....
until February 6, 1998, when Jose Marroquin failed to show up on the set. When associates and friends arrived to Marroquin's home later that day they found he had died in his sleep.
Legacy
His death caused thousands of people in Monterrey to mourn him deeply. His funeral services were broadcast and watched by many.A downtown street in Monterrey, Nuevo León
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
and a park in Guadalupe
Guadalupe, Nuevo León
Guadalupe is a city and surrounding municipality located in the state of Nuevo León, in northern Mexico. It is part of the Greater Monterrey Metropolitan area....
, Nuevo León
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
have been renamed in his honor.
Recently, conmemorating the 50th anniversary of the first television broadcasts in Monterrey, an actor was cast to reprise the character, and is playing the role for the new generations.
External links
- Pipo Website Official Site