Luis Vigoreaux
Encyclopedia
Luis Vigoreaux Rivera was a Puerto Rican radio and television show host, announcer, comedian
and producer. The son of a sugar worker, Vigoreaux became one of the most popular television entertainers in Puerto Rico
's history.
, but he moved at the age of 14 to San Juan
, where he began pursuing his artistic dreams. As a teenager, Vigoreaux found work in a radio station named WIAC-FM. There, he worked on a show named Alma Estudiantil (Student Soul). The show was produced by Tomás Muñiz
, father of another very well liked Puerto Rican show business personality, Tommy Muñiz
, and grandfather of Rafo Muñiz
. Vigoreaux saw a big opportunity come by with the arrival of World War II, as many Puerto Rican radio show hosts of the era were called to the war.
During that period, Vigoreaux became known by his listeners as a show host who'd do anything to make his shows succeed. He also became the leading voice on the commercial campaign of Sello Rojo rice in Puerto Rico.
Vigoreaux then joined Ramón Rivero
for the radio comedy El Tremendo Hotel (The Tremendous Hotel). This radio slot enjoyed a large audience for years, and Vigoreaux was convinced he could make it as a comedian too. During this period of his life, he got married to his first wife, and they had two sons, Luisito Vigoreaux
, now a very famous actor, show host, producer and comedian, and Roberto Vigoreaux
, a former show host who is a senator.
Between 1954 and 1955, he joined fellow famous comedian (and eventual best friend) José Miguel Agrelot
in a theater show that took them to many Latin American
communities in the United States. The theater show eventually led to a radio program named Torito and Company, after Torito, the character that Agrelot played.
When television made its Puerto Rican debut in 1954, Vigoreaux became attracted to the new media outlet, and in 1955, he was hired to host a show named El Show Libby's, which was sponsored by fruit juice company Libby's. In 1958, he met actress Lydia Echevarría
. They were both married at the time and had an adulterous affair. After divorcing their respective spouses, they got married, on February 10, 1960. He and Echevarria had two daughters, Vanessa Vigoreaux, who is also an actress, and Glendalys Vigoreaux. Glendalys committed suicide on July 15, 2008.
By that time, Vigoreaux was the host of El tren de la alegria.
That show did not last long, and Vigoreaux later moved to WAPA-TV
, motivated by the possibility of working with actor Mario Pabon. They wrote a story for a soap opera
, but the project could not come off because there were protests as a consequence of the actor hired to play the lead being from Cuba
. However, Vigoreaux hit the jackpot in 1963, when he and his second wife began hosting the show named La Hora Cero,on which many local and international singers, including Celia Cruz
, José Feliciano
and Marco Antonio Muñiz
, performed. Vigoreaux, Echevarria and their kids became one of the most famous families in Puerto Rico, and some even referred to the Vigoreaux-Echevarria couple as the Lucy and Desi of Puerto Rico.
In 1970, Vigoreaux developed a show named Sube Nene, Sube (Go up, man, go up!!). The show was a game show where contestants had to go up a greased pole to earn money. Usually the contestant would be a man who was motivated to keep trying on reaching the top by his wife, hence the name Go up, man, go up!. It was hosted by Vigoreaux and Echevarria, and it became one of the most seen shows in Puerto Rican television history. Happy with the performance of Vigoreaux's game show, WAPA-TV asked him to produce and host a few more game shows. So Vigoreaux responded by creating Pa'rriba, Papi, Pa'rriba!! (Reach up, honey, Reach up!); which was a variation of Sube Nene; and Dale Que Dale En Domingo (Keep on Doing it on Sunday). With the production and hosting of all those shows at the same time, the Vigoreaux family became more and more famous. They also opened a studio, which they named Estudio CVC. They were also responsible for the transmission of the MDA
television marathon in Puerto Rico.
Vigoreaux later jumped ship to Channel 11, then named the Perez-Perry Network. He bought the Teatro Nuevo San Juan, from where he started transmitting his new show. But this show was not as successful, and soon Vigoreaux found himself off the air. To complicate things, he and Echevarria separated, as he had met aspiring actress Nydia Castillo and begun another relationship outside of his marriage to Echevarría.
In 1980, Vigoreaux went back to WAPA-TV and all his shows were re-scheduled. He also became the show host of that station's lunch hour variety show, El Show Del Mediodia, and began playing the role of Pedro Navaja
in a play La Verdadera Historia de Pedro Navaja (The Real Story of Pedro Navaja). He would act in that play many times in his life, and also in a play named Angeles Caidos (Fallen Angels). In addition, he returned to the radio with a program named Buenos Dias (Good Morning), on radio station WBMJ-AM and worked, for a short period of time, as a television reporter for "Noticentro 4".
On the morning of January 17, 1983, he didn't show up to work at the radio station or at WAPA-TV, causing his co-workers to worry. When his Mercedes-Benz
was found with a body inside, it was taken to the medical examiner's office, where it was confirmed as the body of Vigoreaux.
His death launched a wave of rumors and speculations, and led to one of the biggest trials in Puerto Rico's history. Lydia Echevarría was accused formally of his murder, and it was alleged that she had become jealous of his relationship with Nydia Castillo, and hired professional killers Papo Newman
and David Lopez-Watts to kill him. While some evidence has surfaced suggesting that she only paid them to give him a beating, the fact is Vigoreaux was gagged, burned and thrown into his car's trunk by Newman and Lopez-Watts. Echevarria was later convicted and spent 15 years in jail at the city of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
.
At the time of his death, Vigoreaux was about to begin another game show, A Millon, which also became one of the most popular shows in Puerto Rican television history, under the hosting of Hector Marcano
and produced by Vigoreaux's son, Luisito Vigoreaux
.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and producer. The son of a sugar worker, Vigoreaux became one of the most popular television entertainers in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
's history.
Background
Vigoreaux was born in the Chupacallos ward of Ceiba, Puerto RicoCeiba, Puerto Rico
Ceiba is a small town in northeast Puerto Rico. It is named after the famous Ceiba tree. Ceiba is located in the east coast of the island, bordering the Atlantic Ocean, north of Naguabo, south of Fajardo, and east of Río Grande. It is located about one hour's driving distance from San Juan...
, but he moved at the age of 14 to San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
, where he began pursuing his artistic dreams. As a teenager, Vigoreaux found work in a radio station named WIAC-FM. There, he worked on a show named Alma Estudiantil (Student Soul). The show was produced by Tomás Muñiz
Tomas Muñiz
Tomás Muñiz Souffront was a well known Puerto Rican radio and television producer. He is sometimes respectfully called by the general public in Puerto Rico as Don Tomás Muñiz, to differentiate him from his namesake and son, Tommy MuñizAs a young man, Tomás Muñiz worked as a real estate agent, and...
, father of another very well liked Puerto Rican show business personality, Tommy Muñiz
Tommy Muñiz
Lucas Tomás Muñiz Ramírez , better known as Tommy Muñiz, was a Puerto Rican comedy and drama actor, media producer, businessman and network owner...
, and grandfather of Rafo Muñiz
Rafo Muñiz
Rafo Muñiz is a Puerto Rican actor, comedian, director and, more notably, producer of television shows and concerts.The son of legendary comic actor and producer Tommy Muñiz and brother of Pedro Muñiz; who is also a producer and actor, Rafo began acting as the young neighbor of M\"Miguel" in ...
. Vigoreaux saw a big opportunity come by with the arrival of World War II, as many Puerto Rican radio show hosts of the era were called to the war.
During that period, Vigoreaux became known by his listeners as a show host who'd do anything to make his shows succeed. He also became the leading voice on the commercial campaign of Sello Rojo rice in Puerto Rico.
Vigoreaux then joined Ramón Rivero
Ramón Rivero (Diplo)
Ramón Rivero — known as Diplo — was a comedian, actor, composer and a pioneer in Puerto Rico's television and cinema industries...
for the radio comedy El Tremendo Hotel (The Tremendous Hotel). This radio slot enjoyed a large audience for years, and Vigoreaux was convinced he could make it as a comedian too. During this period of his life, he got married to his first wife, and they had two sons, Luisito Vigoreaux
Luisito Vigoreaux
Luis Vigoreaux Lorenzana is a Puerto Rican actor and producer. He is the son of Luis Vigoreaux, a legendary Puerto Rican media personality and Rosaura Lorenzana Vilches...
, now a very famous actor, show host, producer and comedian, and Roberto Vigoreaux
Roberto Vigoreaux
Roberto Vigoreaux Lorenzana is a Puerto Rican media personality. He is a former senator, television producer, actor, singer, marketing executive, telecommunications technician and ice cream entrepreneur...
, a former show host who is a senator.
Between 1954 and 1955, he joined fellow famous comedian (and eventual best friend) José Miguel Agrelot
José Miguel Agrelot
Giuseppe Michael Agrelot , better known as José Miguel Agrelot, was a comedian, radio and television host and media icon in Puerto Rico...
in a theater show that took them to many Latin American
Latin Americans
Latin Americans are the citizens of the Latin American countries and dependencies. Latin American countries are multi-ethnic, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds. As a result, some Latin Americans don't take their nationality as an ethnicity, but identify themselves with...
communities in the United States. The theater show eventually led to a radio program named Torito and Company, after Torito, the character that Agrelot played.
When television made its Puerto Rican debut in 1954, Vigoreaux became attracted to the new media outlet, and in 1955, he was hired to host a show named El Show Libby's, which was sponsored by fruit juice company Libby's. In 1958, he met actress Lydia Echevarría
Lydia Echevarría
Lydia Echevarría is a Puerto Rican actress who was convicted of plotting the murder of her husband, renowned Puerto Rican television show producer, Luis Vigoreaux.-Early years:...
. They were both married at the time and had an adulterous affair. After divorcing their respective spouses, they got married, on February 10, 1960. He and Echevarria had two daughters, Vanessa Vigoreaux, who is also an actress, and Glendalys Vigoreaux. Glendalys committed suicide on July 15, 2008.
By that time, Vigoreaux was the host of El tren de la alegria.
That show did not last long, and Vigoreaux later moved to WAPA-TV
WAPA-TV
WAPA-TV is an independent television station located in San Juan, Puerto Rico transmitting over digital channel 27, virtual channel 4. The station is owned by InterMedia Partners and is branded as WAPA Television....
, motivated by the possibility of working with actor Mario Pabon. They wrote a story for a soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, but the project could not come off because there were protests as a consequence of the actor hired to play the lead being from Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. However, Vigoreaux hit the jackpot in 1963, when he and his second wife began hosting the show named La Hora Cero,on which many local and international singers, including Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz
Celia Cruz was a Cuban-American salsa singer, and was one of the most successful Salsa performers of the 20th century, having earned twenty-three gold albums...
, José Feliciano
José Feliciano
José Feliciano is a Puerto Rican singer, virtuoso guitarist and composer known for many international hits including the 1970 holiday single "Feliz Navidad".-Childhood:...
and Marco Antonio Muñiz
Marco Antonio Muñiz
Marco Antonio Muñiz is a singer from Jalisco, Mexico. Known all over Latin America, Muñiz actually has declared publicly and in most countries he has visited, that Puerto Rico is his second country, and many Puerto Ricans consider him to be an "honorary Puerto Rican"...
, performed. Vigoreaux, Echevarria and their kids became one of the most famous families in Puerto Rico, and some even referred to the Vigoreaux-Echevarria couple as the Lucy and Desi of Puerto Rico.
In 1970, Vigoreaux developed a show named Sube Nene, Sube (Go up, man, go up!!). The show was a game show where contestants had to go up a greased pole to earn money. Usually the contestant would be a man who was motivated to keep trying on reaching the top by his wife, hence the name Go up, man, go up!. It was hosted by Vigoreaux and Echevarria, and it became one of the most seen shows in Puerto Rican television history. Happy with the performance of Vigoreaux's game show, WAPA-TV asked him to produce and host a few more game shows. So Vigoreaux responded by creating Pa'rriba, Papi, Pa'rriba!! (Reach up, honey, Reach up!); which was a variation of Sube Nene; and Dale Que Dale En Domingo (Keep on Doing it on Sunday). With the production and hosting of all those shows at the same time, the Vigoreaux family became more and more famous. They also opened a studio, which they named Estudio CVC. They were also responsible for the transmission of the MDA
Muscular Dystrophy Association
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is an American organization which combats muscular dystrophy and diseases of the nervous system and muscular system in general by funding research, providing medical and community services, and educating health professionals and the general public...
television marathon in Puerto Rico.
Vigoreaux later jumped ship to Channel 11, then named the Perez-Perry Network. He bought the Teatro Nuevo San Juan, from where he started transmitting his new show. But this show was not as successful, and soon Vigoreaux found himself off the air. To complicate things, he and Echevarria separated, as he had met aspiring actress Nydia Castillo and begun another relationship outside of his marriage to Echevarría.
In 1980, Vigoreaux went back to WAPA-TV and all his shows were re-scheduled. He also became the show host of that station's lunch hour variety show, El Show Del Mediodia, and began playing the role of Pedro Navaja
Pedro Navaja
Pedro Navaja is a salsa song written and performed by Rubén Blades from the 1978 album Siembra, about a criminal of the same name. "Navaja" means knife or razor in Spanish. Inspired by the song Mack the Knife, it tells the story of a panderer's life and his presumed death...
in a play La Verdadera Historia de Pedro Navaja (The Real Story of Pedro Navaja). He would act in that play many times in his life, and also in a play named Angeles Caidos (Fallen Angels). In addition, he returned to the radio with a program named Buenos Dias (Good Morning), on radio station WBMJ-AM and worked, for a short period of time, as a television reporter for "Noticentro 4".
On the morning of January 17, 1983, he didn't show up to work at the radio station or at WAPA-TV, causing his co-workers to worry. When his Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz is a German manufacturer of automobiles, buses, coaches, and trucks. Mercedes-Benz is a division of its parent company, Daimler AG...
was found with a body inside, it was taken to the medical examiner's office, where it was confirmed as the body of Vigoreaux.
His death launched a wave of rumors and speculations, and led to one of the biggest trials in Puerto Rico's history. Lydia Echevarría was accused formally of his murder, and it was alleged that she had become jealous of his relationship with Nydia Castillo, and hired professional killers Papo Newman
Papo Newman
Francisco 'Papo' Newman is a Puerto Rican who was convicted of murder, after allegedly participating in the murder of the Puerto Rican television entertainer Luis Vigoreaux on January 17, 1983. Newman was arrested, confessed to the crime, and testified against his accomplices in exchange for a...
and David Lopez-Watts to kill him. While some evidence has surfaced suggesting that she only paid them to give him a beating, the fact is Vigoreaux was gagged, burned and thrown into his car's trunk by Newman and Lopez-Watts. Echevarria was later convicted and spent 15 years in jail at the city of Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
Vega Alta, Puerto Rico
Vega Alta is a municipality of Puerto Rico. Vega Alta is located on the northern coast of the island, north of Morovis and Corozal; east of Vega Baja; and west of Dorado with an area of . Vega Alta is spread over seven wards and Vega Alta Pueblo...
.
At the time of his death, Vigoreaux was about to begin another game show, A Millon, which also became one of the most popular shows in Puerto Rican television history, under the hosting of Hector Marcano
Hector Marcano
Hector Marcano is a Puerto Rican comedian, producer, and game show host in Puerto Rico.Hector Marcano was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on November 3, 1956. Marcano's career took off after Luis Vigoreaux's death...
and produced by Vigoreaux's son, Luisito Vigoreaux
Luisito Vigoreaux
Luis Vigoreaux Lorenzana is a Puerto Rican actor and producer. He is the son of Luis Vigoreaux, a legendary Puerto Rican media personality and Rosaura Lorenzana Vilches...
.
See also
- List of famous Puerto Ricans
- French immigration to Puerto RicoFrench immigration to Puerto RicoThe French immigration to Puerto Rico came about as a result of the economic and political situations which occurred in various places such as Louisiana , Saint-Domingue and in Europe....
- List of television presenters P.R.