Lucha Libre: Stories from the Ring, El Paso Edition

Lucha Libre: Stories from the Ring, El Paso Edition

The exhibition tells the history of Lucha Libre, its connections to the border region, and the stories that have come from the sport. Lucha Libre: Stories from the Ring, El Paso edition, will showcase stories, sponsors and memorabilia all related to local Lucha Libre history. The Museum of History has partnered with the City of Las Cruces Museums to bring the exhibition to El Paso. The original exhibition opened at the Branigan Cultural Center in Las Cruces, New Mexico, in the spring of 2020, but it had to be cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Lucha Libre has a rich history that dates back over a century and is characterized for its over-the-top performances and supposed macho atmosphere. Although, the theatrical sport is beyond that. Lucha Libre combines athleticism, theater, dance, story, and the visual arts. Lucha Libre became a popular sport in the early 1900s; however, the origins date back to the late 1800s. There was a form of wrestling in the United Sates that was more theatrical and included a stage. This form of wrestling influenced Italian businessman and veteran of the Mexican revolution Salvador Lutterroth to start a company called EMLL (Empresa Mexicana de Lucha Libre). After seeing several wrestling matches in El Paso, Texas, Lutteroth took his company EMLL to Mexico and began promoting shows through the 1920s and 1930s. The demonstrations were held in Mexico City and were classified as the poor man's sport because they were rudimentary and held in the poorest neighborhoods. The sport became extremely popular during the following decades and by the 1950s, luchadores began wearing masks, which was initiallv an American tradition. The masks were then used to develop a character and depending on the colors and designs used, the crowd could determine whether they were the tecnicos (good guys) or the rudos (bad guys). It became iconic after the debut of Santo el Enmascarado de Plata, a famous luchador and film actor. By the 1960s and 1970s other independent wrestling companies began to rival EMLL and helped grow the popularity of Lucha Libre. In the 1980s, a wave of luchadores activist began to emerge after a devastating earthquake in Mexico City. Many residents were left without a home, many were evicted, and the city had to be rebuilt. This social anxiety and unrest caused an assembly of Barrios to march and rally for the government to housing credits. Out of this unrest a luchador called Super Barrio emerged becoming the staple of the marches and protests. Since the 1980s Lucha Libre not only stands as a form of entertainment and cultural staple but as a symbol used to organize communities and stand for social inequalities. By the 1990s Mexican Lucha Libre was introduced to the United States, when several luchadores were featured on television. Since then, Lucha Libre has become a transnational phenomenon and recognized for thepresentation, athleticism, unique style, elaborate attire, masks, and stories. Lucha Libre: Stories From The Ring highlights Lucha Libre's cultural, historical, and social political importance whileshowing the fun, unique, cultural aspect of it." -Norma Hartell, Curator, City of Las Cruces Museums

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: El Paso Museum of History; Las Cruces Museums

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

Comments

Add a comment
Thank you for your comment

Report this entry

Choose the most important reason for this report

Your name

Your email address

Optional detail

Thank you for your report

More from the same community-collection

Jennifer Han Defends Her IBF Featherweight Title - 2016

Jennifer Han after her fight with Calista Silgado - she retained ...

Jennifer Han Defends Her Title - 2016

Jennifer Han after her fight with Calista Silgado - she retained ...

Jennifer Han Defends Her Title - 2016

Jennifer Han with her trainer before her fight with Calista ...

Jennifer Han retains IBF Featherweight title - 2016

Fight between Jennifer Han and Calista Silgado on April 29, ...

Jennifer Han retains IBF Featherweight title - 2016

Jennifer Han standing in her corner waiting for the first round. ...

Jennifer Han retains IBF Featherweight title - 2016

Jennifer Han during her fight at Southwest University Park ...

Jennifer Han Defends Her Title - 2016

Jennifer Han and Calista Silgado during the title fight on ...

Jennifer Han Defends Her Title - 2016

Jennifer Han and Calista Silgado during a title fight on April ...

Jennifer Han Defends Her Title - 2016

Jennifer Han and Calista Silgado during their fight on April 29, ...

Joe Lewels Sr. - 1931

Joe Lewels at age 16 (1931) was featured in a story in the El ...

Hilda Stockmeyer and Joe Lewels - 1974

Hilda Stockmeyer and Joe Lewels Jr. Wedding photo in front of ...

Jennifer Han Defends Her Title - 2016

Jennifer Han and Calista Silgado title fight on April 29, 2016. ...

Jennifer Han Defends Her Title - 2016

Jennifer Han and Calista Silgado during the fight on April 29, ...

Warner Rexall Drug El Paso

Very popular drug store downtown El Paso 1950's.

Photo of parents 1960.

Picture of father Justo Rivera, Mother Regina Rivera 1960, El ...

Jennifer Han Defends Her Title - 2016

Jennifer Han and Calista Silgado during the title fight for the ...

Jennifer Han Defends Her Title - 2016

Jennifer Han in her corner during her title fight on April 29, ...

Jennifer Han Defends Her Title - 2016

Jennifer Han in her corner during the fight between her and ...

Jennifer Han Defends Her Title - 2016

During the title fight between Jennifer Han and Calista Silgado. ...

Jennifer Han Defends Her Title - 2016

During the title fight between Jennifer Han and Calista Silgado. ...

Jennifer Han Defends Her Title - 2016

During the title fight between Jennifer Han and Calista Silgado ...

Mural for El Paso fire department

A mural dedicated to El Paso fire department

Artwork of a local artist

A mural central El Paso

home.search_collection