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

Operation Hold the Line 1993

The image shows the U.S. Border Patrol during Operation Hold the ...

SP Passenger Train

SP Passenger Train on Main st. next to Plaza in the 1930's or ...

Santa Fe Railroad Crew

Santa Fe Railroad freight crew on steam engine 1918

Ernst Kohlberg 1881

The image shows Ernst Kohlberg in 1881. Ernst Kohlberg ...

Kohlberg Cigar Store

The image shows the inside of the Kohlberg cigar store, which ...

Kohlberg Brothers Tobacco Company

The image shows workers making cigars at the Kohlberg Brothers ...

Kohlberg Brothers Tobacco Company

The image shows female workers putting cigars into boxes at the ...

Let's Go - advertisement for La Internacional cigar

The image shows advertisement for La Internacional cigar - the ...

Woman on Bicycle in 1892

The image shows a woman on a bicycle at the corner of El Paso ...

El Paso Museum of Art

Entrance to the El Paso Museum of Art with the sculpture, ...

SP Steam Engine 3420

SP Steam Engine @ 4 centuries celebration

SP Engine 3420

Boarding SP Steam Engine 3420 at 4 Centuries Celebration

Downtown El Paso Night View

A view of the downtown El Paso cityscape at night as seen from ...

El Paso County Courthouse

View of the El Paso County Courthouse against a cloudy blue sky.

Downtown El Paso (2014)

Aerial view of downtown El Paso, including the recent addition ...

Rock On

Fans raise their hands during a performance by the rock band ...

The Plaza

Daylight view of the Plaza Theatre neon sign with the Plaza ...

Shoes on a Wire

A pair of high-top sneakers hang from a power line with the ...

El Paso Chihuahuas Stadium

Raul Duran first visit to our beautiful stadium

Alligators in San Jacinto Plaza at Christmas

Celebrating the lighting of the Christmas tree on December 5, ...

SP Steam Engine 3420 Cab

Boarding To see cab of 1904 steam engine 3420 @ 4 centuries ...

Henry O. Flipper, 1856 - 1940

Henry Ossian Flipper, engineer, the first black graduate of West ...

Pancho Villa and Ice Cream - Video

Elite Confectionary 201 N. Mesa St. Pancho Villa would visit the ...

home.search_collection