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

El Paso Sheriff's Posse Stagecoach Sun Carnival Parade 2013

The El Paso Sheriff's Posse stagecoach appears in the Sun ...

El Paso Sheriff's Posse Stagecoach Sun Carnival Parade 2013

The El Paso Sheriff's Posse stagecoach appearing in the 2013 Sun ...

El Paso Sheriff's Posse Sun Carnival Parade 2013

Members of the El Paso Sheriff's Posse ride in the Sun Carnival ...

A City is Born

Commemorative Plaque, 101 S. El Paso St., Camino Real Hotel. ...

Bataan Memorial Trainway

Depressed trainway, downtown El Paso, 2013, near the ...

Southwest University Park in the making...

Finishing touches to our new ballpark

Fray Garcia, XII Travelers

Fray Garcia sculpture by John Houser in Pioneer Plaza. Part of ...

Downtown Alley

Alley in downtown El Paso

Blue Flame Building

El Paso Natural Gas "Blue Flame" Building (middle) with newer EP ...

San Jacinto Plaza

View of San Jacinto Plaza from across W. Mills Ave., 2009.

Chico the Chihuahua & friends

MCADers Martha Grijalva and Raquel Ortiz with Chico the ...

Bowie High School

Bowie High School 1947 reunion, bus from El Paso to West Covina ...

Bowie High School

1974 Bowie High School Homecoming Message by Rick Melendrez.

Bowie High School

1975-76 Bowie High School Varsity Basketball Team, coached by ...

Bowie High School

1979 Outstanding Ex showing Nolan Richardson when he played ...

Ector A. Garcia - El Paso, Texas

Ector A. Garcia featured in the 54th Anniversary Bowie HS ...

Nolan Richardson

Bowie HS 1979 Outstanding Ex showing Nolan Richardson

Bowie High School

Bowie HS Past Outstanding Ex and friends honored for ...

Bowie High School - El Paso, Texas

1979-1994 Bowie HS Outstanding Ex featured in the 1999 ...

Bowie High School

1947 Bowie HS Mexico Trip, photos from the 1947 year book.

The Centre Building and Anson Mills

The Anson Mills Building was designed by reno wned architect ...

San Jacinto Plaza at Christmas

San Jacinto Plaza in 2009 before renovation. It is expected to ...

Union Plaza Parking and Terminal

Features: 417-car space, mixed-use bus transit parking facility ...

home.search_collection