Brock Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Diosa Costello will donate 11 costumes to and make an appearance at the Smithsonian this Saturday: From PR Newswire: National Museum of American History Celebrates Diosa Costello WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Museum of American History will present an on-stage conversation with pioneering Latina performer Diosa Costello, Saturday, Sept. 17, at 4 p.m. at the Smithsonian Castle. The program, featuring museum curators Dwight Blocker Bowers and Marvette Perez, will include a donation of 11 costumes, including Costello's iconic "Latin Bombshell" outfit and her costume from South Pacific to the museum's permanent entertainment collections. Costello (b. 1917) began her career in Spanish Harlem and got her big break when she co-starred in producer-director George Abbot's 1939 Broadway musical Too Many Girls. Her support for the then-unknown Cuban entertainer Desi Arnaz resulted in a role that launched him in the U.S. Throughout her career she has appeared in Hollywood films such as They Met in Argentina and The Bullfighters; on Broadway, most notably as Bloody Mary in South Pacific; on music recordings; and alongside her husband, Cuban bandleader Pupi Campo. "Diosa Costello was more than a performer," said Perez. "She was a producer, a club owner and, most significantly, a pioneer. As the first Latina on Broadway, she paved the way for other Latinos. One of the last remaining members of her generation, her story and her costumes speak to the Latino influence on American performing arts." This program is part of the Smithsonian's Hispanic Heritage Month celebration. For more information on events and programs, visit www.latino.si.edu. The National Museum of American History collects, preserves and displays American heritage in the areas of social, political, cultural, scientific and military history. To learn more about the museum, visit http://americanhistory.si.edu. For Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000, (202) 633-5285 (TTY). Editors Note: Diosa Costello, known as the "Latin Bombshell," will donates costume from her career to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History during an on-stage conversation with curators as part of a free public event on Saturday, Sept. 17 at 4 p.m. in the Smithsonian Castle. Media is welcome. Interview availability: Friday, Sept. 16; Saturday, Sept. 17; and Sunday, Sept. 18. SOURCE Smithsonian's National Museum of American History Back to top RELATED LINKS http://www.latino.si.edu http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/latin-bombshell-donates-11-costumes-to-smithsonian-129877363.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Which begs the question, W H Y ? Lost all respect for THEM when they did not aquire the I Love Lucy S E T for their insitution. Archie bunker's chair they have but not a Lucy set when the show was the biggest TV show of all time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted September 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Which begs the question, W H Y ? Lost all respect for THEM when they did not aquire the I Love Lucy S E T for their insitution. Archie bunker's chair they have but not a Lucy set when the show was the biggest TV show of all time? Archie's chair was donated though, wasn't it? The ILL was dismantled, dispersed, and scattered far and wide by the time the Smithsonian ever even considered honouring anything to do with television. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeySanJoaquin Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 Archie's chair was donated though, wasn't it? The ILL was dismantled, dispersed, and scattered far and wide by the time the Smithsonian ever even considered honouring anything to do with television. True...but they could have installed a display using the recreated sets that toured the country, appeared in Jamestown and other places....it was cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted September 15, 2011 Report Share Posted September 15, 2011 True...but they could have installed a display using the recreated sets that toured the country, appeared in Jamestown and other places....it was cool! Yeah, that's what i was going to say! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Mc Posted September 30, 2011 Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 I'm a member of the Sons of the Desert, the International Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society and to see here that Diosa Costello has been honoured by the Smithsonian is great news. She was fantastic in the Laurel and Hardy movie "The Bullfighters" and is one of the few people alive today to have worked with Stan and Oliver -- I had absolutely no idea she was so prolific in the years after the war. In fact none of this news has been mentioned on the L&H message boards and forums, so it seems I'm not the only one -- thanks folks, I'll remedy the situation right now and give The Lucy Lounge full credit! By the way -- Lucy worked with Stan and Oliver, very briefly, introducing them on a radio show that featured them in a sketch about a wedding featuring Edgar Kennedy and Patsy Moran. Desi toured with Stan and Oliver on the Hollywood Caravan tour for war bonds in 1942 and was featured in a number of gag photos and newsreel scenes with him. A couple of years ago there was an auction through Christies of items from Stan's estate, one of them was a framed photo of Lucy when she was dressed as a gypsy from "I Love Lucy" -- in the auction last year through Heritage was a framed L&H picture signed by Stan to Lucy and Gary that they had on their wall for many years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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