Teatro Yaguez
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The Teatro Yaguez is a performing arts theater located in the city of Mayagüez, Puerto Rico at McKinley and Basora Streets. It was founded by Francisco Maymon Palmer. He was a pioneer in the industry of cinematography, who introduced the people of Puerto Rico to the new form of art at the beginning of the 20th century by showing silent films far and wide on his travels through the island. With the help of Jose Rahola and founder Vargas, he brought movies from France and Italy to show them in the Old Municipal Theatre (Viejo Teatro Municipal).
Construction of the Teatro Yaguez began in 1907; the inauguration was in 1909. An architectural jewel, the Teatro Yaguez is a neo-baroque style theatre. Many have incorrectly stated that the theatre was built in art deco style, however, art deco developed only some twenty years after the theatre's construction.
Mr. Maymon suffered a great loss, when on June 20th, 1919, a fire engulfed his beloved theatre. The World Almanac and Book of Facts states that 150 people perished in the fire, although the records are vague. According to his family, he was sought after, insulted, and threatened, until investigations of the fire exonerated him of all blame. The theatre was rebuilt and is still in use today and is a registered historical landmark. (National Register: 85003086 (12/2/1985))
His son, Miguel A. Maymon Camunas, born in 1912, became the sole proprietor of the Teatro Yaguez in 1954. In 1976, the U.S. government sent a Bicentennial Commission to Puerto Rico, which declared the Teatro Yaguez a Historic Landmark. This liberated federal funds, with which the city of Mayagüez purchased the theater in 1977. The theatre has since undergone restorations and is a beautiful reminder of the history of theatre and arts of the early 20th century.