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From the 1910s through the 1960s, newsreels were an integral part of motion picture exhibition in the U.S., delivering current events to moviegoers before the advent of television news. Although the newsreels were fashioned, for the most part, to be entertaining, they uniquely document the domestic and international events of their time.
The Hearst Metrotone News Collection at the UCLA Film & Television Archive is one of the largest newsreel collections in the world. In 2023, The Packard Humanities Institute launched a website (newsreels.net) in collaboration with the Archive to share the Hearst collection for research, study and public access. With nearly 15,000 newsreel stories currently available, the project’s eventual goal is to make the entire Hearst newsreel collection viewable online.
The selection of newsreels and outtake footage presented here highlights prominent figures of Hispanic and Latin American heritage who influenced motion picture and television history, politics and sports, while other clips offer time capsules of various regions and cultural celebrations.
1930: “Film Star Studies Grand Opera”
“Ramon Novarro tells of his aspirations in interview with Rose Pelswick, N.Y. Journal critic.”
Considered Hollywood’s first Latin American matinee idol, Ramon Novarro (born in Durango, Mexico; 1899–1968) cemented his stardom in the silent era with the lead role of Ben-Hur: A Tale of Christ (1925), which was one of the most expensive and most commercially successful films of its time. As one of the top romantic actors at MGM, he rivaled Rudolph Valentino and appeared on screen opposite Norma Shearer (The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg, 1927), Joan Crawford (Across to Singapore, 1928), Greta Garbo (Mata Hari, 1931) and other major stars. Novarro successfully transitioned from silent film to “talkies,” and in this brief interview he discusses his opera studies in anticipation of the 1930s craze for movie musicals and performs a Mexican folk song.
1931: “Mexican Steppers Show Their Stuff”
“Contest held in Los Angeles to pick the best dancers for California city's 150th birthday fete.”
1932: “Here's the Newest Rumba From Cuba”
“Havana Siboney orchestra offers ‘Boloney Peddler,’ new radio favorite in land of ‘Peanut Vendor.’”
1951: “Argentina’s Mighty Tribute to Eva Peron!”
“Loyalty Day in Argentina finds more than 100,000 people overflowing Buenos Aires’ Plaza de Mayo. The day is dedicated to Eva Peron and she comes from a sick bed to address the rally. President Juan Peron decorates her with a special medal and proclaims the next day a holiday — and names it ‘St. Evita Day.’”
This 1951 footage illustrates the public adoration of Eva “Evita” Perón (born in Los Toldos, Argentina; 1919–1952), Argentina’s most famous First Lady, who was at the time ill with cancer and died nine months later at age 33. Still a mythic figure today, Perón rose from poverty to become one of the most powerful women of her time, beloved by underprivileged Argentines as a representative of the descamisados (“shirtless ones”). As First Lady, Perón was highly influential in the sectors of health and labor, “awarding generous wage increases to the unions” and establishing “thousands of hospitals, schools, orphanages, homes for the aged, and other charitable institutions. Eva was largely responsible for the passage of the women’s suffrage law and formed the Peronista Feminist Party in 1949” (Britannica).
1956: “Desi And Lucy Aid Heart Fund”
“Stars of M-G-M’s ‘Forever, Darling,’ Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz begin nationwide tour to aid the Heart Fund. Enroute they’ll attend world premiere of ‘Forever, Darling’ in Jamestown, N.Y.”
Desi Arnaz (born in Santiago, Cuba; 1917–1986) was not only one of the first Latino leading men on primetime television, he was also an industry pioneer who transformed network television. With Lucille Ball, Arnaz co-founded Desilu Productions and co-starred in one of most successful sitcoms of all time, I Love Lucy (1951–1956). Executive produced by Arnaz, the series broke industry norms by recording on 35mm film in front of a studio audience and using a three-camera system that allowed for more dynamic cinematography than a live program and precise editing in post-production — innovations that improved the look of television, allowed for continuous rebroadcastings and changed the industry forever.
1957: “Coffee Festival in Colombia”
“The town of Manizales high in the Andes stages a gala carnival to salute the coffee bean. Every coffee producing nation of South America is represented in the colorful pageant.”
1957: “Motion Picture Academy Awards”
“All Hollywood turns out for the Motion Picture Academy Awards presentation. Ingrid Bergman wins ‘Oscar’ as year's best actress. Yul Brynner honored as best actor. Anthony Quinn wins ‘Oscar’ for best supporting role.”
Anthony Quinn (born in Chihuahua, Mexico; 1915–2001) appeared in over 100 films and television programs and was among the actors “who altered cinematic representations — and audience expectations — of ethnic Mexicans by challenging, undermining, and surpassing stereotypes,” writes scholar Anthony Macías in Chicano-Chicana Americana: Pop Culture Pluralism Starring Anthony Quinn, Katy Jurado, Robert Beltran, and Lupe Ontiveros. Quinn, who trained in the theater and the famed Actors Studio, was often limited to and frustrated by the roles that were offered to Latinos in Hollywood, frequently being cast as villains and ethnic “others.” Still, within the confines of the studio system, Quinn sought to give his characters dignity and dimension, sometimes pushing back on directors, and built a career of incredible dramatic range. One of his first meaningful roles was in The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), an anti-lynching Western that sympathetically portrays a Mexican character. Other critical successes for Quinn included Viva Zapata! (1952) (for which he won the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award, making him the second Latino to do so after Jose Ferrer), La Strada (1954) and Lust for Life (1956) (for which he won his second Oscar).
1959: “Latin Players Dominate Wimbledon Tennis”
“In the men’s singles on the famed English court, Alex Olmedo, the Peruvian who plays for Uncle Sam defeats Australia’s Rod Laver in straight sets. The Latin America mood continues as Brazil’s Maria Bueno defeats Darlene Hard of California in the women’s final.”
Alex Olmedo (born in Arequipa, Peru; 1936–2020) moved to Los Angeles as a youth to pursue tennis. He won the Wimbledon and Australian Championships singles titles in 1959, “becoming the first Latin American man to win a Grand Slam singles title” (Washington Post). Olmedo was ranked No. 1 in the U.S. and No. 2 in the world in 1959, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987.
Maria Bueno (born in São Paulo, Brazil; 1939–2018) was one of the most accomplished women in tennis and a beloved figure in Brazil. According to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Bueno was “the first non-US woman to win both Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals in the same year (1959). In tennis history, only eight woman players have won three Wimbledon and U.S. Championships in their career, and Bueno is among that elite group. She solidified herself as the preeminent player of the 1960s by being ranked No. 1 in the world in 1959, 1960, 1964, and 1966.” She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1978.
1965: “Life in Mexico”
This unedited newsreel footage offers a look at 1960s Mexico City and its street life, cultural activities, ancient sites and architectural landmarks, including the Central Library (shown at 1:06) and National Palace (at 2:08). The footage also includes a glimpse of former Mexican President Adolfo López Mateos, who served in office from 1958 to 1964 (at 0:51).
1966: “Bolivia Looks Back 3,000 Years”
“The cradle of Incan civilization 3,000 years old is being unearthed in Bolivia half-way between La Paz and Lake Titicaca. A joint project of UNESCO and the Bolivian government, it is one of the major archeological finds of our times.”
—Jennifer Rhee, Digital Content Manager, with contributions by Isa Moreno, Digital Communications Assistant.
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