The Rape of Rita Hayworth: The WB Network, Hispanic Racism, and "Authentic Learning"

A Different Drummer ^ | 15 October 2003 | Nicholas Stix

[nickcarraway]

Lolita Lopez, who reacts as if she were hearing the name Rita Hayworth for the first time, informs us that "people didn’t know that" Hayworth was Hispanic. Watkins adds, helpfully, that "Maybe it was because it was not so popular for someone to be" Hispanic back then. "Not so popular," as in THOSE RACIST WHITES.

This is hilarious, when you consider that in the 20s and 30s especially, actors were changing their names to become ``latin.'' Especially after the popularity of Rudolph Valentino.

One example is the case of actor Ricardo Cortez. He was an Austrian, born in Vienna under the name Jacob Krantz. He changed his name to Ricardo Cortez, and his birthplace to Spain when he hit Hollywood. Check him out in the original version of The Maltese Falcon, called Dangerous Female, as Sam Spade. Even his brother, who was a cinematographer, changed his last name to Cortez.

[mrustow]

An Hispanic in the Confederacy who was more important than Robert E. Lee? Do they think Pierre Beauregard was Hispanic? Or are they confusing Judah P. Benjamin with Benjamin Disraeli?

I suspect you're working in a parallel universe, VR. You're trying to get at the truth; these people laugh at the truth! They make up whatever suits their expedient, momentary, political needs. They'd think Beauregard was a cartoon dog, and that Benjamin and Disraeli were a couple of Israelis.

[nickcarraway]

ping

[mrustow]

Lolita Lopez, who reacts as if she were hearing the name Rita Hayworth for the first time, informs us that "people didn’t know that" Hayworth was Hispanic. Watkins adds, helpfully, that "Maybe it was because it was not so popular for someone to be" Hispanic back then. "Not so popular," as in THOSE RACIST WHITES.

This is hilarious, when you consider that in the 20s and 30s especially, actors were changing their names to become ``latin.'' Especially after the popularity of Rudolph Valentino.

One example is the case of actor Ricardo Cortez. He was an Austrian, born in Vienna under the name Jacob Krantz. He changed his name to Ricardo Cortez, and his birthplace to Spain when he hit Hollywood. Check him out in the original version of The Maltese Falcon, called Dangerous Female, as Sam Spade. Even his brother, who was a cinematographer, changed his last name to Cortez.

Wow! Jacob Krantz?! Thanks for the story, Nick. I wonder how many more such stories there are.

[mrustow]

FYI

[mrustow]

FYI

[mrustow]

FYI

[mrustow]

FYI

[mikegi]

That one rates a major "schwiiiing". Wow. Compare that to the pierced, tattooed freaks promoted as being sexy on TV today.

[mrustow]

Great Rita web site, full of pics and info from all periods of her career

[okie01]

"Since it's 30 years since I saw the flick, I won't vouch for the accuracy of the above -- excepting for the impression that R.H.'s startling beauty made on me."

Your recollections are accurate in every respect.

Which is to say, they precisely correspond with my own...

[mrustow]

It's all so stupid. Hey Raquel Welch just came out and said she's Latina not white. There... give them that bone. Why don't they make a big deal about Raquel Welch? Because she's not as famous as Rita Hayworth?

Raquel pulled that, as a career move, but since she's already in her 60s (though at 90, she'll still look 100 times better than Jennifer Lopez), it was of limited value.

By contrast, the Spanish guy who plays the lieutenant on NYPD Blue reminds everyone at every opportunity, that he's Hispanic, and oh-so proud of it. A mediocre actor, his entire career is based on his racism.

[mrustow]

LOL! I applaud your good taste, sir.

[Landru]

"We live in a time in which well-to-do ignoramuses are designated 'experts' on people and subjects based on the flimsiest, demographic connection."

HA!

Game, set, match, Stix.

...again. ;^)

[muleskinner]

AY Ca-RUM-ba

[weegee]

Watkins adds, helpfully, that "Maybe it was because it was not so popular for someone to be" Hispanic back then. "Not so popular," as in THOSE RACIST WHITES.

It certainly didn't hurt Xavier Cugat's career.

[snopercod]

bump

[mrustow]

Greetings, L!

[mrustow]

Watkins adds, helpfully, that "Maybe it was because it was not so popular for someone to be" Hispanic back then. "Not so popular," as in THOSE RACIST WHITES.

It certainly didn't hurt Xavier Cugat's career.

Thanks for pointing that out. I guarantee you, that guy has never even heard of Coogie.

[nickcarraway]

Wow! Jacob Krantz?! Thanks for the story, Nick. I wonder how many more such stories there are.

Yes, there are, but that's the one that was on the top of my head. Yes, Jacob Krantz was an Austrian Jew, who they were grooming to be the next Valentino. He never made it that big, but he did okay. He even played Perry mason in one 30s movie. Actually one of his big claims to fame was he is the only actor to ever have his name above Greta Garbo. That was in The Torrent, he first U.S. movie.