Top of page

Audio Recording Interview with Efrén del Castillo, Chicago, Illinois, part 2

Interview with Efrén del Castillo, Chicago, Illinois, part 2

About this Item

Title

  • Interview with Efrén del Castillo, Chicago, Illinois, part 2

Names

  • George, Philip B., 1946- (Collector)

Created / Published

  • Chicago, Illinois, July 1, 1977

Headings

  • -  Hispanic Americans
  • -  Ethnography
  • -  Interviews
  • -  Illinois -- Chicago

Genre

  • Ethnography
  • Interviews

Notes

  • -  Efren del Castillo #1
  • -  Part 2 of a 3-part interview in Spanish with Efren de Castillo, recorded in the offices of OMAR, 5525 N. Broadway; topics pertain to theater group "Circulo Teatral de Chicago" and continues (from part 1) on the nature of their work and goals; actors and audience work through a performance together, goal to contribute something, to offer works of quality; de Castillo started making scenery in Cuba but there were problems with Castro's regime; today he plans scenes and directs now, started with beginners but didn't want to teach drama but rather promote, design, and direct; laments lack of good instruction in drama in Chicago in Spanish; de Castillo started in Cuba as a scene painter and was elevated to head of production at the drama school of the university and the National Theater; about mixing contemporary and classical styles, mentions works in Cuba and in Europe; came to Chicago in 1965 but no work, then to Los Angeles for a few years and then returned to Chicago, there had been problems with the union in California, so returned to Chicago; started with OMAR in Chicago designing ads for TV, radio, and press, uses his theater skills in design and directing; why de Castillo left Cuba, where he had respect, good jobs, good pay, etc., but was insecure since he was never a revolutionary, he was always watched and had no freedom; his brother was jailed for taking pictures for 7 months, friends disappeared, fear led to his departure; de Castillo saw a community play and didn't like it as art, had a line on disposing of old guard technicians when they are no longer needed that struck home; about the Cubans of Chicago, they came after the revolution as refugees or to study, most went to New York or Miami, but there are a few here, friends and family follow; some are professionals and semi-professionals and business men, few rural folk; about other Cuban groups in Chicago, the community tends to argue and they are separate from other Latino groups; about Cuban rhythms in music and dance and their difficult nature; the Cuban Lions Club promotes local talent but has no performing group of its own; mentions Cruz and Sociedad Hispanoamericana pro Arte y Cultura; pure Cuban groups don't really exist; about cultural diversity of Cubans and lack of unity; there are no Cuban music groups, there had been one but it moved to Los Angeles; about salsa, asserts that it is of Cuban origin, in terms of rhythm, not Puerto Rican.

Medium

  • audiocassette, C-60

Call Number/Physical Location

  • MBRS Shelflist: RYA 0773
  • Field Project Identifier: CH77-T238-C
  • Call number: AFC 1981/004: AFS 20762B

Source Collection

  • Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004)

Repository

  • American Folklife Center

Digital Id

Online Format

  • audio

Rights & Access

The Library of Congress believes that some of the materials in this collection are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions, and are therefore free to use or reuse. For example, the fieldwork in this collection is in the public domain in the United States.

However, the Library has obtained permission for the use of other materials, and presents additional materials for educational and research purposes in accordance with fair use under United States copyright law. For example, some of the recordings contain copyrighted music, and not all of the performers and other individuals who were recorded signed releases for public use of their work.

In addition, the American Folklife Center and the professional fieldworkers who carry out these projects feel a strong ethical responsibility to the people they have visited and who have consented to have their lives documented for the historical record. The Center asks that researchers approach the materials in this collection with respect for the culture and sensibilities of the people whose lives, ideas, and creativity are documented here. Researchers are also reminded that privacy and publicity rights may pertain to certain uses of this material.

Researchers or others who would like to make further use of these collection materials should contact the Folklife Reading Room for assistance. Rights assessment is your responsibility. The written permission of the copyright owners in materials not in the public domain is required for distribution, reproduction, or other use of protected items beyond that allowed by fair use or other statutory exemptions. Permissions may additionally be required from holders of other rights (such as publicity and/or privacy rights). Whenever possible, we provide information that we have about copyright owners and related matters in the catalog records, finding aids and other texts that accompany collections. However, the information we have may not be accurate or complete.

More about Copyright and other Restrictions

For guidance about compiling full citations consult Citing Primary Sources.

Credit line: Chicago Ethnic Arts Project collection (AFC 1981/004), American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

Cite This Item

Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.

Chicago citation style:

George, Philip B. Interview with Efrén del Castillo, Chicago, Illinois, part 2. Chicago, Illinois, July 1, 1977. Audio. https://www.loc.gov/item/afc1981004_afs20762_02/.

APA citation style:

George, P. B. (1977) Interview with Efrén del Castillo, Chicago, Illinois, part 2. Chicago, Illinois, July 1. [Audio] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/afc1981004_afs20762_02/.

MLA citation style:

George, Philip B. Interview with Efrén del Castillo, Chicago, Illinois, part 2. Chicago, Illinois, July 1, 1977. Audio. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, <www.loc.gov/item/afc1981004_afs20762_02/>.