By Bel Hernandez
Unsung Pioneering East LA Chicano actor Lalo Rios (1928-1973) is to be given a tribute on Turner Classic Movies Channel on Sunday September 18th, 5:00 P.M. (PT) with Two groundbreaking Movies The Lawless 1950 and The Ring 1952 with Rita Moreno. Rios was the first young Chicano screen rebel hero who came to epitomize the Chicano Civil rights movement almost a decade later.
The tribute to Rios will be hosted on camera by L.A based Film Historian Luis I. Reyes, who is the author of the new book Viva Hollywod which highlights the achievements of Latinx in the Hollywood film industry.
Rios was born in Sonora Mexico and his family immigrated to The United States in 1938 and settled in Lincoln Heights and Boyle Heights. He was not a trained actor but a construction worker, when he was discovered by Director Joseph Losey who found him to possess a natural talent in front of the camera. His only theatrical experience was participating in local posadas or religious nativity plays where he also played the guitar.
Reyes, whose knowledge of the careers of Latinos in Hollywood, has featured now in three of his books: Hispanics in Hollywood, Made in Mexico and now Viva Hollywood. Beginning with Hispanics in Hollywood, one of the most comprehensive look at Latinos in Hollywood, highlighted the careers of may throughout the history of Hollywood where Latinos have played a part since the silent era. Reyes impressed upon us the importance of knowing the history of talents like Rios. “It is important that we document our Latinx history in the entertainment industry as it is a part of the whole picture of the history of those individuals of diverse (ethnic, racial, immigrants and emigres) backgrounds that participated and contributed to the Hollywood Film Industry and gave us treasured Classic cinema,” he told Latin Heat.
He talked about his new book, “Viva Hollywood” which has given him the opportunity to “…give fresh new insights to the history especially the advancements of the last 25 years and put them in perspective”.
“Viva Hollywood” is an overview and highlights recognized and unrecognized Latinx talent in Hollywood both in front of and behind the camera. Reyes explains that this book is not a comprehensive book with some personal favorites may be missing.
“If we don’t document it, it will be lost,” Reyes reminds us. The book celebrates and honors the latest generation of artists like Edward James Olmos, Andy Garcia, Jennifer Lopez, Salma Hayek, and Eva Longoria who have paved the way for Ana de Armas, Michael Pena, Zoe Saldana, Pedro Pascal and Oscar Isaac, among many others.
Jimmy Smits, who will be starring in a new CBS TV series East New York, and is a long-time friend of Reyes’ contributed the forward to the book. Viva Hollywood is lavishly illustrated with more than 200 color and black and white photos.