Margarita_Cordova

Margarita Cordova

Margarita Cordova

Mexican American television actress


Margarita Cordova (born February 26, 1939, in Saginaw, Michigan) is a retired American dancer and actress.

Quick Facts Born, Occupation(s) ...

Early life

Cordova was born in Saginaw, Michigan, but grew up in Mexico City. When she was 14, she moved to Los Angeles.[1]

Career

Stage and dancing

In 1958, Cordova and her husband Clark Allen opened for a show starring Jean Arnold at the Cabaret Concert Theatre in Los Angeles. Variety described the couple as "Spanish dance exponents who take the trouble to explain what they're doing during their 30-minute stint. Education has not always been at home in a nitery, but it's a pleasure here [...] the team divides its work with the male member flicking the Spanish guitar and singing..."[2]

In 1960, she and Allen had a 30-minute show in New York. Variety wrote: "Although likeable (sic) in their current New York debut at Julius Monk's Downstairs at the Upstairs, they're not particularly outstanding. It could be that Allen's folksong selection lacks a powerhouse item".[3]

In 1962, Cordova and Allen opened and operated El Cid, a flamenco nightclub on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles.[4][5]

Cordova and Allen performed traditional Spanish and Mexican song and dance at other venues in the Los Angeles area, including Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City[6] and at the Ebell of Los Angeles Theater.[7]

Television

She has made numerous guest appearances on several television series from the 1960s, including The Twilight Zone episode "A Thing About Machines"[8] and a 1960 episode of Peter Gunn entitled "Cry Love, Cry Murder".[9] She had a contract role on NBC's short-living soap opera Sunset Beach as Carmen Torres from 1997 to 1999, and also played Rosa Andrade on Santa Barbara from 1984 to 1987, and from 1991 to 1993.[10]

Film

She appeared in One-Eyed Jacks (1961) as a flamenco dancer.[11]

Personal life

Cordova was married to musician, actor, and artist Clark Allen. They met in Paris.[12] They studied in Granada, Spain for more than a year where they learned the culture of the Spanish Romani and flamenco music. The couple had two children: a daughter named Angela, who became a fine artist, and a son named David, who became a professional musician and photographer. Angela and David were members of the 1970s band Carmen.[13] Cordova and Allen later divorced.[14]


References

  1. "Reviews: Cabaret Concertheatre, L.A.". Variety. Vol. 211, no. 12. August 20, 1958. p. 71 via Proquest.
  2. "Reviews: New Acts – Margarita & Clark Allen". Variety. Vol. 220, no. 10. November 2, 1960. p. 53 via Proquest.
  3. "Our Story – EL CID". Retrieved July 9, 2020.
  4. "Valley Philharmonic Group Plans Musicales". Los Angeles Times. September 22, 1963. p. J1 via Proquest.
  5. "Flamenco Show Booked at Ebell". Los Angeles Times. September 27, 1963. p. D11 via Proquest.
  6. "Margarita Cordova Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  7. "Monday". The Los Angeles Times. October 8, 1960. p. 162. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  8. Reichardt, Nancy M. (January 1, 1999). "Actress Margarita Cordova Sees the Future on NBC's 'Sunset Beach'". The Times and Democrat. p. 8. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  9. McHarry, Charles (October 24, 1960). "On the Town". Daily News. p. 226. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  10. "Sandburg's Songs to Be Key Facet of Production". The Town Talk. January 19, 1960. p. 12. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
  11. "Discography". davidclarkallen. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  12. "Vida Flamenca Newsletter – January 28th". MyNewsletterBuilder. Retrieved May 8, 2021.

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