In recent days the news that the famous actor Jorge Martinez was in poor health, with economic problems and living in the Casa del Teatro.
The media immediately tried to confirm it, but The 76-year-old actor did not want to give notes and he limited himself to sending an audio to a television program, where he said that he had no financial or health problems. He then contacted Clarín and was in charge of clarifying via phone call that he “is fine.”
It is a fact that he is living in the Casa del Teatro, a residence for retired actors, after having previously been in a nursing home. He signed up for the waiting list and entered under the gaze and attention of his daughter.
What is the Theater House like?
The history of the Theater House is fascinating. It was created in 1938 by Regina Pacini, the wife of President Marcelo T. de Alvear.on its own initiative, with the aim of serving as a residence for people linked to theatrical activity, older and without resources.
It is an imposing art deco building designed by the famous architect Alejandro Virasoro and located at Santa Fe 1243. It is a national historical monument, and a theater, the Regina, was built on the 2nd and 3rd floors.
At the inauguration, in addition to the President of the Nation and the First Lady, figures such as Iris Marga, Luisa Vehil, Pierina de Alessi, Florencio Parravicini and Marcos Caplan were present. Two days later, the first eight guests arrived.
With the years There were more and more artists who found themselves unemployed and without a minimum retirement, so they turned to the Casa del Teatro to avoid ending up on the street. In 2019, the National Ministry of Culture gave him a subsidy of 1,600,000 pesos to cover part of the expenses.
Requirements to live there
Total There are 40 rooms and almost all of them are occupied. The requirements to live there are: having belonged to the artistic activity, being over 65 years old and not owning property.
Another requirement is to be self-sufficient, since it does not have medical infrastructure. For budget reasons there is no permanent medical service, although there is there is a nurse 24 hours a day. There is physical and psychological containment, as well as a therapeutic gym.
In recent years lived artists such as Joe Rigoli, the dressmaker Etelvina Ferreyra, Nelida Romero, Liana Lombard, Colomba, Horacio Dener, the dancer Shadia, Ernesto Nogues, Chola Amaya, Felisa Bonorino (widow of Pedro Quartucci), Esther Stein, Ada Katz , Jose Di Zeo, Augustine Busefi, Samy Zarember, Margot Russell, Estrella Rivera, dancer Robert Roth, Pilar Ferrer, author Amalia Colombo and Mario Amaya.
Many figures in the middle, including Mirtha Legrandhave made constant donations to help their survival.
Linda Peretzwho assumed the presidency in November 2016, opened the doors of the Casa del Teatro to the public and gave residents the opportunity to recover their profession through gatherings, solidarity functions and community rehearsals.
Floor by floor
In the low level of the building is The Artists Boutique, a location that helps support the institution. It is one of the busiest places, because everything sold is part of the artists’ royal wardrobe who have donated it to raise funds.
There is everything, including luxurious ball gowns, tailleurs and cocktail wear. Open Monday to Friday from 2 to 6 p.m.
In the area of free access to the public there is also the Carlos Gardel Museum and the Theater Library.
He Carlos Gardel Museum It offers Gardel objects that were donated by his mother to Armando Delfino (her son’s attorney) and that Delfino’s widow later bequeathed to the Casa del Teatro.
The Theater House Library offers more than five thousand books that can be consulted for free. There are historical data, hand programs and the Florencio Sánchez awards. In addition, there is a mini exhibition with costumes that belonged to figures such as Libertad Lamarque, Zully Moreno, Lolita Torres, Iris Marga, Mercedes Sosa and Beatriz Salomón.
In it second and third floor There is the Regina theater, which is rented to independent producers and is one of the sources of income to financially support the residence. Since 2019, the room has been named after Mirtha Legrand, in honor of her dedication and career.
In the foyer there is two imposing paintings by the great Benito Quinquela Martín, which were donated by the painter in 1928, when he was at the height of his career, due to the friendship that united him with the founder Regina Pacini. A few years ago they were specially restored, because they were ruined by tobacco smoke, inadequate lighting, adverse temperature and humidity conditions, and even the consequences of a fire in the building.
In it fourth floor the chapel works. Every day the rosary is prayed and mass is celebrated. They are protected by the image of San Ginés, the patron saint of artists.
The rooms occupy the fifth, sixth and eighth floor.
In the floors 7 and 10 is the headquarters of the National Theater Institute, and in the piso 9 There is a dining area, kitchen and recreation rooms.
As the playwright Alberto Vacarezza wrote, “The House of the Theater is the inn where the pilgrims of art lodge their old age and fatigue. And so generous is the soul of the owner, because she knows that dreamers of harmony can only accumulate sounds.
And as Mirtha Legrand rightly said, “It is an institution that deserves all the admiration and would need great support from the government, businessmen and actors. Those of us who are very well off should always collaborate. It is a fantastic work.”