Tropicana (Club)
The Tropicana is an open-air cabaret and nightclub in the Cuban capital of Havana. It was opened in 1939 on an area of 24,000 m² in the suburb of Marianao.
Advertised as the paradise under the stars, the Tropicana has been known for its dancers, conga and salsa dance and colorful productions. In contrast to European cabarets of the focus of the show is to dance with a variety of stakeholders. The Tropicana was, inter alia, directed by the choreographer Roderico " Rodney " Neyra. The current musical director is Chuchito Valdés, son of Chucho Valdés.
Famous Stars Xavier Cugat were, Carmen Miranda, Nat King Cole and Josephine Baker. Lovers of the Tropicana were Édith Piaf, Ernest Hemingway, Jimmy Durante and Marlon Brando. From 1956, the airline Cubana Tropicana offered a special on a return flight to the next morning in Miami.
History
The first plot was rented from Guillermina Pérez Chaumont, known as Mina. The tropical gardens of her Villa Mina offered a lush natural backdrop for an open-air cabaret. Victor de Correa made for dining and entertainment, while Rafael Mascaro and Luis bular operated in the dining room of the house a casino. With a fanfare of Alfredo Brito Orchestra, the club on December 30, 1939 was opened.
Correa was forced out of business, as Martin Fox, Villa Mina bought in 1950. Fox hired the architect Max Borges, Jr., which the Arcos de Cristal of Tropicanas, parabolic concrete arches and glass walls to the roof of the stage created. Construction continued throughout the year 1951. March 15, 1952, the air-conditioned building new cabaret Arcos de Cristal opened. Overall, the Tropicana now had 1,700 seats in the indoor and outdoor area. In the same year married Martin Fox Ofelia Suárez from Havana, which later became a writer in Hollywood. Her house was a well-known meeting place for kubanischstämmige Americans.
After the Cuban revolution of 1959 fled Martin and Ofelia Fox, who had no children, to Miami. Martin Fox died in 1964.
Currently, every night are shown with about 200 dancers, two shows. At the dance, the dancers wear the chandelier lamp chain with electric lighting.