Olinda Bozán

Olinda Bozán (21 June 1894 – 8 February 1977) was an Argentine film actress and comedian of the Golden Age of Argentine cinema. Born into a circus family, she acted on the vaudeville circuit, and performed in silent and sound movies. She was trained by the Podestá brothers, one of whom she married, who have one of the most prestigious Argentine acting awards named for them. Bozán appeared in 75 films and was considered one of the best comic actors of Argentine cinema in the 20th century.

Biography Olinda Bozán Acosta was born 21 June 1894 in Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina to Enrique Bozán (aka Bozánni) and Rosa Acosta.

Her father worked as a clown, her mother did an act with trained pigeons, and all six of her siblings also worked in the circus. Her father and an older sister, Angelita, died of yellow fever when she was a young child. She was the cousin of Haydée, Elena and Sofía Bozán; sister-in-law of José and María Esther Podestá, aunt to Blanca Podestá; and married Pablo Podestá

Early career In 1910, Bozán joined a group formed by her mother, her sister Aída, Luis Vittone, and Pepe Podestá to perform at the Teatro Apolo. Her debut was in a play by Ezequiel Soria called En el fuego. Other members of the cast were Elsa Conti, Blanca Podestá, Segundo Pomar, Salvador Rosich, Humberto Scotti, and Lila Scotti. That was followed by a song and dance performance in Después de misa (1911) by Julio Sánchez Gardel, but the company disbanded and she joined Florencio Parravicini and accompanied him for the next four years.

Bozán made her film debut in the silent film, Bajo el sol de la pampa (1915) directed by Alberto Traversa, which was released in 1917. In all, she made six appearances in silent films, of which little is known. In 1923, she appeared in Sombras de Buenos Aires by Julio Irigoyen with María Esther Podestá and Totón Podestá.

In 1919, Bozán formed a company with Luis Vittone and Segundo Pomar which included María Esther Podestá, Marta Poli and José Muñiz, in comedy routines, tango and vaudeville at the Opera Theater. in 1923 and "La patotera" by Manuel Jovés], Jorge Dowton, and Luis Rodríguez in El inglés de Santa Cruz at the Teatro Avenida in 1923 for the Compañía Vitone-Pomar. With this company in 1923, she traveled to Mexico (owner of the National Theater).

In 1926 Bozán formed a new company with her nephew, Paquito Bustos, the son of her late sister Angelita. She performed with him over several seasons.

Some of their most memorable productions included performances at the Teatro de la Comedia: Linyera (1929) by Ivo Pelay; Los caballeros del altillo (1929) by Florencio B. Chiarello; and Chirimoya (1930) by Enrique García Velloso and performances at the Teatro Apolo Triunvirato está de fiesta (1932) by Juan F. López; La muñeca de la gringa by Julio C. Traversa; La muchacha de circo by Alberto Novión; and Cremona (1934) by Armando Discépolo. with Francisco Canaro, Ada Falcón, Tito Lusiardo, and Tita Merello. and alongside Ada Cornaro, and Robert Tita in La canción de la Ribera, with director Julio Irigoyen. In 1937, in Así es el tango she was paired with Tito Lusiardo and Tita Merello in a film showcasing the music genre. Other memorable films made in the late 1930s included Las de Barranco (1938) with Homero Cárpena, Mi suegra es una fiera (1939), and Mi fortuna por un nieto (1940).

In 1939, she appeared in a movie "Mi suegra es una fiera" directed by Luis Bayón Herrera and in 1940, staged the theatrical production with Julio Escobar. In 1942, she appeared in the film Ceniza al viento Bozán was in the movie La danza de la fortuna in 1944 with Luis Sandrini, and then moved to the Teatro Astral to do two plays: Los maridos engañan de 7 a 9 (1948),

For 1952, she put on the play Soltera nací, soltera moriré and Doña vitaminas at the Teatro Buenos Aires with the Compañia de Totón Podestá and in 1953, she staged La coronación de la risa at the Teatro El Nacional with Diana Maggi, José Marrone and Juanita Martínez. In 1954, she appeared in the films Criaturas adorable. In 1955, she appeared in Las calles también cantan; and El tango en París, which was released in 1956 and would be her last film for a decade. She worked on the television programme Felipe which aired in 1960 with Luis Sandrini and was revived in 1966, written by Miguel Paz and directed by Edgardo Borda. She did a season of theater, performing both El conventillo de a Paoma and Juancito de la Ribera in 1960 with Alberto Vacarezza in the Alvear Theater. In 1964, at the Teatro Cómico, Bozán played in Yo Llevo El Tango En El Alma, also by Ziclis and under the direction of Prat. El proceso de Mary Duggan was her 1965 theatrical endeavor with Mirtha Legrand, Francisco Petrone, Diana Maggi and Mecha Ortiz. and La familia hippie (1969). Her last theatrical performance was in Los ángeles de Vía Veneto and Los padrinos (1973).

The film Los chicos crecen, directed by Carreras and co-starring Luis Sandrini, Susana Campos and Olga Zubarry was filmed in 1974, but not released until 1976. In 1975 Bozán filmed No ser débil con la vida directed by Carreras and starring Palito Ortega, Claudia Lapacó and Javier Portales.

Death She died suddenly on 8 February 1977 in Buenos Aires at the age of 82, after finishing filming the drama Las locas,

Legacy Shortly after Bozan's death, the Film Museum dedicated the 1977 television series Olinda y las risas, as a tribute to the actress. A play, entitled "Pablo y Olinda" was written about their lives, early marriage and its almost immediate end, and Podestá's descent into madness from syphilis. It was performed in Buenos Aires at the Teatro Andamio 90 in 2011. from 1941 to 1955, although they never married.

Filmography