Cine Fantstico debuts with restoration of “El Santo” at Plaza Theatre

The Plaza Theatre will be celebrating “Dia De Los Muertos” this year by debuting “Cine Fantástico.”

The debut of this event will celebrate the legacy of one of Mexico’s most important cinema hero’s, Rodolfo Guzmán Huerta, more widely known as “El Santo.”

“El Santo” was known for making professional wrestling one of Mexico’s most popular traditions.

“He’s a Mexican hero,” said Viviana García-Besne, director of Permanencia Voluntaria Film Archive which is a non-profit organization that works to preserve popular Mexican films.

“The Cine Fantástico event, this is the first year that we’re running it and it’s our gift to the people to come and watch for free a classic Mexican movie,” said García-Besne.

The events debut will restore the first film that “El Santo” made his debut in back in 1961, “Santo Contra Cerebro Del Mal.”

“When you attend the screening of “El Santo”, people yell to him and tell him, “Be careful! The bad lady’s coming, Santo Santo,” said García-Besne.

The Plaza Theatre will celebrate “Dia De Los Muerto” by setting up an alter outside the theater with a photo of “El Santo.” Movie-goers are encouraged to bring photos of their lost loved ones to place at the alter or they can even bring gifts for “El Santo.”

“If you want to bring him a letter or some special drink or a tamale, bring it! We’ll put it on the alter,” said García-Besne. People who attend are also encouraged to wear their wrestling masks.

Viviana García-Besne promises that the event will be a completely different experience than going to a normal movie.

“The experience inside the movie theater watching “El Santo” film is so important for us as a community. It brings us together. It shows our roots, but we don’t have to be Mexican for this you know,” said García-Besne.

The film will premiere at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 1st at the Historic Plaza Theatre in Downtown El Paso. The screening is free of charge and open to the public. Doors will open at 6 p.m.