Val De La O collection
Collection
Identifier: MSS-1134-BC
Scope and Contents
The collection is centered around Val De la O's TV variety show which was nationally and internationally sindicated. The material in this collection is organized into four series: Manuscripts/Documents (Newspaper clippings, correspondence, publications, show log, and research files on marketing); Photos (mostly of celebreties); Oversize (Newspapers, posters and promotional material) and Audio-Visual (Val de La O Shows, other recorded audios) .
(To see list of Val De La O show guests go to Audio/Visual series. To view shows directly go to UNM Digital Repository at: The Val De La O Shows)
(To see list of Val De La O show guests go to Audio/Visual series. To view shows directly go to UNM Digital Repository at: The Val De La O Shows)
Dates
- 1960 - 1990
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publications or distribution.
Biographical / Historical
Dr. Valentino De la O, age 87 (2024), resides in Albuquerque New Mexico. He produced and hosted the Val De La O Show - a US television Spanish language music variety show that was on-air from 1960-1985. His show was syndicated in the US and Mexico. Val was considered the “Spanish equivalent of Johnny Carson.” The show featured many celebrities such as Anthony Quinn, Ricardo Montalbán, José Feliciano, Antonio Aguilar, Pedro Vargas, Lucha Villa, Lola Beltrán, Kirk Douglas, Don Knotts, Johnny Weissmueller, and Freddy Fender. It also featured local Onda Nuevomexicana and Texano musicians such as Baby Gaby, Roberto Griego, Al Hurricane, Al Hurricane Jr., and René Ornelas (René y René) which also brought national and international attention to these musical genres.
The show became recognized by movie studios and record companies as an ideal venue to promote movies and music to the Hispanic audience. As a result, he interviewed and featured many internationally recognized celebrities, as well as several entertainers from Texas and New Mexico. Also appearing on the show were political figures, such as; New Mexico Governor Jerry Apodaca, NM Lieutenant Governor Roberto Mondragón and Reies Lopez Tijerina.
Val was a pioneer in the Hispanic television market in the US. Because of Val’s flourishing career that began at a very young age, he became a role model for rising hopefuls in the music and TV industry. At this time, it was a difficult market to penetrate, but Val was credited for opening the doors for many Hispanic television personalities and gave many "up and coming" young talents their first television break by featuring them on his variety show. Ultimately, most of them went on to become stars in their own right.
In the early 1980s, Val developed an interest in alternative health care and decided to pursue a career in Naturopathic medicine. Shortly after, he enrolled at Trinity School of Natural Medicine and graduated as a Naturopathic Doctor in 1991. During this time, he opened several nutritional stores in New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado.
(Source: Wikipedia, CSWR Val de La O Collection)
The show became recognized by movie studios and record companies as an ideal venue to promote movies and music to the Hispanic audience. As a result, he interviewed and featured many internationally recognized celebrities, as well as several entertainers from Texas and New Mexico. Also appearing on the show were political figures, such as; New Mexico Governor Jerry Apodaca, NM Lieutenant Governor Roberto Mondragón and Reies Lopez Tijerina.
Val was a pioneer in the Hispanic television market in the US. Because of Val’s flourishing career that began at a very young age, he became a role model for rising hopefuls in the music and TV industry. At this time, it was a difficult market to penetrate, but Val was credited for opening the doors for many Hispanic television personalities and gave many "up and coming" young talents their first television break by featuring them on his variety show. Ultimately, most of them went on to become stars in their own right.
In the early 1980s, Val developed an interest in alternative health care and decided to pursue a career in Naturopathic medicine. Shortly after, he enrolled at Trinity School of Natural Medicine and graduated as a Naturopathic Doctor in 1991. During this time, he opened several nutritional stores in New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado.
(Source: Wikipedia, CSWR Val de La O Collection)
Extent
3 boxes
Language of Materials
Span
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Val De La O collection
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Samuel Sisneros
- Date
- Sept. 2024
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository
Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451
cswrref@unm.edu