Alberto Castillo takes care of business...! (1 April 1951)

Beginning early in his his solo career, ads for tango superstar Albert Castillo's appearances often identified an aspiring actor named Rodolfo Díaz Soler (portrait, middle right) as a reciter of glosas, the spoken introductions that preceded some or all of the songs in the show. Some ads identify Soler simply as el galán ("the leading man"), probably a reference to his burgeoning film career; others credit him with programación, which could simply mean "planning." The ad shown here seems to imply a deeper involvement in Castillo's business affairs.

"Upon Mr. Rodolfo Díaz Soler's withdrawal from day-to-day operations in search of new horizons, Albert Castillo wishes his friend the greatest success in his new enterprise, and announces to Clubs and Artist Management Agencies that, beginning today, he names as his Secretary Mr. Adolfo De Lucca, who will be available (by phone at) T. E. 47 - 2424 from 3 to 6 in the afternoon."

At the time the ad appeared, Soler had appeared in four films (all but one of them featuring Castillo in a significant role*), and his most recent role in Buenos Aires mi tierra querida (also featuring Castillo) was about to hit the screen. So his prospects as an actor may have looked pretty promising. Unfortunately, his acting career stalled soon after he broke with Castillo. He made one more film, played some roles in theater and on the radio, and that was that. Maybe he shouldn't have quit the day job...?

In the ad shown above, Castillo identifies Soler as a friend and wishes him future success. There is no reason to believe this was anything other than sincere. The two men had worked closely together for years, and Soler, a fellow artist, was of course entitled to set out on his own. I would like to think that Castillo really did wish him well.

Soler was succeeded by Adolfo De Lucca, who shared Castillo's family name, De Lucca, suggesting that he may have been a near relative. Effective immediately, Adolfo's name and the title "Secretario" would take the place of el galán in Castillo's ads, as seen in this one, from 6 April 1951 (bottom). He did not recite any glosas as far as we know.

*At the time this ad appeared Díaz Soler had been seen in four films: Adiós Pampa mía (1946), El tango vuelve a París (1948), Un tropezón cualquiera da en la vida (1949), and Alma de bohemio (1949). A fifth, Buenos Aires, mi tierra querida (1951), would be released in June.

 

 

Comments

[Aad de Danser]

Adolfo De Lucca, you say? Castillo's real name was Alberto Salvador De Lucca… He was the fifth child. Maybe a brother took over the management? Not his father, because he was called Salvador.

[Micjael]

Good call. I'll watch for any further mention of him.