Carrera Theater (Guatemala)

José Batres Montúfar bust, place in the newly remodeled Colón Theater in 1892.

Coat of arms of the Republic of Guatemala between 1858 and 1871. A replica was carved on the front side of the theater before it was remodeled in 1892.

An enthusiastic fan of Opera, and following his mistress -Josefa Silva's advice[Note 1]-, president for life of Guatemala Rafael Carrera started the construction of a massive National Theater that was called "Carrera Theater" in his honor, and was located in the old Central Square.[2] The Old Central Square was located to the northeast side of Guatemala City -then not larger than a tiny village- and in 1776 was used to place the first block of the new Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción after the 1773 earthquakes destroy Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala.[3] The place had been chosen as the new city Central Square, saving the surroundings for the new Cathedral, Palace and houses for the richest families of the time, the Aycinena family, given that the family leader, Fermín de Aycinena, had contributed considerably to the move of the city from its old place.[4] However, the design approved by the Spanish crown had the Central Square in a different location, and this one became the Old Central Square.[3]

Years later it became a commercial site and on 6 August 1832, then State of Guatemala Governor, Dr. Mariano Gálvez, issued a decree to build a theater in the Old Central Square site. However, political climate was very tense in the country and when the civil war between liberal and conservative parties escalated, Galvez was overthrown and the theater could not be built.[3]

The project was revisited in 1852, when Juan Matheu and Manuel Francisco Pavón Aycinena present Rafael Carrera with a new plan. Once approved, Carrera commissioned Matheu himself and Miguel Ruiz de Santisteban to build the theater. Initially it was in charge of engineer Miguel Rivera Maestre, but he quit after a few months and was replaced by German expert José Beckers, who built the Greek façades and added a lobby. This was the first monumental building ever built in the Republican era of Guatemala,[3] given that in the 1850s the country finally was enjoying some peace and prosperity.[5]

Colón Theater after its remodeling in 1892.[3]

Colón Theater stage. Painting from 1890.

Appleton's Guide to México and Guatemala of 1884 describes the theater as follows: «In the middle of the square is the Theater, similar in size and elegance to any of the rest of Spanish America. Lines of orange trees and other nice trees of brilliant flowers and delicious fragrances surround the building while the statues and fountains placed at certain intervals enhance even more the beauty of the place.[1]

After the Liberal reform from 1871, the theater was called National Theater. In 1892, it was refurbished, removing the conservative coat of arms from its façade and substituting it with a sculpture and inscriptions. The orange trees, fountains and sculptures were removed, and in their place modern gardens were planted and a bust of José Batres Montúfar was erected.[3]

During the government of general Manuel Lisandro Barillas Bercián, the theater was remodeled to celebrate the Discovery of America fourth centennial anniversary; the Italian community in Guatemala donated a statue of Christopher Columbus -Cristóbal Colón, in Spanish- which was placed next to the theater. Since then, the place was called "Colón Theater".[3]

Carrera Theater after the 1917–1918 earthquakes. It was demolished in 1923.

The Colón Theater was destroyed by the 1917–18 earthquakes and remained in ruins until 1923; it was not demolished, due to the government of Manuel Estrada Cabrera incompetence to deal with the disaster,[6] and then because of the Revolution of 1920 to depose Estrada Cabrera. Later on, the instability of the country lead to a coup de etat by general José María Orellana in 1921, who overthrew then president Carlos Herrera. In place of the theater a street market was built.[Note 2]