Radio age research, manufacturing, communications, broadcasting, television (1941)

Only the "reboso", or shawl, worn by some of the g'irls adds a touch of local color. The home life of the RCA factory employee reflects a similar blend of North and Latin American influ- ences. Many of the houses are built in typical Spanish style. They stand close against the street, and only when the door is open can one glimpse the attractive, flower-tilled patio onto which all rooms open and which is the real center of the home. However, the newer residences have discarded the patio style and seem to vie with each other in having the greatest number of flowers in yards around the houses. The Mexicans work hard and play hard, too. They are great sports enthusiasts. Bull-fighting is the main attraction, but they are also fond of baseball, jai alai, horse racing, golf, tennis and soccer. Music has always been an impor- tant part of Me.xican life. The old custom of giving "gallos" (serenad- ing) to a pretty sefiorita is still widely practiced. After work hours, the "cantinas" and "pulquerias" are favorite gathering places for re- freshment and entertainment. Music is supplied, sometimes by a jukebo.x, but more often by a "mari- achi". The mariachi, delight of both Mexicans and tourists, is an in- formal instrumental group consist- ing of as many as eight pieces — trumpet, bass, accordion and several guitars. Such groups may even be found singing and playing on many of the buses in and around Mexico City. Home Instruments Are Popular Radios and phonographs are widely used to bring both Mexican and North American music into the home. Although Mexico has a pop- ulation of 24.0()(),000 iieople, only one-third of this number falls with- in the economically active class with earnings of a dollar a day or more. But of this segment, 70 per cent own radios or radiophonograph combi- nations. Recordings by such native stars as I'edro X'argas, .Jorge Negrete, -Maria Luisa Landin, Luis Alacraz. Fernando Fernandez, Avelina Lan- din, the Trio Calaveras, and many others, are made in the new "float- ing" studio of RCA Victor Mexi- cana, S.A., where special vibration- free construction and the latest re- cording eiiuipment combine to give facilities equal to the finest studios iii Hollywood and New York. A great many of these recordings are released in the United States and in other Latin American countries. Master recordings of classical and popular music are sent from the United States to Mexicana for local pressing. In fact, American music has become so pojjular in Latin America that RCA Victor Mexicana recently obtained rights to record Hit Parade tunes as soon as they are announced. To keep pace with its Northern neighbors the RCA associate com- pany plans to make the new ■15-r])m records and phonographs available to the Mexican people. Machinery for pressing and recording discs and manufacturing the record players is on its way to the Mexican capital. Plant Makes Some Components A recent government decree re- ciuires assemblers to manufacture at least twenty-five per cent of all parts for radios built in Mexico. As a consequence, RCA Victor Mexicana, which formrrly concentrated its op- erations on the assembly of radio receivers, is now manufacturing some components to comply with the aw. Television eventually will be in- troduced in Mexico. Due to the high peso exchange rate its development south of the Rio Grande has been delayed, but there is no doubt that when video reaches Mexico it will enjoy the same popularity it now is experiencing in the United States. SKILLED NATIVE WORKERS ASSEMBLE COMPONE.VTS OF RADIO RECEIVERS ON A PRODUCTION LINE IN THE MEXICO % PLANT OF RCA. ~" AIR VIEW OF MODERN FACTORY OF RCA VICTOR MEXICANA ON THF. OUT- SKIRTS OF .MEXICO CITY. [RADIO AGE 19;