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Almost
literally "born in a trunk" - Pedro Gonzalez-Gonzalez entered the
world in Aquilares,
Texas (now considered a ghost town) in 1926. His mother was
a dancer from Mexico and his father was a trumpet player from Floresville,
Texas. Mrs. Gonzalez performed under the stage name "La Perla
Fronteriza" (Pearl of the Frontier" and reportedly once danced for
Francisco "Pancho" Villa and his troops during one or another of
the Mexican Revolutions.
The family's lifestyle was nomadic. Moving across the harsh landscape
and performing at oil camps with no amenities, their audience was
made up of entertainment-starved Mexican laborers. It wasn't the
easiest gig, but times were hard and at least the audience was employed.
As Pedro's entrance into the world approached, the couple extended
their stay in Aquilares for three weeks rather than risk having
Pedro born between towns. There he arrived - in a tent alongside
a dressing room - the sixth of what would eventually become a family
of nine children.
Even before he could attend school (had there been one) Pedro joined
one of his sisters in a comedy sketch. Billed as Las Perlitas (the
Little Pearls) - it gave little Pedro an intoxicating taste of show
business. Gasoline rationing during WWII put an end to the Mexican
border circuit and the Gonzalez family sought other venues.
As a young man who could neither read nor write, Pedro found himself
making ends meet by working at a television station in San
Antonio, hauling cales and doing general grunt work. During
a lull in a local telethon, Pedro was introduced on stage and his
personality and style caught the attention of a visiting talent
scout.
He appeared as a "contestant" on You Bet Your Life and received
a nod of approval from the host Groucho Marx. His appearance was
noted again - this time by John Wayne. He was hired by Wayne and
was given a role in the movie The High and the Mighty. It
was the first of many character roles - usually comic relief - where
Pedro played saloon keepers, cab drivers - or hotel proprietors.
He stayed on the Wayne company payroll until 1974.
Many of the roles he played would today be considered somewhat politically
incorrect for "reenforcing cultural stereotypes" - but to Pedro
work was work. He never turned down a role when it was offered.
During his career he performed alongside such actors as Glenn Ford,
Lee Marvin, Karl Malden, James Garner and James Arness.
Between movie roles, television appearances helped pay the bills
and Pedro appeared on shows ranging from Ozzie and Harriett and
Art Linkletter (the early days) to Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, I Spy
and I Dream of Jeannie.
Pedro died of natural causes on February 15, 2006 - leaving behind
two daughters, a son and seven grandchildren.
© John
Troesser
"They
shoe horses, don't they?" March 25, 2006 Column
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