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Theater Grand Splendid (with a capacity for 1050 spectators), was inaugurated in 1919 by Max Glücksmann (1875-1946), an Argentinean enterpreneur and record industry pioneer. Later on, in addition to the theater, it became a cinema. Carlos Gardel, Ignacio Corsini, Roberto Firpo and other great tango artists recorded their first discs with him.
Today, the place no longer serves as a theater but has been converted into "El Ateneo" bookstore but the present "Jenny" owners have conserved its glorious character except for the arm chairs which no longer exist.
On October 12, 1924, duet Gardel-Razzano debuts at the radio station Low Gran Splendid (owned by Antonio Devoto and Benjamín Gache and which in 1929 changed the name to LR4 Radio Splendid). This radio station was located on the upper floor of the building as were the Max Glücksmann recording studios. On March 5, 1934, LR4 Radio Splendid and the NBC network hooked up via short wave to
broadcast a special performance by Gardel. Instead of performing with the orchestra, Gardel's guitarists in Buenos Aires, Barbieri, Riverol and Rivas, who had been given headphones, played the accompaniment to Gardel's singing in New York.
From 1924 on, Glücksmann would in this theater cinema organize annual tango contests at which Gardel and Razzano participated. Glücksmann would then record the tangos on the Nacional Odeón label, which he also owned.
Here is an anecdote that might interest you:
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In this theater, Max Glucksmann held his first tango contest in 1924. Gardel, of course, was present.
But the only artist who was asked for an encore was the bandoneonist Francisca Bernardo with the tango "Soñando". Orchestra director Roberto Firpo protested in having to repeat the tango so many times.
The gentleman Gardel advised Firpo: "Maestro, the public is in charge, you should keep in mind that "Paquita" is
the only woman who has dominated the grand bandoneon".
In 1925, with the words of Eugenio Cárdenas, Gardel himself recorded the tango "Soñando".
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Diario La Razón.
del 5 de agosto de 1926
Carlos Gardel presentase hoy en el Gran Splendid
Según dijo, debutará hoy en el Gran Splendid el popular estilista criollo, señor Carlos Gardel, acompañado del dúo de guitarras de Ricardo-Barbieri.
Hacia tiempo que el señor Gardel no actuaba en público. Sus actividades estaban consagradas exclusivamente a la fonografia, que ha hecho de su nombre y del de su compañero, señor Razzano, el más difundido entre los que cultivan la música popular criolla, no solamente entre nosotros, sino en Europa.
El señor Gardel ha perfeccionado notablemente sus facultades de cantante, mediante severos estudios, y se presentará hoy con un nuevo y variado repertorio.
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