USA: DON FRANCISCO , POPULAR STAR OF LATIN AMERICAN TV SHOW " SABADO GIGANTE" IS HONOURED WITH STAR ON HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME

Record ID: 391643

  • Title: USA: DON FRANCISCO , POPULAR STAR OF LATIN AMERICAN TV SHOW " SABADO GIGANTE" IS HONOURED WITH STAR ON HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME
  • Date: 8th June 2001
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (JUNE 8, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) ( ** BEWARE FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY **) WIDE /PAN OF FANS AT CEREMONY WIDE OF JOHNNY GRANT INTRODUCING DON FRANCISCO SLV DON FRANCISCO WAVING TO FANS WIDE OF FANS APPLAUDING SCU CAMERAS WIDE OF (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CELIA CRUZ SAYING: "Don Francisco has created a town... shut your mouths (speaking to t
  • Embargoed: 23rd June 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA9W7LLX4G94WV0E07JUTCV7FML
  • Story Text: Don Francisco, the likable host of Spanish television's "Sabado Gigante" was honored Friday (June 8) with a series of tributes in Hollywood.
    Don Francisco, the man behind one of the most popular shows in the world "Sabado Gigante", received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Friday (June 8) in Los Angeles, California. Francisco was also honored Friday evening at a star studded event honoring his forty year career in the entertainment industry.
    A huge Latin contingent turned out at the gala for Don Francisco after he was given his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Francisco, born Mario Kreutzenberger in Chile, is the son of German immigrants of Jewish origin who escaped their native Germany before World War II.
    He studied singing and drama, and began his acting career as a young boy. His father, hoping the young boy would follow him into the garment industry, later sent him to apprentice in the Garment District in New York City.
    Upon his return to Chile, Don Francisco began working in the field that he had been trained for. However after a recommendation by an old friend and follow student from his old acting class, he was offered the opportunity to act as the host of a television program. The program called "Show Dominical", aired twice with little success and was about to be canceled. On the third airing, he added a series of new elements and ideas and changed the name to "Sabado Gigante", or gigantic Saturday.
    The show was a big hit and has made television history by running continuously since it started in 1962. In 1986, the program began airing in Miami, Florida. Shortly thereafter, the show was broadcast throughout the United States and Latin America and eventually the rest of the world.
    "Sabado Gigante" was designated by the Guinness Book of World Records" as the oldest program in the history of television to air continuously without repeat.
    In recognition for his work benefiting children Don Francisco was awarded the title Ambassador UNICEF by the United Nations.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2014. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register