TeatrodeRevistadeMadureira

E
Um trem de luxo parte

Para exaltar a sua arte

Que encantou Madureira.

Not many people know this, but the lyrics of Estrela de Madureira, a famous song sung by Roberto Ribeiro, are a tribute to Zaquia Jorge, the showgirl, actress, and entrepreneur who was one of the greatest cultural icons of Rio's suburbs. It was she, while still very young, who opened the first "teatro de rebolado" — or "teatro de revista" ("revue theater"), as it was called — in the North Zone, in Madureira. This was a style of theater that valued humor and a certain sensuality, seeking to parody everyday situations and traits of national culture. Some say these were the seeds of pornochanchada films and of some TV comedy shows.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of three people in front of a revue theater. On the left side, there is a boy with his back to the camera, looking at the other two. In the center, a man is smiling, with his arms crossed. On the right, another man is talking with his hand raised. In the background, there is a theater with a facade decorated with the text "Teatro de Revista de Madureira" and "A Copa é Nossa." The theater has an entrance covered by metal grates.

The Teatro de Revista de Madureira was an event. Its opening took place in April 1952, with the play Trem de Luxo, written especially for the occasion by Walter Pinto and Freire Junior. A woman ahead of her time, Zaquia Jorge developed strategies to win over the audience in a place that was still not very accustomed to that type of entertainment. Soon, her venue became a craze.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a woman dressed in a revue dance costume. The woman is centered in the image, with her body turned to the right. She wears a low-cut top and a voluminous skirt made of feathers. On her head, she has a large hat adorned with feathers and decorative details. The background is dark, emphasizing the dancer's figure.

The end of the Teatro de Madureira is directly linked to the early death of the actress and businesswoman. Zaquia Jorge died in 1957, at just 32 years old, drowned at Barra beach, in an episode still full of mystery to this day. Her wake filled the theater, where more than 4,000 people came to mourn her passing.