Seventh decade 1953 – 1963

Puerto Rico

  • The pace of industrialization accelerated under the Commonwealth. Many U.S. manufacturers, taking advantage of tax incentives offered by the government, set up shop on the island, including General Electric, Sunbeam, and Union Carbide.
  • By 1956, 455 new manufacturing centers had been established, creating 6,812 new jobs.
  • The boom in home construction continued unabated. Prosperity was widespread and profits surged across all sectors of the economy.
  • In 1955, the United States began its involvement in the Vietnam War. About 45,000 Puerto Ricans participated, of whom 3,000 died.
  • In 1956 there was another great migration of Puerto Ricans to the mainland United States, mostly woman and agricultural laborers.
  • Television arrived in Puerto Rico in 1954. The first two channels were WKAQ Telemundo and WAPA. WIPR, the government television, station followed in 1958.
  • The new channels facilitated the dissemination of information and the creation of a mass culture, and television served as a major source of education and entertainment for the population.
  • The Puerto Rican Institute of Culture was founded in 1956, and in the same year Hurricane Santa Clara hit the island as well.
  • Between 1957 and 1963, the El Comandante racing track was inaugurated; Laurance Rockefeller built the Dorado Beach Hotel (the first resort hotel in the Caribbean), Bacardí built its factory in Cataño, and the Museo de Ponce opened its doors.
  • In addition to all the new businesses, Luis Muñoz Marín was elected governor for the fourth time during this period, President John F. Kennedy visited the island, Roberto Sánchez Vilella was elected the first post-Marín governor, and the Arecibo Observatory was inaugurated.
Puerto Rico map

Banco Popular

  • Banks on the island took an active role in helping the government implement its policies by financing its projects and programs. They lent money not only to corporations, but also to businessmen and individuals.
  • The Banks’ primary business was loans to consumers, which indicated the rise of a vigorous middle class.
  • Banco Popular was one of the main engines of economic and social progress on the island, and the Bank was experiencing tremendous growth during the 1950s and 1960s.
  • There was the need to centralize and automate its operations because of this explosive expansion. It also opened its Investment Division.
  • By the middle of the 1950s, Rafael Carrión Jr., son of Carrión Pacheco, was already president of the Bank. Ever since Carrión Pacheco took over the reins in 1927, Carrión Jr. had given his all-in collaborating with his father to run the Bank. Both men relied on the guidance of Damián Monserrat y Simó, who had been president of the Bank since 1901.
  • The Bank’s growth required a new, expanded venue, as the Old San Juan location was not large enough anymore. In 1953 began the search for the Bank’s new headquarters, and eventually the old railroad station in Hato Rey was selected as the new site.
  • In 1956, Banco Popular’s bank-on-wheels, converted buses outfitted to serve the public from remote areas, began to operate on routes all over the island, bringing banking services to the rural population.
  • In 1957, Popular acquired the innovative Post-Tronic Model 29 to keep up to date with its accounts. Only eight other institutions in the mainland United States also operated similar machines.
  • The Bank began to offer a range of new services and account types, with great success, and among these were automobile loans.
  • In 1961, the Bank opened a branch in the Bronx, New York, where most of the Puerto Rican diaspora in the United States lived.
  • In 1962, the Bank acquired computers, and with them ushered in new types of employees, such as system analysts and programmers.
Banco Popular logo

Music

  • Traditional styles, like bomba and plena, continued to produce great artists.
  • The bomba had a lot of exposure, first with Rafael Cepeda in Santurce, and then again when Modesto Cepeda inherited the mantle. The Familia Ayala from Loíza was also well-known and formed the Ballet Folklórico de la Familia Ayala.
  • The Orquestra Panamericana, directed by Lito Peña, and Rafael Cortijo y su Combo inserted bomba into their songs, transforming regional folk music into popular music. It was also incorporated into ballet, whether folkloric or classical style.
  • Other groups developed and popularized bomba, such as Areyto, Sylvia del Villar, Mayombe, Guateque, Calabó, and Paracumbé.
  • Plena reached the apex of its popularity in the 1950s.
  • La Borinqueña was adopted as the official hymn of Puerto Rico, modified to better fit a marching style.
  • There was a significant gamut of bolero performers in these decades: Bobby Capó, Carmen Delia Dipiní, Virginia López, Lucy Fábery, Ruth Fernández, Tito Rodríguez, Ismael Rivera, Celia Cruz, and many others.
  • Several trios stood out above the rest, including: Julito Rodríguez y su Trío, Los Tres Grandes, El Trío Vegabajeño, Los Condes, Los Andinos, Los Montemar.
  • New York was salsa’s first big stage, and Cortijo was its first great precursor.
  • The Puerto Rican-born José Feliciano, who was raised in New York, sang both in English and in Spanish during this period.
  • Arturo Somohano founded the Orquestra Filarmónica de Puerto Rico. Ballet de San Juan made its first presentation.
  • In 1956, the noted Catalonian cellist Pablo Casals arrived on the island, and he founded the Festival Casals. Jesús María Sanromá, Henry Hutchinson, Fernando Valenti, and Narciso Figueroa were among the luminaries who participated in the festival. Casals also founded the Orquestra Sinfónica de Puerto Rico.
  • The Conservatorio de Música counted many great musicians among its professors, such as Jesús María Sanromá, soprano María Esther Robles, baritone Justino Díaz, bassist Eddie Gómez, and composer Amaury Veray.
  • Singers, musicians, reciters, actors, and announcers appeared on the popular talent show Tribuna del Arte, presented by Rafael Quiñones Vidal.
  • In 1961, Rita Moreno won an Oscar for her performance in West Side Story.
Musical notes

Christmas Tree

  • During the 1950s, tinsel and laminated tinsel were so popular that Christmas lights were not widely used.
  • A variety of ornaments arose; snowy scenes, poinsettias, frosted ornaments, gifts wrapped in colorful paper, and nativity scenes.