Eddie López
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Manuel Eduardo López Rolón a.k.a. Eddie López (1940–1971) was a Puerto Rican journalist.[1]
Early life and career
Eddie López was born in
His first job after leaving college was at
In 1966 he advanced to city editor until one year later, when by his own choice he became a special writer and full-time columnist.
Career in media
López was the kind of rare writer who was equally successful as both a comedy and news writer. He was a script writer for
López was also a panelist of the political debate TV show Ante la prensa, as well as the moderator for Cara a cara ante el pais, whose format is still mimicked by political debate shows in Puerto Rico, almost four decades after the show's first airing.
Fluent in English and Spanish, extraordinarily well and diversely read, he frequently did translation work.
As a newspaper columnist, he was perhaps better known for his "Candid Flowers" (a plausible literal translation of his main character's name "Candido Flores"). These were a series of Spanish stories that relied heavily on local slang, that he then would translate literally and word for word into English. The result would be a hilarious short story that would only be decipherable by someone who was fluent in both languages.
Eddie's love for the arts and his vast knowledge of classical music made him a well known critic of the genre.
After finding out he was severely sick with cancer, and having started
Bob MacCoy, then entertainment editor for the Star suggested the title. The result was, "El efecto de los rayos gamma sobre Eddie Lopez" (“The effect of gamma rays on Eddie Lopez”, now known as Los Rayos Gamma or “Los Gamma” for short), the name being a take-on on the then-current play The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds.
The string of sold-out shows in late 1968 turned into a sensation. Using his charismatic sense of humor, Eddie López managed to get sworn political enemies into one room and have them all laugh at themselves. The strategy worked, and some claim the show helped ease political tension in Puerto Rico.
Death
Eddie died on November 26, 1971, in San Juan, Puerto Rico at the rather young age of 31. His last shows were done from a wheelchair -with an oxygen tank by his side,- and his very last show occurred three days before his death. He managed to make people laugh until the end, and only felt sorry that he could not do more.
In 1972, The Best of Eddie Lopez, a collection of his columns selected by Lopez himself, was published by Ediciones Puerto, Inc. with a prologue by Juan M. Garcia-Passalacqua. This collection is a great sampler of the wit and humor of this very funny man. A master of spoofs and plays on words of current events. A few of the articles especially the one entitled "Political Verbiage" is timely today.
Shortly after his death, the Overseas Press Club of Puerto Rico announced that it would establish a yearly award to "most distinguished contribution to journalism" known as the Eddie López Special Award.
After his death, Los Rayos Gamma would go on as scheduled per his request. "The show must go on" he insisted. Friend and fellow comedic actor, Efraín López Neris (already added to the roster) would take Eddie's place, while an empty chair would be left on stage in his honor. Eventually, "Los Gamma" became a popular TV show, and ultimately would make its way back to the stage just around each election year, this time with the help of well known comic Sunshine Logroño filling Eddie's shoes.
Eddie was buried at the Santa María Magdalena de Pazzis Cemetery in the San Juan, Puerto Rico, alongside Puerto Rican heroes like José de Diego, and Pedro Albizu Campos. His funeral was attended by governors, senators, colleagues, and members of the media.
His satirical journalism style is still taught at the University of Puerto Rico, and his "Rayos Gamma" was left in very good hands.
Notes and references
- ^ Sources for this article include newspaper columns by Pedro Zervigon, Bohemia magazine articles from September, November and December 1971 by Ada Nivia Guerra, Pedro Zervigon and Elia G.Ramos respectively, Avance magazine article by Ada Nivia Guerra and column by Benny Frankie Cerezo - December 1972, and TeVe Guia magazine's 1999 special edition - "100 Estrellas Que Iluminaron El Siglo", (100 Stars That Illuminated the Century)