Sam Lucchese
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Businessman
- impresario
Sam Lucchese | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | February 24, 1868 |
| Died | January 15, 1929 (aged 60) |
| Resting place | Saint Mary's Cemetery |
| Occupations |
|
| Spouse | Frances Battaglia |
| Children | 5, including Josephine |
Sam Lucchese (February 24, 1868 – January 15, 1929) was an Italian-born American businessman and impresario. He was the founder of the Lucchese Boot Company and the owner of Spanish-language theaters in San Antonio and Laredo, Texas.
Career
Lucchese was a businessman. In 1883, he co-founded the Lucchese Boot Company with his brother in San Antonio.[1][2]
With the revenue from his boot company, Lucchese opened Spanish-language theaters in San Antonio and Laredo.[3] In 1912, he acquired the Teatro Zaragoza on the corner of Commerce Street and Santa Rosa Street in San Antonio.[1][3] Five years later, in 1917, he acquired the Teatro Nacional, located at the same intersection in San Antonio.[1][3] An impresario, he hired actors from Mexico to perform in his theaters.[1]
Personal life
He married Frances Battaglia.[1] They had three sons and two daughters. Their son Gaetano "Tano" Lucchese ran the family's Spanish-language theaters[4], expanding the collection in San Antonio to include the Alameda Theater and Casa de Mexico International Building.[5] Daughter Josephine Lucchese became a renowned opera vocalist[1] and performed at the opening night of the Alameda Theater.[4]
