Durango must have been a fairytale city when Maria Dolores Asunsulo was born on August 3, 1904. Great mansions built in the Pordirian style, wealthy people being driven in landaus with fine horses, carriages adorned with family coat of arms graced the broad tree-lined avenues, and made up the great city of Durango. Cherished and secure she began her life. Her father, a wealthy landowner and banker took precautions against political disruptions, yet had to flee with his family as the waves of revolution overtook the city. Dolores, wrapped in an old robe, was carried to the mobbed train station where everyone was fleeing horrendous dangers. The Asunsulo family, like everyone else, left all family possessions behind, carrying only money and jewelry.
Doña Antonia, her mother, found a house for them in Mexico City. Fortunately, U.S. educated attorney Francisco I. Madero (who later made lasting fame for being the President of Mexico when he overthrew the 30-year reign of Dictator P. Diaz, but was assassinated in 1911 for his efforts) a cousin, aided them with suitable arrangements. The disaster was not as unfortunate as had been thought, for they maintained their physical cash and social position.
A catholic school provided an educational solution for Dolores' gifted abilities -- the main one being dancing! She performed before the great dancer, Pavlova, and was declared exceptionally talented. Combined with her developing beauty, Dolores, as a society debutante, was invited to major functions as principal entertainment to benefit charity fund-raising. At one of these fetes, she met Sr. Jaime Martinez del Rio, an attorney, whose background was European and the fine arts. With Dolores he shared the wonders of Europe, the museums, the theater, and the latest fad: motion pictures. This single introduction would influence her for the rest of her life. They exchanged love letters, and he proposed marriage. The Asunsulo family approved, and she married Jaime in 1921 at barely 17 years old.
Life, on their two-year-long honeymoon, became one of aristocratic associations labeled the sophisticated "jet set." While Dolores charmed all of Europe with her dancing, Jaime returned to Mexico to take care of their cotton plantation. When the big Mexican crash came in 1924, they were wiped clean of all holdings. Both families were devastated financially.
Lady Luck, however, watched carefully over Dolores by introducing her to famed Edwin Carewe, a motion picture producer. Sr. and Sra. Martinez del Rio accepted his offers with "the Dolores image" in front of the cameras and Jaime writing scripts and art direction for films. She began a steady climb to an American and Mexican stardom, an amazing bridge that few stars have accomplished.
As fate would also intervene, it began the decline in the romantic marriage of the Martinez family. With the Carewe help and supervision, Dolores succeeded tremendously in her first motion picture "Johanna" (regardless of her limited English language). She was booked as "The Exquisite Mexican," and the avid movie going public fell in love with her. It was the start of a great career. Standing ovations and prolonged applause greeting her every appearance. A famous star was born! She was making one picture after another with movie producing greats Carl Laemmuel, Raul Walsh, and the studio system behind her. She was making $30,000 for each film.
Her adoring husband slid into obscurity and despair. With rumors of a romantic affair between Dolores and Carewe (never actually confirmed), Jaime returned to Europe to work in an unspecified German movie. When he informed her that he would not return to Mexico with her, Dolores was so distressed she decided to divorce Jaime announcing she would never marry again. This dashed any hopes that Carewe might have had in mind for the two of them. Somehow, in the emotional drama of building a star, he had forgotten about his own wife. Enraged, he sued Dolores vowing he had discovered her, but the movie studio, United Artists, assisted her in this costly suit.The one to emerge unharmed was Dolores Del Rio. Carewe's career declined, United Artist remained a secondary studio, and due to the love affair between her charm and beauty and the camera, Del Rio soared.
During the making of one of her tragic and tearful, but greatest films "Evangeline," word arrived of Jaime's death in Germany. It was believed by many to have been a suicide, although the press dubbed it as "after a long illness" which Dolores knew nothing about.
This ended the first chapter of her extraordinary life. The "Great Del Rio" was yet to really emerge into legendary until she met her next husband.
Part II in November edition.
