One of San Antonio's most intrepid arts organizations has created a film series called “Hidden Histories.”
And as Urban-15's George Cisneros explains, its title pretty much says it all.
"Stories about San Antonio that normally don't hit the history books or get into mass media,” he said. “A lot of people don't consider their lives a part of history, but there's some deep history here in San Antonio."
IF YOU GO What: Hidden Histories Where: Urban-15, 2500 S. Presa St. When: 7 p.m. tonight (first Monday of each month) Cost: free
These films will debut once a month throughout the year. The first movie in the series premieres Monday, featuring a composer who came to San Antonio in 1905, Cenobio Hernandez.
“He played string bass, and guitar, and piano,” Cisneros said. “And during the teens, he was a pianist at the Palace Theater for silent movies."
Hernandez's grandson Ricky Hernandez also plays some compositions in the film.
The short films are part of the city's year-long Tricentennial celebration. Cisneros said Urban-15's contributions run slightly outside the norm.
"We're kinda looking for those quirky little outsider events on the edge," he said.
The February film will feature the teenage dance clubs that spawned talents like Christopher Cross, ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons and Augie Meyers. In March: the young people who worked HemisFair back in 1968.
"Everybody contributed to make San Antonio what it is," he said.
Each film will be shown at Urban-15's 2500 South Presa studio and will be available online, too.
Jack Morgan can be reached at jack@tpr.org