Approx. location of the Old Copacabana Nightclub (Agua Prieta)

USA / Arizona / Douglas / Agua Prieta
 historical layer / disappeared object  Add category
 Upload a photo
The Copacabana was a very popular Restaurant/Night Club in the early/late Fifties. It was owned by Rafael Romero . On March 17, 1957 a now famous race was run by two well known horses, "El Relampago" ( Lightning) owned by Romero, and "El Moro", a horse owned by Pedro Frisby, of Cumpas. There had been a lot of sentiment over the two horses as to which was best, and on this day, it was settled. The race was held approx. half a mile due East of the Copacabana, on a dirt road out in the desert. Both sides of the dirt road were lined with people and cars. El Relampago was the winner, and thousands of dollars/pesos exchanged hands at the end. It became so famous that a Mexican movie was filmed with the title of " El Moro de Cumpas", with famous Mexican actor Antonio Aguilar starring in it; a song was also written, by the same title. The Copacabana was at the time situated right on the outskirts of Agua Prieta, but since then it burned down, and the location on this aerial view is approximate. Agua Prieta had a population of only about 12,000 at the time, but now has about 150,000 people living there, and that's why it's so hard to pinpoint the location. To see clips of the movie and to hear the song, google " El Moro de Cumpas" for different links
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   31°19'49"N   109°32'27"W

Comments

  • I was 17 at the time of this race, and was fortunate enough to be there to see it. The horses ran from south to north and it was a very windy, cool/cold day. People were making bets right up to the time the race started, and everyone was drinking beer, musicians were all over the place, and food was being sold. I have also seen the movie "El Moro de Cumpas" and recommend it highly; I don't know if they sell it/rent it with English subtitles, and to this day, the song is very popular, after 51 years, with Mexicans and Mexican Americans
  • thank you so much for taking time to answer me i really appreciate it
  • THATS SO COOL TO HEAR ABOUT HISTORY AND TO KNOW THAT RAFAEL ROMERO WAS MY GREAT GRANDFATHER IS EVEN BETTER.
This article was last modified 10 years ago