Roberto Paulino was Mangueira president from 1960 to 1962. During his administration, the Bahia section was created, as we know it today. At its debut, 125 Bahian ladies paraded, coordinated by Dona Neuma. One sad note was the farewell in 1970 of the most famous Mangueira Bahian lady, Nair Pequena, who died as she paraded down the avenue, when the school was singing the samba A Hymn to Nature.

The poetics of the samba-theme
Even today Carnival still fascinates the academics. Many books have been written on the roots and concepts of this abundant source of folk culture. Now another book has joined the many others on the Carnival shelf: “Para tudo não se acabar na quarta-feira – A linguagem do samba-enredo” (For all not to end on Wednesday – the language of the samba-theme), Editora Litteris, by teacher of Portuguese Julio Cesar Farias. This is the outcome of his Master´s thesis at the Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ). It combats the elitist view of folk culture, dissecting by style the samba-themes of five winning schools between 1991 and 2000. A plunge into samba lyrics, with the respect that they deserve.

80 years of Carnival Balls
The first of the Copacabana Palace balls, held traditionally on Carnival Saturday, was in 1924, a few months after its inauguration (August 1923). There was no Copa ball between 1973 and 1993, after which the hotel board officially resumed the event. There are many stories to tell about this party. In 1959, Jayne Mansfield caused a sensation when her bustier slipped before everyone´s eyes. Brigitte Bardot was one of the highlights in 1964 at the Ball that commemorated the Fourth Centenary of Rio. In 1967, the president of the jury was Gina Lollobrigida. And in 2004, the theme is the Afrika Magic Ball, designed and decorated by Zeka Marquez.

Court is for everybody
The credit of having attracted the upper classes to the Samba School rehearsals is given to journalist Irênio Delgado. In 1948, at a soft drink launching in Serrinha, he took with him a group of 30 people, among them the director of Radio Nacional, Victor Costa, to see the festivities and from then on the newspapers A Noite and A Manhã began sponsoring new visits to the communities. But only after the second half of the 1960s was it common for any carioca or tourist to visit the Samba School dance halls.

Congratulations, Samba Avenue!!
When the first burst of fireworks explode over Presidente Vargas Avenue, to kick off the 2004 Rio Samba School Parade, the whole country should reflect and applaud. This will be the 20th anniversary of the Sambadrome, a landmark to modern and professional showbiz, undoubtedly the biggest show on Earth – and hugely responsible for summer tourism to Brazil.

Carnival fans also have a short memory and perhaps forget that, before the Sambadrome, the show was almost folkloric, a wondering colorful circus, which would set up and take down its temporary, unsafe stands along a number of the city´s avenues. Years earlier, ropes separated the public from the samba schools. Today, the cold concrete does not diminish the warm acclaim, which has become a show of organization. On the eve of hosting the Pan American Games and pre-candidate for the 2012 Olympics, Rio should be proud to present the parade, more breathtaking as each year goes by, and which demonstrates perfect integration between the public utilities and the Samba School League. A visiting card to the world.

Sambadrome Winners

The struggle for first place grows keener every year. Check out the past winners of the Sambadrome parades and their prize-winning themes.

1984 Mangueira Yes, nós temos Braguinha
1985 Mocidade Ziriguidum 2001, Carnaval nas Estrelas
1986 Mangueira Caymmi mostra ao mundo o que é que a Bahia e a Mangueira têm
1987 Mangueira No Reino das Palavras, Carlos Drummond de Andrade
1988 Vila Isabel Kizomba, Festa da Raça
1989 Imperatriz Liberdade, liberdade, abre as asas sobre nós
1990 Mocidade Vira, virou, a Mocidade chegou
1991 Mocidade Chuê... chuá... as águas vão rolar
1992 Estácio de Sá Paulicéia Desvairada – 70 anos de Modernismo
1993 Salgueiro Peguei um Ita no Norte
1994 Imperatriz Catarina de Médicis na corte dos Tupinambás e Tabajères
1995 Imperatriz Mais vale um jegue que me carrgeu, que um camelo que me derrube... Lá no Ceará
1996 Mocidade Criador e Criatura
1997 Salgueiro Trevas! Luz! A explosão do Universo
1998 Mangueira Chico Buarque da Mangueira
Beija-Flor Pará – O Mundo Místico das Caruanas nas Águas do Patu-Anu
1999 Imperatriz Brasil, mostra sua cara em... Theatrum Rerum Naturalium Brasilae
2000 Imperatriz Quem descobriu o Brasil foi Seu Cabral, no dia 22 de abril, dois meses depois do Carnaval
2001 Imperatriz Cana-caiana, cana roxa, cana fita, cana preta, amarela, pernambuco... Quero vê descê o suco, na pancada do ganzá
2002 Mangueira Brazil com “z” é pra cabra da peste. Brasil com “s” é Nação do Nordeste
2003 Beija-Flor O povo canta a sua História: “Saco vazio não pára em pé. A mão que faz a guerra, faz a paz