Guide to the Jaime Gomez Teatro Cometa Collection

Special Collections & Archives

University Library

California State University, Northridge

18111 Nordhoff Street

Northridge, CA 91330-8326

URL: https://library.csun.edu/SCA

Contact: https://library.csun.edu/SCA/Contact

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Contributing Institution: Special Collections & Archives

Title: Jaime Gomez Teatro Cometa Collection

Creator: Gomez, Jaime

Identifier/Call Number: URB.TC-JG

Extent: 5.89 linear feet

Date (inclusive): 1972-2006

Date (bulk): 1988-1994

Abstract: Jaime Gomez was a founding member of the grassroots Chicano theater group Teatro Cometa. Founded in 1979, the troupe was active throughout 1980s in and around Fullerton, California. Embodying the concept of "Rasquachismo," the group endeavored to use their art to educate people about significant issues within their community. Their work incorporated topics such as gang violence and immigration, including issues facing undocumented workers. This collection contains Mr. Gomez' papers, posters, photographs, and newspaper clippings.

Language of Material: English, Spanish; Castilian

Biographical Information:

Born in Mexicali on September 11, 1954 Mr. Jaime Armando Gomez grew up in Fullerton and attended Fullerton College, graduating in 1980. He graduated from California State University at Fullerton in 1982. Mr. Gomez joined Teatro Espiritu de Aztlan in Fullerton in 1974 and toured with the troupe for two years before touring Mexico with Mascarones. In 1991 Teatro Cometa founded a community playhouse in downtown Fullerton.

Mr. Gomez is a playwright, actor, director, instructor, and musician.

Scope and Contents

The Jaime Gomez Teatro Cometa Collection consists of materials related to the professional and personal life of Jaime Gomez, including the production, performances, and publicity of the grassroots Chicano theater group Teatro Cometa, active in and around Fullerton, California throughout the 1980s. Embodying "Rasquachismo," Teatro Cometa attempted to use their art to educate people regarding significant issues within their community. The collection has been organized into seven series: Personal Papers (1974-2005), Administrative Records (1974-2001), Plays and Films (1988-2004), Poetry, Essays, Short Stories, Music and Lyrics (1980-2005), Research Files (1977-2006), Other Groups and Performances (1972-2003), and Activism (1974-1996).

Series I, Personal Papers, consists primarily of biographical material and is arranged alphabetically.

Series II, Administrative Records, consists of materials relating to the administration of Teatro Cometa and is arranged alphabetically.

Series III, Plays and Films, consists of scripts, drafts, and other materials relating to Teatro Cometa performances and is arranged alphabetically.

Series IV, Poetry, Essays, Short Stories, Music and Lyrics, consists of writings not necessarily associated with Teatro Cometa performances and is arranged alphabetically.

Series V, Research Files, consists of notes and other research material used by Mr. Gomez to write and plan the troupe's shows.

Series VI, Other Groups and Performances, consists of scripts, drafts, and materials relating to performances by groups other than Teatro Cometa and is arranged alphabetically.

Series VII, Activism, consists of material associated with Teatro Cometa's attempts to bring issues of interest to their primary audience to the fore. This series is made up entirely of posters and is arranged alphabetically by topic.

Arrangement of Materials:

Series I: Personal Papers, 1974-2005

Series II: Administrative Records, 1974-2001

Series III: Plays and Films, 1988-2004

Series IV: Poetry, Essays, Short Stories, Music and Lyrics, 1980-2005

Series V: Research Files, 1977-2006

Series VI: Other Groups and Performances, 1972-2003

Series VII: Activism, 1974-1996

Related Materials:

Teatro Cometa Oral History Project Collection

César Flores Teatro Cometa Collection

Conditions Governing Access:

The collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use:

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Jamie Gomez, 3/26/2007.

Preferred Citation:

For information about citing items in this collection consult the appropriate style manual, or see the Citing Archival Materials guide.

Processing Information:

Holli Teltoe, Jacqueline Zak, Maria Bonilla, Fran Griffin, 2010

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Documents

Photographs

Series I: Personal Papers, 1974-2005

Box 1, Folder 1

Biographical Statements

Box 1, Folder 2

Commendations, 1989, 1992

Box 1, Folder 3

Education

Box 1, Folder 4

Gomez, Humberto Jr.

Box 1, Folder 5

Legal Papers, 1974, 1997, 2001-2005

Box 1, Folder 6

Newspaper Clippings, 1987

Box 1, Folder 7

Personal Interests, 1980-2005

Box 9, Folder 1

Gomez, Jaime

Box 9, Folder 2

Mexico

Box 9, Folder 3

Rockwell International

Box 9, Folder 4

Unidentified Photographs

Series II: Administrative Records, 1974-2001

Box 1, Folder 8

Articles of Incorporation, By-Laws, 1974

Box 1, Folder 9

Correspondence, 1979-2001

Box 1, Folder 10

Financial, 1978-1979, 1990-1993, 2001

Box 1, Folder 11

Funding, 1989-1990, 1994

Box 1, Folder 12

Forms and Stationary

Box 1, Folder 13

Incorporation Papers, 1989, 1993

Box 1, Folder 14

Lists

Box 1, Folder 15

Logos

Box 1, Folder 16

Marketing, 1994

Box 1, Folder 17

Meetings, 1989-1993

Box 1, Folder 18

Memoranda, 1993

Box 1, Folder 19

Monthly Calendar, 1993

Box 2, Folder 1

Non-Profit Statement, 1989, 1993

Box 2, Folder 2

Rental Contracts, 1991-1993

Box 8, Folder 1

Monthly Calendars, February-April 1993

Series III: Plays and Films, 1988-2004

Box 2, Folder 3

Arnold Gets His Oats

Box 2, Folder 4

Axe

Box 2, Folder 5

Brother Could You Spare Some Time?

Box 2, Folder 6

Calavereando, September 1988

Box 2, Folder 7

Census Play, February 1990

Box 2, Folder 8

Child's Play

Box 2, Folder 9

Cinco de Mayo, Reference Material

Box 2, Folder 10

Dr. Montez

Box 2, Folder 11

El Grito de Delores, 1993 August 22

Box 2, Folder 12

El Grito de Delores, 1993 August 22

Box 2, Folder 13

Experience Our World

Box 2, Folder 14

A Fifth of May

Box 2, Folder 15

A Fifth of May

Box 2, Folder 16

A Fifth of May

Box 2, Folder 17

A Fifth of May

Box 2, Folder 18

A Fifth of May

Box 3, Folder 1

A Fifth of May

Box 3, Folder 2

A Fifth of May

Box 3, Folder 3

A Fifth of May

Box 3, Folder 4

Hold Back the Dawn, December 1993

Box 3, Folder 5

Hope is Just a Home Away

Box 3, Folder 6

La Confusion

Box 3, Folder 7

La Cuerda de Guillermo Alanís Ocaña

Box 3, Folder 8

La Frauda

Box 3, Folder 9

La Verdad

Box 3, Folder 10

La Zapateria, 1992 February 19

Box 3, Folder 11

The Leash

Box 3, Folder 12

The Lost King, 1992

Box 3, Folder 13

The Lost King, 1992

Box 3, Folder 14

The Moonshot Tape & A Poster of the Cosmos , July 1992

Box 3, Folder 15

Pachuco, 1943 ... a Zoot Suit Story

Box 3, Folder 16

Piece of the Pie, 1993 February 18

Box 3, Folder 17

Pinche Louie, December 1994

Box 3, Folder 18

Psycho-Drama

Box 3, Folder 19

Rosa Lopez y Sylvia Guerra, 2004

Box 4, Folder 1

Smile Now, Cry Later, 1989

Box 4, Folder 2

Street Smart

Box 4, Folder 3

Toward El Camino Real

Box 4, Folder 4

Toward El Camino Real

Box 4, Folder 5

Toward El Camino Real

Box 4, Folder 6

Treatment for Gang-Bang Play

Box 4, Folder 7

Untitled Works

Box 4, Folder 8

Untitled Works

Box 4, Folder 9

Wadda Draggg, 1991

Box 4, Folder 10

The Wheel

Box 4, Folder 11

The Wheel

Box 4, Folder 12

The Wheel

Box 4, Folder 13

The Wheel

Box 4, Folder 14

Where Did You Sleep Last Night

Box 4, Folder 15

Zero Dollars Per Hour, 1989, 1992

Box 8, Folder 2

Historical Fullerton Photograph, Reproduction

Box 8, Folder 3

Poster, July 1992

Box 8, Folder 4

Production Stills, Reproductions

Box 9, Folder 5

Dr. Montez

Box 9, Folder 6

Head Shots

Box 9, Folder 7

The Lost King

Box 9, Folder 8

The Moonshot Tape & A Poster of the Cosmos

Box 9, Folder 9

Piece of the Pie

Box 9, Folder 10

Smile Now Cry Later

Box 9, Folder 11

Unidentified Performance Stills

Series IV: Poetry, Essays, Short Stories, Music and Lyrics, 1980-2005

Box 4, Folder 16

Busco Un Sasstre

Box 4, Folder 17

Candaleria

Box 5, Folder 1

"Don't Look"

Box 5, Folder 2

"El Corrido del Cura Hidalgo"

Box 5, Folder 3

"El Sinore"

Box 5, Folder 4

Flyers and Programs, 1980 August 21-Spring 1994

Box 5, Folder 5

Flyers and Programs, 1983 February 28-2005 September 2

Box 5, Folder 6

Good Day for [?], 1984

Box 5, Folder 7

"Good Morning Sir"

Box 5, Folder 8

Guitar Story, 1991 January 1

Box 5, Folder 9

Idea for a Play by Jaime

Box 5, Folder 10

"I Fall in Love Easy", 2001 May 23

Box 5, Folder 11

"If ... Or When?"

Box 5, Folder 12

Importance of Being Ernesto

Box 5, Folder 13

"It's a Storm"

Box 5, Folder 14

"Maga"

Box 5, Folder 15

"Max Today"

Box 5, Folder 16

"Me Inco", 2005 November 11

Box 5, Folder 17

"Mi Company"

Box 5, Folder 18

Music, 1983-2004 June 27

Box 5, Folder 19

"No a Bad Day for Sailing"

Box 5, Folder 20

"No Te Vi Cuando Me Fui"

Box 5, Folder 21

One Hard Dollar

Box 5, Folder 22

One Left in the Pack

Box 5, Folder 23

Paul Saucedo

Box 5, Folder 24

Paz Enténdimiento y Piedad

Box 5, Folder 25

Posada, 1992 October 15-1994 April 12

Box 5, Folder 26

Salinas

Box 5, Folder 27

"Prayer"

Box 5, Folder 28

"Sally"

Box 5, Folder 29

Script Segments

Box 5, Folder 30

"Struggle Struggling", 2004

Box 5, Folder 31

Untitled Essay

Box 5, Folder 32

Untitled Poem, October 1995

Box 5, Folder 33

Voices de la Popular

Box 5, Folder 34

"Willie the Axe"

Box 5, Folder 35

Year of the Love-Struck Lizard

Box 8, Folder 5

Good Day for [?]

Box 9, Folder 12

Flyers and Programs

Folder 1

Flyers & Programs

Series V: Research Files, 1977-2006

Box 6, Folder 1

Notes and Research, July 1977-1981 April 29

Box 6, Folder 2

Notes and Research, 1988- November 2005

Box 6, Folder 3

Notes and Research, May 1989-2002 December 8

Box 6, Folder 4

Notes and Research, 1990 January 30

Box 6, Folder 5

Notes and Research, 1990 June 3-1994 April 28

Box 6, Folder 6

Notes and Research, 1992 January 25

Box 6, Folder 7

Notes and Research, 1992 August 29-1993 November 1

Box 6, Folder 8

Notes and Research, 1993 August 5-1998 July 30

Box 6, Folder 9

Newspaper Clippings, 1987 May 1-June 2003

Box 6, Folder 10

Newspaper Clippings, 1989 April 4-2006 September 25

Box 8, Folder 6

Newspaper Clippings

Series VI: Other Groups and Performances, 1972-2003

Box 6, Folder 11

The Acting Company

Box 6, Folder 12

California Arts Council

Box 7, Folder 1

California Community Foundation, 1990

Box 7, Folder 2

CSU Fullerton, 1979 May 10

Box 7, Folder 3

Catalyst Theater, May 1994

Box 7, Folder 4

Chicano Management Students Association, April 1980

Box 7, Folder 5

Chicano Secret Service, 1989 March 10-October 1991

Box 7, Folder 6

Cine Acción, September 2003

Box 7, Folder 7

Community Education and Outreach Proposal/ Coalition for Immigrant Rights, July 1986-1993 June 2

Box 7, Folder 8

Compton Community College

Box 7, Folder 9

Culture Clash, 1991

Box 7, Folder 10

Danza Folklórica

Box 7, Folder 11

El Centro su Teatro, Spring 1994

Box 7, Folder 12

El Teatro Campesino

Box 7, Folder 13

El Teatro de Los Pobres

Box 7, Folder 14

El Teatro Ensemble de UCSD

Box 7, Folder 15

Festival Latino in New York, 1986

Box 7, Folder 16

Fullerton Acting Laboratory, 1993

Box 7, Folder 17

Fullerton Interfaith Emergency Service, 1986 May 5-Summer 1998

Box 7, Folder 18

Grupo Zero, 1991 June 19-1994 May 13

Box 7, Folder 19

La Compañía de Teatro de Albuquerque, 1986 November 2-1988 January 28

Box 7, Folder 20

Latino Entertainment Conference, September 1997

Box 7, Folder 21

Latino Health Care Forum, 1990 November 8

Box 7, Folder 22

Latins Anonymous, 1993

Box 7, Folder 23

Mission Cultural Center, September 1981

Box 7, Folder 24

Placentia Athletic Club, March 1979-1979 April 27

Box 7, Folder 25

Teatro de la Esperanza

Box 7, Folder 26

Teatro por la Gente, 1991 July 18-1993 January 23

Box 7, Folder 27

Teatro Raices

Box 7, Folder 28

Teatro Taller Tecolote

Box 7, Folder 29

Teatro Unique, April 1992

Box 7, Folder 30

Teatros First Show, 1978-1979

Box 7, Folder 31

Titeretear, 1978

Box 7, Folder 32

The Troubador

Box 8, Folder 7

Posters, 1972-1989

Box 8, Folder 8

Posters

Box 8, Folder 9

Teatro Espiritu de Aztlan

Folder 2

Poster

Series VII: Activism, 1974-1996

Box 8, Folder 10

Posters, 1974-1996

Box 8, Folder 11

Posters and Bumper Stickers

Folder 3

Posters, 1979