Padua Hills and Ramona Bowl linked through shared cultural legacy

Just before taking the stage as keynote speaker at the third Inland Empire People’s History Conference, historian Matt Garcia shared an update on a project that continues to evolve. Although his research focuses on the past, the story he’s uncovering keeps expanding.
 Garcia, a Dartmouth College professor who grew up in Upland, has spent years studying the Padua Hills Theatre in the foothills of Claremont. The venue was home to the Mexican Players, a troupe that performed from the 1930s through the 1970s, introducing largely White audiences to traditional Mexican music, dance and culture. The theater became one of Southern California’s most popular tourist attractions during its heyday.
 Now Garcia’s attention has broadened beyond Padua Hills. He is incorporating the Ramona Bowl, located between Hemet and San Jacinto, into his research. The historic amphitheater has been the home of the “Ramona” pageant for more than a century.
 According to Garcia, the connection between the two institutions runs deeper than many people realize.
 Speaking during the June 6 conference at Pomona College, Garcia explained that many performers from Padua Hills sought opportunities in Hollywood during the 1950s and 1960s. While a few landed small roles, most found themselves limited to stereotypical characters and struggled to advance their careers.
 Some eventually left the entertainment industry altogether. Others found a new creative home in Hemet, where they became involved with the “Ramona” pageant, a production centered on Native American and Mexican American life in 19th-century California.
 One of those performers was Mauricio “Maurice” Jara. A former member of the Mexican Players, Jara appeared in the 1956 film “Giant,” starring James Dean and Rock Hudson. Despite that notable credit, he was often cast in minor roles that reflected Hollywood’s limited opportunities for Latino actors at the time.
 In 1952, Jara made history when he became the first non-White actor to portray Alessandro, the Native American lead in “Ramona.”
 “Before, every actor who played Alessandro was White,” Garcia noted.
 Jara later brought his wife, Hilda Ramirez Jara, another Padua Hills veteran, to Hemet. Beginning in the 1960s, the couple helped direct the pageant and remained involved for decades.
 “They brought that Padua spirit to Hemet,” Garcia said.
 Garcia contrasted their contributions with the earlier “Mission Play,” staged at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse until the Great Depression. In that production, White actors frequently portrayed Mexican American characters using brownface makeup.
 The historian is currently researching a book that explores these interconnected stories. Its working title is “So Close to Hollywood: Reimagining Latino and Indigenous Performance in the Entertainment Capital of the World.”
 Readers may remember Garcia from his earlier book, “A World of Its Own,” which examined Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley history through the experiences of Latino communities. His conference presentation marked the 25th anniversary of that publication.
 His latest project extends beyond writing.
 Garcia is helping arrange for decades of Ramona Bowl records, photographs and historical materials to be scanned and digitized through the Honnold Library at the Claremont Colleges. The effort will preserve the collection while making it more accessible to researchers and pageant organizers.
 “I got money from Dartmouth to digitize the archives of Ramona Bowl,” Garcia said. “It’s sat there for 100 years in a non-climate-controlled space.”
 Another project is also taking shape. Garcia revealed that filmmaker Tatti Ribeiro has agreed to direct a short documentary about the Mexican Players, drawing from his research and newly discovered film footage. The production is receiving assistance from the company founded by Garcia’s cousin, actress Jessica Alba.
 Garcia hopes to complete his research in 2027 and publish the book the following year.
 For Inland Empire history enthusiasts, the pairing of Claremont’s Padua Hills Theatre and Hemet’s Ramona Bowl offers a fascinating look at how two seemingly distant landmarks helped shape the cultural experiences of generations of performers.
A Fair Shake
A recent column about the Inland Empire’s shortage of frozen custard sparked a friendly debate.
 When I suggested that Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers might rival Shake Shack, I suspected Rancho Cucamonga City Council member Kristine Scott would disagree. As it turns out, she definitely did.
 Scott played a key role in helping bring the first Inland Empire Shake Shack to Victoria Gardens in 2023 and has visited locations on both coasts.
 When she saw herself mentioned in the column, her response was immediate.
 “Oh, it’s on,” Scott joked. “Them’s fighting words.”
 The two of us met last week at Freddy’s in Norco, chosen as neutral territory. While I entered with an open mind, Scott made it clear she remained firmly on Team Shake Shack.
 Still, after trying Freddy’s signature cheeseburger, she offered praise for the restaurant’s thin-patty approach and admitted she wished she had ordered the double.
 “The burger is good, I’ll give you credit,” she said. “But not better than Shake Shack.”
 She also gave favorable marks to Freddy’s shoestring fries, saying they ranked above In-N-Out’s offering, though still behind Shake Shack’s crinkle-cut version.
 The frozen custard was another story.
 Scott ordered a chocolate shake topped with whipped cream and a cherry but found the flavor underwhelming.
 “It doesn’t even taste like chocolate,” she concluded.
 Meanwhile, I was perfectly content with a simple vanilla custard mixed with Butterfinger pieces.
 The discussion eventually shifted beyond burgers and custard.
 Scott said she would like to see Rancho Cucamonga land two additional restaurant chains: Peet’s Coffee and Miguel’s Jr.
 The latter seems particularly surprising given Miguel’s Inland Empire roots and its existing presence throughout Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange counties.
 As for the burger debate, the verdict remains unsettled.
 “I appreciate you opening my eyes to Freddy’s,” Scott said. “Now I’ll have to go to Shake Shack to make sure I made the right choice.”