Armando Tomey's extensive career in Cuban television allows him to confidently state that Cuba was not only a trailblazer in television across Latin America and the world but also served as a model for countries like Venezuela and Colombia. During a recent appearance on the podcast "Destino Tolk," the Camagüey-born actor reminisced about the golden era of Cuban television, which began its decline with the onset of communism.
In Miami, Cubans did not invest significantly in television, leaving the market largely dominated by Mexicans. "Cuba was the television hub of Latin America; it introduced soap operas, was the first in the Americas to have television, even before Spain. Cuba was a pioneer in television and soap operas. Then communism arrived, and everything fell apart," Tomey lamented.
He elaborated that the original television moguls in Cuba emigrated, mostly to Venezuela and Colombia, where they laid the groundwork for television industries and taught locals the craft. "Let there be no doubt, Cubans taught Venezuelans and Colombians how to make television," the actor asserted.
Armed with this background, Tomey was aware that his ambitions upon arriving in Miami did not primarily involve achieving television stardom as an actor. Nevertheless, he had always harbored the dream of giving it a try, a goal he achieved in the past year thanks to Pronyr TV, a platform that has brought together many Cuban artists.
In Cuba, Tomey saw himself as a survivor, balancing his acting career with various business ventures. Despite his opposition to communism and the island's regime, and having personally endured the consequences of a poorly paid profession, he admits that his main reason for leaving was to follow his son.
The Impact of Cuban Television on Latin America
How did Cuban television influence other Latin American countries?
Cuban television pioneers emigrated to countries like Venezuela and Colombia, where they helped establish television industries and trained locals in television production.
What role did communism play in the decline of Cuban television?
The arrival of communism in Cuba marked the decline of its television industry, as many key figures emigrated and the industry lost its pioneering edge.