Manuel Amaral Mendonça

Manuel Amaral Mendonça, a prominent Azorean cinema entrepreneur, passed away on 31 August 1966, at the age of 58, at his residence in the parish of São Roque, in the municipality of Ponta Delgada.

He was born on 9 January 1908 in the parish of Furnas, in the municipality of Povoação. He served as an honourable example of the value of the Azorean emigrant, notably through his time in Brazil and the Bermudas. After a long absence abroad, he settled in Ponta Delgada and dedicated himself to the film industry, becoming the primary driving force behind cinema on the island of São Miguel.

He began by organising film screenings across the island and later built an open-air venue in the Calheta district of Ponta Delgada called “Cine Marítimo“. This site later underwent significant improvements, transforming it into a proper theatre known as “Cine S. Pedro“. He developed an extensive network of cinemas, managing the venue at the António Borges Garden until it was transformed into the city park of that era, followed by the “Cine Vitória“, the “Cine Solar“, and the Ribeiragrandense Theatre. With a focus on rural audiences, he provided his birthplace, Furnas, with the “Cine Vale Formoso” and also operated the “Cine Esperança” in São Roque.

He was one of the most popular figures in the city of Ponta Delgada, frequently placing his cinemas at the disposal of charity performances and youth festivals. Driven by his regional enthusiasm and love for his homeland, he arranged for the football selection to travel to the Bermudas and the United States, where he maintained numerous friendships. He was a modest but authentic Michaelense icon. On the day of his passing, as a sign of mourning, the Coliseu Micaelense cancelled its scheduled performance.

In recognition of his cultural and social importance, his name was given to a street in the city of Ponta Delgada, in the parish of São Pedro, thus perpetuating the memory of his contribution to the community.

His funeral took place at 6:00 pm on 1 September, departing from his residence in Prestes, São Roque, to the Cemetery of São Joaquim.