When Joe Lopez was growing up, the most popular Spanish language movie theaters located on the western edge of downtown, just west of the San Pedro Creek, featured the latest Mexican films and stars. These cultural architectural landmarks included the Zaragoza, El Nacional, and the Alameda theaters. The Alameda, with its colorful Mexican tile on its floors and walls, emerged as the favorite among moviegoers who were fans of Pedro Infante, Maria Felix, Jorge Negrete, Dolores Del Rio, Cantinflas, and Tin Tan.