SANTA ANNA, THE MULTI-DIMENSIONAL

Today we're looking at another historical multi-dimensional.....

Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón 

'DEATH VALLEY DAYS'

"DAVY'S FRIEND"

Santa Anna played by Abel Franco

From Wikipedia:

Antonio de Padua María Severino López de Santa Anna y Pérez de Lebrón (21 February 1794 – 21 June 1876), often known as Santa Anna or López de Santa Anna was a Mexican criollo who fought to defend royalist New Spain and then for Mexican independence. He served as a Mexican politician and general. He greatly influenced early Mexican politics and government, and was a skilled soldier and cunning politician, who dominated Mexican history in the first half of the nineteenth century to such an extent that historians often refer to it as the "Age of Santa Anna". He was called "the Man of Destiny", who "loomed over his time like a melodramatic colossus, the uncrowned monarch." Santa Anna first opposed the movement for Mexican independence from Spain, but then fought in support of it. Though not the first caudillo (military leader) of modern Mexico, he "represents the stereotypical caudillo in Mexican history," and among the earliest. Conservative historian, intellectual, and politician Lucas Alamán wrote that "The history of Mexico since 1822 might accurately be called the history of Santa Anna's revolutions.... His name plays the major role in all the political events of the country and its destiny has become intertwined with his."

An enigmatic, patriotic and controversial figure, Santa Anna had great power in Mexico; during a turbulent 40-year career, he served as general at crucial points and served eleven non-consecutive presidential terms over a period of 22 years. A wealthy landowner, he built a firm political base in the major port city of Veracruz. He was perceived as a hero by his troops; he sought glory for himself and his army, and independent Mexico. He repeatedly rebuilt his reputation after major losses. Historians and many Mexicans also rank him as perhaps the principal inhabitant even today of Mexico's pantheon of "those who failed the nation." His centralist rhetoric and military failures resulted in Mexico losing just over half its territory, beginning with the Texas Revolution of 1836, and culminating with the Mexican Cession of 1848 following its defeat by the United States in the Mexican–American War.

His political positions changed frequently in his lifetime; "his opportunistic politics made him a Liberal, Conservative, and uncrowned king." He was overthrown for the final time by the liberal Revolution of Ayutla in 1854 and lived most of his later years in exile.

Even though none of these other characters were Toobworld regulars*, I still think this portrayal of Santa Anna should be considered the Mexican general for the main Toobworld, as seen from the perspective of young Joel Robison. 

But this televersion of Santa Anna is not the only one to be found in Earth Prime-Time.....

"The Adventures of Jim Bowie"
    - Mexican Adventure (1957) 

Played by Rodolfo Hoyos Jr. 

In this case, Santa Anna's appearance is skewed through the perspective of Jim Bowie (the official historical televersion for the main Toobworld.)  This picture may not be of Santa Anna, however.  Rodolfo Hoyos Jr. played another character on the show in another episode.

"Texas Rising"
    - The Rise of the Republic (2015)
    - Vengeance Is Mine (2015)
    - Blood for Blood (2015)
    - Fate and Fury (2015)
    - From the Ashes (2015) 

Played by Olivier Martinez

At five episodes, this "mini-series" lasted longer than some regular series.  So I'm going to say that all of the historical televersions seen in this exploration of the founding of the Texas Rangers were official portrayals.  Any deviation from other appearances can chalked up to various points of view.

There are two off-beat portrayals of Santa Anna that only belong in Earth Prime-Time on technicalities......

"Drunk History"
    - Wild West (2013) 

Played by Horatio Sanz

The only thing that belongs in the main Toobworld would be the drunken comedians telling their stories.  The actual stories are just the depictions of their alcohol-influenced narratives.

"You Are There"
    - The Defense of the Alamo (1953) 

Played by Manuel Sebastian

In the early days of my televisiological research, I tried to incorporate this program into Earth Prime-Time, mostly because I found it to be a great boon in enhancing my interest in History.  But the idea of the televersion of CBS having access to a time machine leads to so many questions, chief among them: If they can go back in Time to key moments of History, why don't they attempt to change things that happened?

So I think 'You Are There' should be considered similar to game shows, talk shows, and variety programs in that they are basically the same in Toobworld as they are in the Real World.  In this case, the CBS televersion is also staging historical reenactments and using their pool of reporters to improvise interviews with the historical portrayals involved.

That takes care of Santa Anna in the main Toobworld.  Let's travel the multi-dimensions of the TV Universe to find others......

SKITLANDIA

"The Red Skelton Hour"
    - Deadeye and the Alamo (1961) 

Played by Cesar Romero 

I'm actually a bit surprised that this could be the only reenactment of the battle in the dimension of TV comedy sketches.  But even after all these years, perhaps the writers don't want to "go there" with American heroes who died.

TIMELESS TOOBWORLD.05

"Timeless" 
    - The Alamo (2016) 

Played by Alex Fernandez 

The pilot episode of this series did take place in Earth Prime-Time - until the main characters were thrown back to the Hindenburg crash.  Once that zeppelin's history was altered, they created a whole new dimensional off-shoot from the original timeline.  (Unlike what happened with Helen Cutter of 'Primeval', they didn't wipe out the original timeline.)  With each successive time-jump in which a significant historical event is altered, they create a new timeline and end up living in that new version of the present day.  So by the time they revisited the Alamo stand-off, they were in the fifth timeline variation which they caused.

DOCU-TOOBWORLD

"Legends & Lies" 
    - Davy Crockett: Capitol Hillbilly (2015) 

Played by Chema Pineda-Fernandez 

"Mysteries at the Museum" 
    - Leopold and Loeb, U2 Spy, Chewing Gum (2012) 

Played by Bill Weeden 

Rather than keep creating alternate Docu-Toobworlds (where historical events are depicted in a subdued, realistic manner), I'm thinking there should just be the one Docu-Toobworld but which has the same rules by which Skitlandia operates - certain historical figures can be seen over and over again and usually portrayed by recastaways.

Finally we have half a dozen TV movies which we will scatter to the astral winds so that they each end up in a different TV dimension.

CINEVERSE BORDERLAND VARIATIONS

The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory (1987) 

Played by Raul Julia
(pictured to the left)

The Mexican-American War (2006) 

Played by Art Bonilla

Two for Texas (1998) 

Played by Marco Rodríguez 

Texas (1994)

Played by Lloyd Battista 

Houston: The Legend of Texas (1986) 

Played by Richard Yniguez

"American Playhouse" 
    - Seguin (1982) 

Played by Edward James Olmos
(pictured above in the Wikipedia excerpt) 

O'BSERVATION:

* Theories of relateeveety arguments could be made for Sgt. Tate and Sylvester being the ancestors for "Professor" Roy Hinkley of 'Gilligan's Island' and "Doc" of 'Combat!' respectively.

BCnU!