Jun
22

Sidedoor: The Goddess of Broadway

Diosa Costello proves there is no such thing as too fabulous.

Graphic for Sidedoor 6.13 The Goddess of Broadway

When Diosa Costello took the stage in the 1939 production of “Too Many Girls,” she became the first Puerto Rican performer to tread the boards on Broadway. She was fearless, funny, and brimming with talent. She never considered herself a trailblazer, but her legacy – and the gowns she left at the Smithsonian – tell a different story.

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Q and A With Diosa Costello (Smithsonian Magazine)

Glamor shot of Diosa COstyello
In 1939, Diosa Costello became the first Latina on Broadway. (© 1978 Maurice Seymour / mptvimages.com)

Remembering Diosa Costello, “The Latin Bombshell” (O Say Can You See?, National Museum of American History)

Glamor shot of Dolores COstello
“I was the original J. Lo.,” Costello said at a 2011 Smithsonian donation ceremony. (Photo courtesy National Museum of American History)

A conversation with Diosa Costello

n 2006, the Smithsonian National Museum of American History collected the oral history of singer, dancer, actress, and original “Latin Bombshell” Diosa Costello. The interview was conducted by curators Dwight Bower and Marvette Pérez at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas’ Black Box Theatre. In June 2013, Costello passed away in her sleep at age 100. This public program was produced by NMAH’s Program in Latino History and Culture.

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Posted: 22 June 2021
About the Author:

Jessica Sadeq has worked in the Central Office of Public Affairs since June 2007. She is the Marketing Manager for the Office of Communications and External Affairs.