♪ [DRAMATIC MUSIC]
♪
[ROARING
>> THIS IS "ZOZOBRA, LEGACY OF
FIRE
ROYALE: WELCOME TO FORT MARCY
PARK IN SANTA FE.
I’M ROYALE DA.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR
KOAT’S "ZOZOBRA, LEGACY OF
FIRE
THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL NIGHT.
FOR THE NEXT WE WILL BE
TWO HOURS, CELEBRATING A NEW
MEXICO TRADITION.
EACH FRIDAY BEFORE LABOR DAY,
THIS PARK IS PACKED WITH PEOPLE
TO WATCH ZOZOBRA BURN.
TONIGHT, THE TRADITION
CONTINUES, WITH A PANDEMIC
TWIST.
BIG CROWDS AREN’T ALLOWED, SO
OLD MAN GLOOM WILL BURN
BASICALLY ALONE.
TYPICALLY ABOUT 65000 PEOPLE ARE
HERE CHANTING "BROUGHT HIM
DOWN."
BUT YOU’LL HAVE TO CHANT FROM
YOUR COUCHES THIS YEAR YOU CAN
ONLY WATCH ZOZOBRA BURN LIVE
HERE ON KOAT.
OLD MAN GLOOM BURNS IN ABOUT AN
HOUR.
BUT FIRST, WE WANT TO TAKE YOU
BEHIND-THE-SCENES OF THE EVENT.
WE SHOW YOU HOW IT STARTED AND
WHY IT MEANS SO MUCH TO NEW
MEXICANS.
IN MARCH, THE GOVERNOR ISSUED A
BAN ON MASS GATHERINGS, AND
MEMBERS OF THE KIWANIS CLUB WHO
ORGANIZE THE BURNING OF ZOZOBRA,
KNEW THIS YEAR’S TRADITION WOULD
BE DIFFERENT.
EVEN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING THE
50-FOOT MARIONETTE WAS
DIFFERENT, WITH WORKERS FOCUSING
ON MAKING SOCIAL DISTANCING
PRIORITY, AND KEEPING MASK ON
WHILE THEY WORKED.
YOU MAY HAVE EXPECTED TO SEE
ZOZOBRA WEARING A MASK THIS
YEAR.
WELL, HE IS NOT.
AND WE’LL EXPLAIN WHY LATER.
BEFORE YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT,
YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE’S
ALL ABOUT.
.
[MOANING]
ROYALE: JUST LISTEN TO HIM MOAN.
THIS WAS LAST YEAR.
HE’S A REALLY BIG SCARY PUPPET
THAT GROANS WHILE HE BURNS TO
THE GROUND.
BUT HE REPRESENTS YOUR SORROW
INSIDE, OR YOUR ANGUISH.
THAT’S WHAT ZOZOBRA LOOSELY
TRANSLATES TO IN SPANISH,
 ANXIETY.
SO WHEN HE BURNS, YOUR ANXIETY
BURNS TOO AND GOES AWAY, AND BOY
, WE COULD ALL USE A LITTLE BIT
OF THAT THIS YEAR.
♪
[FIRE CRACKLING[
[ROARING]
 
 
 
 
>> THE CONCEPT IS AN IDEA WHERE
YOU CAN BRING TOGETHER THE
COMMUNITY IN ORDER TO GET RID OF
WHAT IS BOTHERING YOU.
SO HE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA THAT
YOU CAN BURN AWAY WHAT WAS
BOTHERING YOU, YOUR GLOOM.
AND THEN THE BOOGIE MAN WOULD BE
BURNED AND THEN EVERYONE COULD
CELEBRATE A BIG HAPPY FIESTA.
>> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
PEOPLE TO TAKE A BREAK AND
REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT IS
BOTHERING THEM EITHER EXTERNALLY
OR INTERNALLY, WRITE IT DOWN,
SUBMITTED AND PUT IT INTO THE
ZOZOBR, AND HAVE THAT CLEANSE
IF YOU WILL, WHEN YOUR GLOOM IS
BURNED."
ROYALE: AND 2020 IS LOOKING TO
BE LIKE A GREAT YEAR TO GET RID
OF SOME BAGGAGE.
THE PANDEMIC IS JUST THE GLOOM
ALL OF US WOULD LIKE TO TURN
AROUND.
>> IT IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO
PUT ALL THAT ON PAUSE AND
REFLECT ON WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN
YOUR LIFE TO CAUSE SOMEONE GLOOM
OR WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING ONTO
THAT’S CAUSING GLOOM?"
ROYALE: AS HE BURNS DOWN, SO DO
ALL OUR HARDSHIPS AND THAT IT IS
TIME FOR A FRESH START.
A LOT OF THE MATERIALS FOR
ZOZOBRA ARE DONATED BY LOCAL
BUSINESSES.
TO UNDERSTAND THE CELEBRATION,
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND ITS
ORIGINS.
>> THREE DAYS OF FUN A FIESTA
WHICH ALWAYS COME ON LABOR DAY
WEEKEND ARE USHERED IN BY THE
BURNING OF ZOZOBRA, OR OLD MAN
GLOOM, ON A HILL OVERLOOKING THE
CITY.
ROYALE: FOR MORE THAN 300 YEARS
PEOPLE IN SANTA FE HAVE BEEN
, CELEBRATING LAS FIESTAS DE
SANTA FE, AN EVENT CREATED TO
COMMEMORATE THE TAKING BACK OF
THE AREA IN 1692, A DOZEN YEARS
AFTER THE PUEBLO REVOL
IT’S EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.
IT NO LONGER FEATURES A CEREMONY
CALLED "LA ENTRADA" OR A
REENACTMENT OF THE SPANISH
CONQUEST.
THAT EVENT STOPPED IN 2017 AFTER
ORGANIZERS FROM NATIVE AMERI
GROUPS PROTESTED, SAYING IT
WHITEWASHED THE DEPICTION OF THE
SPANISH CONQUISTADORS AND WAS A
PAINFUL REMINDER OF NEW MEXICO’S
BLOODY PAST.
IT’S TYPICALLY AN EVENT
CELEBRATED ON THE SANTA FE PLAZA
WITH FOOD, MUSIC AND CRAFTS.
ZOZOBRA BEGAN BECAUSE OF
FIESTAS.
IN 1924, A MAN NAMED WILL
SHUSTER FELT THE EVENT WAS TOO
RELIGIOUS AND TOO
COMMERCIALIZED.
SO, HE AND SEVERAL FRIENDS
CREATED A NEW SHOW
A PARADE MAKING FUN OF THE
RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS, AND THE
EVENT ENDED WITH THE BURNING OF
AN EFFIGY IN A SANTA FE BACKYARD
.
IN TODAY’S TERMS, YOU MIGHT CALL
SHUSTER I HAD THE, BUT -- A
HIPPIE, BUT IN THE 1920’S HERE
IN SANTA FE, HE WAS CALLED A
NUT.
IN FACT, HE LIVED WITH 4 ARTISTS
AND THE WHOLE TOWN REFEREED TO
, THEM AS FIVE NUTS IN A HUT.
SHELBY CASHMAN SPOKE TO HIS
GRANDDAUGHTER ABOUT HOW THE
TRADITION OF BURNING OLD MAN
GLOOM BEGA
THE YEAR, 1920.
SHELBY: WORLD WAR I WAS OVER.
THE U.S. ECONOMY, IN A
DEPRESSION.
AND WILL SHUSTER HAD JUST SHOWN
UP IN SANTA FE
>> SO HE COMES IN 1920 REALLY
BELIEVING THAT HE HAS A VERY
LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIME LEFT.
SHELBY: WILL WAS SUFFERING FROM
TUBERCULOSIS AFTER BEING MUSTARD
GASSED DURING THE WAR.
- A PHILLY NATIVE, THE DOCTOR
PRESCRIBED HIM SOME GOOD
OLD-FASHIONED SOUTHWEST AIR.
>> HE GRADUALL GETS
BETTER.
HE GOES HIKING, INCREASES HIS
LUNG CAPACITY, AND GOES ON TO
LIVE ANOTHER 44 YEARS.
SHELBY: STARTING OVER IN THE
LAND OF ENCHANTMENT, WILL
DECIDED TO BECOME AN ARTIST AND
FOUND HIMSELF A GROUP OF FELLOW
FREE SPIRIT WHO CALLED
THEMSELVES " "LOS CINCOS
PINTORES," OR, THE 5 PAINTERS.
>> I HAVE A FRIEND WHO IS A
BARTENDER AT THE MATADOR AND
THEY STILL LEAVE A SHOT GLASS
OUT FOR WILL SHUSTER EVEN NOW.
SHELBY: BUT HOW DID A LOVE OF
DRINKING, PARTYING, AND
PRACTICAL JOKES LEAD TO THE
BURNING OF A GIANT MONSTER
WELL, IT ALL STARTED ONE
CHRISTMAS EVE.
TIMES WERE TOUGH.
NO ONE HAD ANY MONEY.
AND  WILL WAS NOT HAVING ANY
MORE OF HIS FRIENDS GLOOM.
>> HE MADE EVERYONE WRITE DOWN
WHAT WAS BOTHERING THEM, GATHE
ED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TABLE
AND SET IT ON FIRE.
SHELBY: AND SO IT BEGAN.
WILL HIMSELF WAS STILL DEALING
WITH HIS OWN PTSD FROM WORLD WAR
ON
>> HE HAS A DEPRESSION HE IS
STRUGGLING WITH FOR MUCH OF THE
1920’S, AND THEY THINK THE
ZOZOBRA WAS A WAY FOR HIM TO
EXERCISE THAT DEPRESSION.
>> ALSO, IT IS REALLY FUN TO
DRINK AND BURN THINGS.
SHELBY: THAT’S WILL’S GREAT
GRANDAUGHTER, KATE SHUSTER.
>> THERE ARE MANY OF THESE
LEGENDS THAT FLOAT AROUND IN MY
FAMILY ABOUT THE PARTIES H
WOULD HAVE.
SHELBY: AROUND THIS TIME, TOUR
MID-TO-LATE 1920’S, THE "BS THAT
 --FIESTA DE SANTA FE," A WAY
TO CELEBRATE THE HISTORY OF HOW
THE CITY CAME TO BE, BECAME AN
EVENT WHERE YOU NEEDED TO BUY A
TICKET.
>> WILL AND HIS BOHEMIAN FRIENDS
IN SANTA FE THOUGHT FIESTA WAS
VERY STUFFY.
SHELBY: THAT IS WHEN ZOZOBRA
EXPANDED FROM THAT BAR TOP THAT
FATEFUL CHRISTMAS EVE.
AFTERWARDS, WE WILL ACTUALLY
TRAVELED DOWN TO MEXICO -- HE
ACTUALLY TRAVELED TO MEXICO AND
WITNESSED THE BURNING OF AN
EFFIGY.
THEY WANTED TO BREAK AWAY FROM
FIESTA AND START THEIR WON
TRADITION.
YOU CAN SEE HERE SOME OF THE
EARLY DRAWINGS OF HIS HEAD AND
IN HIS WRITINGS, WILL TALKS
ABOUT THE MATERIALS HE USED AND
HOW IT WOULD CONSTRUCTED.
AND IT ALL STARTED IN HIS
BACKYARD.
>> JUST POURING KEROSENE ON IT
IN YOUR BACKYARD AND THEY MOVED
IT CLOSER TO THE PLAZA AND STILL
POURED KEROSENE ON IT.
SHELBY: THE FIRST BACKYARD
BURNING WAS IN 1924, AND BY
1930, LEGEND OF ZOZOBRA SPREAD.
WORKING WITH THE SANTA FE NEW
MEXICAN, WILL PUBLISHED A SERI
OF FAKE NEWS STORIES ABOUT THE
GIANT MONSTER ON THE RAMPAGE
THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE AND
FINALLY BEING CAPTURED BROUGHT
, BACK TO SANTA FE, AND BURNED.
AND AS HIS GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER
TOLD ME WILL MAY HAVE SPENT THE
, BACK HALF OF HIS LIFE CREATING
THIS LEGEND AS A WAY FOR PEOPLE
TO ESCAPE.
BUT THE LEGEND OF WILL SHUSTER
HIMSELF, WELL, THAT’S SOMETHING
THAT CAN NEVER BE BURNED AWA
>> IT’S SUCH AN HONOR TO BE
ASSOCIATED WITH SOMETHING THAT
MAKES SO MANY PEOPLE SO HAPPY.
ROYALE: THE SANTA FE FIESTA
COUNCIL DECIDED TO INVITE
ZOZOBRA TO BECOME A PART OF
FIESTAS IN 1926.
THAT WAS THE FIRST YEAR THE
PUBLIC WAS INVITED TO WATCH THE
BURNING.
TODAY, THEY ARE TWO SEPERATE
EVENTS
SHUSTER CREATED OLD MAN GLOOM
AND THE MYTHOLOGY THAT GOES
ALONG WITH HIM.
HE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THE
TRADITION LIVED ON FOREVER
IN 1964, HE GAVE THE RIGHTS TO
THE KIWANIS CLUB OF SANTA FE
AND TO THIS DAY THEY OWN THE
COPYRIGHTS AND TRADEMARKS TO THE
CHARACTER.
AND THE CLUB USES THE EVENT AS A
HUGE FUNDRAISER TO GIVE BACK TO
CHILDREN IN NEW MEXICO.
MARISSA ARMAS SHOWS US SOME OF
THE KIDS WHO BENEFIT.
MARISSA: FOR THESE KIDS, THE
KITCHEN IS THEIR CLASSROOM.
>> THEY MADE FUN FOODS, WE GOT
TO SLICE, AND WE GET TO DO ALL
THAT STUFF, AND THE TEACHERS
WERE COOL.
MARISSA: AMBERLY LOPEZ AND KAI
HAMILTON WERE BOTH A PART OF THE
SANTA FE-BASED ORGANIZATION,
"COOKING WITH KIDS."
>> WE COOK FOODS FROM AROUND THE
WORLD, EXPOSE KIDS TO ALL SORTS
OF DIFFERENT CULTURES AND
FLAVORS.
WE SAY WE TRAVEL WITH OUR
TASTEBUD
MARISSA: THEY ALSO WORK TO TEACH
KIDS HOW TO MAKE HEALTHIER FOOD
CHOICES.
>> IN THE LAST DECADES, THERE
HAS BEEN A SHIFT WHERE FAMILIES
AREN’T COOKING AS MUCH AS THEY
USE TO AND CHILDREN’S HEALTH IS
SUFFERING.
MARISSA: "COOKING WITH KIDS" IS
JUST ONE OF SEVERAL LOCAL
ORGANIZATIONS THAT GETS GRANT
MONEY FROM THE SANTA FE KIWANIS
CLUB, THROUGH THE PROCEEDS THAT
COME FROM THE ANNUAL ZOZOBRA
EVENT.
>> IT HELPS US TO BRING OUR
PROGRAMMING TO MARKETS.
THE OTHER THING IT DOES IS
PEOPLE KNOW WHAT ZOZOBRA IS,
IT’S NOT AN OBSCURE FOUNDATION
OR AN OBSCURE GOVERNMENT GRANT,
IT’S A BIG DEAL, SO WE GET TO
CELEBRATE IT.
MARISSA: ANOTHER ORGANIZATION
THE KIWANIS FOUNDATION HAS
HELPED WITH THESE ZOZOBRA GRAN
IS THE ESPERANZA SHELTER,
AND THEY HAVE HELPED DOZENS OF
VICTIMS IN OUR STATE.
>> WE SERVE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
WE LIKE TO SAY THEY ARE
SURVIVORS.
THEY COME INTO OUR SHELTER CAUSE
THEY NEED TO ESCAPE AND THEY
NEED A SAFE PLACE TO BE HOUSED
AND RECEIVE SERVICES
MARISSA: 98% OF THE PEOPLE
ESPERANZA SHELTER HELPS ARE
WOMEN AND CHILDREN, AND THE
MONEY THEY GET FROM ZOZOBRA GOES
SPECIFICALLY TO THEIR SEEDS OF
HOPE PROGRAM.
>> WE NEEDED PROGRAMMING THAT
WAS SPECIFIC FOR THE TRAUMA TO
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM AND BRAIN
DEVELOPMENT AND SECURE
ATTACHMENT THAT HAPPENS WHEN
CHILDREN WITNESS DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE.
MARISSA: THAT MONEY HELPS THEM
BUY INFANT MENTAL HEALTH
EQUIPMENT, LIKE THERAPY SWINGS,
ART SUPPLIES AND SAND TRAYS.
>> TO BE ABLE TO GET THE
EQUIPMENT THAT WOULD HELP
REGULATE THE KIDS’ NERVOUS
SYSTEMS, IT DIRECTLY IMPACTS THE
CHILDREN’S THERAPEUTIC PROGRESS.
MARISSA: WITH THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC SOME OF THESE GROUPS
, WERE A LITTLE WORRIED THAT
ZOZOBRA WOULDN’T HAPPEN, WHICH
WOULD HAVE IMPACTED SOME OF
THEIR RESOURCES.
>> WE WERE WORRIED ON A
FINANCIAL LEVEL, WE WERE ALSO
WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT IT
WOULD HAVE ON OUR CITY.
>> THE SERVICES ARE ALWA
CRITICAL, BUT RIGHT NOW,
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS AND
HER CHILDREN ARE SUFFERING, AND
THEY NEED TO HELP EVEN MORE.
>> I’M JUST SO GRATEFUL THEY
FOUND A SOLUTION.
MARISSA: A SOLUTION THAT KEEPS
THE OLD MAN AND THE KITCHEN
STOVE BURNING.
AND NORMALL ZOZOBRA BRINGS IN
ABOUT $100,000 EACH YEAR TO HELP
PAY FOR THESE PROGRAMS.
BUT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL YEAR.
STILL, YOU CAN HELP US RIGHT
NOW.
JUST HEAD ON OVER TO KOAT.COM
AND YOU CAN FIND A LINK ON OUR
HOMEPAGE.
THERE’S STILL TIME TO BUY A
GLOOM AND YOU CAN SEE IT BURN
RIGHT HERE, TONIGHT.
OR YOU CAN PICK UP SOME
MERCHANDISE.
A PORTION OF YOUR PURCHASE WILL
HELP FUND THESE PROGRAMS.
>> WE HAVE NEVER MISSED A
FIESTA.
ROYALE: THIS EVENT HAS SOME
DIE-HARD FANS, FROM WHAT THEY
WEAR TO WHAT THEY EAT, THIS
FAMILY CELEBRATES ZOZOBRA LIKE
NON OTHE
NEXT ON "ZOZOBRA, LEGACY OF
FIRE," WE SHOW YOU HOW THEY
HONOR THE TRADITION, AND HOW YOU
CAN BECOME A SUPER FAN, TOO.
THIS IS A NICE ONE HERE.
>> WELCOME BACK TO "ZOZOBRA,
LEGACY OF FIRE."
ROYALE: WELCOME TO THE SANTA FE
PLAZA, THIS IS AN AREA RICH WITH
HISTORY.
IT WAS FIRST SETTLED IN THE
EARLY 1600’S.
THIS IS THE SITE OF THE SANTA FE
FIESTAS EACH YEAR, AND IT’S
WHERE ZOZOBRA BEGAN.
MANY PEOPLE WHO CELEBRATE
FIESTAS SAY IT’S A TRADITION
THAT RUNS DEEP IN THEIR FAMILY.
BRITTANY HOPE SHARES ONE
FAMILY’S STOR
>> YOU FEEL LIKE A PRINCESS IN
YOUR FIESTA ADDRESS.
NOTHING LIKE TWIRLING IN YOUR
FIES DRESS.
>> WHEN I WEAR MY DRESS, I FEEL
PRETTY.
I FEEL LIKE FUN IS GOING TO BE
 HEAD.
BRITTANY: DECADES OF DRESSES, A
TRADITION IN HER BLOOD.
>> TIME GOES ON AND HERITAGE
GOES O.
BRITTANY: AND THIS IS YOUR
HERITAGE.
>> MHMM.
 WE PICKED A STRANGE ONE.
[LAUGHTER] I HAVE MORE CLOSET
SPACE THAN ANYBODY IN SANTA FE,
I THINK.
BRITTANY: SHE IS NOT KIDDING.
300.
THAT IS HOW MANY FIESTA DRESSES
DIANA MONTOYA CAPSHAW, HAS IN
HER COLLECTION
THIS IS A ITONE, IT’S GOT MORE
THAN TWO COLORS.
BRITTANY: IT STARTED WITH HER
GRANDPA WHEN SHE WAS A LITTLE
GIRL.
>> HE WAS G THE MANAGER OFANS.
BRITTANY: GANS, WAS THE STORE IN
SANTA FE, THAT MADE FIESTA
DRESSES.
GRANDPA WOULD GIVE EACH OF HIS
GRANDCHILDREN A BRAND NEW DRESS,
TO WEAR TO THE BURNING OF THE
ZOZOBRA AND THE SANTA FE
FIESTAS.
NOW, DIANA THROWS HUGE PARTIES
FOR THE FIESTAS AND THE ZOZOBRA.
AND ALL THE WOMEN WEAR HER
DRESSES.
>> THE PARTY STARTED 70 YEARS
AGO FOR THE CAPSHAW FAMILY.
SO THERE HAS BEEN A PARTY AT
THIS HOUSE EVER SINCE.
BRITTANY: THIS YEAR, THE FIRST
TIME THAT THAT TRADITION WILL
NOT HAPPEN BECAUSE OF COVID.
BUT THIS TRADITI WILL.
>> THEY HAVE A SMITHSONIAN LEV
COLLECTION OF THESE DRESSES.
BRITTANY: SHE IS PASSING THE
DRESSES ONTO HER NEXT GENERATION
LIKE HER NIECE, JENNY.
>> I AM LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ABLE
TO WEAR THEM.
IT IS PART OF THE DEEP-ROOTED
TRADITION OF SANTA FE.
BRITTANY: DIANA’S SISTER ALSO
CARRYING ON THE JOY.
>> IF YOU KEEP TRADITIONS ALIVE,
THEY STAY ALIVE.
BRITTANY: SPEAKING OF TRADITION,
ALONG HER BACKYARD GATE IS WHERE
OLD MAN GLOOM GOES UP IN FLAMES.
AND IT WILL BE DIFFERENT THIS
YEAR.
 NOT QUITE AS
BEAUTIFUL THIS YEAR AS IT HAS
BEEN IN OTHE YEARS, BUT I THINK
THE PAR BURNING OF ZOZOBRA LETS
YOU KNOW IT IS A BRAND-NEW DAY.
BRITTANY: THE FAMILY WILL BE FIT
IN THEIR FIEST BEST.
THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY FAMILY
MAKING ZOZOBRA AND AND WILL
TRADITION.
ROYALE: EACH YEAR, PEOPLE FROM
ALL OF OUR OUR COMMUNITY WORK
FOR A CHANCE TO BE SHOWCASED IN
THE FESTIVITIES.
WHETHER ITS SINGING THE NATIONAL
ANTHEM OR DANCING IN THE SHOW,
ZOZOBRA BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER.
ONE BIG WAY ORGANIZERS WORK TO
GET PEOPLE INVOLVED IS THE
ANNUAL ART CONTEST
>> I TAKE PRIDE IN MY WORK AND
I’M GLAD PEOPLE COLLECT MY
ARTWORK.
ROYALE: ESTRELLA ROMERO WON THE
STUDENT POSTER CONTEST THIS
YEAR.
THE OFFICIAL 2020 POSTER WAS
DESIGNED BY JOSHUA GONZALES.
PEOPLE LOVE TO COLLECT THESE
THINGS.
THESE ARE SOME OF THE POSTERS
FROM YEARS PAST.
ALL OF THEM REPRESENT EACH YEAR
OF ZOZOBRA AND MANY OF THE
ARTISTS HAVE BEEN AT IT FOR
DECADES.
IT HAS BECOME PART OF OUR
CULTURE.
JUST WALKING AROUND SANTA FE YOU
, CAN SEE SIGNS OF HIM
EVERYWHERE.
SHELLY RIBANDO EXPLAINS HOW IT’S
TAKEN ON SUCH A LIFE OF ITS OWN.
>> IT IS JUST AN ICONIC FIGURE
FOR THIS TOWN.
SHELLY: YOU CAN’T GO ANYWHERE IN
SANTA FE WITHOUT SEEING HIS
FACE.
MURALS ON BUILDINGS, OR PAINTE
IN RESTAURANTS.
HIS STORY RUNS DEEP IN THE
COMMUNITY.
>> HE HAS BECOME A PART OF
POPULAR CULTURE.
SHELLY: MANY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT
HIS CREATOR.
>> IF YOU WERE TO GO AROUND
SANTA FE AND ASK PEOPLE DO YOU
KNOW WHO WILL SCHUSTER IS YOU
KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO GE
RESPONSES.
BUT IF YOU ASK THEM WHAT ZOZOBRA
IS, EVERYBODY IS GOING TO KNOW.
SHELLY: INSPIRING YOUNG MINDS.
>> MY SON WENT TO THE LITTLE
EARTH SCHOOL FOR YEARS AND THEY
WOULD BUILDER ZOZO AND BURN IN
ON THE PLAYGROUND.
SHELLY: AND SERVING AS AN
INSPIRATION TO A NEW GENERATION
OF ARTISTS.
>> I DON’T KNOW THAT THERE’S
BEEN A MOMENT IN THE SANTA FE
ART SCENE WHERE YOU WOULDN’T SEE
HIM APPEAR IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER
>> WELL I THINK A LOT OF ARTISTS
HAVE TAKEN IT ON A REALLY
SPIRITED WAY.
THE CATHEDRAL IS A HUGE LANDMARK
IN TOWN AND IT HAS ITS OWN
HISTORY AS DOES LOWRIDER CULTURE
, AND SO DOES ZOZOBRA.
THOSE ELEMENTS TO ME ARE TOTALLY
THREE NEW MEXICAN AND TOTALLY
SANTA FE.
SHELLY: SHE’S NOT ALONE.
IT’S BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS.
>> I’M PARTICULARLY INTERESTED
IN THIS PIECE IT’S DEPICTION OF
SANTA FE’S MOST INFAMOUS MONSTER
.
SHELLY: DEEP IN THE ARCHIVES OF
THE NEW MEXICO MUSEUM OF ART, A
PAINTING BY FRITZ SCHOLDER
.
>> TO SYMPATHIZE WITH THE
MONITOR IS PRETTY DEEP, AND TO
THINK ABOUT HIM NOT AS SOMETHING
THAT’S THREATENING THE COMMUNITY
BUT A MARTYR FOR THE COMMUNITY
SHELLY: SHUSTER OFTEN INCLUDING
ZOZOBRA IN HIS PAINTINGS AS WELL
>> IT’S A LITTLE BIT OF AN
UNCOMMON COMPOSITION FOR
PAINTING.
SHELLY: CREATED IN 1964, THIS
PIECE IS SIGNIFICANT.
>> IT WAS THE LAST YEAR THAT HE
BUILT AND BI -- BUILT AND
BURNED ZOZOBRA HIMSELF.
THAT YEAR HE HANDED IT OFF TO
THE KIWANIS CLUB.
>> HE WANTED TO REFLECT ON HIS
CREATION AND EVERYTHING IS
REPRESENTED AND HE WAS ABLE TO
DO SO IN PAYING FAR MORE
EFFECTIVELY THAN HE WAS IN TERMS
OF THE MASS OF MARIONETTE THAT
ULTIMATELY ZOZO BECOMES.
SHELLY: SOLD TO THE STATE IN
1992,
THIS PIECE IS NOW A PART OF OUR
COMMUNITY.
>> TO HAVE THAT HE’S UP WITH A
ROUNDHOUSE REALLY SPEAKS TO THE
ROLES OF ZOZOBRA IN THE
COMMUNITY HERE IN NEW MEXICO.
SHELLY: SHOWING HOW ONE MAN’S
VISION CAN IMPACT ALL OF U
>> HE HAS A DIFFERENT MEANING T
EVERYONE.
THAT IS WHY YOU SEE SO MANY
ARTISTS THAT HAVE TREATED THE
SUBJECT OVER TIME.
ROYALE: THIS YEAR MARKS 100
YEARS SINCE WILL SHUSTER’S
ARRIVAL IN SANTA FE.
AND TO CELEBRATE, THE NEW MEXICO
MUSEUM OF ART IS GETTING READY
TO OPEN A BRAND NEW EXHIBIT
SHOWCASE HIS WOR
"A FIERY LIGHT", WILL SHUSTER’S
NEW MEXICO OPENS LATER THIS
YEAR.
ZOZOBRA HAS ALSO BEEN RECOGNIZED
ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.
IN 1950 HE WAS A FLOAT IN THE
ROSE PARADE, WHEN THE STATE
COMMISSIONED SCHUSTER TO CREATE
A DESIGN OF HIS OWN.
♪ [DRAMATIC MUSIC]
YOU KNOW WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE.
YOU KNOW WHEN HE BURNS YOUR
ANXIETY AND SADNESS BURNS TOO,
, BUT DO YOU REALLY KNOW HIS
WHOLE STORY.
UP NEXT, THE GRUMPY MYTHOLOGICAL
CREATURE WHO LIVES IN THE
MOUNTAINS, AND HOW HE ENDS UP
HERE ONCE A YEAR IN SANTA FE, TO
GIVE YOU HOPE.
 
 
 
 
>> YOU’RE WATCHING "ZOZOBRA,
LEGACY OF FIRE."
ROYALE: WHEN WILL SCHUSTER
CREATED ZOZOBRA, HE CREATED THE
MYTHOLOGY THAT GOES WITH HIM.
IT’S A STORY OF OLD MAN GLO
WHO LIVES IN THE SANGRE DE
CRISTO MOUNTAINS.
AS THE STORY GOES, IT’S AN
INVITATION TO A PARTY HERE ON
THE SANTA FE PLAZA THAT DRAWS
HIM TO TOWN.
SO, HE PUTS ON HIS FORMAL ATTIRE
AND HEADS TO TOWN.
MEOW WOLF MADE THIS VIDEO
EXPLAINING THE STORY
♪
ZOZOBRA, THE MYTH.
>> ZOZOBRA IS A MONSTER.
MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT THAT.
THE SPECTER STAYS IN HIDING ALL
YEAR LONG, FEEDING ON IN GAINING
POWER FROM OUR SAVINGS AND
MISDEEDS.
BUT ONCE A YEAR, WE GET TO CAST
OUT THE DARKNESS.
WE LUR ZOZOBRA INTO A TRAP.
WE INVITE HIM TO THE FIESTA DE
SANTA FE.
HE DRESSES T IMPRESS.
BUT HE COMES TO THE PARTY WITH
HIS OWN AGENDA, TO ROB THE CITY
OF ITS HOPE AND SPIRIT.
AS THE PARTY BEGINS, ZOZOBRA
SEES THE CHANCE TO ENACT HIS
EVIL PLAN.
HE CASTS A SPELL, TURNING THEM
INTO AN ARMY OF ZOMBIES.
BUT THAT TORCH-BEARING
TOWNSPEOPLE FIGHT BACK,
RECAPTURING THE HEARTS AND MINDS
OF THE CHILDREN.
 
 
 
 
♪
>> ZOZOBRA RAGES.
THE PEOPLE FLEE.
HOPE IS SCARCE.
BURN HIM.
[CHANTING]
THE MORTAL ENEMY TO ZOZOBRA.
THE DANCE BEGINS.
BURN HIM.
[CHANTING]
BURN HIM!
[FIRE CRACKLING[
 
 
 
 
>> SHE HOLDS A TORCH TO ZOZOBRA,
TURNING HIM ABLAZE.
VICTORY BELONGS TO THE
FIRE SPIRIT WHO RESTORES THE
TOWN I GOODWILL.
BUT ZOZOBRA WILL RISE AGAIN AT
NEXT YEAR IS OUR HUMAN FAULTS
AND FAILINGS RETURN INEVITABLY
LIKE WEEDS TO A GARDEN.
♪
ROYALE: WHETHER IT’S WRITING
DOWN WHAT’S BOTHERING YOU OR
BRINGING IN PARKING TICKETS,
DIVORCE PAPERS OR EVEN MEDICAL
RECORDS, IN YEARS PAST, PEOPLE
STACKED THEM INSIDE OF ZOZOBRA.
THIS YEAR, SOCIAL DISTANCING IS
MAKING THE PROCESS OF LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT.
AND YOU CAN STILL TAKE PART.
RIGHT NOW, IS YOUR LAST CHANCE
TO BUY A GLOOM AND MAKE SURE
IT’S BURNED TONIGHT
HEAD ON OVER TO KOAT.COM AND FOR
A YOU CAN SEND IN YOUR ANGUISH
DOLLAR, ONLINE.
ORGANIZERS WILL PRINT IT OUT AND
IT WILL BE PLACED INSIDE OLD MAN
GLOO
THIS ONLINE PROCESS HAS REALLY
HELP EXPAND ZOZOBRA’S TRADITIO
JUST LOOK AT THIS MAP, PEOPLE
WORLDWIDE ARE SHARING THEIR
GLOOMS.
♪
BURNING A 50-FOOT PUPPET IN THE
MIDDLE OF TOWN TAKES PLANNING.
 
 
 
 
>> WE ARE THE ONES THAT BRING
HIM ALIVE.
ROYALE: UP NEXT, WE SHOW YOU
WHAT YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN -- A
BEHIND THE CURTAIN LOOK AT THE
ZOZOBRA SHOW.
AND --
THIS YEAR HE HAS A NEW VOICE.
MEET THE MAN BEHIND THE MOANIN.
HOW HE IS CARRYING ON THIS
IMPORTANT PART OF THE EVENT.
♪
ROYALE: WELCOME BACK TO
"ZOZOBRA, LEGACY OF FIRE."
THIS IS GROUND WHERE IT ALL
ZERO.
BEGAN THIS YEAR, WHERE ZOZOBRA
IS BEING BUILT.
A TEAM HAS BEEN IN THIS
WAREHOUSE IN SANTA FE FOR MONTHS
, BUILDING THIS HUGE PUPPET.
AND HERE HE IS.
BUILDING THIS EVERY YEAR IS A
MASSIVE UNDERTAKING, AND I WILL
SHOW YOU HOW IT IS DONE.
IT IS ABOUT TO BEFALL IN NEW
MEXICO, AND THOSE GREEN CHILE
ROASTERS ARE FIRING UP.
SO DID THE ZOZOB MACHINES.
>> WE STILL WORK WITH THE SAME
FRAMES.
THE INTERESTING THING ABOUT THE
ZOZOBRA, HE HAS THE SAME SOLID
FORM HE HAS HAD FO 96 YEARS
THAT IT REALLY TURNS TO THE
ARTIST THAT IS CREATING ZOZOBRA.
ROYALE: THAT IS JACOB
HIS HEAD IS MASSIVE, ALL THAT
HAIR IS SHREDDED PAPER.
HERE’S A PEEK AT THE BACK OF THE
HEAD, THAT WOOD FRAME TOOK A LOT
OF TIME TO SHAPE.
THE CONSTRUCTION AND STAGING OF
ZOZOBRA IS QUITE AN
ACTION-PACKED EFFORT
IT’S A LABOR-INTENSIVE AFFAIR
REQUIRING MORE THAN 3500
VOLUNTEER HOURS PUT IN BY
KIWANIS CLUB MEMBERS AND
VOLUNTEERS, SOME OF WHOM HAVE
BEEN INVOLVED WITH ZOZOBRA FOR
YEARS.
MATT HOROWITZ IS THE
CONSTRUCTION CHAIR.
>> WE’VE GOT LAWYERS AND DOCTORS
AND TEENAGERS.
YOU GET PEOPLE THAT ARE PRIESTS,
AND
-- [LAUGHTER]
>> YOU NAME IT.
ROYALE: BUT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF
THE PANDEMIC, THE PROCESS HAS
CHANGED.
>> WE ARE DOING THE SAME THING
WE NORMALLY DO, WE’RE JUST DOING
IT IN LITTLE PIECES, AND LITTLE
BIT BY LITTLE BIT TO MAKE SURE
PEOPLE ARE SAFE.
FOR A LONG TIME IS WAS BUILT IN
A FEW WEEKS, AND THIS YEAR WERE
TAKING A FEW MONTHS TO DO IT AND
THAT’S BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC
.
BECAUSE WE CAN’T HAVE MORE THAN
SMALL GROUPS OF PEOPLE WORKING
AT ANY GIVEN TIME.
ROYALE: ZOZOBRA IS A
WELL-CRAFTED FRAMEWORK OF MILLED
LUMBER, COVERED WITH DOZENS OF
ROLLS OF CHICKEN WIRE AND MORE
THAN 70 YARDS OF COTTON CLOT
IT WILL BE STRUNG UP ON A
55-FOOT POLE WITH A 12-FOOT
CROSSBAR.
ZOZOBRA’S HEAD AND SECTIONS OF
HIS INSIDES ARE LACED WITH
EXPLOSIVES.
THE STEEL WIRES ATTACHED TO HIS
ARMS, HEAD, AND MOUTH ALLOW HIS
MOVEMENTS TO BE MANIPULATED FROM
THE GROUND BY A GROUP OF SKILLED
ANIMATOR
>> YOU KIND OF CAN’T HELP BUT
FEEL LIKE A LITTLE KID, RIGHT?
YOU HAVE THIS IF TWO-FOOT
MARIONETTE AND YOU HAVE A CORD
THAT YOU JUST NATURALLY WANT TO
PULL ON.
YOU HAVE A BOLT ON THE ARM THAT
GIVES THE ARM ITS SIMPLE UP AND
DOWN MOTION.
IT TAKES A SOLID CREW OF FOUR
PEOPLE TO PULL THE ARM ALL THE
WAY UP, AND BECAUSE GRAVITY IS
WORKING AGAINST IT, IT COMES
DOWN PRETTY HEAVY.
ROYALE:’S ZOZOBRA RIG NOW
REMAINS MOTIONLESS UNTIL
DARKNESS FALLS, THEN IT BEGINS.
IN OUR HEADS, WE WILL BE
CHANTING.
>> BURN HIM DOWN!
>> IN A YEAR LIKE THIS WHEN SO
MANY PEOPLE ARE HURTING, IT
MEANS A LO
ROYALE: OR MAYBE THIS YEAR,
"BURN COVID DOWN!"
OVER THE YEARS, ZOZOBRA GOT
TALLER AND TALLER.
OVER THE YEARS HE GREW.
SINCE 1989, HE’S MEASURED AT 50
FEET, SIX INCHES, SETTING A
WORLD RECORD IN 2007 AS TH
TALLEST MARIONETTE.
BUT THE RECORD ONLY LASTED A
YEAR AFTER BEING BEAT BY A
PUPPET IN CANADA, MEASURING
FEET AND FIVE AND A HALF INCHES
TALL.
THE PAGEANTRY OF ZOZOBRA HAS
ALWAYS BEEN A SIGHT TO SEE
, EVENTUALLY ADDING WHAT ARE
KNOW AS GLOOMIES.
IT IS SAID THAT ZOZOBRA WORKS O
DARK MAGIC, CASTING A SPELL ON
THE CHILDREN OF SANTA FE,
DRIVING HOPE AND HAPPINESS FROM
THEIR MINDS AND HEARTS AND
REPLACING IT WITH GLOOM AND
DESPAIR.
THE GLOOMIES TAKE COMMANDS FROM
ZOZOBRA, CAUSING HAVOC ON THE
CITY AND SPREADING FEAR AND
SORROW.
BUT WHEN THE TOWSFOLK BEAR
TORCHES CHALLENGING THE GLOOM,
THE GLOOMIES SNAP BACK TO
REALITY, BECOMING CHILDREN ONCE
AGAIN.
KIDS AGES 11 TO 14 AUDITION TO
BE A GLOOMIE AND SOME SAY ITS A
LOCAL BADGE OF HONOR.
>> WAVING A PAIR O BLAZING
TORCHES, THE FIRE SPIRIT DANCES
TORMENTING ZOZOBRA.
, BUT WHO IS THE FIRE SPIRIT?
TODD KURTZ INTRODUCES US TO THE
DANCER AND SHARES THE HISTORY OF
THIS EXCLUSIVE GROUP OF
PERFORMERS
.
TODD: THE FIRE SPIRIT IS
ZOZOBRA’S ARCH-ENEMY.
DRESSED IN ALL RED, ARMED WITH A
PAIR OF BLAZING TORCHES, WHE
YOU SEE THE DANCER, YOU KNOW
ZOZOBRA’S REIGN OF TERROR IS
ABOUT TO GO UP IN FLAMES.
BUT IN REAL LIFE HELENE LUNA IS
, VERY SWEET.
>> I HAVE BEEN DANCING IN FRONT
OF ZOZOBRA’S INSTANT 1986.
TODD: THE SANTA FE NATIVE NOW
LIVES IN COLORADO BUT HER
, HIGHLIGHT EVERY YEAR IS COMING
BACK HOME, TO BE THE FIRE DANCER
AT ZOZOBRA
>> I REMEMBER GOING TO ZOZOBRA
WHEN YOU COULD STILL DRIVE CARS
IN.
THERE’S PICTURES OF ME ON MY
DAD’S SHOULDERS AND I WAS
MESMERIZED BY THE FIRE DANCER.
TODD: HER RISE TO THE COVETED
SPOT TOOK TIME.
SHE AUDITIONED IN THE 90’S, AND
AT THE TIME GOT A NEWLY CREATED
ROLE AT ZOZOBRA.
QUEEN OF THE GLOOM.
IT’D TAKE 11 MORE YEARS BEFORE
BEING PASSED THE TORCH.
>> SINCE I HAD BEEN DANCING
SINCE 1996, WHEN IT CAME TIME
FOR A NEW FIRE DANCER, THEY
LOOKED TO ME AND I WAS VERY
LUCKY.
TODD: LUCKY BECAUSE IT’S RARE
FOR THE TORCH TO BE PASSED ON.
LUNA IS JUST THE 6TH FIRE
DANCER IN THE NEARLY 100 YEARS
OF’ ZOZOBRA.
HERE’S A PICTURE OF THE MAN WHO
DID IT THE LONGEST, JACQUES
CARTIER.
THE BALLET DANCER FROM NEW YORK
CAME TO SANTA FE FOR 37 STRAIGHT
YEARS TO BE FIRE DANCER.
HE WAS SUCCEEDED IN 1970 BY HIS
STUDENT, CHIP LILIENTHAL.
THERE IS CHIP IN LOOK AT
1987.
ZOZOBRA’S REACTION, ALMOST TO
SA "OH, BOY, HERE WE GO
AGAIN."
TWO OF CHIP’S DAUGHTERS HAVE
ALSO PLAYED FIRE SPIRIT.
AND LUNA HAS BEEN TORCHING OLD
MAN GLOOM SINCE 2007.
THIS YEAR BRINGS THE EXT
CHALLENGE OF NOT HAVING HER FUEL
, THE CROWD.
>> THE CROWD CREATES THIS FIRE
SPIRIT TO GET RID OF ALL THE
GLOOM, SO THE MINUTE YOU GO OUT
THERE AND YOU HEAR THIS ENERGY,
THAT IS WHAT DRIVES YOU.
SO THIS YEAR IT IS COMING FROM
THE HEART.
TODD: AND IT’S A WORKOUT.
THE JOB TAKES TRAINING.
SHE’S BEEN DANCING BALLET SINCE
AFTER COLLEGE.
STILL TAKES FOUR TO FIVE DANCE
CLASSES A WEEK AND THEN HAS HER
OWN WEIGHT REGIMEN TO GET HER
ARMS JUST RIGHT FOR THE BIG
NIGH
>> IRAN WITH WEIGHTS AREA AND I
HAVE MY LITTLE -- NOW  I
RUN WITH WEIGHTS.
I HAVE MY WHOLE RUNNING THAT I
DO.
THOSE TORCHES ARE HEAVY.
TODD: AND FROM A DISTANCE, WE’LL
BE CHEERING HER ON THE WHOLE
WAY.
HEY, A NATIVE SANTA FEAN IS OUR
FIRE DANCER, AND SHE ABSOLUTELY
LOVES IT.
>> IT IS FUN TO GO OUT THERE AND
HEAR THE CROWD AND DANCE AND DO
THIS INCREDIBLE THING.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS
ABOUT GIVING BACK, TOO.
THIS IS MY HOME.
ROYALE: LUNA SAYS SHE DOESN’T
PLAN ON RETIRING ANY TIME SOON,
BUT WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT SHE
WOULD BE HAPPY TO PASS THE
LITERAL TORCH TO THE NEXT EAGER
DANCER
[ROARING]
ROYALE: THE VOICE OF ZOZOBRA IS
A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE
SHOW.
THE FIRST ZOZOBRA DIDN’T GROW
ORMONDE, THOSE SONGS WERE PUT
INTO THE SHOW OVER THE YEARS.
THIS YEAR, OPERA SINGER ANTHONY
MICHELS-MOORE IS THE VOICE
BEHIND THE BEAST.
IT WILL BE HIS FIRST TIME
PERFORMING AT THE EVENT.
HE HAS BEEN WORKING TO
UNDERSTAND THE STORY, AND HE
SAYS HE HAS BIG PLANS TO MAKE
HIS PERFORMANCE DIFFERENT FROM
YEARS PAST.
>> IT IS MORE -- I WILL BE BACK
NEXT YEAR.
YOU CAN BURN ME NOW BUT I WILL
BE BACK.
THAT HAS TO BE DONE THROUGH A
GROWL.
IT IS THAT SORT OF IDEA.
SO WHAT I HAVE TO WORK ON HIS
FIVE-MINUTE SESSIONS MODULATING
THAT "IDEA."
ROYALE: HE TELLS US HE HAS BEEN
PRACTICING BY READING TO HIS
CHILDREN AND ACTING OUT
CHARACTER VOICES.
THE PROCESS OF MAKING SURE THE
SHOW HAPPENS, TAKES A LOT OF
WORK
SASHA LENNINGER SHOWS US HOW
IT’S ALL DONE SAFEL
SESSSASHA: STARTING OFF LIKE
THIS AND QUICKLY TURNING INTO
THIS IN JUST MINUTES, A LOT GOES
ON BEHIND THE SCENES TO CREATE
WHAT WE’LL SEE
HIM ALIVE.
SITS THERE AND LOOKS AT THE
CROWD THAN AT A CERTAIN POINT WE
START MOVING HIM.
SESSASHA: RONALD MARTINEZ IS
THE ANIMATION DIRECTOR FOR
ZOZOBRA.
HE’S BEEN DOING IT FOR 25 YEARS
ALONG WITH A TEAM OF AT LEAST 14
OTHERS.
>> IT TAKES FIVE MEN ON EACH
ARM.
SASHA: THEN ONE PERSON MOVES THE
HEAD, ANOTHER MOVES THE MOUTH.
BEFORE THE EVENT, THE TEAM HAS A
REHEARSA
>> WE GO THROUGH WHAT THE SHOW
IS GOING TO BE LIKE AND WE BRING
IT TO THE PEOPLE.
SASHA: ONCE THE BIG DAY ARRIVES,
IT IS GAME TIME.
>> WE JUST MAKE SURE ON TOP OF
TH HILL, EVERYTHING IS
SECURE.
NOBODY BUT THE PEOPLE INVOLVED
ARE ALLOWED ON THE HELP.
SASHA: EACH CREW MEMBER HAS
PROTECTIVE GEAR THAT THEY ARE
REQUIRED TO WEAR.
>> WE WEAR FIRE JACKETS,
HELMETS, GOGGLES, MASKS AND
GLOVES.
IT IS UNSAFE FOR ANYBODY WITH A
CAMERA BACK THERE OR ANYTHING --
THERE IS WIRES AND FIREWORKS
BEHIND US.
WE ARE PROBABLY 15 FEET AWAY
FROM THE FIREWORKS.
SASHA: WE DID ASK MARTINEZ, WHAT
ELSE HAPPENS BACKSTAGE THAT WE
WOULD NEVER GET A GLIMPSE OF?
HE SAYS NOT MUCH OF THAT HAS
BEEN RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC--AND
THEY WANT TO KEEP IT A SECRET.
>> WE REALLY TAKE CARE OF THOSE
INTERESTIN AND INTRICATE
THINGS.
SASHA: IF FANTASTIC AND
MEMORABLE SHOW INDEED, WITH ALL
OF OUR BLOOMS GOING UP IN SMOKE
AND TURNING INTO ASH, CLEANSING
OUR WORLD OF THE BAD AND MAKING
ROOM FOR THE GOOD TO COME.
ROYALE: HE SAYS THERE IS NOT
MUCH CARE IS HAPPENING BEHIND
THE SCENE BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS
FINE-TUNED LEADING UP TO THE
SHOW.
>> HE BECOMES THE MONSTER WE
NEED HIM TO BE AT ANY GIVEN
TIME.
ROYALE: UP NEXT, HOW HE HAS
CHANGED EACH YEAR AND HOW THIS
YEAR HE WILL GIVE US HOPE.
AND WHAT IS INSIDE THE ZOZOBRA.
NOTE
ROYALE: AFTER 96 YEARS, THIS OLD
MAN LOOKS GOOD.
BUT HE DOESN’T EVER LOOK THE
SAME.
EACH YEAR, HE GROW TALLER,
CHANGES CLOTHES OR CHANGES HIS
HAIR.
SASHA LENNINGER TAKES US THROUGH
THE EVOLUTION OF OLD MAN GLOOM.
>> HE IS ONE OF THE MOST
ASTERISK CHARACTERS.
>> I WOULD SAY HE WAS MY FIRST
BOYFRIEND.
>> YOU COULD CALL HIM IT CAN
MILLION OF THE TIMES.
THESE BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOS
SHOWED ZOZOBRA IN HIS EARLY
YEARS AT KEEP OWING TO KNOW
HISTORY, LIKE THIS ONE FROM
WORLD WAR II, HIS APPEARANCE
REFLECTED ACROSS BETWEEN HITLER
AND HEHIROHITO.
THEN AS THE YEARS GOES ON, HE
BECOMES WHAT WE WANT HIM TO BE.
>> ALL THE YEARS, THE DECADE OF
HISTORY.
REPORTER: IN THIS VIDEO FROM
 1982--YOU CAN SEE THE
1982, MARIONETTE WITH BUTTONS
ALONG HIS TOP AND A BLACK BELT.
IN 1984, HE DITCHED SOME OF HIS
BUTTONS FOR BOWTIE.
IN 85 AND 86, HE HAD ORANGE
HAIR.
THEN THE 90’S ZOZOBRA CHOOSE
THIS LOOK.
YELLOW LOCKS, ALONG WITH HIS BOW
TIE.
FAST FORWARD TO THE EARLY 2000’S
OLD MAN GLOOM DONNED SEVERAL
THE EASIEST CHANGE TO SEE,
THOUGH, HIS HAIR.
FROM WHITE TO RED TO PURPLE, AND
THEN ORANGE.
>> OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT HAS
GOTTEN BIGGER, I THINK THE
BIGGEST CHANGE THAT WE HAVE DONE
WAS IN 2014 WE ADDED THE DECADES
PROJEC
REPORTER: IT STARTS WITH T
1920’S, AND IS A WAY TO
HIGHLIGHT EACH DECADE EACH YEAR
AS WE GET CLOSER TO OLD MAN
, GLOOM’S 100TH BIRTHDAY.
>> HE WAS A SNIDELY WHIPLASH GUY
WITH A BIG MUSTACHE 2:41 THEN WE
MOVED ON TO THE 30S. HE WAS OLD,
BALD AND FAT BECAUSE THAT WA
THE DEPRESSION ERA.
REPORTER: YOU CAN SEE WHAT’S
LEFT OF HIS WHITE HAIR.
>> IN WORLD WAR II, THAT WAS A
BIG DEAL FOR US.
WE WERE IN WAS TO MARK THE 75TH
ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOLOCAUST.
REPORTER: OLD ONE GLOOM WAS
DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION WITH A
DOUBLE BREASTED TOP, A FEDORA
AND A BLACK TIE.
>> PART OF THE DECADES PROJECT
IS TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT THEIR
PAST, NOT JUST ZOZOBRA’S PAST
BUT WHAT HAPPEN IN NEW MEXICO
AND WHAT HAPPENED IN THE WORLD.
REPORTER: THAT SAME YEAR
YEAR--THE NIGHT BEFORE THE
, EVENT, A CANDLELIGHT VIGIL
PAYING TRIBUTE TO VICTIMS AND
SURVIVIORS OF THE HOLOCAUST.
2017 HONORED THE 50’S.
>> HE WAS WEARING A CARDIGAN
SWEATER AND I WOULD LIKE TO SAYH
THAT A FATHER KNOWS BEST.
REPORTER: DONNING RED HAIR TO
MATCH HIS BRIGHT RED NAILS.
>> WE ROLLED OUT THE ENTIRE
HIPPIE ERA.
>> 2018 WAS ALL GROOVY BABY.
STAFF DRESSED IN TIE DYE--
OLD MAN GLOOM WITH A SILVER
UPDO BEND BOLO TIE.
LOOK AT THE PEACE SIGN ON HIS
FINGERS.
LAST YEAR DISCO WAS OUT TO PLAY.
,COMING IN AT 50 FEET SIX INCHES
TALL, IT WAS ALL ABOUT THE JOHN
TRAVOLTA LOOK -- WHITE SUIT,
GOLD MEDALLION AND BLONDE HAIR,
HIS EYES A MEMORABLE AVOCADO
GREEN COLOR AND BURNT ORANGE
LIPS.
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME HIS LIPS
HAVE CHANGED COLOR.
ROYALE: 2020 WAS SLATED TO TAKE
US BACK TO THE 1980’S, THAT THAT
IS ON HOLD UNTIL NEXT YEAR.
ORGANIZERS WANT THIS YEAR’S
FOCUS TO BE CORONAVIRUS.
BUT YOU WILL NOT SEE THE
MARIONETTE WEARING A MASK.
INSTEAD, IT WILL ON OUR FIRST
RESPONDERS LIKE HEALTH CARE
WORKERS.
SO WHAT WILL HE LOOK LIKE?
HIS GRAY HAIR TAKING ON THE LOOK
OF THE VIRUS ITSELF SEEN HERE
WITH ORANGE PING-PONG BALLS AND
ORANGE SCRUNCHIES.
HIS CUFFLINKS WILL RESEMBLE
THOSE MURDER HORNETS, THEY’LL BE
DIPPED IN GOLD TO BRING OUT HIS
FORMAL ATTIRE.
AND THE BUTTONS ON HIS JACKET
WILL BE STAMPED WITH THE YEAR
2020.
ALL OF THIS WILL GO UP IN SMOKE
AS OUR WORRIES ARE LIFTED AWAY.
THE PANDEMIC CAN’T BREAK THE
TRADITION OF ZOZOBRA.
AND ONE LOCAL COMPANY IS MAKING
IT EASIER FOR YOU TO GET IN ON
THE FUN FROM HOME.
"REALITY TIMES TWO" CREATED THIS
APP THAT BRINGS MERCHANDISE TO
LIFE
♪
CHECK OUT THIS SHIRT.
YOU CAN SEE OLD MAN GLOOM
HOLDING A PUPPET OF HIS OWN.
AND LOOK HOW THIS POSTER ALLOWS
YOU SEE A 5 FOOT TALL ZOZOBRA
AND FIRE DANCER WHEREVER YOU
ARE, ALLOWING YOU TO CREATE YO
OWN SHOW
>> IT IS ALSO A WAY TO CHEER UP
AND KIND OF GET PAST THE GLOOM.
THE WHOLE IDEA BEHIND ZOZOBRA
WAS TO BURN UP YOUR GLOOM.
SO WE’RE TRYING TO GIVE YOU A
LITTLE BIT MORE FUN WAY EVEN
, THOUGH YOU CAN’T GO SEE THE
EVENT, WHERE YOU CAN DO THAT AT
HOME.
ROYALE: THESE ITEMS ARE ALL
STILL ON SALE AND YOU CAN FIND A
LINK TO BUY THEM AT KOAT.COM
REMEMBER, ALL PROCEEDS GO TO
PROGRAMS HELPING KIDS.
AS THE POPULARITY OF ZOZOBRA
GROWS, MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE
GOING TO THE EVENT
IN FACT, LAST YEAR MORE TH
60,000 WERE IN THIS PARK.
THEY WATCHED HIM BURN.
THAT’S WHAT MAKES FORT MARCY
PARK SUCH A GREAT LOCATION.
BUT OLD MAN GLOOM HASN’T ALWAYS
APPEARED HERE.
THE FIRST TWO YEARS, HE MET HIS
DEMISE IN THE BACKYARD OF A
SANTA FE HOM
THEN IN 1926, THE BEAST FELL TO
ASHES BEHIND THE OLD CITY HALL.
THE KIWANIS CLUB OF SANTA FE
TELLS US, THE FIRST BURNING HERE
WAS IN 1933.
ZOZOBRA HAS EVEN MADE HIS WAY
OUT OF THIS PARK AND ONTO THE
BIG SCREEN.
♪
YOU CAN SEE HIM PARADING AROUND
IN WHAT LOOKS LIKE THE SANTA F
PLAZA IN THIS 1947 FILM "RIDE
, THE PINK HORSE."
AND THE ACTUAL 1976 ZOZOBRA
APPEARED IN THE FILM " "SOUTHERN
DOUBLE CROSS."
BUT HE REALLY MADE AN IMPRESSION
IN 1988, WHEN DENNIS HOPPER PAID
THE CLUB $7,000 TO CREATE A FULL
SIZE ZOZOBRA JUST FOR THE FILM
"BACKTRACK."
THIS MARIONETTE WAS CONSTRUCTED
EXACTLY LIKE THE REAL THING AND
BURNED IN TAOS FOR A SCENE.
RELATIVES?
HE HAS A COUSIN NAMED TIO COCO,
THAT TRANSLATES TO UNCLE
BOOGEYMA
I KNOW WHAT YOU ARE THINKING.
I SAID IT’S HIS COUSIN AND I
SAID TIO.
WELL, WILL SCHUSTER DIDN’T KNOW
SPANISH THAT WHILE, BUT THE NAME
STUCK.
THE LEGEND WITH TIO COCO IS THAT
ZOZOBRA SUMMONS HIM TO ATTEND
APPEARANCES ON HIS BEHALF.
THE BACK STORY ON THIS DATES
BACK TO 1940, AND THE RONALD
REAGAN MOVIE "SANTA FE TRAIL."
WHEN THE MOVIE WAS RELEASED AND
A BIG PARTY WAS PLANNED IN SANTA
FE, THE CITY WANTED TO BURN
OLD MAN GLOOM FOR THE EVENT, BUT
SHUSTER WANTED TO KEEP THAT
SPECIAL SO HE CREATED A NEW
CHARACTER INSTEAD.
>> IT DIDN’T LOOK ANYTHING WRONG
LIKE THE ZOZOBRAS HE WAS
CONSTRUCTING AT THE TIME, IT WAS
ROYALE: TIO COCO HAS ONLY MADE
THREE APPEARANCES.
THE FIRST FOR THAT MOVIE PREMI
IN 1940.
HE DIDN’T APPEAR AGAIN FOR 73
YEARS WHEN HE WAS INVITED BACK
FOR A PRIVATE KIWANIS EVENT,
LOOKING A BIT MORE LIKE WHAT
WE’RE USED TO.
IN 2018, THEN GOVERNOR SUZANNA
MARTINEZ HOSTED GOVERNOR’S FR
-- GOVERNORS FROM AROUND THE
NATION.
THIS BURNING WAS HELD JUST FOR
THEM AT FORT MARCY PARK.
YOU ALL KNOW WHEN HE BURNS, HE
IS FILLED WITH GLOOM, BUT IT’S
NOT JUST WHAT’S BEEN WRITTEN
DOWN THAT BURNS.
NANCY LAFLIN HAS MORE ON SOME OF
THE STRANGEST THINGS LIKE,
MARILYN MONROE’S DRESSES, TO THE
MOST COMMON AND HEARTFELT ITEMS
PEOPLE HAVE GIVEN TO OLD MAN
GLOOM.
HE IS MASSIVE.
THIS BIG GUY HAS A LOT ON HIS
PLATE.
HIS RESPONSIBILITY, TO GET RID
OF THE TROUBLES OF THOUSANDS O
PEOPLE.
>> I HAVE BEEN VOLUNTEERING WITH
ZOZOBRA AT THE GLOOM TABLE FOR
AT LEAST 15 YEARS.
NANCY: SOME MEMORIES THAT
STAND OUT.
>> THERE WAS A MAN THAT CAME IN
ONE YEAR AND I ALWAYS REMEMBER
HIM BECAUSE HE WAS CARRYING
SOMETHING THAT I COULDN’T SE
WHAT IT WAS IN PLASTIC.
AND IT TURNED OUT TO BE CLOTHING
OF HIS COVERED IN BLOOD FROM A
NEAR-FATAL MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT
HE HAD BEEN IN.
NANCY: FROM BROKEN BONES, TO
BROKEN HEARTS AND PINK SLIPS.
>> THEY BRING THEIR DIVORCE
PAPERS, THEY BRING THEIR LETTERS
IF THEY HAVE LOST THEIR JOBS,
THEY BRING FINANCIAL DOCUMENTS
ESPECIALLY DURING THE FINANCIAL
CRISIS, WE HAD A LOT OF MORTGAGE
DOCUMENTS.
NANCY: ALL OF THIS IS SUPPOSED
TO BURN AWAY THE PAST, TO
CELEBRATE THE FUTURE.
>> IT’S ALWAYS REALLY MOVING ON
WE’VE HAD A LOT OF WOMEN COMING
WHO BRING THEIR CLEAR MAMMOGRAM
SCANS WHEN THEY HAVE KIND OF
GONE THROUGH FOLLOW-UPS AFTER
BEATING BREAST CANCER.
NANCY: FROM THE PRACTICAL TO THE
REALLY UNUSUAL.
REMEMBER THIS MA
>> MARILYN MONROE TO ME, SHE WAS
LIKE A KITTEN THAT WANTED TO BE
LOVED.
AND SHE WAS USED BY MANY PEOPLE.
NANCY: A FEW YEARS BACK, WE
INTERVIEWED A MAN NAMED RAY, WHO
SAID HE WAS A DANCER, AND DEAR
FRIENDS WITH MARILYN MONRO
>> I DID A LOT OF MUSICALS AND
THAT IS HOW I MET HER.
NANCY: RAY TOLD US, HE HAS
TREASURED PIECES OF HER
WARDROBE THAT AT AUCTION, COULD
GO FOR A LOT OF MONEY.
RAY THOUGH, SAID HE HAD
DIFFERENT PLANS FOR MARILYN’S
CLOTHING.
IT WOULD GO TO ONE MAN, THIS
MAN.
OLD MAN GLOOM.
>> IT MAKES ME VERY SAD TO TALK
ABOUT HER BECAUSE I WAS VERY
CLOSE TO HER.
NANCY: BACK THEN, WE WERE TOLD
THAT WAS PART OF RAY’S WILL.
WHETHER MARILYN’S CLOTHING
ACTUALLY WENT UP WITH THIS.
WE DON’T KNOW.
WHAT GOES UP IN FLAMES, IS KEPT
CONFIDENTIAL IF THE PERSON
REQUESTS THA
JULIA SAYS, NOW MORE THAN EVER
SHE BELIEVES A LOT MORE PEOPLE
WILL HAVE PIECES OF THE PAST OR
THE PRESENT HE WOULD LIKE TO
LEAVE BEHIND.
>> THIS YEAR, I’M GUESSING THAT
EVERYONE WILL HAVE SOMETHING
THAT THEY’LL FEEL GLOOMY ABOUT.
NANCY: AND THIS CREEPY GUY,
WELL, TRADITION IS HE JUST MAY
DO THE TRICK.
ROYALE: WE ALL KNOW 2020 HAS
BEEN A ROUGH YEAR.
SO ONE SANTA FE NATIVE CAME UP
WITH AN IDEA TO BURN AWAY THIS
YEAR’S GLOOM BY FILLING HIM WIT
CALENDARS.
>> LET’S PUT THEM IN ZOZOBRA AND
GET RID OF ALL THIS THAT OMEN
THAT WE HAVE HAD OVER THE PAST
EIGHT OR NINE MONTHS.
ROYALE: TONIGHT, THE HUGE PUPPET
IS PACKED WITH HUNDREDS OF
CALENDARS READY TO GO UP IN
SMOKE.
THIS ANNUAL TRADITION BEGAN
ALMOST A CENTURY AGO, BORN AT A
BAR AS ONE MAN VENTED HIS
FRUSTRATIONS WITH HIS GRUMPY
FRIENDS.
IT GREW INTO AN EVENT TO HELP
OUR COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE ALL
OVER THE WORLD HEA
WILL SHUSTER LIVED TO SEE IT
GROW INTO THE SPECIAL IT IS
TODAY, AND BEFORE HE DIED, HE
SAID THIS --
>> THE LOOK IN THE YOUNGSTERS’
FACES AS THEY SAW THIS MONSTER
WHO MIGHT HAVE STEPPED OUT OF A
FAIRY TALE GO UP IN SMOKE, THAT
IS A REASON FOR ZOZOBRA.
HE APPEARS TO THE CHILDISH FANCY
IN ALL OF US.
IT IS A SCENE FROM A FAIRY TALE
OF OUR OWN MAKING.
ROYALE: KIDS TODAY ARE A
STILL GROWING UP WITH THIS
FAIRYTALE.
WE ASKED SEVERAL WHAT ZOZOBRA
MEANS TO THEM AND HERE’S WHAT
THEY TOLD US
>> PEOPLE GATHER AROUND, RIGHT
THERE GLOOMS AND PUT THEM INTO
ZOZOBRA.
>> YOU CAN PUT YOUR BLOOMS IN
 THERE.
>> YOU PUT THEM IN THIS BIG
STUFFED GUY.
>> AND THEY BURN HIM DOWN TO ASH
.
>> HE  COOL.
>> KIND OF LIKE A BIG MONSTER.
>> HE MAKES A ROARING NOISE AND
MOVES HIS HAND AROUND.
>> HE ALWAYS YELLS.
>> IT IS LOUD.
[LAUGHTER]
>> GRARRW.
>> HE IS MAD THAT HE THINKS YOU
ARE GOING TO BURN HIM.
>> HE IS BIG AND SOMETIMES HE
SCARES ME.
>> HE IS 50 FEET TALL.
>> HE IS BIG.
>> AND THEN HIS HEAD MOVES.
>> THE LITTLE FIR DANCER.
>> THEY COME UP THE STAGE AND
THE DANCE UP THE STAIRS AND THEN
THEY LAID HIM ON FIRE.
>>’S HAND SPARKS DOWN AND THEN
HIS FACE LIKE GOES ON FIRE.
>> I FEEL HAPPY BECAUSE IT TAKES
ALL MY FAMILY’S STRESS AWAY.
>> AND IT IS TRADITION.
ROYALE: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US
FOR "ZOZOBRA, LEGACY OF FIRE."
IT’S BEEN FUN LEARNING MORE
ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THIS
TRADITION WITH ALL OF YOU,
TONIGHT.
BUT NOW IT’S TIME TO WATCH HIM
BURN.
IT’S BEEN A DIFFICULT YEAR.
WE ALL HAVE GLOOM, ANGUISH AND
DESPAIR.
THIS PANDEMIC HAS BEEN REALLY
TOUGH.
AND TONIGHT HIS BURNING LETS US
GET RID OF IT AND GIVES US HOPE.
LET’S DO IT TOGETHER, AFTER THE
BREAK.
"ZOZOBRA LIVE," IS NEXT.
♪
