William Pairman (asker) Jan 9, 2011:

Si, está claro que recuerda su niñez... ...lo que no está tan claro es si fumaba en casa, viendo el teatro en "Estudio 1" en la tele o que recuerda al teatro

...aaaah, sí queda claro. Más tarde dice

Esta fue la escuela de un chaval de provincias que no tenía acceso a los grandes teatros de la capital.

O sea que veía el teatro en la tele con su familia.

Gracias amig@s

Mróz de León Jan 9, 2011:

Williams Definitivamente recuerda a su infancia, está bien claro y sobre los chesteres pienso que sí pega aquí, él habla de sus primeros cigarrillos, coincido plenamente con Beatriz, suerte!!

William Pairman (asker) Jan 9, 2011:

I think you may be right aceavila Because so much of the rest here talks about the theatre I assumed the family went there. Earlier he mentions a TV programme called Estudio 1 which has been revived, I guess he's remembering watching the show the first time it was on. That would explain the smoking -he could well have been under the influence of his parent's smoke

Charles Davis Jan 9, 2011:

William If it was that long ago I don't think it can have been Chester's snacks/popcorn; the brand name didn't come in until the mid-80s: 'Cheetos' original mascot was the Cheetos Mouse[3], who debuted in 1971 and disappeared in the late '70s. In 1986, Chester Cheetah first appeared in television commercials as an animated cartoon character. After Chester's introduction, the sly, smooth voiced cheetah began starring in more commercials and eventually became Cheetos’ official mascot. He used the slogan "It ain't easy bein' cheesy."' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_Cheetah). I think it must have been cigarettes. Anyway, "influjo" makes more sense like that: would you talk about the "influence" of popcorn or snacks? It's quite true what you say about smoking in cinemas; you could in the UK when I was a child, but not in Spain. People had pipas, and that goes way back. I reckon this author probably had a crafty fag or two before the show; back in the Franco period practically everyone did.
And PS. I think Noni's probably right. In the old days they used to have theatre regularly on Spanish TV. Was it on Mondays? Can't remember.

Noni Gilbert Riley Jan 9, 2011:

Is there no chance.. ..they're talking about watching theatrical performances on television? It just seems a bit of a leap from the wicker rocker to the theatre.

William Pairman (asker) Jan 9, 2011:

Thanks Charles I've never seen Chester's popcorn here either but in the past...
The writer is talking of the 60s I think (he mentions the greyness of the dictatorship and theatre people flike Fernando Fernán Gómez and José Bodalo)

As for smoking in the theatre... In my youth I smoked in the cinema in England, in the late 70s, when I've mentioned that to Spaniards they were very surprised, despite Spain's love for smoking it seems it was never allowed in cinemas (my father in law is in his 60s and cant remember it). You'd have to assume the same would be true for theatre too

Charles Davis Jan 9, 2011:

Cigarettes or snacks? Bearing in mind that quite a lot of Spaniards smoked their first cigarettes while they were still children (10 is not uncommon), I was thinking that it could well be Chesterfields, and that is still by far the most common use of "un chéster". It's possible: not that you've ever been able to smoke inside theatres in Spain (at least in modern times), but maybe beforehand, with the "influjo" being the nicotine rush? If he went with his mother that sounds a bit doubtful, though you never know. I think Edward could well be right. This Chester's popcorn is by the people who make Cheetos; Chester Cheetah was (is?) their mascot (look him up in Wikipedia). I don't think "Chester's" is a well known brand of snacks in Spain today (my son, who's a bit of an expert, has never heard of them), but perhaps they were in the 80s; I found this: "Piscina, Rolls, Palomitas, Galletas, Chocolates, Papas, Chesters, Heladoo y todo lo de ayer" (http://www.fotolog.com/konnaa/16052276).

By the way, "chéster" can also mean a Cheshire cheese or a chesterfield-type sofa. Unlike to be relevant here.

Bill Harrison (X) Jan 9, 2011:

Chesterfields I'm not sure it may not be Chesterfields. No idea really but felt compelled to respond because I happen to be extremely well acquainted with a translator in Collado Mediano who smokes - Chesterfields. If you know C ask her.