National Enchilada Day: Marilyn Monroe's request for enchiladas, tacos in Juárez
Sunday, May 5, Cinco de Mayo, is also National Enchilada Day. Not even a superstar like Marilyn Monroe could resist the Mexican dish of a corn tortilla wrapped around a filling and covered with a savory sauce.
Until the law changed on Nov. 7, 1970, many Americans seeking a quick divorce found one in Juárez. Under the old law, a person seeking a divorce in Juárez could arrive there in the morning, get a residency certificate and divorce in a few hours, and re-marry, all on the same day. The person being sued did not have to be present.
Mia divorces Frankie
The Aug. 17, 1968, El Paso Times reported: Looking lean and hungry and with apparently a heavy loss of sleep, Maria Mia Farrow, wife of Frank Sinatra, flew from New York to the border to obtain a Chihuahua “quickie” divorce Friday.
Surrounded by three burly bodyguards who claimed they were attorneys, the young actress was whisked through the noonday divorce proceedings, which lasted less than 30 minutes …
In her petition, the frail-looking daughter of actress Maureen O’Sullivan charged her millionaire crooner husband with cruelty and incompatibility. She also petitioned the court to restore her maiden name. The court accepted the charges.
Anthony Quinn seeks divorce in Juárez
Dec. 5, 1964, El Paso Times: Two-time Academy Award winner Anthony Quinn Friday filed for divorce before the First Civil Court of Judge Lorenzo Holguin in Juárez.
Quinn, who gave his name as Antonio Rodolfo Quinn, was represented by Lic. Jose Amador y Trias.
The actor was believed to have left El Paso soon after his appearance to file for a quickie Mexican divorce from his wife, Katherine Lester DeMille Quinn, daughter of late movie mogul Cecil B. DeMille.
Zsa Zsa Gabor sheds fifth husband
Oct. 19, 1967, El Paso Times: Miss Gabor was accompanied to the Juárez Municipal Palace by her Los Angeles lawyer, Manuel Ruiz, Juárez lawyer Jose Amador y Trias, and a Los Angeles writer, Carl Parsons.
Looking worried and quite serious, Miss Gabor talked to the Juárez lawyer in French, she smiled happily for cameramen ….
She was worried about the number of people who might see her passport. She sent Mr. Parsons to accompany her Juárez lawyer to make sure she got it back.
Marilyn Monroe seeks divorce
On January 21, 1961, Marilyn Monroe filed for divorce from her third husband, Arthur Miller, in Juárez but not before asking for a taco and enchilada plate:
Marilyn Monroe, movie star, filed suit for divorce against her third husband, Arthur Miller, last night in the First Civil Court of Juárez. Playwright Miller and Miss Monroe called it quits last November during filming of her latest picture, “The Misfits.” Since that time her name has been linked with that of her second husband, baseball’s Joe DiMaggio.
She was tired and upset
The beauteous Monroe looked tired and upset when she appeared with her lawyer and another man in Judge Miguel Gomez Guerra’s court. Her lawyers are Aurellano Gonzalez Vargas and Arturo Sosa Aguilar of Juárez.
“The plane was delayed and I got upset,” she said. “I don’t feel like being bothered with publicity right now. But I would love to have a plate of tacos and enchiladas.”
Miss Monroe was wearing a high-fashion black suit and a black “flower pot” hat over her blonde curls. She said she had arrived by plane at 5 p.m.
More: 'Quickie' Juárez divorces ended in 1970
Settlement reached
Judge Gomez Guerra opened the court especially so that her petition of divorce could be presented. Miss Monroe charged “incompatibility of character.” The man with her was identified as her “manager.”
Lawyers said that the final decree will be granted early next week.
Miss Monroe asked that her maiden name of Marilyn Monroe be restored in the petition presented to the Chihuahua State court. She stated that she and her husband reached a property agreement on their U.S. holdings Jan. 19 and that she owns no property in Mexico.
The petition reads generally, “The respondent (Miller) is of a character that is incompatible with that of the plaintiff (Monroe), which has made the continuation of our matrimonial life impossible to the extent that we have been living separately since November, 1960 and that no reconciliation is possible."
Miss Monroe can marry immediately after the decree is handed down. She was not expected to return to Juárez, however, as she gave Attorney Sosa Aguilar her power of attorney and her presence is not required by the court.
Miller’s lawyer is believed to be Francisco Gomez Fraire, who has offices in the same building as Sosa Aguilar and Gonzalez Vargas, Miller will not have to appear in court if he has given power of attorney to the lawyer, but it has not been determined whether Fraire has this.
Trish Long may be reached at [email protected] or 915-546-6179.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Celebrities seek quick divorces in Juárez
