| Sam Lucchese | |
| Birth Date: | February 24, 1868 |
| Birth Place: | Palermo, Sicily, Italy |
| Death Date: | January 15, 1929 |
| Death Place: | San Antonio, Texas, US |
| Resting Place: | Saint Mary's Cemetery |
| Occupation: | Businessman, impresario |
| Spouse: | Frances Battaglia |
| Children: | 3 sons, 2 daughters, including Josephine Lucchese |
Sam Lucchese (1868–1929) was an Italian-born American businessman and impresario. He was the founder of the Lucchese Boot Company and the owner of Spanish-language theaters in San Antonio and Laredo, Texas.
Sam Lucchese was born on February 24, 1868, in Palermo, Sicily, Italy.[1] He immigrated to the United States in 1883 with his parents and siblings, settling in San Antonio, Texas.[1] [2]
Lucchese was a businessman. In 1883, he co-founded the Lucchese Boot Company with his brother in San Antonio.[1] [2]
With the revenue from his boot company, Lucchese opened Spanish-speaking theaters in San Antonio and Laredo.[3] In 1912, he acquired the Teatro Zaragoza on the corner of Commerce Street and Santa Rosa Street in San Antonio.[1] [3] Five years later, in 1917, he acquired the Teatro Nacional, located at the same intersection in San Antonio.[1] [3] An impresario, he hired actors from Mexico to perform in his theaters.[1]
He married Frances Battaglia.[1] They had three sons and two daughters, including, Josephine Lucchese, who became a renowned opera vocalist.[1]
He died of a stroke on January 15, 1929, in San Antonio, Texas.[1] He was buried at Saint Mary's Cemetery. After his death, his son Cosimo took over the Lucchese Boot Company.[1] [2] His grandson, Samuel James Lucchese, succeeded him, and designed boots for many actors.[2]