Merche Mar, the last great vedette of Barcelona's famed El Molino cabaret, has passed away at the age of around 74 following complications from a stroke she suffered days prior. The news of her passing on February 25, 2025, has sent waves of mourning through the cultural community of Barcelona.
Born and raised in Barcelona, Mar's artistic career took flight at the tender age of 15 when she debuted at El Molino, an establishment synonymous with the golden age of cabaret. Despite not having any theatrical background, she dazzled audiences alongside well-known figures such as Johnson and Escamillo, carving her niche as one of the most iconic performers of the genre. Her training began at a convent school, where she learned piano and ballet, but it was her talent with the accordion and her formidable stage presence which caught the eye of the music hall's owner, doña Vicenta.
Joan Estrada, the cultural agitator and former artistic director at El Molino, recalled, "Merche was the vedette of El Molino, her entire life worked there and was its symbol. She represented the artist who directly connects with the public — she is a symbol and very good person, which isn't always easy to be among the jungle of vedettes of the time."
Mar's repertoire included notable productions such as Rubias y Morenas, Las Pícaras Molineras, Bésame donde quiera, Taxi al Molino, and her final performance, Pluma y Peineta, staged just before the cabaret's closure in 1997. Even after the venue's closure, Mar remained loyal to her roots, returning when El Molino briefly reopened for the Made in Paral·lel show. It was then she showcased her sharp wit and humor once again, encapsulating the charm she had become known for.
Her commitment to her craft and the theater was unwavering; she didn’t just perform; she embodied the spirit of El Molino, forming connections with her audience, especially women, whom she endeared herself to. Estrada noted how she seamlessly created camaraderie among the patrons, often turning them from mere spectators to accomplices, blissfully complicit in her performances.
Reflecting on her exceptional life, Mar stated, "I don't see it; I just lived it. I have good memories of it. But I miss it at times; it is simply part of my life... my home." Such candid remarks endeared Mar even more to her fans, allowing them insight not only to her celebrity but to her as a person.
Merche Mar led her life predominantly within the walls of El Molino. She never married and had no children, dedicatively nurturing her career as she encountered the ups and downs of the entertainment world. Her exceptional humor and jocular spirit enabled her to tackle the societal and political constraints of the Franco era, often using double entendre and clever wordplay to navigate through censorship.
Beyond the music hall, her talents expanded onto television and the big screen, where she appeared in the film Soldados de Salamina, directed by David Trueba. Her talents did not go unnoticed; she published her memoirs, El Molino. Historias de una Vedette, detailing her experiences and the legacy of the iconic theater, preserving its history for future generations.
Her passing marks not only the loss of personal artistry but signifies the end of the old Parisian-style variety theater era within Barcelona. Joan Estrada’s sentiments are echoed by many who draw from the rich legacy she left behind: "Barcelona has lost a great woman and a great artist with whom we have shared many good moments at the Molino, both on stage and off stage," stated Jordi Martí Galbis, the president of the municipal group of Junts per Barcelona. The void left by her departure is significant and reshapes the cultural fabric of the city.
Merche Mar's impact will remain immortalized, her spirit and performances forever cherished by those who filled the seats of El Molino, transformed enraptured by the artistry of the woman who embraced her identity and shared joy with the world. El Molino and the vibrant life it represented live on, as she has woven herself indelibly within the very heart of Barcelona's cultural history.