Oct 17, 2023 - Culture

"Selena" mural lives on at Lerma's Nite Club

Megan Stringer

An image of the mural "Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl" shows an Aztec warrior carrying a sleeping princess, with a volcano in the background. — The "Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl" mural featured in the movie "Selena" is still on display at the newly renovated Lerma's Nite Club. Photo: Megan Stringer/Axios

We recently reported a story about the rehabilitation of Lerma's Nite Club, the historic former conjunto dance hall. It was there we saw the mural from the "Selena" movie still on site.

Zoom in: "Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl" was commissioned for the 1997 film, per the Texas State Historical Association. It became a prominent fixture of the local club.

According to one telling, princess Iztaccíhuatl and Popocatépetl were engaged before Popocatépetl went off to war.
A jealous warrior spread a false rumor that Popocatépetl had died, sending Iztaccíhuatl into grief and a deep sleep.
Popocatépetl carried the sleeping princess to the top of a mountain, where they turned into volcanoes.

This quote from Wayne Alejandro Wolbert's 2019 dissertation on conjunto sums it up well:

"Worn and faded, yet instantly recognizable from being featured on seemingly every single Aztec-themed taqueria calendar you have ever owned, with no band blocking it from view the picture of the tragic pair now commands the room's attention."

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"Selena" mural lives on at Lerma's Nite Club

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