Walter Vacchino won the 2024 Malafemmena Prize for his book “Ariston. The magic box of Sanremo”, co-written with Luca Ammirati and published by Salani. The owner, together with his sister Carla, of the historic theater, received the trophy in Naples. A new recognition for the book that tells the story of Ariston, created by his father Aristide, fascinated by the world of cinema. The visionary entrepreneur created a “magic box” which proved to be suitable for small screen broadcasts: it then also became the home of the Italian Song Festival and hosted many international events. Not just shows, but also sports and religion. While the exhibition continues in the meeting room which tells the story of the world of cinema linked to Sanremo and Ariston, with the evolution of cameras, posters, armchairs, videos and other memorabilia, including employees’ pay slips of yesteryear, Walter Vacchino smiles this new appreciation and places the “Malafemmena” award in his office. Conceived and curated by the journalist Barbara Carere with the patronage of the Tourism Department of the Municipality of Naples, it has reached its 20th edition: «It is the only award dedicated to the great Totò recognized by the De Curtis family, starting with Liliana De Curtis, daughter of the unforgettable Neapolitan artist”, says the co-owner of Ariston. It was delivered to him during a gala evening at the Gold Tower Lifestyle Hotel, hosted by Barbara Carere and Max Giannini, speaker of Radio Kiss Kiss. Among the winners were also the director of Novella 2000 Roberto Alessi, the rapper Moreno, the singer Aka 7even, Audio 2, some actresses from the “Mare Fuori” series, and prominent personalities from the world of entertainment, entrepreneurship, medicine, cinema and fashion.
The volume which recounts over sixty years of entertainment and reveals the stories and secrets of the famous theatre, was written by Walter Vacchino together with Luca Ammirati, writer and head of the Ariston press room. Released in bookstores in January, the book was presented in various cities: in Florence with the new artistic director of the Sanremo Festival Carlo Conti, in Milan with the maestro Peppe Vessicchio, in Fontanafredda with Oscar Farinetti, founder of Eataly, and Al Bano , in Turin in the Gallerie d’Italia and at the International Book Fair, in the Rai production center in Naples at the invitation of the director Antonio Parlati, and during the Sanremo Festival in the main Rai programs such as “Uno Mattina”, “I Fatti Vostri”, “La Volta Buona” by Caterina Balivo and “Milleeunlibro: Writers on TV” by Gigi Marzullo. The book presentation tour will continue throughout Italy in the coming months. —
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