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LRGV Folktales & Legends: Devil at the Disco

The research guide for regional folklore is intended to help users find resources related to popular folktales, myths, and legends in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Reference Entries

Books

Summary

Devil at the Disco is one of the most well-known legends of the Rio Grande Valley known as “El Guapo Extranjero” and “The Devil at Boccaccio 2000”. Throughout its retelling, Devil at the Disco has had different variations, but at its core it is a cautionary tale. The young female protagonist defies the wishes of her parents and goes out to the club (discoteca). There she meets a mysterious man. As they dance, she notices he has goat and/or chicken like feet. The man vanishes, and bad things happen to the young girl. In some instances, she dies, in others she goes crazy. The only explanation is that she must have been dancing with the Devil himself. The legend has been told in different Texas regions, but its origin can be traced back to Quebec in the early 19th Century. 

Additional Resources

Research Compiled by Manny Rodriguez

Manny Rodriguez is a Library Associate with UTRGV Special Collections & Archives. He joined the University Library in 2015 as a student worker and later as a full-time member of the team. Manny earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology & History from UTRGV (2016) and a Master of Library Science from Texas Woman’s University (2023).

Articles & Newspapers