Carlos Miranda, Vigilante Rodoviário
Carlos Miranda was an actor in a series of movies made for TV in 1961. He played the role of a Highway Patrolman (Vigilante Rodoviário) with a Police Dog named Lobo. After the series was completed he was allowed to keep the Lobo and the Police Car, a 1961 Simca Chamborg .
When he left the acting business he went to the police academy and became a real Policeman.
He served in São Paulo and retired in Águas da Prata where he now lives. He parks the car in the Police Station and brings it out for ceremonial occasions such as the Off Road Rally.
To read more about Carlos go to
http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/r/rodovaiario.htm
Go here to read more about the Simca Chambord (English translation)
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=pt&u=http://www2.uol.com.br/bestcars/classicos/simca-1.htm&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=5&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dsimca%2Bchambord%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DG
Here is the promotional material he hands out now.
On the back there is a photo of Carlos on a Harley Davidson. I think he looks a little like Marlon Brando in that photo.
(Scroll down to read the text in Portuguese and English.)
Here is where the 1961 Simca Chambord is parked today.
This is the Polícia Battalion sign.
This is what the writing says on the back of Carlos' card.
(Scroll down for the English Translation)
Em 1961 o Brasil foi surpreendido com o lançamento da primeira série de filmes produzida especialmente para a televisão, pioneira em toda a America Latina. Ari Fernandes e Alfredo Palácios foram os idealizadores.A eles se juntou um jovem ator oriundo do Teatro Popular do Sesi, escolhido para personificar o primeiro herói de filmes para a TV 0 programa surpreendeu a todos e já na primeira semana tornou-se a maior audiência em todo o pais. Esse herói teve também o mérito de ser o primeiro ator a se tornar verdadeiramente o personagem e ingressar no prestigiado Guiness Book. Sua carreira na Policia Militar foi marcada pela colaboração nos mais diversos eventos dirigidos as crianças, na elaboração dos programas de aproximação da população com as atividades da corporação, com a Semana da Criança, dos programas na TV Excelsior e na TV Bandeirantes, do primeiro laboratório de fotografia, de cinema e da primeira revista dirigida a estudantes do primeiro e segundo graus. Após sua passagem para a reserva, o Vigilante Rodoviário continua sua trajetória em quase todas as cidades brasileiras levando, a universidades, escolas e encontros de carros antigos, o trabalho que a Policia Militar desenvolve em prol da população.
Translation:
In 1961 Brazil was surprised with the release of the first of a series of films produced especially for TV, made totaly in Latin America. Ari Fernandes and Alfredo Palacios created the series. Getting together with them, a young artist (Carlos Miranda) coming from the Popular Theater Sesi, was choosen to be the first TV movie hero. The program was a big surprise and was a success all over the country from the first week. This hero was also the first actor to incorporate his role into real life and had his character inserted into the Guiness Book. His career in the Military Police was marked by his colaberation in programs dedicated to the kids like in the Children's Week, TV programs for TV Excelsior and TV Bandeirantes, the first cinema photography laboratory and the first children's magazine. After his active service he, the Vigilante Rodoviario, continues his work with the kids, going to Universities, schools, and antique car meetings developing the work the Military Police offers to the population.
Photos by Urso Branco
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