In 1928 Wallace Downey, an executive of Columbia Records, was sent to South America to install a Brazilian branch for his company.

He quickly realized Brazil was an entertainment hot bed for potential markets in records and films.

[1] In 1931 Downey produced and directed, Coisas Nossas, the first successful Brazilian film with sound.

His 1935 film, Hello, Hello Brazil!, first introduced radio singer and actress Carmen Miranda to a larger audience paving the way to her international fame at 20th Century Fox in the United States.

Downey later founded his own production company, Waldow S.A., in a partnership with Cinédia, producing musical films.