In celebration of Black History Month 2021- PART 1 of JIG SHOW | Leon Claxton's Harlem in Havana will premiere on Friday, February 5 at 7:00pm. Pre-order the full 3-part film series now or wait and purchase each part the day it releases. View the film series schedule here.
The Harlem in Havana Project
A multimedia documentary project honoring one of America's most successful traveling shows of the 20th century that influenced Black and Latin entertainment in ways that still resonate with wonder today.
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Sunday, August 2, 2020
New York School of Burlesque Book Club Show presents "Brown Skin Showgirls"
August 5, 6 pm-730 pm EST on Zoom/Facebook Live.
Join the New York School of Burlesque Book club show for an hour of books and burlesque! Burlesque Historian Bebe Bardot will guest host, interviewing author Leslie Cunningham about her book Brown Skin Showgirls. Learn more now.
Friday, July 24, 2020
Don't wait for the film, see the Brown Skin Showgirls!
BROWN SKIN SHOWGIRLS is a black and white photographic collection of the Black and Cuban women who performed burlesque, shake, exotic, rhumba, salsa, calypso, striptease and female impersonation on Leon Claxton's Harlem in Havana Revue during its run on Royal American Shows from 1936 to 1967. This book is guaranteed to expand your knowledge of Black and Cuban performers that shaped American popular culture. Order your print copy today.
Friday, April 17, 2020
The life and times of Leon Claxton

Showman/Producer/Vaudeville Artist
Leon D. Claxton Sr. (April 1902-November 1967) was an African American impresario, award-winning showman and vaudeville entertainer who found great success and infamy in the outdoor entertainment industry with his popular stage revues Harlem in Havana (1946–1960) and the Harlem Revue (1961-1967).
One of America's first black entertainment moguls, Leon Claxton helped spread Black and Latin music and dance to mainstream audiences during the era of Jim Crow. A star-maker who innovated musical theatre, Claxton grew a road show empire that would go on to influence the world of television, musical theatre and nightclub shows.
Claxton reached the apex of his career with triumph of his Black and Cuban revue, Harlem in Havana, and went onto enjoy a good deal of wealth and social distinction, despite the odds against him as a self-made, black entrepreneur.
Read more.
Thursday, September 19, 2019
HARLEM IN HAVANA, SEX, SIN & SAWDUST - Watch for the forthcoming book!
This project began in response to a question asked by one of his Grandchildren. Where are you from, they asked. In trying to answer the question he realized there was more to its answer than he was ready to reveal. Learn more.
Visit https://www.johncunninghamauthor.com
Sunday, September 1, 2019
View the Online Photography Gallery
The Harlem in Havana Project's Online Photography Gallery features nearly 50 never-before digitized images from Claxton's revue. All photos are copyright protected.
Monday, June 17, 2019
Multimedia Magazine Collector's Edition
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