An award-winning multimedia experience uncovering the forgotten story of Leon Claxton's groundbreaking Black and Cuban revue that captivated North America during the Jim Crow era.
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Step into the World of Harlem in Havana®
Harlem in Havana® is an award-winning multimedia storytelling experience created by filmmaker and cultural historian Leslie Cunningham. Through film, photography, live performance, music, and rare archival discoveries, it uncovers the remarkable story of Leon Claxton, whose groundbreaking Black and Cuban revue captivated audiences across North America during the Jim Crow era. Once nearly forgotten, this extraordinary legacy is being brought back to life, celebrating the artists, the history, and the cultural impact of Harlem in Havana.
SHIRLEY BATES: THE QUEEN OF HARLEM IN HAVANA It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of SHIRLEY BATES JOHNSON, the phenomenal Brown Skin Showgirl and Black Burlesque icon who passed yesterday in Tampa, Florida at the remarkable age of 102. Shirley joined Leon Claxton’s girl show revue in 1939 at just 16…
Summer 2026 Pull Back the Curtain: The Show Is Just Getting Started Hello Beautiful People, If you’ve been following this journey for a while, you already know, I have a habit of falling down rabbit holes. One newspaper clipping becomes fifty. One photograph leads to another city. One forgotten performer refuses to leave my mind…
We’re honored to share that the film project on Harlem in Havana has been featured in All About Jazz. The article, which explores the vital role of circus and carnival circuits in spreading Black music across America, highlights a powerful and often overlooked history—how early performers carried the roots of jazz, blues, and rhythm &…
Welcome to the extraordinary Harlem in Havana Revue, a dazzling spectacle brought to life by the visionary showman, Leon Claxton. This high-octane, fast-stepping showcase of Black and Cuban music, dance, and comedy was historic phenomenon that graced U.S. and Western Canadian state fairs and carnivals from 1935 to 1967 as part of the renowned Royal American Shows.
Harlem in Havana, under the genius of Claxton, featured the best colored amateur and professional acts from the U.S. and Cuba, captivating audiences for nearly four decades. A multicultural extravaganza, the revue showcased the most beautiful brown-skin showgirls from around the world, becoming the hallmark girl show on the North American midway.
Imagine best musicians, playing blues, jazz, Latin, R&B, and early rock-n-roll, with Claxton’s big band echoing across the carnival midway. This tour de force served as a training ground for future entertainment heavyweights, featuring memorable acts like Cuban vocalist Mercedes Valdes,the sensational Harlemettes, and the captivating Fay Lawrence.
Harlem in Havana was a headlining attraction competing with burlesque icons and all-white Las Vegas-style cabaret shows, culminating in an hour+ long extravaganza that consistently left fairgoers across North America spellbound. The show served as a launchpad for music legends like Fontella Bass, Rufus Thomas, Chuck Berry, etching its name in the history of entertainment.
Leon Claxton’s tent show, known by various names like Brown Skin Vanities Revue and Cuban Rum Boogie Revue, evolved into the iconic Harlem in Havana in the late 1940s. Despite being labeled a ‘Jig Show,’ Harlem in Havana transcended the limitations of its time, achieving mainstream and international acclaim. Financially triumphant, it broke industry records and garnered nationwide and international attention as one of the finest revues ever presented under canvas.
In an era when mainstream entertainment closed its doors to African Americans and performers of color, Harlem in Havana stood as a vibrant platform. Claxton not only entertained segregated audiences but also played a crucial role in reshaping images of Black and Latino identity, spreading Afro-Cuban and African American rhythms across the region.
For African American audiences during the era of Jim Crow, Harlem in Havana was a source of pride and celebration. It often stood as the only carnival venue people of color were permitted to patronize, making it a cultural touchstone on Negro Day in cities like Tampa, Memphis, and Little Rock.
However, as political landscapes shifted with Castro’s rise to power in Cuba, Claxton faced challenges. Fidel Castro’s government changes forced Claxton to adapt, leading to a change in the show’s name and the hunt for new Cuban talent becoming increasingly challenging.
Enter the Harlem Revue.
Marking the 30th tour with Royal American Shows, Claxton added an all new lineup, led by Maurice Fontane and featuring attractions like Greta Garland and Kim Gaye, kept the show fresh and thrilling. The Harlem Revue continued to captivate audiences until 1967, the year Leon Claxton passed away.
For those who witnessed the magic of Claxton’s stage shows, the memory of Harlem in Havana remains an indelible mark on North American carnival history. A legendary spectacle that blended excitement, entertainment, and history – Leon Claxton’s Harlem in Havana will forever stand as the greatest midway attraction, a timeless celebration of culture and showmanship.
Explore the rich tapestry of this iconic era through our documentary film project, an immersive journey into the heart of Leon Claxton’s unparalleled legacy.
