Henry Medina presents a lively overview ofCuban and Afro-Caribbean popular music as depicted in American cinemafrom the 1930s through the '60s. Medina, a New York collector of Latinmusic on film, brings rare films from his collection. Don Azpiazu and His Havana Casino Orchestra (1930, 10 mins):The band that officially introduced Cuban popular music to a vastAmerican audience is shown in a short film that was unseen forsixty-four years until a recent screening in France. Machito and HisAfro-Cubans (1945, 10 mins): The only 1940s film of this band thatrevolutionized Latin American and jazz music; Betty Reily on vocals.Noro Morales and His Orchestra (early '40s, 3 mins): The influentialPuerto Rican-born pianist and bandleader; featured on trapdrum is ayoung Tito Puente. Miguelito Valdes Special (1940s-'60s, 15 mins):Brought from Cuba by Xavier Cugat, Valdes was "unique, sensitive,romantic, magnetic, inventive, and humorous; a pioneer as well as abreaker of social and racial barriers" (Machito). In thiscompilation he performs, among others, "Babalu" and we see anincredible snake dance. Mambo No. 8 (1951, 3 mins): Carlos Molina andHis Orchestra, Rene Puppets performing the mambo. Mambo Madness (1955,15 mins): Tito Rodriguez and his conjunto, and some of the best mambodancers and dance teams of the era (many of whom were regulars at thelegendary Palladium Ballroom). Perez Prado ("King of theMambo") (early '60s, 15 mins): Very rare television kinescopefeaturing some of Prado's greatest hits as both songwriter andbandleader.