About the publicity photo still from the film "La Vendedora de Amor"
Carlos Alberto Badías was a young Cuban heartthrob who did a lot of telenovela work- Gilda Mirós had previously appeared in Romance en Puerto Rico (1961) and would work in a number of Mexican movies of the late 1960s and 70s, but La Vendedora de Amor was her first starring role. She later forged a career as a long-time radio and TV talk show host. The supporting cast includes Cubans Antonia Rey and Otto Sirgo, & Dominican Zulema Atala, and Mexican film veteran Antonio Badu; all had long and notable careers.
With the theme song and musical background by legendary Puerto Rican singer musician, Maestro Tito Rodriguez, l was able to play the lead role of a dancer in my first film. “La Vendedora de Amor” Filmed in NYC, in 1964 & directed by Puerto Rican, Geronimo Mitchell. I must also thank the great choreographer from Havana, Cuba’s Tropicana Club; star dancer, Elena del Cueto, who in 1962, sought asylum in the United States, with her Cuban Ballet co-founded Alberto Alonso, and their two daughters. She rehearsed with me and directed me in the dance sequences. My wardrobe was designed by Pepito Diaz, also from Havana’s Tropicana Club.
Elena Del Cueto was lovely, kind and a talented ballerina who later divorced & founded “The Elena Del Cueto Dance Studios in Florida. She eventually moved to North Carolina were she passed at the age of 87.

The publicity photo still, from the film, shows me with Carlos Alberto Badías who was a young Cuban handsome actor, who later moved to Spain, where he passed on at an early age. The supporting cast included Antonia Rey a Cuban-born formidable actress who played my assistant in the film. She and her husband, director; Andres Castro, were pioneers in the theatre movement in their native pre-revolution Cuba. Good hearted Antonia is better known for her cameos in various movies. She has also appeared in many TV shows such as “Who’s The Boss? Cuban star Otto Sirgo, Dominican Zulema Atala, and Mexican film veteran Antonio Badu; all with very long and notable careers were also in the cast.

Notes: La Vendedora de Amor is an interesting early example of a Nuyorican production. It got significant Mexican theatrical release. Film editor Juan José Marino--is also a Mexican cinema veteran. The rest of the cast is composed of Puerto Rican and Cuban performers, with Havana Tropicana's Elena Del Cueto as Gilda's choreographer. The crew features various New York-film industry names, including cinematographer Urs Furrer, who later served as director of photography on Shaft.

Film

• Film
• New York
• Dance
• Afrodance
• Tito Rodriguez