R&B MC-SINGER-DANCER PUBLICITY PHOTO (c. 1957): HAROLD CROMER of STUMP & STUMPY

Description

R&B MC-TAP DANCER PUBLICITY PHOTO (c. 1957): HAROLD CROMER of STUMP & STUMPY
Harold Cromer, who was the "Stumpy" of the famed tap dance duo Stump & Stumpy, was also the emcee on a 1957 R&B/rock 'n' roll package show called "The Biggest Show of Stars" featuring Fats  Domino, Clyde McPhatter, Frankie Lymon, Paul Anka, and many other acts that appeared in many theaters and auditoriums across the country, including Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium.
Stump & Stumpy recorded for M-G-M in 1953 and Cromer also had a 45 on Cameo in 1965.
This print is from the estate of the late African American booking agent and promoter David H. Booker (1917-1980), who at that time was the main local promoter for shows and dances at the Municipal Auditorium, bringing in national R&B, jazz and blues acts and sometimes pop and rock 'n' roll stars as well. He used black & white glossy publicity photos he got from agencies such as Gale, Shaw, GAC and Universal, and record companies (Duke, Vee-Jay, etc.) but apparently when he ran out and needed more he would make copies from the prints on lesser quality paper (still slick or glossy, though) -- sometimes again and again, and after several generations of recopying, the resulting prints would have blurred lines and lettering and a brown or reddish tint or outlining. (At least that's the explanation a photo restoration expert suggested to me; if you know more about what process may have been used, please let me know!)
The Harold Cromer photo here appears to be a later generation print that has acquired a tint, and it is cut to 7-1/2+ x 9-3/8" size. However it still dates from the period when Booker was active in promoting the big package shows.