by All Black Cast , Nat King Cole/Duke Ellington
[African American Film] An invaluable source for live footage of prominent Black musicians of the era. All Black Cast: Harlem Jazz Festival Archive of 3 Original Photo Lobby Cards. Anglo Amalgamated Film Distributors, 1955. This archive includes 3 vintage black and white silver gelatin photo lobby cards. Each measure 10" x 8". Harlem Jazz Festival was a 60 minute long made-for-tv program, showcasing performances by prominent Black artists including Count Basie and his sextet, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, Nat King Cole, The Clovers, Martha Davis, and more. The film was a compilation of performances derived from the "Showtime at the Apollo" series, reintroduced by Willie Bryant and Nipsy Russell. In one lobby card, Lionel Hampton gleefully plays the drums. Another lobby card captures one of the most popular black female recording artists of the 1950s, Dinah Washington, in a posh off-the-shoulder gown and elegant jewelry. Count Basie joyfully plays the piano in the final lobby card, as he wears a polished suit and bowtie. All lobby cards contain cast name and bold titling in margins. A powerful illustration of Black music, this archive is expressive and in very good condition.
(Inventory #: 19879)