Research Catalog

Title

Interview with Harold "Stumpy" Cromer [sound recording].

Author

Cromer, Harold.

Publication

2005.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Additional Authors

Rudnik, Annie.

Description

3 sound discs (ca. 154 min.): digital; 4 3/4 in. +

Summary

• Disc 1 (ca. 65 min.). Harold "Stumpy" Cromer speaks with Annie Rudnik about styles of Japanese tap dancing performed across Japan; the origins of tap dance in America; how the origins of particular styles of Japanese tap dancers can be discerned by their performance and clothing; his four visits to Japan, the first with the dance troupe, American Dance Machine, directed by Lee [Becker] Theodore; the process of reviving Broadway show choreography; American Dance Machine as the first troupe to bring Broadway-style dance to Japan; African American dances being incorporated in musicals; minstrelsy as originating from African American dance, which was then copied by white performers in blackface; occasional African Americans' appearances in minstrel shows wearing blackface; Al Jolson and others' success in blackface; dance in minstrelsy not being tap dancing; the copying by Japanese of African American dance and clothing; more about the origins of African American dances; American Dance Machine's reception in Japan and extension of its stay; Japanese familiarity with musical shows from films such as My fair lady and West side story; Japan's development of its own musical stars since the 1970s; American Dance Machine's tour across Europe and the U.S.; Cromer's trip alone to Japan in 1982, where he performed in American-style night clubs; how audience reaction differed by country; his beginnings as a roller skate dancer; briefly, the development of tap dance from African music and dance; tap as compared to other dance forms; Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, John W. Bubbles, the Nicholas Brothers, and Savion Glover; more examples of tap in its relation to other dance forms, such as flamenco; Agnes de Mille's musical comedy Allegro and Cromer's part in teaching one of the cast members; Scott Joplin; Chita Rivera; American Dance Machine's performance at the opening at Ford's Theatre; what constitutes an oleo spot; the fact that no African Americans were in the performance American Dance Machine gave at President Jimmy Carter's White House; African music and dance being used by artists like Bob Fosse; more about African American music, including the blues; more about Al Jolson's popularity.
• Disc 2 (ca. 73 min.). Harold "Stumpy" Cromer speaks with Annie Rudnik about his duo with Stump and Stumpy [Stump is James "Jack" Cross]; the fact that Stump and Stumpy often did not get credit for their work; Ethel Merman in Cole Porter's musical comedy DuBarry was a lady, where his credit was cut from the program; the fact that African Americans' work was often misrepresented or not credited; shows and films in which he performed and current movies in which he appears; the fact that Stump and Stumpy integrated Las Vegas, Nev., appearing with Duke Ellington at the Riviera Hotel, and that Sammy Davis, Jr., was given credit for it; his written proof of the shows he was in for which he was not given credit; loss of money because of others taking credit for his work; the trumpet he created for which Dizzy Gillespie was later given credit; his opinion that Jack Cross was one of the greatest tap dancers; performing in Amsterdam with The Original Hoofers; more about the African origins of African American dance; more about the performance at Ford's Theatre; more about Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Tap Extravaganza; Robinson not given recognition by other tap artists; more about Chita Rivera and Sammy Davis, Jr.; Davis in the musical comedy Mr. Wonderful; Stump and Stumpy's performance at the Million Dollar Theater with Duke Ellington and at the Hollywood Cotton Club with the Count Basie Band; more about Sammy Davis, Jr.; more about Robinson; more about Sammy Davis, Jr., discussion of various aspects of racism; his authorship of Secret daughter, which won an award; more about racism; meeting Betty Grable; McCarthyism; the musical comedy Showboat and Oscar Hammerstein; the influence of NAACP [National Association for the Advancement of Colored People] on African American artists and projects in theater and motion pictures; more about racism.
• Disc 3 (ca. 16 min.). Harold Cromer speaks with Annie Rudnik further about the influence of the NAACP; projects being financially backed based on decisions by the NAACP; the Amos and Andy Show; current movies by African American artists; more about his currently not being acknowledged for his work, including not being asked to perform with Butterfly [Roxanne Butterfly?].

Alternative Title

Dance Audio Archive.

Subjects

• Robinson, Bill, 1878-1949
• Racism and the arts
• Cross, James
• Minstrel shows
• Audiotapes > Cromer, H
• Davis, Sammy, Jr., 1925-1990
• Racism
• Tap dancing > Japan
• African Americans in the performing arts
• American Dance Machine (Dance troupe)
• Cromer, Harold

Note

• Interview with Harold "Stumpy" Cromer conducted by Annie Rudnik in Mr. Cromer's home in New York City on March 5, 2005.
• Portrait on cover of transcript.

Access (note)

• The audio recording and transcript are open for auditing and reading, respectively, but permission is required for duplication and any other use of all or any part thereof.
• Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Source (note)

• Harold Cromer and Annie Rudnik.

Call Number

*MGZTL 4-2572

OCLC

235943848

Author

Cromer, Harold. Interviewee

Title

Interview with Harold "Stumpy" Cromer [sound recording].

Imprint

2005.

Access

The audio recording and transcript are open for auditing and reading, respectively, but permission is required for duplication and any other use of all or any part thereof.

Local Note

The sound quality of the speakers is fair overall, but the recording is marred by an extraneous hum. There are several brief gaps.

Archive original: *MGZTLO 4-2572

Archival transcript: *MGZMTO 3-2572

The New York Public Library Jerome Robbins Archive of the Recorded Moving Image holds a video recording of this interview.

The New York Public Library Jerome Robbins Dance Division holds a later interview with Harold Cromer conducted by Annie Rudnik on April 30, 2005, cataloged under the call number *MGZTL 4-2573.

Restricted Access

Transcripts may not be photographed or reproduced without permission.

Connect to:

Request Access to Special Collections (Dance Division) material

Local Subject

Audiotapes -- Cromer, H.

Added Author

Rudnik, Annie. Interviewer

Research Call Number

*MGZTL 4-2572 [sound disc]

*MGZMT 3-2572 [transcript]