R.I.P. Harold Cromer, a.k.a. “Stumpy”

We just received news that Harold Cromer (1921-2013), best known as the second “Stumpy” in the team of Stump and Stumpy (see earlier post here) has passed away.

Comedian and novelty tap dancer Cromer had a long career in show business both before and after his involvement with the popular team, dancing in black vaudeville, nightclubs, Broadway (DuBarry Was a Lady (1939-1940), and films (Boarding House Blues, 1948) in the early years….and similar dates, including more films (like Cotton Club, 1984) in later years, and many long years of mentorship and working with younger dancers.

Here’s an amazing clip of him when he was just a kid, in the 1938 Oscar Michaux film Swing: