Flyer for Pearl Bailey’s USO Show with Louie Bellson

Unknown location, 1950. 7 x 11 inch poster. Some small marginal tears, overall excellent.. A small poster for Pearl Bailey with the Louie Bellson Quartet, presented by the United Service Organizations and Department of Defense. Bailey (1918–1990) was a singer, dancer, and actress; she started her career performing at Black nightclubs on the east coast, and later performed in several Broadway hits including an all-Black version of Hello, Dolly! Louie Bellson (1924–2009) was Bailey’s husband, a composer, bandleader, and jazz drummer credited with inventing the double bass drum setup. Bailey toured regularly with the USO beginning in 1941, though this poster is likely from later; the DOD was called the Department of War until 1949 and the USO was inactive between 1945 and 1950.