This photo shows Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday in a promo for a film called “New Orleans” and it is signed by Billie Holiday.  

Jazz singer Billie Holiday (1915 - 1959), or ”Lady Day," was known for her distinctive voice and had a profound influence on jazz and blues music, and Louis Armstrong (1901 - 1971), nicknamed “Satchmo”, was an American trumpeter, vocalist, and bandleader who was born in New Orleans and rose to fame in the 1920’s and became one of the most influential figures of the jazz era.   

Billie was booked exclusively by Joe Glaser’s agency, Associated Booking Corp. located at 745 Fifth Ave. in New York City, and from September to the end of October 1946, Billie was recording and acting in her only full-length movie, “New Orleans”, which was released by United Artists in April 1947, and this is a signed promotional photo for the film. 

She signed the photo in blue in the upper right, in the margin on the bottom left it says “Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday as they appeared in the United Artists Production of New Orleans”, the bottom right says “Associated Booking Corp, Joe Glaser, President, Squibb Bldg, 745 5th Ave, N.Y.”.

Joe Glaser (1896 - 1969) was a manager known for his involvement in the careers of jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday. Glaser began his career as a fight promoter and club manager and started managing Louis Armstrong in 1935. The success of their association prompted other jazz musicians to join Glaser and his agency, which was formed in 1940 by Glaser and Armstrong. It was incorporated in June 1943 and represented artists like Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Lionel Hampton, Dave Brubeck, Barbra Streisand, and others. 

The same promotional photo unsigned goes for $350 on the rare book website we use, and similar photos of Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday together go for $2000 to nearly $4000 when signed by Billie Holiday.   

Overall Size: 15 1/4 x 13 1/4 in.
Sight Size: 9 1/2 x 7 1/2 in.