It is difficult to trace the history of the image to a single author, as various versions of this image (or others from the same photo-session) appear to have been distributed numerous times by numerous publicity agencies over a period of almost 20 years. However, the earliest record of a distributor of an alternate image from the same photo-session appears to have been by Bill Doll & Company, circa 1949 (see bottom image of original upload).
Note that it may still be copyrighted in jurisdictions that do not apply the rule of the shorter term for US works (depending on the date of the author's death), such as Canada (50 p.m.a.), Mainland China (50 p.m.a., not Hong Kong or Macao), Germany (70 p.m.a.), Mexico (100 p.m.a.), Switzerland (70 p.m.a.), and other countries with individual treaties.
Photo has been color-corrected and cropped in compliance with standard 8x10 "head shot" dimensions. Previous upload was to establish dating, source and that there are no copyright marks on the image.
{{Information |Description=Publicity photo of American entertainer, Bert Lahr promoting his role in the stage production, ''Burlesque'', 1946. |Source=[http://www.ebay.com/itm/1956-Press-Photo-Comedian-Bert-Lahr-/280901128475?pt=Art_P...