Here is a letter that Bing wrote late in life. Throughout his career he made time to not only reach out to other Hollywood celebrities but to his fans as well. This letter Bing wrote late in his life on November 11, 1975...
THE BING CROSBY NEWS ARCHIVE
This is a one stop place to find news and stories about the greatest singer of all-time, Bing Crosby. From his days with Paul Whiteman to his final performances in 1977, we will examine this remarkable entertainer's life and times!
Sunday, June 4, 2023
Monday, May 22, 2023
BING ON FILM: MR. MUSIC - PART TWO
What baffles me about the movie were the songs that were written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. They were catchy and enjoyable, and Bing was in near perfect voice when sang them, but none of the songs became big hits. Two songs written in for the movie, Bing never recorded. There was a title song “Mr. Music” that was only sung by a chorus and a song called “Wasn’t I There”, which Bing only sung a few lines of that he never recorded. Bing did record six of the songs for Decca Records and there were issued on a 78rpm titled ”Songs from Mr. Music”. My personal favorite song from the film was “Accidents Will Happen”. Bing sings this alone and again with Dorothy Kirsten. He also recorded two versions of this song. One version was a more of a slow solo ballad. The other recording was a duet between Bing and Kirsten that was truly dramatic and enjoyable. The song “Life Is So Peculiar” was probably the most successful song from the film, and Louis Armstrong recorded a nice version of it. Again, I think all the songs in the film were good, and they deserve to be remembered more than they are.
I enjoyed the film but the reviews at the time were a mixed bag:
Bosley Crowther of The New York Times in his review of December 21, 1950 wrote: "To brighten the Christmas season, our old friend, Bing Crosby, is in town in a role (and an entertainment) that fits him—and he it—like a glove. In Paramount’s Mr. Music, which came to the Paramount yesterday ... Mr. Music may not stack up with the best of the Crosby films, but it is certainly a contemporary achievement that the master may lean happily upon."
Variety concluded: "Despite a contrived story, the ingredients are sufficiently well mixed to make Mr. Music a box office winner”
I remember this movie fondly from my youth. My dad had it recorded on an old VHS tape, and before I had the recordings in my collection, I literally stuck a microphone to the television speaker and recorded the songs to my little portable cassette player. It is amazing how far my collection has come, but it would be fun to have those old cassettes tapes again. Not only did those amateur recordings I made include the soundtrack from the film, but probably my late father yelling or coughing in the background! Back to the film, Mr. Music is not Bing’s best film by any stretch of the imagination, but I really wish this film was released on DVD or Blu-Ray. There is a certain charm about the film. Even though Bing himself did not like the title of the film, because he thought it was too pretentious, Bing was Mr. Music for decades, and he continues to be for millions of fans everywhere...
Monday, May 8, 2023
BING ON FILM: MR. MUSIC - PART ONE
The plot is not much, but Bing Crosby plays Paul Merrick, a once successful songwriter, who now prefers to waste time at the horse track and golf course instead of working and writing new songs. At the beginning of the movie, Bing is nearly broke, and he travels back to his old college with his long-suffering producer (Charles Coburn). Instead of working on their new play, Bing wants to go to the college to see them put on a production of an old show of his. Getting off the train at the station, Bing thinks the college crowd is there to see him, but they are there to greet the college hero (played by a young Robert Stack). Bing is greeted by a young lady that works for the alumni office (Nancy Olsen). She is prim and proper, and very structured. Nancy has Bing’s schedule down to the minute while he is there at the college.
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Friday, April 21, 2023
BING AND A GOODYEAR RAINCOAT
Here is an interesting advertisement for a rain coat made by Goodyear. I never knew this existed! Bing Crosby cold sell ice to an eskimo!
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
NEW CD: BING CROSBY - GENERAL ELECTRIC TIME
This 2-CD set contains a wonderful selection of Bing Crosby songs from the two General Electric seasons of 1952-54 as he displays his versatility with 57 tracks ranging from Great American Songbook standards, to hits of the day and to some of the crooner's old film songs. Guest artists include Peggy Lee, Helen O'Connell, Dinah Shore, Toni Arden etc. who perform with Crosby...
1. Open Up Your Heart
2. Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart
3. Just For You
4. Zing A Little Zong
5. Walkin' My Baby Back Home
6. You Belong To Me
7. Feet Up! (Pat Him On The Po-Po)
8. Takes Two To Tango
9. Wish You Were Here
10.Just You, Just Me
11. To See You Is To Love You
12. Heart And Soul
13. Because You're Mine
14. Why Don't You Believe Me?
15. You Don't Know What Lonesome Is
16. Till I Waltz Again With You
17. That's A Plenty
18. June In January
19. Bye Bye Blues
20. Mister Tap Toe
21. Trying
22. One Little Candle
23. Here Ends The Rainbow
24. Wild Horses
25. April In Portugal
26. Salomee (With Her Seven Veils)
27. My Devotion
28. Summertime
CD2:
1. Down By The Riverside
2. It's Easy To Remember
3. They All Laughed
4. 'S Wonderful
5. Pa-Paya Mama
6. They Can't Take That Away From Me
7. My Love, My Love
8. It's All Right With Me
9. You Are Too Beautiful
10. That's Amore
11. If There Is Someone Lovelier Than You
12. Love Is Just Around The Corner
13. The Jones Boy
14. That's What A Rainy Day Is For
15. Tell Me Why
16. I Still Suits Me
17. Somebody Bad Stole De Wedding Bell
18. (Oh! Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely
19. Rosalie
20. Answer Me, My Love
21. Dear Hearts And Gentle People
22. A Dime And A Dollar
23. There's A Small Hotel
24. From The Vine Came The Grape
25. You Took Advantage Of Me
26. Wanted
27. Oh! Tell Me Why
28. So In Love
29. With Every Breath I Take
Saturday, April 8, 2023
BING'S DISCOGRAPHY: APRIL 8, 1950
Date: 4/8/50
Location: New York, NY.Label: DECCA (US)
Bing Crosby (voc), The Aristokats (vgr), Sy Oliver Orchestra (orc)
1. W76115-A I Didn't Slip, I Wasn't Pushed, I Fell(Eddie Pola, George Wyle) - 3:07
MCA (UK) CDMCLD19360 — BING CROSBY - MEMORIES (1997)
2. W76116-A So Tall A Tree(Helen Teddy Hall) - 2:35
Both titles had been recorded before, on 14 February 1950, but had been rejected.
Monday, March 20, 2023
SPOTLIGHT ON MARJORIE REYNOLDS
Making her film debut at age 6, she "retired" after only a few years in favor of a normal education. She returned in the mid-30s, as a teenager this time, and began the typical assembly-line route of extra and bit roles for various mega studios, this time billed as Marjorie Moore. Her first speaking role was in Columbia Studio's programmer Murder in Greenwich Village (1937), this time billed as Marjorie Reynolds (her first husband's last name), a moniker she kept for the duration of her career.
Along with maturity and a new entertainment medium (television) in the 50s came a return to her natural hair color. As William Bendix's patient, resourceful brunette wife on the comedy TV series The Life of Riley (1953), Marjorie became a semi-household name. Her career took a steep decline following its demise five years later and she was only sporadically seen in films, commercials and TV guest spots after that.
Married twice, her first husband was Jack Reynolds, who was an Assistant Casting Director for Samuel Goldwyn. They had one daughter, Linda, before divorcing in 1952 after 16 years. Linda was named after her mother's character from Holiday Inn. Second husband, film editor John Whitney, worked for a time in the 40s as an actor. They were married for 32 years until his death in 1985.
Long retired, Marjorie made her last movie appearance in 1962's The Silent Witness. However, she did continue to have sporadic television roles until 1978. Marjorie died on February 1, 1997 of congestive heart failure after collapsing while walking her dog. Though she didn't fully live up to her potential as a serious, formidable actress, her gentle charm and obvious beauty certainly spruced up the 60+ films in which she appeared...
Friday, March 3, 2023
PHOTOS OF THE DAY: BING ON A BIKE
Bing was more athletic than he appeared, and he enjoyed exercise including riding a bike. Here are some great pictures capturing those moments...
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with Bob Hope |
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with his four sons |
Saturday, February 18, 2023
A LETTER FROM BING: SEPTEMBER 16, 1965
I love taking a look at some of the letters that Bing wrote through the years. This one is from 1965, where Bing talks about football. I know Bing was a baseball fan, but I love reading his thoughts on football too. It's a very interesting letter...