OSCAR FLASHBACK - 1944

World War II was still raging in May 1944. The allied invasion of Normandy — aka D-Day — was just around the corner on June 6th. Americans kept the home fires burning and escaped from the global conflict by going to the movies. Two of the biggest films of the year, Leo McCarey’s “Going My Way” and George Cukor’s “Gaslight,” recently celebrated their 80th anniversaries.

Actually, “Going My Way” had a special “Fighting Front” premiere on April 27th: 65 prints were shipped to battle fronts and shown “from Alaska to Italy, and from England to the jungles of Burma.” The sentimental comedy-drama-musical arrived in New York on May 3rd.

And it was just the uplifting film audiences needed. Bing Crosby starred as Father O’Malley, a laid-back young priest who arrives at a debt-ridden New York City church that is run by the older, set-in-his ways Father Fitzgibbon (Barry Fitzgerald). The elder priest initially isn’t happy with O’Malley’s newfangled ways, but soon he and the rest of the parish realize O’Malley is someone special.

Though not specifically a musical, Crosby does sing the title tune as well as “Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral,” “The Day After Tomorrow” and duets on “Ava Marie” with his co-star, Metropolitan Opera soprano Rise Stevens. The fun “Swinging on a Star” by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke, which Crosby sings with Robert Mitchell Boy Choir, became a huge hit for Crosby. The ending was a real four-hankie weepie moment as O’Malley reunites Fitzgibbon with his elderly mother.

The New York Times’ Bosley Crother was besotted with “Going My Way” calling it a “tonic delight,” adding that Crosby “is giving the best show of his career” …” he has been beautifully presented by Mr. McCarey.” The top box office attraction of 1944, “Going My Way” turned Crosby into the No. 1 box office star and proved he was more than comedic actor playing “pat-a-cake” with Bob Hope in the popular “Road” films.

“Going My Way” had strong competition at the Academy Awards most notably from Billy Wilder’s crackling film noir “Double Indemnity,” which earned seven nominations. But “Going My Way” won by a knockout leaving “Double Indemnity” in the dust. “Going My Way” earned seven Oscars including best film, director, song, actor for Crosby and supporting actor for Fitzgerald. And for the first and only time in Oscar history, Fitzgerald was also nominated for best actor.

Crosby would be the first actor to earn an Oscar nomination for reprising a role. The following year, he returned to the Academy Awards’ race in the beloved sequel “The Bells of St. Mary’s,” which earned eight Oscar nominations winning for best recording. Ironically, Wilder’s dark “The Lost Weekend” was the big winner at the 1946 ceremony...

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A LETTER FROM BING: FEBRUARY 28, 1945

In recent years, letters from Bing to soldiers fighting in World War II have been discovered, and it shows what a caring man Bing was. The war and the plight of these brave men affected Bing greatly...

BING'S MOVIE SHORTS

Mack Sennett was to Bing's film career what Paul Whiteman was to Bing's music career. Sennett, who had brought the film world Fatty Arbuckle, the Keystone Kops and Charlie Chaplin, first met Bing on the Lakeside golf course in Los Angeles and in March, 1931, caught Bing's act with the Rhythm Boys at the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel. "What struck me about this guy," Sennett said of Bing, "was that all the stuffed shirts at the Grove stopped dancing and gathered around the bandstand to watch him croon. They came to hear him night after night. He held them."

Sennett was impressed enough with Bing's performance at the Grove that he signed him to do a short musical-comedy film that month in which Bing would play himself. The film, I Surrender Dear, was named after Bing's first solo hit recording and was filmed in March, 1931, and released in Los Angeles the following June. The film was so successful that it led to 5 more with Sennett. Bing was paid $750 for each 20-minute picture.

Sennett was more famous for his slapstick and special effects than his dialogue. Crosby worked without formal scripts for these movies ... only outlines. During the filming Crosby found himself dunked in water tanks, chased by lions and half-baked in quick-rising dough. Bing's success with Sennett helped convince him that the time was ripe to leave the Rhythm Boys and get on with his solo career. The Rhythm Boys dissolved following the release of "I Surrender Dear."

The six Sennett two-reelers in the order of their filming were:"I Surrender Dear" (March 1931)
"One More Chance" (June-July 1931)
"Dream House"
"Billboard Girl"
"Sing, Bing, Sing" (Summer 1932)
"Blue of the Night"

"Sing, Bing, Sing" and "Blue of the Night" were released in 1933...

BING AND INGRID BERGMAN

Here's a great candid photo of Bing and Ingrid Bergman. They were holding their Oscars that they received for best performances in 1944, in Hollywood, USA, March 16, 1945. Crosby won for 'Going My Way' and Bergman for 'Gaslight'...

AUDIO ASPIRIN: TRADE WINDS

NEW CD: BING CROSBY - RARITIES FROM THE HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS

Another masterpiece from Sepia Records is coming out! The 2 CD set of previously unavailable tracks are taken from studio playback and movie exploitation discs or alternative versions from 1933 to 1958, spanning 25 years of Bing Crosby's career. The contents of both CDs were produced by and for the film studios for differing uses in the making of the films and the records themselves were never intended to reach the hands of the public. These unusual and rare tracks have been remastered and sound amazing...

Title: Rarities from the Hollywood Studios 1933-1958 (2 CD Set)
Artist: Bing Crosby
Catalogue No.: SEPIA 1388
Barcode: 5055122113881
Release Date: June 2024

CD 1

1. 42nd STREET: You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me; Young And Healthy
2. COLLEGE HUMOR: Learn To Croon; Moonstruck
3. WE'RE NOT DRESSING: Once In A Blue Moon; Love Thy Neighbor; It's A New Spanish Custom
4. WE'RE NOT DRESSING: I Positively Refuse To Sing; May I?
5. HERE IS MY HEART: Love Is Just Around The Corner; June In January; With Every Breath I Take
6. DOUBLE OR NOTHING: It's The Natural Thing To Do; Smarty; All You Want To Do Is Dance; The Moon Got In My Eyes; After You
7. PARIS HONEYMOON: I Have Eyes; You're A Sweet Little Headache; The Funny Old Hills; Joobalai
8. RHYTHM ON THE RIVER: Rhythm On The River; What Would Shakespeare Have Said; When The Moon Comes Over Madison Square; I Don't Want To Cry Any More; That's For Me; Ain't It A Shame About Mame

CD 2

1. I'm Hummin', I'm Whistlin', I'm Singin'
2. Old Folks At Home
3. I Wished On The Moon
4. Takes Two To Make A Bargain
5. Empty Saddles
6. Our Last Hawaiian Moon
7. Blue Hawaii
8. In A Little Hula Heaven
9. Smarty
10. Small Fry
11. A Man And His Dream
12. Music from 'The Star Maker': Medley: "Go Fly A Kite" - "If I Was A Millionaire" - "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" "School Days" - "Go Fly A Kite"(reprise)
13. It's Always You
14. By The Light Of The Silvery Moon
15. Swinging On A Star
16. In The Land Of Beginning Again
17. Say It Isn't So
18. Get Yourself A Phonograph
19. Camptown Races
20. You've Been Looking Thru My Dreams
21. You're The Top
22. Blue Moon

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FLASHBACK: 1952

Here is a sad photo, but I wanted to share it. It ia the closet picture I have found of Bing at his wife Dixie's funeral on November 3, 1952. I feel that Dixie's death changed Bing's life...

JOHNNY HOLIDAY: NOT RELATED TO BING

 As a Bing Crosby fan and writer, I have come in touch with some of the wonderful people in Bing's family. I have had the pleasure to correspond with his nephew Howard Crosby (Ted's song) and his grandson Phil Crosby Jr. Off and on through the years though I have crossed paths with someone claiming to be related to Bing. His stage name is Johnny Holiday and "performs" the old standards and claims to be the great nephew of Bing Crosby, but he has not relation to Bing. Johnny Holiday (aka Scott Ables) claims to be the grandson of Bing's sister Mary. However, no one in the Crosby family has ever met him!

Howard Crosby, genuine nephew of Bing Crosby on Mary Rose, sister of Bing Crosby and supposed grandmother of Scott Ables/Johnny Holiday:

“Aunt Mary Rose had two children, cousin Carolyn who is 89 and lives in Las Vegas, and her son Bill Miller who died many years ago. Carolyn had 6 children, the Quinns, 5 of whom are still with us. I know them all...”

“This guy is NOT one of our relations, that's for sure!”

Furthermore, Johnny Holiday claims to have gotten his start on The Lawrence Welk Show, but I contacted someone I know in the Lawrence Welk organization, and they have no record of him. There are no pictures of Scott with his world-famous great uncle Bing, and when he presented a picture to the woman who woman who produced a channel spot on Cicada club (where he performs) of supposedly himself with Bing. It was actually a picture of Harry Crosby with his father Bing.

Reportedly Kathryn Crosby, the widow of Bing, has sent this Johnny Holiday letters to cease and desist using the Crosby name. There are no records of Johnny Holiday online prior to 2004. If his real name is Scott Ables there is even less online about him than Johnny Holiday.

His last posts were regarding cancer treatment. If he is suffering from cancer, godspeed and no one deserves to have that infliction, but someone close to him that wishes to remain anonymous claims that Scott/Johnny has been "suffering" from cancer for years. The source claims people feel bad for him, and think he is delusional. Whether he is delusional or just trying to make a buck, I do think the truth needs to come out. There are talented people in the Crosby family that are trying to keep the memory of Bing alive, and while Johnny Holiday is saying good things about Bing, he is also spreading lies that he is part of the Crosby family.

I have reached out to Scott Ables/Johnny Holiday for comments and/or his side of the story, but I have not heard back from him. If anyone knows the truth of how Scott Ables came to be called Johnny Holiday, please reach out to me...

BING AND MINUTE MAID

 Here is another great advertisement Bing did for Minute Maid. This looks to be from the 1950s. It is interesting that they were giving away orange juice too...

PHOTOS OF THE DAY: BING AND FRANK SINATRA

Here are some wonderful photos of the two blue eyes - Bing and Frank Sinatra. They appeared together many times during their careers...

BING AND HIS FAITH

In 1916, Bing became an an altar boy for St. Aloysius Church. Every third week, he attended and served mass at 6:30 a.m., Monday through Friday.

One of Bing’s friends asked him if he would like to sing at the church. Bing was hesitant, but ended up singing with the choir, and also doing a solo. Crosby impressed the other boys and many attending the church service.

St. Aloysius and Gonzaga were very important to Crosby. Both institutions played a big role in his upbringing and life. Crosby would later star in a movie that was based on his friendship with one of the priests at Gonzaga.

The Spokane neighborhood where Bing Crosby lived was mainly Catholic and was sometimes referred to as the “Little Vatican,” or the “Holy Land.”

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AUDIO ASPIRIN: EILEEN

BING'S DISCOGRAPHY: MARCH 15, 1957

Here is a quick recording session that Bing had 67 years ago!

Date: 3/15/57

Location: Los Angeles
Label: CAPITOL (US)
"Man On Fire" film title


Bing Crosby (voc), Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra (orc)
a. 16694-1 Man On Fire(Sammy Fain, Paul Francis Webster) - 2:54
EMI (UK) (EMI) CD7243 5 2281527 — LEGENDS OF THE 20th CENTURY - BING CROSBY (1999)
b. 16693-1 Seven Nights A Week(Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn) - 2:31

Both titles on:
HARRY LILLIS (UK) CDHLYCD-001 — HARRY LILLIS - STEP TO THE REAR (limited circulation) (1993)
JASMINE (UK) CDJASCD 495 — NELSON RIDDLE - LET'S FACE THE MUSIC AND DANCE (2008)

March 15, Friday. Records “Man on Fire” and “Seven Nights a Week” for Capitol Records with an orchestra conducted by Nelson Riddle. Bing’s record of “Man on Fire” is heard by the producers of the Man on Fire movie and is brought in to be used in the opening titles of the film.

A LETTER FROM BING: FEBRUARY 9, 1957

 Here is an interesting letter that Bing wrote to the manager from a Las Vegas hotel and casino...

BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES

Beautiful Memories is a 1976 vinyl album recorded by Bing Crosby for United Artists Records, and the last album of new material to be released during his lifetime. Eight of the songs were recorded at Devonshire Sound Studios, Magnolia Boulevard, North Hollywood on October 19 and 29, 1976.[1] The orchestral accompaniment was recorded in London on September 10 and 11, 1976 and Crosby dubbed his voice in Los Angeles. Of the other four songs on the LP, one had been recorded on February 26, 1975. The title song was dubbed by Crosby on November 5, 1976, also at United Western Studios, using the track recorded in London. Crosby was accompanied by Pete Moore and his Orchestra throughout the album and by The Johnny Evans Singers on certain tracks

The UK magazine The Gramophone reviewed the album saying: "Sadness inevitably surrounds “Beautiful Memories” by the late Bing Crosby, which must be one of the last LPs we will enjoy by this splendid gentleman with fifty years of consummate artistry to his credit, although we are advised of at least one more in the pipeline from Polydor. It is not his best album by any means, but Crosby never made a bad one to my knowledge, and there is much of value and interest in his versions of mostly recent pop ballads such as “A Little Love and Understanding,” “My Resistance Is Low,” “When a Child Is Born,” and “The Woman on Your Arm.” It is certainly a very adequate valedictory souvenir from a singer who has left beautiful memories for a multitude around the world.

Track listing:

SIDE ONE:
1. "Beautiful Memories" Roger Cook, Herbie Flowers 3:46
2. "A Little Love and Understanding" Gilbert Bécaud, Marcel Stellman 3:17
3. "My Resistance Is Low" Hoagy Carmichael, Harold Adamson 2:18
4. "Children" Cyril Ornadel, Hal Shaper 3:52
5. "Déjà Vu (As Tho’ You Never Went Away)" Pete Moore, Ken Barnes 3:12
6. "When a Child Is Born" Ciro Dammicco, Fred Jay 3:22


SIDE TWO:
7. "The More I See You" Harry Warren, Mack Gordon 2:26
8. "What I Did for Love" Marvin Hamlisch, Edward Kleban 3:22
9. "Yours Sincerely" Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart 2:43
10. "We've Only Just Begun" Roger Nichols, Paul Williams 3:55
11. "The Woman on Your Arm" Randy Edelman 3:53
12. "The Only Way to Go" Marvin Hamlisch, Tim Rice 2:56

THE BELLS OF ST. MARYS AND THE POSTWAR AUDIENCE

The Bells Of St. Marys was more than a typical 1940s feel good film. It marked one of the first films in harrowing post-war era. Harrowing is a word that barely scratches the surface of the emotional abyss that is war. The uncertainty, the fear, and the profound loss cast long shadows over the human experience. At the end of it, there is often yet another difficult journey: rebuilding. It can be tumultuous. 

In the wake of World War II, as the world struggled to rebuild and heal, Leo McCarey's The Bells of St. Mary's in 1945 not only became the highest-grossing movie of its time but also offered solace and hope to a weary audience. This film captures the essence of wartime struggle, not through the lens of battlefields and violence, but by delving deep into the hearts and minds of its characters. The film's main characters, Sister Benedict (played by Ingrid Bergman) and Father O'Malley (portrayed by Bing Crosby) are determined to achieve their shared goal of saving a school in financial crisis in spite of their differences and despite a myriad of constraints they face.

The Bells of St. Mary's is a feel-good tear-jerker sequel to McCarey's 1944 film Going My Way, which was the highest-grossing film of the year and won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In The Bells of St. Mary's, Bing Crosby reprises his role as Father O'Malley, a charismatic priest assigned to a struggling Catholic school, St. Mary's. There, he clashes with the school's traditional principal, Sister Mary Benedict. Father O'Malley's unconventional approach to leadership conflicts with Sister Benedict's strict way of instilling discipline in the students. For example, when Father O'Malley finds two students fighting, he praises the one who threw the best punches, declaring him the winner. This move doesn't sit well with Sister Benedict, who had advised students against retaliation. Father O'Malley argues that boys should be prepared for the world, which they may have to face war in one day. Considering that this is immediately after World War II, it makes sense, even to the conservative Sister Benedict, who secretly trains the bullied boy on self-defense and encourages him to face bullies head-on.

78 years after its release, The Bells of St. Mary's retains its relevance. In an era marked by division and turmoil, the film's message of unity, understanding, and compassion is as vital as ever. It serves as a timeless lesson that, even in the face of adversity, individuals from diverse backgrounds as exemplified by Father O'Malley and Sister Benedict can come together to create positive change. The enduring popularity of the film attests to its ability to transcend time and inspire new generations...

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BING RUMOR: BING AND PSYCHEDELIC FILMS

BING RUMOR: There is a rumor that Bing was involved in psychedelic films in the 1940s!

In the 1940s, British psychologist Cecil Stokes created Auroratone films, deeply psychedelic short movies meant to be shown at psychiatric institutions to help treat patients suffering from mental disorders, particularly war veterans. In 1942, Stokes was granted US patent #2292172 for the Process and Apparatus for Producing Musical Rhythm in Color. This was the year before Albert Hoffman discovered the hallucinogenic properties of LSD and two decades before psychedelic light shows appeared at rock and avant-garde music performances.

According to Wikipedia, "the patterns were produced by using crystallizing chemicals and polarized light, which were then synchronized to a variety of recorded musical tracks… Bing Crosby was involved with these films due to his being a shareholder in the [Auroratone] foundation and his interest in the rehabilitation of veterans."

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BING AND HIS LATER CAREER

Over 120 years ago on May 3rd of 1903, Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby Jr. was born in Tacoma, Washington. He would go on to have a prolific career in recording, radio, film, television, and even recording technology. Despite his stature, he wanted to slow down his hectic life, and after the death of his first wife in 1952, he slowly went into semi-retirement. When he got married again, he took it as an opportunity start a new family.

Because of this, Crosby gradually let himself slow down, however this was all to change. Following the Christmas of 1973, Bing started having serious health issues. By New Year’s Eve, Crosby was rushed to a hospital, and it turned out he had a tumor in his lung. Thankfully it wasn’t cancerous, and it was able to be removed, albeit two fifths of his left lung had to be removed. Speculation started on whether he would be able to sing again, but after his recovery he came back fiercely.

After the operation and recovery period, Bing came back with a vengeance. He signed a deal to do a few albums for United Artists, along with recording two TV specials. In 1975 alone he would record 5 albums and an audiobook along with many TV appearances in the United Kingdom to promote his upcoming albums.

Later that year, the realization he had been in show business for 50 years led Bing to get back on the concert stage throughout 1976, something he hadn’t done since the early 1930s. He did numerous shows throughout the United States and the United Kingdom. In 1976 alone Crosby took the stage thirty-five times. Performances from the London Palladium were turned into an album, although he recorded two other albums along with his yearly Christmas special and other various TV appearances.

1977 seemed like a great year for Bing. Concept albums, worldwide tours, and more TV shows were on the horizon. The first show was a televised version of his usual concert to complete the 50th anniversary celebration. After the show had completed, triumph went to tragedy as he fell twenty-five feet off of the stage when taking bows. Thankfully he didn’t suffer any major injury, only breaking a disc in his back. This had put a lot of plans for 1977 on the fence.

However, by August he was feeling well enough to go on the road again. He did his last American concert on the day Elvis Presley died, and went to Norway to do a show for the Red Cross. In September, Bing recorded a concept album, a Christmas TV special with David Bowie, and started another two week stay at the London Palladium. Going into October, the London Palladium performances continued, and he would do one last show on October 10. The next day he would do a photoshoot for his latest album and make his final recordings. Three days later, after winning a game of golf, Bing died from a heart attack at the age of 74, leaving a massive legacy behind him. All of the accomplishments in his last few years alive would be impressive alone, but when you add on the quality of them, it really shows what he could do at this time of his life....

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