PHOTOS OF THE DAY: MY FAVORITE BING PICS

There are so many Bing pictures out there. During his heyday I am sure he was the most photographed Hollywood star. Here are some of my personal favorite Bing photos...

A BING BIO BOOK FOR CHILDREN

Amy Lane Publishing is excited to announce the acquisition of world all- language rights to Bing Himself: The Story of Bing Crosby, The World’s First Multimedia Star, a vibrant nonfiction biography written by author Lauren R. Harris, featuring illustrations by artist Joe Everson.

Bing Himself introduces young readers to the legendary Bing Crosby, the world’s first multimedia star, whose remarkable career as a singer, actor, and influencer left an indelible mark on history. Written with a fact-driven narrative, the book shares Crosby’s story with authentic quotes from Bing himself, offering an accessible and inspiring look at his achievements. Paired with Joe Everson’s breathtaking gallery portraits—created specifically as illustrations for the book—this biography combines historical accuracy with stunning visuals, making it a perfect read for anyone eager to explore the pioneers of entertainment.

Jessica Reed, Editorial Director at Amy Lane Publishing, shared her enthusiasm: “I fell in love with Lauren R. Harris’s vision for this book from the start. Her talent for weaving a fact-driven narrative with Bing Crosby’s own words is remarkable, creating a story perfectly suited for young dreamers. Add Joe Everson’s vivid art, and you have a biography that’s as educational as it is captivating. This book is set to be a treasured addition to our catalog and a delightful discovery for young readers.” This is Lauren’s third book; her two previous publications are narrative nonfiction picture books about theJapanese American veterans of WWII.

Joe Everson, the artist behind the book’s illustrations, is renowned as America’s only singing action painter, represented by the world’s largest art dealer, Park West Gallery. He paints for professional sports teams, Fortune 500 companies, and is in the private collection of dozens of high-profile organizations and celebrities. His gallery paintings for Bing Himself bring Bing Crosby’s story to life in vivid detail.

It is publishing in the United States in Fall 2025.

THAT'S WHAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT

That’s What Life Is All About is a 1975 vinyl album recorded by Bing Crosby for United Artists at Chappells in London in February 1975. He was accompanied by Pete Moore and his Orchestra.

The songs from the album were included on a 3-CD set called Bing Crosby: The Complete United Artists Sessions issued by EMI Records (7243 59808 2 4) in 1997. This included several previously unreleased alternate takes and studio chat.In January 1974, Crosby was seriously ill and after two weeks of tests, he underwent three and a half hours of major surgery. Two-fifths of his left lung and an abscess the size of a small orange were removed. The tumor was a rare fungus called nocardia. There were concerns initially that he would not be able to sing again and his recuperation took many months. Record producer Ken Barnes later heard that Crosby was thinking of recording again and he quickly presented his credentials and eventually met Crosby on September 9, 1974 at the singer’s home. Arrangements were soon made for two albums to be made in London. As a prelude, two songs were recorded with Johnny Mercer and a rhythm section at Mercer’s own “Heritage” recording studio at Oak Street in Burbank, California on October 17, 1974. Orchestra was added in February 1975.

Crosby flew to London on February 18 and that afternoon visited the Chappells recording studio. He was shown the vocal booth where he would be singing but said that he did not want to work in that way. He wanted to be with the band and said, “I didn’t come seven thousand miles to sing to a pane of glass.” This worried sound engineer John Timperley who was concerned about separation problems because of the large orchestra which was to be used. Crosby was adamant however and, in the event, he successfully overcame the problems of recording in front of a full orchestra.

Over a period of eight days, Crosby, in six sessions, recorded twenty five tracks. Eleven of the tracks, plus the two Crosby had recorded with Johnny Mercer were issued on this LP. Thirteen, with the addition of another song to be recorded in 1976, were issued on an LP called At My Time of Life and the final recording was included with eleven others made in 1976 and issued on an LP called Beautiful Memories...

AUDIO ASPIRIN: I WONDER WHAT'S BECOME OF SALLY

A LETTER FROM BING: DECEMBER 20, 1944

Here is a letter than Bing wrote during World War II. Even during the war, Bing was still reaching out to his fans...

GUEST REVIEWER: THE STAR MAKER

 Here is another review from the Bing Crosby guru Bruce Kogan...

When Paramount decided to make The Star Maker, stage mothers all over the country must have been grateful for the opportunity to get their little pride of joys a break into show business. Bing Crosby who had some of his best film moments with children never had to contend with so many of them.

The beginning credits state quite plainly that the film is "suggested by the career of Gus Edwards." Crosby's character is named Larry Earl so no one gets the idea this is biographical.

Gus Edwards was one of America's finest turn of the last century songwriters who did in fact hit on the idea of forming a theatrical troupe of talented youngsters, many of whom became stars in their own right in adulthood. Coming to mind immediately are Eddie Cantor and George Jessel who started out as adolescents with Edwards.

One of the scenes funniest moments involves a bit by Billy Gilbert trying to get one of his kids an audition. Of course that's redundant because Billy Gilbert was one of the funniest men in film and any moment with him is by definition, funny. Another moment involves a mother trying to get her daughter to sing for Crosby, giving him the opportunity to warble, I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now. I'm sure the real Gus Edwards went through thousands of moments like these.

Young Linda Ware was introduced here, presumably as Paramount's answer to Deanna Durbin. She sang some classical stuff real nice, but after another film was never heard from again.

Next to Ned Sparks, W.C. Fields was a Pollyanna, especially with children. Sparks was another of Hollywood's funniest men with those lines dripping with sarcasm and ill will. He has one very funny scene trying to read a bedtime story to Crosby's traveling troupe.

Jimmy Monaco and Johnny Burke wrote some new tunes for Bing and these were mixed in with some stuff by Gus Edwards and others of the period in a nice confection.

Others in the cast include Louise Campbell as Mrs. Crosby, Laura Hope Crews as Ware's mother and Thurston Hall as a theatrical producer.

Ms. Crews had a banner year in 1939, she was given her signature part as Aunt Pittypat Hamilton in Gone With The Wind.

One of the things I always criticize Paramount for is not giving Crosby's films the elaborate Busby Berkeley like numbers. Same is true here, especially with the show business background of the film. But I think that kind of theatrics would have overwhelmed the story about children.

I won't dispute Paramount when they say this is only suggested by Gus Edwards career...

BRUCE'S RATING: 7 OUT OF 10

MY RATING: 9 OUT OF 10

BING AND DUKE ELLINGTON

By 1932, Bing Crosby was already a hit on radio, and was beginning to make his way in Hollywood. Ellington was also a national figure because of his radio broadcasts and had made some short films.

The Depression caused a major slump in record company sales, which severed relations with about 90% of the musicians on their rosters. Crosby and Ellington were about as sure fire a commercial combination as a record company could hope to put together.

Duke's soloists stake out their singular territory, Bing does some great scatting at the end and this commercial pairing turns out to be a creative gem.

Duke Ellington and his Famous Orchestra: Duke Ellington, p, a, dir Arthur Whetsel, Freddy Jenkins, Cootie Williams, t / Joe Nanton, tb / Juan Tizol, vtb / Johnny Hodges, cl, ss, as / Harry Carney, cl, as, bar / Barney Bigard, cl, ts / Fred Guy, bj / Wellman Braud, sb/ Sonny Greer, Bing Crosby, v. New York, - February 11, 1932.

• St. Louis Blues– vBC0: Br 20105, Col 55003, DOX-560, SW-290, Lucky 17005;

• St. Louis Blues– vBC: Br 20105, 0116, A-5115, 20098 (Italian), Col 55003;

• A Creole Love Call: Br 20105, 0116, A-5115, Col 55003;

• Rose Room (In Sunny Roseland): Br 6265, 01292, A-9230, A-500174, Col DO- 1131

Unfortunately, other than Duke Ellington appearing on Bing's radio show in the 1940s, they did not work together on record. After Duke died in 1974, Bing was a part of a tribute album of the Duke. Bing recorded a commanding version of  Don't Get Around Much Anymore" on April 15, 1977. It was the last official recording Bing made in the USA. Bing died in October of 1977...

BING CROSBY: THE SITCOM STAR

In the fall of 1964, legendary crooner and film star Bing Crosby made a failed attempt to be part of the television sitcom landscape. The series was titled, The Bing Crosby Show.

As Bing Crosby noted in January 1965 about his then-new self-titled sitcom, "It’s been fun, and it hasn’t been too hard a chore. But according to the rating, we haven’t been doing so well. I think I’d have to get on a glass-bottom boat to find the rating. It’s a rat race. If you don’t get a rating, they dump you.”

In the series, Crosby played a married architectural engineer with two children. Beverly Garland (formerly of the groundbreaking Decoy female detective series, and future star of the later years of My Three Sons), portrayed Crosby's TV wife. His small-screen daughters were played by Carol Faylen and Diane Sherry Case.

At one point shortly before it was canceled, The Bing Crosby Show rated in 77th place among all network evening shows with a rating of 14.9.

Before the situation comedy began, its star had infrequently appeared on TV on only a special basis each year.

In January of 1965, Crosby further noted, “I don’t know whether we’ll continue next year. I’m interested in doing a little work — a movie or something. My contract is with ABC. I suppose it’s up to ABC to sell the show to sponsors. If they don’t buy, we won’t be on next season.”

The famed entertainer was not despondent by his show's low ranking, pressing on that it needed “a couple of years to get a good rating.” He agreed to do the series only if he could do so, "leisurely,” he said. Crosby also viewed the show as "an opportunity to get another series on the air for my company.”
That organization was Bing Crosby Productions, which brought Ben Casey to air for ABC and Slattery’s People on CBS.

In the end, The Bing Crosby Show never saw a second season. But he continued to host variety specials like The Hollywood Palace, which was on ABC and a production of his Bing Crosby Productions shingle. Crosby would also, however, then go on to star in and produce iconic Christmas specials for the NBC TV network....

BING AND WARREN COUNTY

FRONT ROYAL — During the height of his career in the 1940s, legendary entertainer Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby stepped up to the plate to help the Warren County community build a baseball stadium.

The Warren Heritage Society (WHS) will pay homage to Crosby's contributions with a new exhibit set to run from April 2 to May 31.

“Riding High:75 Years Later” tells the story of Crosby’s connection to Front Royal and his above and beyond efforts for the community’s baseball stadium, said Teresa Henry, president of the WHS board of directors.

“He was in his prime and it was just unheard of for someone of that caliber to come to our little town,” Henry said of a pair of Crosby visits in 1948 and 1950. “He was such a standup guy. He loved the youth and wanted to do whatever he could to help us. That was a pretty amazing contribution.”

Born in 1903, Crosby was first known for his singing voice. His recording career began in October 1926 with “I’ve Got the Girl” and ended with his final recording, “Once In a While,” which was released just before his death in 1977 at age 74. The biggest hit of his career was the holiday classic "White Christmas."

Somewhere along the line, Crosby befriended the late Raymond R. Guest, who lived in Front Royal and served as a Virginia state senator from 1947-53.

“We found documents as far back as 1940 that [Crosby] was in town visiting him. They had a long friendship,” Henry said.

While serving as Grand Marshal for the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Parade in Winchester in the spring of 1948, Crosby stayed with Guest. He learned that the Warren County/Front Royal Recreation Association was ramping up efforts to raise money for a new baseball stadium, to be situated on land the town already owned.

“The way the stories go — looking back in the newspaper articles — he and Raymond talked about it and he wanted to be a part of it. He said he would make an appearance and sing a couple songs. It happened very quickly — there was like a day turnaround,” Henry said, adding that Crosby presented the recreation association a $1,000 check after his performance. “That was the start of it.”

Guest and Crosby stayed in touch and continued to discuss the fundraising efforts, and Guest asked Crosby to return to Front Royal to help.

“He said absolutely he would. He had a premier coming out so it was great timing,” she said, noting that, according to reports, Crosby worked with publicists at Paramount Pictures to bring the premier of “Riding High” to downtown Front Royal’s Park Theater.

The town was not foolin' around when it rolled out the red carpet and pulled out all the stops for an extravaganza it dubbed “Bing Crosby Day” on April 1, 1950.

In addition to the movie premiere, which was free, there was a huge parade and a cake contest where Crosby served as the judge.

“They gave him a 14-foot key to the city that had to be brought in on a trailer and he read from a scroll of all the names of people who had contributed — there were 5,000 people. The scroll was 200-feet long,” Henry said, adding that while many people donated, Crosby’s visit helped the recreation association reach its goal.

“I believe that after they had added everything up, they had just over $12,000 and he put in the rest of the money to bring it to $15,000,” Henry said. “He is really why we got the stadium so quickly. He made it happen.”

During the festivities, the new Bing Crosby Stadium, located on 8th Street, was dedicated and opened, said Joe Petty, executive director of WHS.

“I think they continued to add on to it for the next few years. There are records from April 1950 of high school baseball game scores at Bing Crosby Stadium,” Petty said, adding that it was renovated in 2006.

Henry said that Front Royal continued to celebrate Bing Crosby Day for a few years before the event fizzled out. She said she has not uncovered any documentation to suggest that Crosby himself returned for those events.

The Heritage Society will open for the 2025 season on Wednesday, with its “Riding High” exhibit, which includes scores of pieces of memorabilia and documentation from the original Bing Crosby Day 75 years ago, Petty said.

“Most of the exhibit is very document heavy,” Petty said, noting that it includes a program from the event, along with newspaper clippings, tickets and photographs.

Added Henry, “There are lots of photographs of people swarming him at these events.”

Petty said the “Riding High” movie trailer will be playing at the exhibit, alongside an original movie poster and buttons and ribbons worn on the festive day.

An opening reception for the exhibit is set for 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. Summer hours for the Warren Heritage Society, located at 101 Chester St. in Front Royal, are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The historical complex is open from 10 a.m to 7 p.m. on Thursdays.

Henry said that the Heritage Society is hoping to offer other programming around the Bing Crosby exhibit, but details have not been finalized.

Other exhibits planned for the Heritage Society this season include a tribute to fire and rescue and an art show in the fall. The organization plans to bring back its Decades Block Party this summer, Petty said.

WHS will also be seeking a new executive director this year. Executive director since May, Petty recently accepted a new position as town manager for the Town of Front Royal. He said Friday that he has enjoyed his time with the Heritage Society.

“It was just a great opportunity to work in my community with an organization that’s had a strong foundation for over 50 years and that really tells our story,” said Petty. “To be part of that, to work with the staff and our board and the volunteers who come in here who just really care about what we do, our mission, that presentation of our history — it’s truly an honor to be part of it.”

Petty said that the WHS board is “really interested in defining a plan for long-term success. To make sure it’s here for another 50 years,” adding that he will continue his membership with WHS and hopes to volunteer.

Henry described Petty as a multi-talented professional who brought stability to the organization after it had been without a director for a while.

“He really stepped up. He helped build our budget and plan out our events,” she said, noting that he is leaving the organization with a full slate of planned activities and in a position to apply again for state funding next year. “He’s done amazing things for the organization. I’m glad that we have a board that saw the opportunity of what Joe would bring to our organization in hiring him. I couldn't be more proud to call him a friend. I'm so excited for this opportunity for Joe and I’m really excited for the opportunity for our community. This is a really big win for Front Royal.”

SOURCE

HAPPY 122ND BIRTHDAY, BING!

Bing Crosby - entertainer of the our times, would have been 122 years old today. Happy birthday, Bing!