I met Phil when he came to Sydney around 1965 and performed at the Hilton Hotel.
I rang Phil and we met at his hotel for a beer. I gave him a book on Australiana put out by Aussie Oil Company - Ampol, for whom I was working at the time.
He was a nice bloke and we chatted for about 45 minutes. I never got to see him perform.
Gary had visited Sydney with Louis Armstrong and I saw him at the old Sydney Stadium.
Sat in the cheap 50cent bleachers.

Watched ‘The Dam Busters’ on Sunday, one of many war films being shown coming on to Anzac Day - 25th. April.
Reading the bio of Guy Gibson, he was on Desert Island Discs in 1944 and one of the tunes he selected on his programme was Bing singing ‘If I Had My Way’.
He was killed aged 26.

Just read interesting article and the interview with Bing (haven’t magazine with me and forget the bloke’s name) and asked about a new Road film - the fountain of youth. Dorothy was mentioned and Bing said that we had to have Dorothy in the new film.
I seem to recall that Bing thought her too old for the Hong Kong film and that is why they brought in Joan Collins, because she was ‘younger’.
I did mention previously about Joan when I worked at the Midland Hotel, Manchester. She arrived a few days after Sophia Loren.
At lunch Joan wanted to know where all the men were. At dinner time they turned up like bees around a honey pot.

Having just turned 90 in February, I think I have been a fan for over 80 years.
It all started when we used to write to the film stars and receive a photo in return. Mostly they were postcard size and some had printed on the back if we could make a small donation to the War effort.
Then a letter came from Bing saying that a photo was under separate cover and his latest movie etc. sure enough a couple of days later a 10” x 8” photo, backed with cardboard, would arrive.
So I was won over to Bing.
A couple of times a year I would write and the postman would say to me - another photo from Bing.
And then I was fortunate and met Bing a few times plus various Crosby family members - brothers, children, grand children, wife, nephews and nieces.
I’ve been a very fortunate man.
Oh, I was admitted to Canberra Hospital about 2.00am on my birthday. About 7.00am the nurses woke me up with a birthday cake. They said we don’t get many 90 year olds.

Bit early for Christmas for me. About a week before is plenty of time.
I mean, we don’t celebrate our birthdays 7 weeks or more beforehand.
My own problem is I was born 11.20pm, 19th. February pre daylight saving time which is the last minutes of  Aquarius as Pisces starts at midnight.
I regard myself as an Aquarius person.

Tony was always very thankful to Bing for paving the way for all crooners that followed him and gave so many a career.

During the 1950’s Lee Gordon brought out American entertainers who performed at the Sydney Stadium (boxing on Monday nights and wrestling another night) which held about 15,000 people.
A ticket in the bleachers cost 5 shillings - 50 cents.
He brought out a good number of American entertainers and they filled the stadium.
The performers were in the boxing ring.
Bob Hope had a revolving stage put in.
I saw Gary Crosby and Louis Armstrong plus Betty Hutton, Johnny Ray, Gene Krupa,  Artie Shaw,Frank Sinatra,  and a good number more.
The stadium has since been demolished.

If a third book is ever published I expect I’ll have to visit the library in the sky, being presently in my 90th. Year.

As an 89 year old Australian I feel and am very fortunate in having met so many Crosby family members.
I saw Gary (never met) with Louis Armstrong in Sydney around 1955 or so. Then in 1957 I landed in Vancouver, Canada on Monday and met Bing on Friday in Seattle. Then I met Bob in L.A. and next day Larry.
Met Phil in Sydney and had a beer with him.
Spoke to Bing on the phone a few times when living in England (he phoned me once)
Saw the family at the Palladium. Caddied for Nathaniel and met Harry.
Met Kathrine and even had a phone call from her.
Met Lindsay’s son Kevin.
Met nephew Howard and some of his relatives.
So, pretty fortunate for a bloke from Down Under.

I really like early 30’s songs. Seem to have such feeling and Bing was the Grand Master of that.

I think they also had Grace in bed with everybody.
Glad I didn’t live in L.A.

I thought that Kevin Spacey could be a contender.