jameslayton wrote:

Thanks for your message Jim. Unfortunately it is a little too early to talk about any DVD plans at this stage. Universal are at this moment still concentrating on completing the complicated restoration work in time for May.

The 93 minute version of the film that we know well from the old VHS release and TV broadcasts features all of the Bing Crosby footage that was ever in the film. The newly recovered footage and audio mostly consists of previously lost introductions to some of the numbers, an expansion of "The Property Man" sketch with Jack White, a comedy sketch called "The Piccolo Player" featuring Paul Whiteman and William Kent, and the film's original exit music.

The book will be available to Kickstarter supporters in September 2016. We are not yet sure if it will become more widely available after that.

I will tease that the sections in the film with Bing have never looked so good. His close-up in the "Bluebirds" number is simply breathtaking!

James

Wow, this is very exciting news! I can't wait to see Universal's restoration!

I came across this wonderful picture of a very young Bing, would anyone have an idea of the date of this photo? 1929 perhaps? Also maybe we could use this thread for dating photos, as i'm sure you guys will agree it can be somewhat frustrating to come across a Bing photo and not have an appropriate date attached.

48blonde wrote:

Sam, I thought I was a young Bing Fan at 51. I was around 28 when I became a dedicated fan back in the early 90's. But I always loved Bing. Since I was a little girl, I was hooked.

That's cool, I guess I was lucky that I grew up with in a family that loves Frank Sinatra and Dean, which of course led to me wanting to find out more about the originator! and the rest as they say, is history! Of course seeing High Society on TV was probably when I first really took notice of Bing, and the advent of YouTube has been a blessing when I wanted to find out more.

Thank you! I couldn't agree more, but every era of his career has numerous highlights. Particularly in the mid-50s and later on during the end of his life (1975-1977) when he recorded some great albums like Seasons. I always wish we could have got a few more albums (and another Road picture!) out of him, but he'd already given so much in his lifetime that its hard to complain too much. I'm only 21 so there's still so much for me to absorb of his career!