Hi

Yes Richard the project is coming along nicely.  With respect to the half hour shows which were broadcast between 1943-46 most have survived, if not as a complete Kraft show then as an edited AFRS program.  Unfortunately I haven't been able to track down all the shows yet.

From 1943 the following shows are missing from my collection:
430107
430211
430225
430318
430617
430701
430708
430715
430722
430729
430805
431014
431209
431223

From 1944
440127 (second half)
440210

from 1945
450222 (first half)

from 1946
460509

I have, however, been able to locate all but 33 songs which were recorded on Kraft between 1943 and 46.  Interestingly, several recordings from the rehearsals for the Kraft shows have also survived.

Regarding the shows in the full hour format recorded between 1935 and 1942, far less have survived.

45 minutes of a show from 1936 has survived.  I'm only aware of one complete show from 1937, two from 1938, none from 1939 or 1940.  About a dozen or so shows seem to have survived from 1941 and the same for 1942.

Many songs from these shows have however survived.  We have over 125 songs from 1942, over 115 from 1941 (including the first rendition of White Christmas), over 110 from 1940, over 105 from 1939, over 133 from 1938, over 45 from 1937, over 38 from 1936 and 6 from 1935.

While there are many hundreds of songs that I have not been able to locate, many which are unknown to me must exist in various collections around the world. It would be nice to think that one day that they will see the light of day.  While this may seem like wishful thinking only 2 days ago I came across 2 songs from 1939 which were previously unknown to me ... a barbershop version of In the Evening by the Moonlight with banjo backing and a brilliant version of Silent Night.  So I'm still hopeful that more will come to light.

If anyone else is interested in cataloguing Bing's surviving Kraft shows/ songs please feel free to drop me an email.

Cheers

Thane

Hi

I'm trying to catalogue all the half hour Kraft Music Hall shows (from 7 January 1943 to 9 May 1946) which have survived.

The following shows have eluded me ... does anyone know if any of them have survived?

1942-43 Season - start half hour format
430107
430211
430218
430225
430304
430311
430318
430415

1943-44 Season
430617
430624
430701
430708
430715
430722
430729
430805
430819
430826
431014
431209
431223
440127 2nd half missing
440210

1944-45 Season
450222
450329

1946 Season
460509 (I've read that half of this show has survived)


Cheers

Thane

An interesting record was posted on youtube recently ... Sing along with the Stars.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sicOvDpuUuQ

The record includes 4 titles (Wait Til the Sun Shines Nellie, In the Good Old Summertime, Tooralooralooral and By the Waters of Minnektonka).   Each track involves a solo by Bing followed by a community sing version with male chorus.  The accompaniament is piano and organ.

The Bing Crosby Songography tells us that it was taken from an Army Signal Corps film which was intended for issue on V-Disc but was never issued.  Instead these very rare recordings were issued on this Sing-Along records.

It's incredible just what does turn up on youtube.

Hi

I'm working on a project to catalogue all of Bing's surviving Kraft Music Hall performances ... not just the shows but individual songs.

So far many different versions of songs have been identified (did you know that the three versions of KKK-Katy have survived?).  In addition several unknown rehearsal recordings have been revealed such as Play Fiddle Play from 5 June 1941.

If anyone would like to contribute, please let me know.

Cheers

Thane