That was an interesting post. I'd seen only brief excerpts of Bing's TV show before. In Australia in 1954,Bing's best-selling Decca release was 'Open up your heart' with' Walk me by the river', which sold more than any of his singles released in the last two years. The research by musicologist David Kent put 'The happy wanderer' at the top of the charts for the year with none of Bing's singles in the top twenty-five.

Hullo David. I'd be pleased to see musical films from those years if you are able to add them to your productions.

Thanks for all you've done so far from Graham

Our national daily newspaper The Australian published its obituary on Tony Bennett on 24 July which included quoted Tony Bennett's explanation for his enduring popularity: 'People like Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra told me not to sing songs that cater to one age group, but songs that appeal to everybody. And maybe because good songs last, that explains why I've lasted too.'

Jerry Colonna visited Australia in 1944 with Bob Hope's troupe as they took a break from entertaining US troops in the South Pacific. Ten years later he performed with Artie Shaw, Buddy Rich and Ella Fitzgerald in Sydney and Melbourne.

I agree David. She sang that fine song very well. The record label is interesting and I presume the Walter Gross who directed the orchestra is the fellow who wrote 'Tenderly'.

That's variety of songs isn't it. I'm not familiar with 'Stay with the happy people'. Perhaps I'll find it on Youtube.

That's an interesting post.

A belated welcome to srupert1963! from an Aussie Bing Fan in Bathurst, a small city 130 miles west of Sydney.

Gee, that's an interesting article. Asbestos was widely used in the building industry in Australia and many homes were insulated with asbestos. How things have changed.

I was pleased to hear that David but I reckon she sang much better in her duets with Bing.

That's an interesting question, one which I'd not thought about before. The only feature film in which Bing had a significant part which I've not seen is Say One For Me. I don't know why I missed it because it was shown on TV in Australia six times from 1968 to 1979. My research suggests that several were never shown on free-to-air TV here: King of Jazz, Too Much Harmony, Going Hollywood and Two for Tonight.

Rod referred to the 'frenzied, social media driven world' we live in which has little time for singers such as Bing. I'm a fellow-countryman (should I write person?) of Rod and am reminded of that new world when I watch the Australian Open tennis matches as players grunt and grimace (and worse) as they win or lose points.(I'm old enough to remember Ken Rosewall and Vic Seixas.) Except for Christmas and our community radio stations, Bing seems to be forgotten by our major media although The Sydney Morning Herald published a 'Zits' cartoon strip on 19 December on the subject of Christmas music which finished with the punch line' A month of Bing Crosby was enough'. I presume the strip originated in the USA.

I've just had the opportunity to tune in to the podcast; an hour or so well spent. It reminded me that I don't really remember which was the first Crosby film I saw. The note that Bing didn't do a studio recording of 'Buckin' the Wind' from Too Much Harmony caught my attention, especially when I watched the scene in the movie. Surprisingly, when the the Australian music magazine Tempo reflected on Bing's career in August 1951 it included that song in its highlights of songs he had sung. Malcolm referred to the lack of Man on Fire on TV in England. Aussies were able to tune in to it five times in the sixties and seventies.