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1 of 1- Blonde56
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Post your favorite photo of Bing
Here is mine. Three of my favorites together in one photo is why I chose this one. 
- Ian Kerstein
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Re: Post your favorite photo of Bing
A wonderful picture, Carmela. I've never seen this one before - and your James Cagney devotion still intact, bless you. It has such a lovely combination of polite cheeriness from Bing, a natural view of Cagney and such a sweet observational smile from ... please excuse my ignorance here ... Carol Lombard?
If I'm wrong - please be gentle with me, Carmela. We're currently having an insensible heatwave over here in the UK - so that will be my excuse.
When was it taken - wartime? During one of those all star war bond tours?
They are beautifully positioned.
- Ian Kerstein
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Re: Post your favorite photo of Bing
For what it's worth, here's mine. It's the same photograph used for the cover of the hardback edition of the first book I ever read of our favourite singer, "Bing - The Authorised Biography" by Charles Thompson (1976)..
It's my favourite photograph of Bing because of the smiling mellow mood of its subject. 
I also love how it's lit and costumed to allow Bing to blend so naturally within this traditional setting. It also helps with it being the cover of one of my favourite LPs of his. His calm, restful looks ensured Bing remained such an attractive and appealing photographic subject well into his senior years.
Last edited by Ian Kerstein (15/8/2026 10:57 pm)
- Blonde56
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Re: Post your favorite photo of Bing
You are right Ian, Carole Lombard. I would say it was on the set of "We're Not Dressing" when a trick was played on Carole Lombard, I believe the crew put something in the water that made her skin itchy as a joke. I forgot the story, will have to look it up again. I like your photo sort of has an antique look about it. I do favor the young Bing, but I am a woman so I like looking at men when they were young and handsome. Lol!
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Thread Starter- Ian Kerstein
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Re: Post your favorite photo of Bing
Ah! But I wasn't right in my spelling of Carole Lombard!
Carmela, I am ashamed.
And of course Bing looks in your photograph too young for the later years of World War II.
Plus he's adorning his earlier, darker, wavier toupée here, isn't he?
I've never heard that itchy skin practical joke story before - with the state of my own skin, it's just as well I wasn't on that set! I did read in Charles Thompson's biography of Bing that he was struck by an hysterical Carole, knocking off his afore mentioned toupée when he'd just previously had to slap her face in a scene for the film. Nobody knew she had a phobia for this. Whoops!
There's no business like show business!
PS:
Imagine what could have happened to him if he'd risked some on-set slapping of Ethel in either version of "Anything Goes"???? I don't think Bing would have survived long enough to play his next round of golf!
Apologies to any gargantuan Merman fans out there - I'm also a huge admirer but I must admit, she doesn't half frighten me to death!
Last edited by Ian Kerstein (16/8/2026 4:44 am)
- Blonde56
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Re: Post your favorite photo of Bing
Ian, you are too funny! Yes, Carole did not like it when Bing had to slap her. I grew up in Brooklyn, I learned how to fight from my three older brothers. When boys hit me, let's just say they never hit me again. About Ethel, no wonder Ernest Borgnine divorced her. In a Bob Hope book I read, He claims she was a lesbian.
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Thread Starter- Ian Kerstein
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Re: Post your favorite photo of Bing
Carmela. I couldn't fight my way out of a paper bag. At least I'll know where to run should I need fighting for.
I think having led a calm life is probably why I'm so drawn to my photographic choice of Bing in his antiquarian setting. About Ethel, yes that was a profoundly short marriage to Ernie Borgnine. I think I was leafing through his autobiography when I came upon a blank page which he attributed to this part of his life.
Yes, I've heard of Merman's fluid sexuality. Mind you, if it's the same book we've both read, the author seemed set on suggesting this also about Bob!! Clearly a likely confused line between the fiction and non-fiction shelves!
Last edited by Ian Kerstein (16/8/2026 2:20 pm)
- Blonde56
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Re: Post your favorite photo of Bing
In my book about Bob( name escapes me), author mentions many actors who were gay but claimed Bob liked prostitutes and that is why could not have kids( STDs). Some actors mentioned Eric Blore and Edward Everett Horton( he was adapted when he was a baby by the actress who is the Old Lady in the Shoe from March of the Wooden Soldiers movie.) I can't think of her name right now.
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