David, by coincidence I'm listening to my Jonzo CDs in chronological order (again) and that's the disc that I'm about to hear again. It's a great way for me to spend an hour or two on a quiet afternoon.

His voice in this period is what made him a star in the first place and for me remains my favourite era to listen to. I was just in New York and we had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square that is situated in the old Paramount theatre building. The exterior Paramount logo at the entrance is still there however the interior has been altered but I was just wishing to time travel back to 1932 to see Bing perform when he had a very successful appearance over a month I believe. It was nice to see that their collection of musical memorabilia included the original master studio recording of Pennies from Heaven on display. 

Pantelis, I too was born in the wrong century. I love Bing, Cagney, Abbott and Costello and many others from back then. But I also loved growing up in the late 60's and 70's and all the great music that was around back then. The past 25 years every thing seems boring.

I'm joining Pantelis (and Carmela if she would like to accompany us) in a time machine to see Bing sing live. How about if we stop off first for ringside seats at the Coconut Grove in 1931 and then in Europe to see him entertaining either the troops or perhaps more safely in London?

Nearly thirty years ago, Jill and I once had breakfast in a guest house in Portsmouth with a jazz pianist whose little group spontaneously accompanied Bing when during the war, he was spotted supping on his own at the back of a London nightclub.

He modestly asked if the guys of the band wouldn't "mind" doing this, as he said this way, due to the roars of crowd adulation, at least they could then all " .. hopefully get out alive". He then sang requests to an unbelieving audience for well over an hour.

Our by then elderly breakfast companion (I think his name was David) also remembered Bing was at the time, without toupee and was so warm and casually friendly and completely without any airs or temperament. He told us that Bing was so gratified that David's little group of musicians knew every song that was requested and praised them highly both privately and to the audience as to how well they played. 

After the performance, during which Bing was paying for rounds of drinks, he then  sent each member of the band home in a taxi. David ended his story by gently mentioning to us both that he saw no sign from Bing of any of the controversial behaviours he'd subsequently read about, decades later.

The following year, Jill coincidentally saw him again but on UK afternoon television with his African-Caribbean wife, I think talking about integrated marriages or those with a considerable age difference. 

How about our next time travelling stop being Bing at The London Palladium in 1976/7.I would have been only seven and eight years of age at the the time. I think Pantelis, with your vast and retained knowledge, would you like to choose which season? 

 

Last edited by Ian Kerstein (09/2/2025 3:41 am)

I’d like to join this merry little group. I was 12 in 1976 and was a Bing fan but unfortunately London was too far away from our home in Sydney. He was scheduled to perform here in Australia in either late 1977 or early 1978. If only he could have hung on for a bit longer!

dgmprod wrote:

I’d like to join this merry little group. I was 12 in 1976 and was a Bing fan but unfortunately London was too far away from our home in Sydney. He was scheduled to perform here in Australia in either late 1977 or early 1978. If only he could have hung on for a bit longer!

Oh please hop aboard, David. The more the merrier! There'll always be room for someone who has contributed enormously to Bing's memory with your beyond perfect programmes on his cinema legacy. Among many other things, what would be so interesting with our little bit of time travel would be to see the full extent of these shows (as opposed to the edited commercially released recordings) and as to how many more of Bing's earlier recordings (such as sampled at the beginning of this topic) he performed, away from his Crosby Medley.

Yes, wouldn't it have been wonderful if Bing had survived longer to have visited your country and to also have made that album of Noël Coward songs - and the other planned album with Hope. However, I've always had extreme grave misgivings over their ever approaching "Road to the Fountain of Youth" film, for a number of reasons - but that's for another posting on another thread.  

Last edited by Ian Kerstein (09/2/2025 11:47 pm)

Pantelis Kavouras wrote:

It's exciting to think about what more Bing Crosby could have achieved if he had lived a couple of years longer. We would have had at least two more albums and another "Road" picture, and I'm sure plenty more. His premature death at 74 canceled his planned world tour that included Australia and Japan, and added the projects mentioned to the large bucket of his unmade projects.

Though we should be satisfied, with the 70 feature films, some 4,000 songs, 3,400 radio episodes, and hundreds of TV appearances that he left to posterity. We are only human, and it's only natural to crave more.

Yes, I think the sudden nature of his death also has much to do with this. Unlike Sinatra, who had around three years of poor health and aged caused inactivity leading up to his demise, Bing was still extremely active and making plans.

While we're at, I think he would have been a natural for a live action Disney family film, some more dramatic character work in another television production and at long, long, long last - a devoted UK produced, studio based, audience attended television music special! One without the distraction of locations or an abundance of variety acts. Rosemary Clooney perhaps or Cleo Lane or Mel Tormé could have guested, with a comedy spot and possibly a joint one with Bing, featuring the understated, irish-catholic born comedian Dave Allen who Bing so rightfully admired. Also LP wise, a strictly small group jazz album, sympathetic to the era David has kindly sampled, above would have been smashing. I could go on but will now shut up (at least for the time being). 
 

Last edited by Ian Kerstein (09/2/2025 9:42 pm)

I saw some Crosby memorabilia last week on a British TV program titled The Antiques Road Show, which would have originated a few years ago. A participant had brought along a letter from Bing (from the 1940s I think) but I don't recall the subject. I was surprised that it was included in the program but items related to popular music are often included.