Does anyone know how many times Basil appeared on radio with Bing? I think 1937 on Kraft, a Chesterfield Show and in 1946 A Paul Whiteman Christmas Special. Any others? And where can I find them? I may have one or two, I have to look through my radio shows. Thanks!
These are his mentions in 'Day by Day' Rathbone, Basil, 02/04/37, 03/18/37, 03/26/37, 05/06/37, 12/23/37, 05/12/38, 12/22/38, 05/18/39, 04/25/40, 05/06/40, 10/05/49
Last edited by Malcolm Macfarlane (08/1/2026 8:22 am)
Thank you for the reminder, Carmela and the information, Malcolm on Basil Rathbone's radio appearances with Bing. Never having heard any, I had completely forgotten about these, having read somewhere about them ages ago (possibly four and a half decades ago in Charles Thompson's authorised biography of Bing) . I thought Bing and Basil (sounds like a double act in itself) worked so well together in one of my favourite Bing films, "Rhythm on the River". Rathbone always played a convincing villain and yet was so gloriously suited to his then starring role in the Sherlock Holmes films. Did he adopt a villainous persona in his on air exchanges/sketches with Bing or were they more gentle and learned performances? And as with another famous non-singer, Humphrey Bogart in one of his radio appearances with Bing, was he persuaded to sing at all?
By the way - where did Bing's long untraceable authorised author Mr Thompson disappear to? - I'd love to know.
