THE CHRONOLOGICAL BING CROSBY ON TELEVISION

Compiled by Lionel Pairpoint, Malcolm Macfarlane and Greg Van Beek

The International Club Crosby is placing this superb book detailing Bing’s television career onto the Internet for use by fans and researchers alike. This is an updated version of the original book published by the club in 2003. Paper copies of the original, containing over 70 photographs, are still available.

Foreword

‘A tea-chest, a biscuit-box, cardboard, darning-needles, hat-boxes, cycle-lamp lenses, discarded electric motors, piano-wire, glue, string and sealing wax to a total value of 12/6d plus several hundreds of flashlight batteries wired together to provide a 2,000 volt power source.’

This heterogeneous collection comprised the prototype of a system that would eventually provide the most astonishing advance in the field of ‘in-home’ entertainment since primitive man pounded on a hollow log for the amusement of his family.  An infinitely more sophisticated component of that early apparatus can now be found in billions of homes around the globe - possibly in every room, including the bathroom! Just take a moment to consider this remarkable prophecy from ‘Lightning’, a popular science magazine of the 1890’s:

‘Before the next century shall expire, the grandsons of the present generation will see one another across the Atlantic and the great ceremonial events of the world, as they pass before the eye of the camera, will be executed at the same instant before mankind.’

When John Logie Baird transmitted the murky image of a Maltese cross, a distance of three metres, across his attic room, it is possible that he would have cherished the same vision.  But could he really have conceived ‘live’ pictures from the surface of the planets or the tracking of our every move in Woolworth’s?  He died in 1946 when his invention was still something of a ‘freak show’, to be enjoyed by the relatively affluent.  So, he knew nothing of Video Cassette Recorders, WWF Wrestling, Play Stations, the Cartoon Network, Digital Versatile Discs, Jerry Springer, ‘Reality’ Television or Buffy, The Vampire Slayer.

Nowadays, bookcases groan under the weight of hefty tomes that have been written on the subject.  Among them, there will be ‘Guides’, ‘Handbooks’, ‘Who’s Who’s’, ‘Companions’ etc., etc.  You may even discover, ‘The Golden Age Of Television’ and ‘The Encyclopaedia Of Television’, somewhere in there. Please take notice that the volume you are reading makes no claim to either of these prefixes. ‘Golden Age’s’ will vary from generation to generation and there is likely to be a publication waiting, on some editorial slipway, eager to be launched, entitled, ‘The Golden Age of Popular Music - The 1990’s’!

Furthermore, the dictionary advises that an ‘encyclopaedia’ will contain, ‘information on many subjects or on many aspects of one subject’.  Hopefully, this publication will be offering information on only one aspect of one subject.  It is concerned with Bing Crosby’s appearances on television and the compilers’ aim has been to assist in the dating, cataloguing and identification of those foggy videos and/or woolly audio tapes that may form a cherished part of the many collections of his work.

Whereas, he was not exactly dragged, kicking and screaming, into the medium, his entry into television was hesitant, to say the least.  His early quotes on the subject are well documented:

‘No entertainer who’s in everyone’s home once a week can survive very long. If a new motion picture of mine were released each week for fifty-two weeks - I soon wouldn’t have many friends coming to the theatre to see me’ or, ‘The chef can’t stir too many soup kettles.  Television is murder but radio just takes a few hours a week, all I have to do is stand up at the mike and sing.’

The last sentence from these quotations may help to explain his philosophy in the matter. It was no secret that Bing preferred the unseen informality of radio as opposed to getting ‘decked out’ for television and admirers of the Crosby style might have been perfectly content to see him ‘stand up at the mike and sing’. Indeed, the first two programmes that flew under the banner of ‘The Bing Crosby Show’, in 1954, for General Electric were, essentially, radio with pictures.  Both were filmed for TV transmission and it is highly probable that the musical content owed much to the extensive taped library of songs built up from his radio shows.  For example, his opening song in the first of these TV ventures was ‘Y’All Come’ and this was identical to the version used on his radio programme in November 1953, in addition to being the very same version that was mastered for commercial release.

Setting aside re-runs of his old movies, an item advertised as Bing’s television debut, was also a filmed contribution.  Probably shot during a transcription session for ‘Philco Radio Time’, his rendition of ‘Silent Night’ with the Bob Mitchell Boys’ Choir, used as an epilogue to NBC’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ enjoyed the distinction of being seen on television before it was heard on radio.

It should be remembered that in the late 40’s and early 50’s, TV broadcasts were either performed live in front of television cameras or filmed in advance with motion picture cameras.  The only way to preserve a live broadcast was by means of a somewhat primitive process known as ‘kinescope’. This was merely a high-flown description for the simple process of placing a motion picture camera in front of a studio television monitor in order to preserve the image and sound for posterity.  As can be imagined this technique was vastly inferior to ‘live’ or even filmed transmissions.

Well aware of the advantages, not to mention, convenience, that the use of magnetic tape had brought to his radio series, Bing would have shown a keen interest in the research going on at the laboratories of Bing Crosby Enterprises in Beverly Hills, Cal.  It was here that John Mullin and Wayne Johnson demonstrated the first video recorder on 11th November 1952.  Bing Crosby Enterprises also showed the first colour video in 1953, though neither was developed commercially.

For the next ten years, Bing honoured the declaration of principles that he had set out for himself regarding over-exposure on television.  During this time, there were never more than two of his own specials per annum.  Naturally, there were guest shots, ‘walk-ons’ and sundry interviews but in 1964 he agreed to appear in a weekly ‘sitcom’ series for ABC when another of those early quotes might have returned to haunt him.

‘There’s no question in my mind as to what TV format would be best for me. I’m investigating the possibility

 of a filmed half-hour show, employing motion picture techniques. . . Anybody who goes into television should

be sparing in how much they do’.

All 28 episodes of ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ were reeled off in the space of 31 weeks, a process inherent to sponsored broadcasting. The regime was particularly punishing and most un-Binglike.  He was commuting to Hollywood from his Hillsborough home, filming five shows in three weeks then taking two weeks off. At this time he was suffering from recurrent, painful attacks of bursitis and he wrote to Kathryn, ‘The work isn’t too difficult but it’s constant and all other activities and interests must be excluded. We work straight through from 8 am to 7 pm every day. By the time I bathe and dress for dinner, it’s 9 o’clock and I collapse into bed at 10.’

He was cast as ‘Bing Collins’, a character who, coincidentally, shared the same initials, enabling him to use his own handkerchiefs, shirts and cufflinks should he so desire!  The characterisation was a true alter ego, corresponding with everyone’s image of the real Bing Crosby.  Urbane, amiable, witty, a master of the bon mot, ready to deliver the perfect homespun bromide to difficult, teen-age daughters and most importantly, able to burst into song every half-hour. But although his fans may have loved it, it is reported that ‘he hated the show and hated doing it’ and ‘it took up more of his time than it was worth to him’. ‘Variety’ condemned it as being ‘15 years too late’.  Other critics damned it with the faint praise of ‘cute’ and ‘pleasant’. Inevitably, it slid in the ratings, drawing the bitter comment from Bing, ‘It’s a rat race! If you don’t get a rating, they dump you.’

In the same year, he began his tenure as one of the regular emcees of the prestigious ‘Hollywood Palace’, surviving the possible embarrassment of introducing performing chimps and plate-spinners, to appear in more than thirty of these shows.

If one were pressed to use the tag, ‘Golden Age’, this would, undoubtedly, have been, ‘The Golden Age Of Variety On Television’ and those brought up on ‘Café Continental’ through ‘Saturday Spectacular’, ‘Sunday Night At The London Palladium’ and ‘The Hollywood Palace’ will surely, lament the demise of these extravaganzas. Today, would-be producers would be stopped dead in their tracks in contemplation of the terrifying cost of a forty-piece orchestra and a glittering parade of stars from stage and screen and the best that we can hope for, in these first years of the 21st century, is the annual, filmed version of the ‘Royal Variety Command Performance’ or a one-off, ‘one-person show’ with the camera panning around an audience of mixed celebrities enjoying a free outing.

It was in the ‘Hollywood Palace’ series that the traditional, Crosby family Christmas show was born, continuing (with the exception of 1969) until ‘Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas’, screened posthumously in 1977.

Many stars of radio, stage and film encountered difficulties in their transition to TV.  In an early appearance, Bob Hope can be seen, reading his gags from a script and experienced actors were known to refuse parts for fear of ‘corpsing’ before an unseen and unknown audience. Those who witnessed Bing Crosby make his considerable mark in four of the major show business media: vaudeville, records, radio and films, would have had no doubt that, in spite of his initial reluctance, his easy and relaxed style would be a ‘winner’ for television. On some occasions, those same admirers may have been disappointed, particularly in guest spots, when he was presented like some national monument, for a dutiful audience to applaud brief snatches from ‘Pennies From Heaven’ or ‘Swinging On A Star’. On the other hand, they would have been gratified by the genuine ‘Crosby Medley’, featured in some of his later programmes and full versions of such numbers as ‘I Left My Heart In San Francisco’; ‘Mame’; ‘Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head’; ‘The Men In My Little Girl’s Life’ and ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ that they might never have heard in any other context.

Bing’s peaks on TV came relatively late in his life when many others might have been considering winding down.  There is no doubt, however, that public entertaining is a very difficult occupation to retire from, as evidenced from this final quotation, from his biography -‘I don’t have to work at all if I don’t want to. The reason I don’t quit is that I’ve stayed in the entertainment business so long, I’ve become a squirrel on a treadmill. I can see no end to my road, so I can’t jump off’.

Lionel Pairpoint

THE CHRONOLOGICAL BING CROSBY ON TELEVISION

This chronology details, in order, every programme that the compilers have been able to trace. After due consideration, a few doubtful programmes which had been included in our original drafts, have been deleted due to lack of evidence. For example, there was a strong claim that Bing Crosby had some involvement with a ‘This Is Your Life’ programme honouring Laurel and Hardy.  A copy of this show has been discovered and has appeared on satellite television and on a commercially issued video but the copy reveals no contribution by him. Another was ‘The Bob Hope Birthday Special’ purportedly screened on 29th May 1963.  Audio copies exist of an NBC radio programme, sharing the same date, entitled ‘Happy Birthday, Bob’.  Greetings are heard from Bing, Jack Benny, Frank Sinatra, Eddie Cantor, George Burns, Jimmy Durante, Rosemary Clooney and many others.  A review of this radio show appeared in ‘Variety’ of 5th June 1963 but a search of the television listings from several West coast newspapers show no corresponding television show.

To facilitate reference, the programmes have been numbered consecutively within the dates of the original broadcasts. It should be noted that Bing Crosby’s name has been accorded priority in musical items and/or sketches, no matter how small his contribution to such items may have been.  Those items in which he participated are indicated by an asterisk (*).

An attempt has been made to include all musical items performed by or performed to, by other featured artistes. Details of comedy routines, sketches and monologues by other participants and incidental music to accompany acrobats, jugglers, magicians etc., have not been included

Some items have been deliberately omitted.  Although references may be made to them in the programme notes, his Hollywood films and the many ‘tribute’ programmes aired after his death are not shown. Some caution has also been shown with original filmed items, not intentionally produced for television screening.

No special mention has been made to the commercials featured during the programme breaks, although Bing may have been actively involved in them.  This also applies to the annual Crosby Golf Tournament, together with the Minute Maid and Tennetts advertisements.

An endeavour has been made, in the notes, to detail some of the commercially issued, video cassettes and/or audio versions on record or compact disc featuring excerpts or complete shows illustrating Bing Crosby’s work on television.  However, it should be appreciated that these are only representative examples of the material that still is, or has been available.  It is realised that there are some issues and equivalents not shown herein but the compilers have not felt justified in including items that have not been personally checked.

Considerable research has been undertaken and a great many authoritative publications have been consulted to ensure that song titles are correctly quoted.  However, minor differences have been noted in works of reference on the subject and in these cases, the compilers’ discretion has been observed. In addition, there were tunes, obviously specially written to accompany a situation or link, which may not have enjoyed the formality of a title by the composer and these have been, arbitrarily, given a name with a view to assisting identification.

Index 1

Lists, alphabetically, the songs or musical items in which Bing Crosby participated.

Index 2

Details, alphabetically, the people and places concerned in the programmes.

Index 3

Lists, alphabetically, the songs or musical items performed solely by or for other guests during the programmes.

NOTE:

Index 1 comprises some 1250 renditions by Bing but it should be pointed out that a large percentage of the 765 titles shown were included in medleys and may even consist of only two or three words.  By the same token, Index 3 contains almost 700 song titles, representing more than 800 renditions and in both cases, it has not been considered practicable to note, individually, every occasion on which a mere fragment from a song was used.

A classic example can be observed on the Hollywood Palace of 21st May 1966.  A medley with Johnny Mercer featuring no less than forty titles is timed at precisely five minutes, which allows roughly, seven seconds for each selection, including linking dialogue!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The first published listing of Bing's appearances on television was printed in BING magazine in 1993 and was prepared by Malcolm Macfarlane who had drawn heavily on earlier research initiated by our late members Bob Roberts and Eric Griffiths. He was aided also by Frans Van der Kolff and the late Jean-Paul Frereault at that time, as well as gathering valuable information from various early Crosby fan club magazines. In amalgamating Malcolm's earlier work and his subsequent amendments for this book, considerable fresh research was carried out by Malcolm, Greg Van Beek and the writer. Much use was made of the excellent series of books produced by Gary Hamann (Bing Crosby In The 50s, etc.) and of reviews taken from the show business journal, ‘Variety’.  Wig Wiggins, Arne Fogel, George O'Reilly, the late Gordon Hooper, Gwen Harvey, Charlie Campbell, Fred Romary, George Harwood, Frank Dolson and Ron Hall added important information. 

Co-author Greg Van Beek generously provided many of the photographs, including some previously unpublished material, that have done so much to enhance and illustrate the text.  In addition, we are grateful to Ron Bosley, who has keenly supported this publication and supplied further photographs from his collection. Arne Fogel too weighed in with some rare pictures and our thanks are due to him as well.

Our sincere appreciation is extended to all those who have assisted with this project.

Very special thanks are due to Martin McQuade who gave, unstintingly, of his time and efforts in reviewing the completed manuscript, making corrections and adding many items of which we had been unaware.

Lionel Pairpoint

THE CHRONOLOGICAL BING CROSBY ON TELEVISION

No. 1  26th May 1948 - Hollywood Premiere of ‘The Emperor Waltz’ (KTLA-TV)  (a)

Bing is in attendance at the Hollywood Paramount and when interviewed by announcer, George Fischer, offers the wry comment, ‘This picture was made so long ago, I’m anxious to see how it turned out!’  (In fact, shooting on the movie had been completed almost two years previously).

Amongst other personalities due to attend were Lucille Ball, Eddie Cantor, Gary Cooper, Joan Crawford, Mona Freeman, Clark Gable, Betty Grable, Rex Harrison, William Holden, Bob Hope, Van Johnson,  Alan Ladd, Hedy Lamarr, Pat O’Brien, Larry Parks, Edward G. Robinson, Mickey Rooney, Shirley Temple, Gene Tierney and Esther Williams.

Note:

(a) The programme was also broadcast on radio station KFWB.

“A large turnout of Hollywood personalities is guaranteed at the world premiere of ‘The Emperor Waltz’ tonight at the Hollywood Paramount Theatre. Bing Crosby, arriving from New York this morning to attend his first world premiere event.  The gala occasion is expected to draw a crowd of several thousand spectators and extra police will be on duty to handle the overflow throng on Hollywood Bvd.”

(‘Los Angeles Times’ 26th May 1948)

No. 2  19th December 1948 – ‘Philco Playhouse’  - ‘A Christmas Carol’ (NBC)

*Silent Night                                                                                         (a)           with The Bob Mitchell Boys’ Choir

Note:

(a)           A video version appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’ and was also included as an extra on the Infinity Entertainment DVD “The Legendary Bing Crosby” (IEG2204) issued in 2010.

A video version was also included in the Blu-ray "Going My Way - 75th Anniversary Edition" issued by Shout Select in 2019 (No. SF 20107 2117732)

These video versions appear to be identical to the audio version that was broadcast on Philco Radio Time on the 22nd December 1948.

“Philco Television Playhouse’s presentation of ‘A Christmas Carol’ on NBC TV, Sunday Night (19th) was a warm, tender and wholly evocative interpretation of the Charles Dickens classic. As an epilogue, Bing Crosby made what was advertised as his first appearance on video, via films with a rendition of ‘Silent Night’ but this highly publicized stint was completely overshadowed by the preceding dramatization. Film production on the Crosby number, which had the Bob Mitchell Boys’ Choir backing up, was disappointingly flat. There was no mention of the fact that this section of the show was filmed but viewers probably guessed it from the faded texture of the screen image. Crosby, incidentally, has been seen on video before this in several of his old pics.”

(‘Variety’ 22nd December 1948)

Crosby Formula To Show The Way (Headline)

“Bing Crosby, who recently transferred his future radio and television allegiance to CBS’s William S. Paley for a $1,000,000, is mulling a two-way programming operation that may be the answer to radio stars going video, yet domiciling in Hollywood. The whole problem of shifting their base of operations to New York, key production centre of television, has become increasingly vexing to top air personalities who, despite recognizing that sooner or later, they must embrace TV, are nevertheless reluctant to relinquish Californian climes. With Hollywood retaining its grip on coast to coast radio production, the LA to New York problem has been a major factor in stymieing the pacting of big-time personalities for television.

It was considered inevitable that someone would evolve a formula that in one fell swoop, would permit to simultaneous radio/TV video casting to the theme of ‘California Here I Stay’ and if Crosby pioneers the practice which would involve taping for AM and kinescoping for TV at one and the same time, it’s considered a certainty that it would spark a succession of star-studded simul-casts, emanating from the coast. It would also provide the impetus for the taping (such as Crosby, Groucho Marx etc) of major radio programming from hereon in, a practice that has already been blessed or had already been given the blessing of Paley, NBC prexy, Niles Trammell (until this year was strictly verboten on both sides of the major networks).

Crosby, it is reported is peddling his show for next season. Philco is now paying him $25,000 a week for his taped AM program on ABC but the crooner it is understood wants $27,500 for next season - that’s for radio alone but he wants a simultaneous AM-TV show-casing on Columbia. This would be feasible by training the video cameras on his program while it’s being tape recorded (weeks in advance of airing) and kinescoping the stanza for a date release of the transcribed TV version. Such a parlay would also permit for separate sponsorship for the video edition with a commercial cut-in to dovetail with the AM commercial insert.”

(‘Variety’ 9th February 1949)

“In New York, Bing had discussions with CBS regarding a television show. While there, Bing gave all of the shows the once over and said he’s very enthusiastic about the medium but that it looks like a lot of work and will take more time to put together than a radio show. He doesn’t expect to take the leap until the fall of 1950.”
(‘BINGANG’ summer, 1949)

No. 3  27th February 1951 – American Red Cross Fund Campaign (CBS)

A filmed guest appearance with Bob Hope and Judy Garland and others. Introduced by Ed Sullivan. Most contributions were probably, pre-recorded and the show was also broadcast on radio at the same time. Further details unknown.

No. 4  21st June 1952 – Olympic Fund Telethon (CBS & NBC)

Featuring Dorothy Lamour, Frank Sinatra, Bud Abbott & Lou Costello, George Burns & Gracie Allen, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, Liberace, Paul Douglas, Ezio Pinza, Phil Harris and Orchestras conducted by John Scott Trotter, Victor Young and David Rose.

*Road To Morocco (Parody)                                                                             with Bob Hope

*I Found A Million-Dollar Baby (In A Five & Ten Cent Store)                         with Buddy Cole (Piano) & Red Nichols (Cornet)

*Doodle Doo Doo                                                                                              with Bob Hope & Ezio Pinza

*Carolina In The Morning                                                                 (a)

Note:

(a)           A snatch only.

“Bob Hope and Bing Crosby’s 14½-hour telethon to raise funds for the U.S. Olympic team was a resounding financial click, topping the $1,000,000 mark, as the mammoth benefit checked off the CBS-TV and NBC-TV channels at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday.

It was one of the few times in video’s career that the two major networks pooled their facilities and resources for an entertainment-slanted show, a move inspired by Crosby’s CBS identity and Hope’s NBC affiliation.

It was an occasion for some major TV ‘firsts’, including the long-awaited debut of Crosby as a video personality. He demonstrated (toupee and all, an a la the pix Crosby, as distinct from the hat-toting, sports-attired, pipe-smoking Bingle of the radio studio audience) that he’s a natural and a ‘sure bet’ in the transition to TV, adding an affirmative addenda to the current wholesale jockeying among the top bankrollers in TV to latch onto his services for the upcoming semester.

. . . If by 1 a.m., (two hours after the telethon got under way) the viewer was sorely tempted to call it quits for the night, it was because the hoped for Hope-Crosby mental gymnastics and by-play were conspicuous by their absence; the Groaner was still holding back on the vocals (except for a ‘Road to Helsinki’, Olympic-slanted duet, with Hope, as the curtain-raiser) and when he finally got around to ‘Million Dollar Baby’ as his first legit song contribution to TV, it was attended by an embarrassing mental void on the lyrics which didn’t even inspire the Groaner to gag his way out of the fumble.

. . . Those who stayed with it, however, were rewarded as the show gained momentum and the Hope-Crosby dualistics hit their stride. (By the Sunday afternoon finale, they were a TV affinity which suggested they might have been working the video channels for years).”

(‘Variety’ 25th June 1952)

The Bob Hope-Bing Crosby “telethon” to raise funds for the United States Olympic Fund, which probably kept a good part of the nation up for most of Saturday night and Sunday morning, was quite a financial feat. A total of $1,000,020 was contributed or pledged over a fourteen and one-half hour period, which is a formidable achievement now that these marathon performances occur so frequently on TV.

Theatrically, the chief news of the “telethon” was that it marked the video debut of Bing Crosby. If there ever was any doubt about it, the word is that the groaner can make the medium his own whenever he chooses. Still youthful as ever in appearance and in good voice, Bing’s relaxed style and easy-going ways were made to order for home viewing. The Bing is in.

Otherwise, however, the long show was something of a disappointment. Perhaps the “telethon” stunt is just becoming too familiar, but much of yesterday’s program was far from exciting and more akin to a succession of personal appearances than a real show. Viewers must have been particularly disappointed that Bing was so sparing with his vocal wares. During the ten hours that this department watched he did only one complete song.

The “telethon” was staged at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles and was carried by both the Columbia Broadcasting System and the National Broadcasting Company television. From the outset Bob and Bing made it clear that for the night they would be intent on the business of raising the needed funds to transport the American team to Helsinki. Accordingly, their participation consisted chiefly of reading figures and the names of contributors, a chore in which they had the help of Dorothy Lamour. This inevitably made for considerable repetition and, while some of their byplay was fun, the show as a whole moved pretty slowly.

Part of the program’s lack of pace could be attributed to the staging, which was more in the style of radio than television. The guest artists were forced to work in front of a microphone, which is the old-fashioned way of doing things now, and this imposed severe limitation on the variety of acts.   The emphasis was mostly on singing and instrumental solos, with hardly any representation of dancing or sketches.

In the early morning hours the madcap team of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis injected some life into the proceedings and the studio audience really came alive. Unfortunately, Jerry somewhat overstayed his welcome, but Bing’s attitude of superiority toward the comedy duo was a mite surprising.

Another star making his TV debut during the “telethon” was Phil Harris, the veteran of the Jack Benny program. He showed to good advantage in two lively numbers and his vitality came over very effectively on TV. Frank Fontaine and his son, Bobby, also had an amusing comedy act during the morning portion of the show.

Bob and Bing deserve the country’s thanks for pitching in at the last moment to assure adequate finances for the Olympic team, and it must be hoped that those who made pledges will keep them. With past “telethons” the actual cash finally received was only a small part of the total pledged and many of the “contributions” turned out to be just cheap and thoughtless bids for free publicity. It’s probably just as well that Bob and Bing rescued the Olympic Committee from its financial plight before the “telethon” format is worn out.

(Jack Gould, New York Times, June 23)

“I need no crystal ball to tell me that television looms big in my future, as it does in the future of any entertainer. The principal reason I haven’t had a go at it is that radio, recordings, picture-making and the other businesses in which I’m involved take up so much of my time and mean so many trips away from home that the time to do it right just isn’t available. Then, too, there are a lot of things I like to do aside from business, like golfing, and fishing, and hunting, and if I did TV, when would I so indulge myself?

  TV is here to stay, and it will be here when I get ready to go into it. There’s a question in my mind as to what TV format would be best for me. I’m investigating the possibility of a filmed half-hour show, employing motion-picture techniques the way a big studio films a short subject. But the expense would be tremendous. It might cost so much to make that it wouldn’t be practical. I’m not sure I could find a sponsor who could get up the large bundle of coin such a show would cost. But given the right format, television doesn’t frighten me. I should be able to get by, doing what I’ve done in pictures, in camp shows, and in vaudeville - - entertain.

I do think this: anybody who goes into TV should be sparing in how much work he does. No entertainer who’s in everyone’s home once a week can survive very long. His welcome can’t be stretched that far. If a new motion picture of mine were released each week for fifty-two weeks—or even for thirty-nine weeks—1 soon wouldn’t have many friends coming to the theaters to see me. And they’d drop the flap on me at home, too. They’d weary of my mannerisms, my voice, my face.

Three years ago the price for my complete radio package was twenty-seven thousand five hundred dollars a broadcast. This included my salary of seven thousand five hundred dollars a week. For my 1951-52 radio-broadcasting season I made a package deal with General Electric at sixteen thousand dollars a week. This same contract stipulates that so long as I’m doing a radio show for G.E. I will not do a TV show of my own - except for General Electric. I have no agreement on price with G.E. but there are indications that a big show on television would be worth up to fifty thousand per week.

In view of this, it may be cause for wonderment on the part of some that I don’t succumb to the lure. Naturally, I am toying with the idea - who wouldn’t at such prices - but I’m content to take my time. After all, I’m doing reasonably well now, and I don’t have to work at all if I don’t want to. The reason I don’t quit is that I’ve stayed in the entertainment business so long I’ve become a squirrel on a treadmill. I can see no end to my road, so I can’t jump off.”

(Bing Crosby, writing in ‘Call Me Lucky’. Probably written during the summer of 1952)

No. 5  4th January 1953 – ‘The Colgate Comedy Hour’ (NBC)

Guest appearance. With Don Cherry, Marilyn Maxwell, Bob Hope and Jack Buchanan.

“Bob Hope hit his top comedy level of the season with a sprightly hour of gags and quips on last night’s Comedy Hour. There was plenty of help around but Hope took over from the start and the tempo whisked from his opening monolog to the ‘Road To Bali’ scene, which brought on Bing Crosby as a surprise guest making his debut on commercial television.

. . . Hope reserved the closing minutes for Crosby’s entry and a long pitch for their Paramount picture, ‘Road To Bali’, in which each has a financial stake. By actual count ‘Bali’ was mentioned 12 times and the Groaner walked off with a neon sign that spelled out ‘Road To Bali’. Crosby twitted Hope for his crass commercialism in plugging the picture but passed off his own guesting with, ‘anything to get a buck at the box office’. It was a gratis shot by Bing but Hope promised to pay it back. For a closer, Bing, Bob and Buchanan did a song and dance and then came on with ukes which they didn’t have time to play.”

(‘Daily Variety’ 5th January 1953)

No. 6  15th February 1953 - ‘Toast Of The Town’ (CBS)

Bing was one of the advertised guests along with Gene Autry, Roberta Peters, Jimmy Boyd, Molly Bee, Eileen Barton and Honeychile Robinson. In fact, his only appearance is in a sequence from the film "Going My Way".

No. 7  25th February 1953 - ‘I Married Joan’ (NBC)

Guest appearance. Sitcom, which ran for 4 years featuring Joan Davis and Jim Backus. Bing appeared carrying a bag of groceries into Joan’s kitchen. The episode was entitled, ‘The Opera’ and it was filmed in advance.

“In the Crosby self-kidding tradition, the script took note of the Groaner’s reluctance to plunge into TV. As he sauntered onstage, Joan Davis gasped: “You’re not . . . Oh, no, he wouldn’t be on television. Too fat for it - Too slow.”

(‘Newsweek’ 4th January 1954)

No. 8  25th November 1953 – ‘Thanksgiving Party in aid of the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation’ (ABC-TV)

Hosted by Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.  Publicity indicated that Bing was to make a guest appearance with Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Jack Benny, Rosemary Clooney, Xavier Cugat, Jimmy Durante, Frank Sinatra, Groucho Marx, Liberace, Marilyn Monroe, Harry James, Betty Grable, Danny Thomas, Ray Bolger, Jane Wyman, Dick Powell and others. However, it seems that Bing and many of the guest stars listed were not on the show.

No. 9  3rd January 1954 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show For General Electric’ (CBS)  (a)

Directed by Fred de Cordova. Written and produced by Bill Morrow. With the John Scott Trotter Orchestra, Perry Botkin, The Cass County Boys, Barbara Logan, Sheree North and Jack Benny.

*Y’All Come                                                                                        (b)

*It Had To Be You                                                                               (c)           with Buddy Cole (Piano)

*Changing Partners                                                                                              with the Rhythmaires

*I Love Paris                                                                                        (d)

Notes:

(a)     A video version of the programme was issued on Festival Films (unnumbered) - ‘Bing Crosby’s Cavalcade’ and on Video Yesteryear (number unknown). A brief video extract from the dialogue between Bing and Jack Benny was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978 and in the Warner Music Video 50294-3-A - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby – Part One – Special Edition’. Brief extracts were also seen in the BBC2-TV programmes ‘Bing On Bing’ and ‘Living Famously – Bing Crosby’ shown in the UK on 25th December, 2002 and 23rd  January 2003 respectively and in the KSPS-TV documentary Bing: Going My Way shown on PBS in May 2003 and subsequently issued on DVD and video. The entire show was issued on the Collectors’ Choice Music 2-DVD set “Bing Crosby: The Television Specials – Volume 1” in April, 2010 and included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 1), issued in 2018.

(b) A video version of this item appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’ and on the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’.

(There is no doubt that this is the version of the song, issued as a commercial recording, which was also heard on the General Electric radio programme on 22nd November 1953).

(c)     A video version of this item appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’. The item was also shown as part of the PBS presentation “The  Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204). Brief extracts were also used in the Independent TV presentation ‘The South Bank Show’ shown in the UK on 26th December 1999 and in the USA on 24th December 2000 on the Bravo channel as ‘Bravo Profiles Legendary Crooner Bing Crosby’.

(d)      A video version of this item appeared in the Warner Music Video 50294-3-A - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby – Part One – Special Edition’. The item was also shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204). A video version was included in the i-tunes album "Bing Crosby: With All My Heart" released in January, 2011.

“Bing banged over a whopping first show on TV for General Electric, with the New Year only three days old as Crosby ushered in his video debut with his own series, sporadic though they’ll be, it automatically gave an aura of shining expectancy to the ’54 outlook. For years it has been axiomatic in radio that BC can do no wrong. On the basis of the GE Sunday night bow (in the usual Fred Waring spot on CBS TV), it goes in spades. It can be argued that the decision to ‘go film’ instead of live, stripped the half-hour show of a certain spontaneity element (This reviewer, for one, would have preferred a ‘live’ Crosby). At this stage of the game it might seem totally unnecessary and unreal for the Groaner to dandify himself to look twenty-five again and it can be argued that the singer has yet to achieve an on camera TV stance, more appropriate to his demeanor than casualness. It can also be argued that there was no reason for Bing to permit his initial showcase to fall from grace and its high qualitative level by introducing a stripper (Sheree North). The fact remains that none of it really mattered - for if there is a more natural, sure and at ease performer in showbiz, he’s still being kept under wraps. Whatever the minor flaws of chapter one on the Crosby GE TV agenda and they were apparent, they will probably be taken care of, now that Mr. Big has finally succumbed to video’s blandishments. What is important are the positive factors about Bing’s first show - that he’s got himself a format without really requiring a format (which, of course, means nothing more than a relaxed, informed, thirty minute, sequencing of songs and the inevitable banter with a guest star - particularly when the guest is Jack Benny). As it turned out this was one of those dream talent parlays, a visual throwback to ex-radio semesters of the Hope-Crosby by-play, which set some kind of a high mark in comedics, on the listening only circuit. The Benny-Crosby interlude was a little gem in itself. It was so good that the introduction of a third party in the person of Miss North didn’t hurt it but it didn’t help it, either. What is important too, in the Groaner’s first time up, was the clincher that all the surrounding Crosby show components, (John Scott Trotter’s musical backgrounding, Ken Carpenter and more notably, Bill Morrow’s solid contribs as writer/producer have made the AM to TV transition, with the same grace and ease). Chalk up as a plus factor too, the directorial assist from Frederick de Cordova who does the Burns & Allen CBS show. Bing bodes some happy video semesters for ‘54.”

(‘Variety’ 13th January 1954)

“That old charmer, head of the Crosby clan, finally showed his face around television. On his own show, that is. The millions who made up the vast welcoming committee must’ve shared the same thought - he was well worth sticking around for. One word description of his coming out party: Socko!

The trepidation and fear of the new medium no longer can be a mental block with the Groaner. He came off his first show, dashing and debonair, as sure of himself as in a Decca recording studio. Only trace of nervousness was in his closing walk-off, he seemed slightly bewildered but that extra bow is not in BC’s makeup. He’ll do another one for General Electric in March and probably, six next season. The first one out of the way, he’ll be old Mr. Confidence himself.

What Crosby and Bill Morrow put together for the grand entry was a pleasantly persuasive dish that must have been devoured avidly by the onlookers. His themer for so many years and dropped this season, ‘Blue Of The Night’ brought him on as a stand-up comic, a monologist of the Bob Hope stripe. Morrow supplied him with some breezy chatter, such as, ‘Reason I haven’t been on TV before is that I was waiting for color. GE came up with green so, I grabbed it’ Hope, he compared to ‘a stricken steer’. Bing need have no worries on this score, either. He can time and punch a line with the best of them and has the added plus of spreading his charm with the friendliness of an old shopkeeper.

Unlike other singers with their own shows, he warmed his pipes with only four numbers: his current Decca sides, ‘Y’All Come’ and ‘Change Partners’, ‘It Had To Be You’, with Buddy Cole’s piano accompaniment, and ‘I Love Paris’. To most Crosby fans that would have been the show in itself, the lush lilt of the Crosby styling. He was given a production backup for ‘Y’All’ and ‘Paris’, with the Cass County Boys and instrumentals giving the country beat an oatuneful background. It was impressive and warming, with Bing wearing a cowboy hat as his only rural effect. In the ‘Paris’ number, Bing must have titillated the distaffers when he planted a long kiss on Barbara Logan.

Jack Benny’s guesting, along with Sheree North, a bosomy blonde, clad in a clinging jersey, was a riotous romp with the laughs rolling in waves. Benny tried to unsell Bing on TV, working on his nerves to unsteady him but to no avail. The fright gripped Benny instead and he leapt on Bing’s shoulders like a femme frightened by a mouse. It was amicable repartee that passed between them, Bing remarking about Benny’s cosiness with a buck and how he took his lunch at the Cocoanut Grove and was ordered out. Shot back Benny, ‘I can remember when you were thrown out of the Grove for another reason’. That was strictly a trade gag.

The North dance specialty created somewhat of a crisis but it gave the show a zippy pick-up. The Dulcy type, she’s a rare find and could, conceivably, give some competition to Marilyn Monroe or Marie Wilson. She’s the perfect foil for the flip-lipped comic and worked the scene with Benny to most of the hilarious highs. Morrow’s production and Frederick De Cordova’s direction were stellar.

Bing’s in and all the way, a stroke of good fortune for GE.”  

(‘Daily Variety’ 4th January 1954)

Crosby opened his first GE TV show with switch on Jack Benny’s old vaude intro—“Here I Am.” It’s difficult to believe that the show was produced by the same men responsible for his delightfully informal radio airers. Benny provided the brightest spot on the program via his attempt to persuade the imperturbable Bing that that he really suffered from opening night nerves. Benny also introduced Sheree North, a pretty comedienne with a sensational figure. Crosby warbled four numbers—“Ya All Come,” “I Love Paris,” “Change Partners” and “It Had to Be You.” The last-named number, which simply planted Crosby by pianist Buddy Cole and let him sing, was by far the most effective. It is to be hoped that he’ll do more of the same on the rest of the series.

(Billboard, January 16, 1954)

“He has strong objections to too-frequent appearances. “I’ve always felt television is just like movies, but it’s in the home. I wouldn’t want to be in anybody’s home too often, and you wouldn’t want to see a movie starring the same person every week.” He feels performers should limit their TV appearances to no more than six or seven times a year. Of his own plans, he is vague. One thing is certain, nonetheless: He will film his second TV show in March, for Easter release.”

(‘Newsweek’ 4th January 1954)

No. 10 10th January 1954 - ‘The Christophers’ (WPIX-TV)  (a)

With John Charles Thomas, Igor Gorin and Dennis Day.

Note:

(a) ‘The Christophers’ is a religious movement, founded by Father James Keller in 1945.  Bing was also featured in other programmes produced by The Christophers’ shown on television but as these appear to be re-runs of films, possibly made for another purpose, they are not included in the main listing but are  merely shown as part of this note: -

28th June 1953 – ‘Films Of Faith’ (WOR-TV New York). The short film, ‘Faith, Hope and Hogan’ was included in this programme.  The film featured Father Keller interviewing, Ben Hogan, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, Phil Harris and Ralph Kiner. Perry Botkin joined the group to accompany Bing’s rendition of ‘One Little Candle’ and also a snatch of ‘Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive’. It was included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 1), issued in 2018.

13th October 1953 – (WOR-TV) This programme included ‘You Can Change The World’, a short film made in 1950 that was directed by Leo McCarey. Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson, Loretta Young, Irene Dunne, William Holden, Ann Blyth and Paul Douglas were featured.  Bing sang ‘Early American’.

No. 11  17th January 1954 - ‘The Colgate Comedy Hour’ (NBC)

Bing was advertised as making the presentation to the winner of his National Pro-Am Golf Tournament from Pebble Beach.

“Colgate Comedy Hour hit a pretty mediocre level last Sunday (17th), over NBC TV. In a mish mash of video and sports, it looked liked a carbon of ‘Toast Of The Town’, without any of the latter’s class. Some names were there with inferior material, only Frank Sinatra’s special guesting in the final quarter of an hour lent the show some distinction. Advance publicity had played up promise of scenes from the Bing Crosby Golf Tourney at Pebble Beach, Cal., with El Bingo and various stars, to participate in the climax of the event and what resulted was pretty flat. For fifteen long, dull minutes, the camera floated round the clubhouse after the event was over, as Ben Gage picked up some golf and baseball players as well as Dean Martin and Phil Harris (but no Crosby!), in a few chatty inanities that seemed to please the participants, hugely. Alan Young opened the studio part of the show with a few gags and passes at a bagpipe. It picked up quite a bit thereafter, when Chicquita and Johnson came on for their sure-fire class acro act and then segued back to a routine level with a skit showing Stan Freberg, in a recording studio, disking a take-off on, ‘C’Est Si Bon’.  Although this sketch had its moments, it didn’t completely, come off. Then Young was back in a skit about buying a suit which was corny vaudeville in Joe Laurie’s day. Sinatra looking fuller and fit had some sneak gagging that included ribs at his own radio program and offered, a neat solo rendition of, ‘Young At Heart’ and a somewhat overproduced blues number with a dancing chorus.”

(‘Variety’ 20th January 1954)

No. 11a January 1954 – The Jimmy Demaret Show (color)

Bing is interviewed by Jimmy Demaret at the Tamarisk Country Club in Palm Springs.

Note:

(a)           The interview was included on the Collectors’ Choice Music 2-DVD set “Bing Crosby: The Television Specials – Volume 1” issued in April, 2010  and included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 1), issued in 2018.

No. 12  21st March 1954 - ‘The Jack Benny Show’ (CBS)  (a)

Guest appearance. With Bob Hope, George Burns, Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson, Don Wilson, Jay Novello and the Mahlon Merrick Orchestra.

*Honey I Will Long For You                                                               (b)           with Jack Benny & George Burns

*M-O-T-H-E-R (A Word That Means The World To Me)                   (b)           with Jack Benny & George Burns

*The Gypsy In My Soul                                                                        (c)

Notes:

(a)      A video version was issued on Congress Video in 1987 (no catalogue number) and also on Madacy Music Group TVC-6-1115 as part of a two-tape set of Jack Benny Programmes. Extracts from the show were included in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991. The show was also included on the Critic’s Choice DVD ‘Jack Benny Program Vol. 1’ numbered CCD 001006D issued in 2003.

(b)     The two songs were included in a ‘vaudeville’ sketch entitled ‘Goldie, Fields, and Glide’. An abridged video version of the first song was included in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991. Brief extracts were also seen in ‘Remembering Bing’, a 90-minute special produced by WTTW, Chicago and televised by the Public Broadcasting Service on 28th November 1987.

(c)      See also notes for Programme No. 26 6th November 1956.

“The show had its high points, of sufficient laugh voltage to carry many another comedy stanza. Those three B boys - Bing, Benny and Burns - did a song and dance turn that dripped with nostalgia of the old vaudeville days. Decked out in blue coats, white pants and straw sailors, they sang and soft-shoed like when they ‘killed ‘em in Scranton’. Each encored solo, with Bing singing ‘Mother’ and Benny reciting the lyrics in mock dejection while the others hung their heads, sadly. Burns took to hoofing for his turn after the fashion of a latter-day Pat Rooney. All three then came out with ukuleles but played not a note. The applause was deafening but this was TV, not vaudeville and time of the essence. Bing, paying back for Benny’s guesting on his first TV show, got across another song in his easy and relaxed style from a sitting position.”

(‘Daily Variety’ 22nd March 1954)

No. 13  25th April 1954 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show For General Electric’ (CBS)

Directed by Les Goodwins. Produced by Bill Morrow. With the John Scott Trotter Orchestra, Buddy Cole, Joanne Gilbert and The Wiere Brothers.

*Dear Hearts And Gentle People                                                        (a)

*Young At Heart                                                                                 (b)

  Singin’ In The Rain                                                                                           Joanne Gilbert

*After You’ve Gone                                                                            (c)           with Buddy Cole (Piano)

*Secret Love

Note:

(a)           A video version of this item appeared in the Warner Music Video 50294-3-A - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby – Part One – Special Edition’.

(b)           A video version was included in the i-tunes album "Bing Sings the Sinatra Songbook" released in January 2011.

(c)           An audio version was included in the CD: Some Fine Old Chestnuts (60th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)

“Bing Crosby, obviously, has a casual attitude toward TV. Almost before he stood up to be counted for his second General Electric filmed foray on Sunday the 25th, over CBS, he was delivering a whale of a plug for Decca Records. And he did it in such a manner as to give the impression that the blurb was more important than the fact that this was his first video outing since last January. About midway, the Groaner came through with the second ballyhoo for his wax works when, he and pianist, Buddy Cole, squared off on ‘After You’ve Gone’. Up front, Crosby one-twoed on, ‘Dear Hearts And Gentle People’ and ‘Young At Heart’ in deadening, stand-up style. After he gave Joanne Gilbert the build-up boffo, she proceeded to give a tame treatment to, ‘Singin’ In The Rain’.

There was a bit of needed spark in the fiddle-faddling vocals and the hoofing of the Wiere Brothers but here’s an act that cries out for live telecasting. Crosby wound it up with, ‘Secret Love’ which with the possible exception of the highly visual Wieres, it was probably a crackerjack, radio show.”

(‘Variety’ 28th April 1954)

There’ll be as much critical controversy over this second telefilm by Crosby as over his first one with Sheree North. The issue here is clean-cut. Can Bing just stand up and sing without any production or props and get away with it? Aside from a song by Joanne Gilbert and some monkeyshines from the three Wiere Brothers, it was all Crosby in front of a drop and mostly in close-up, flexing his pipes.

The Crosby fans will be pleasantly serenaded (‘he’s singing to me’) but the critical clan may show their claws. They might contend that it’s little more than radio with a framed picture of Bing sitting atop the set. The Crosby camp claims that such simplified production was the result of a study made of hundreds of letters, most of them asking only that, ‘Bing sing’. That he does and in as good voice as in the relaxed calm of his fatherly days.

Decked out in a sports jacket with an emblem, he gives out with ‘Dear Hearts And Gentle People’ and ‘Young At Heart’, and all the time with hands in pockets. Miss Gilbert then comes on to thrush, ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ with the softness of morning dew. Changing to a business suit (‘for the first time, I’ve been left off the list of the five worst dressers’), Crosby saunters over to a piano where Buddy Cole is benched and with complete detachment raises his voice (‘from a bag of old chestnuts’) and pipes ‘After You’ve Gone’. He closes out the musicale with ‘Secret Love’ and signs off with ‘good night’ and not ‘goodbye’. Bing has been quoted as saying, ‘This is my last’.”

(‘Daily Variety’ 26th April 1954)

No. 14  15th June 1954 - Ford Automobile 50th Anniversary Celebration    (a)   

*White Christmas

Note:

(a) A filmed contribution to this two hour show with guitar accompaniment only, interacting with a ‘live’ Rudy Vallee.

No. 15 17th October 1954 - ‘Toast Of The Town’ (CBS)

A filmed guest appearance. Also featured Irving Berlin and Liberace. Introduced by Ed Sullivan.

*White Christmas

“Ed Sullivan evidently has a soft spot for Liberace and gave him just about half of his ‘Toast Of The Town’ stanza on CBS-TV Sunday night (17th) . . . Otherwise, it was a first rate session, marked by a top-notch film clip of a Sullivan interview with Bing Crosby on the Coast. The Crosby bit was a plug for the Paramount pic ‘White Christmas’ (which, incidentally has been getting a hefty slice of cuffo time on both radio and TV, via Irving Berlin’s current pic and song-plugging activities). But the Groaner was in his niftiest form as a casual personality and his relaxed way before the cameras belied what must have been an army of Paramount technicians to make this ultra professional looking ‘home movie’ sequence. Sullivan opened with a few remarks and Crosby carried the ball from that point onwards, chatting amicably and delivering snatches of Berlin tunes without accompaniment, except for one number, ‘Gee, I Wish I Was Back In The Army’. It was a tip top trailer.”

(‘Variety’ 20th October 1954)

No. 16  3rd December 1954 - ‘Person To Person’ (CBS)  (a)

Interviewed at his Hollywood home by Edward R. Murrow, linked from New York.

Note:

(a) A video version of the programme was issued on Festival Films (unnumbered) - ‘Bing Crosby Surprise Package’. (Bing sings the first line of several of his million-selling records and snatches of ‘This Ole House’ and ‘Count Your Blessings (Instead Of Sheep)’).  The Crosby portion of the program was included as an extra on the  Shout Factory Blu-ray of "Going My Way" (SF 20107) issued in 2019.

A brief glimpse of Bing standing in front of his Gold Records was also seen in ‘Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 - 1957’ first shown on the Disney Channel on 21st November 1993 and subsequently issued on an MCA video MCAV-10846.

“With Crosby this was a compelling Cook’s tour of his Hollywood manse. . .If Crosby were any more relaxed he’d collapse but that didn’t impair the efficiency of his guideposts to a variety of items, from the nineteen Decca ‘gold’ platters to the late Dixie Crosby’s Copenhagen China Collection. He hummed ‘This Ole House’ in tongue-in-cheek manner and interlarded a dash of ‘Count Your Blessings’ in a casual style which spoke of innate showmanship - he even had the right ‘theme’ songs for the occasion. He got in the right degree of plugging for his upcoming ‘Country Girl’, saluted his late gagman, Barney Dean, spotlighted his ‘real’ friends, spoke about the boys - Lindsay was the only one present - and even got in a fast dash of his case against, ‘Oop!’ ‘Shoop!’ and ‘Sh-Boom’ which his four toughest critics, his sons, apparently hold in higher esteem than does the Groaner. He admitted that bringing up the four boys was his toughest job.”

(‘Variety’ 8th December 1954)

“Bing Crosby had the crew of Edward Murrow’s, ‘Person To Person’ show really worried sick. The day of his show, it rained and the one thing that Bing insisted upon was that, NOTHING should be damaged or dirtied. Because the house belongs to his mother and it’s her empire.”

(‘Hollywood Citizen News’ 4th December 1954)

No. 17  6th January 1955 - ‘The Lux Video Theatre’  presents ‘Sunset Boulevard’ (CBS)

Bing appeared as a Lux Video Theatre guest. He did not take part in the play, which starred Miriam Hopkins as ‘Norma Desmond’.

No. 18  8th March 1955 - ‘The Red Skelton Show for CBS’  (a)

Red Skelton presented Bing with the ‘Look’ magazine Best Actor Award for 1954 for his role in ‘The Country Girl’. Other guests were Edmond O’Brien, Walt Disney, Alfred Hitchcock and Jack Lemmon.

Note:

(a)           A video version of Bing receiving his award was included in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991.

No. 19  30th March 1955 - 27th Academy Awards Ceremony (NBC)  (a)

Guest appearance. Talked with Bob Hope (MC) and presented all three Awards in the Music categories.

Note:

(a)   The entire show was included in a Festival Films video ‘27th. Academy Awards Show (1955)’.

    Part of the dialogue between Bing and Bob Hope was included in the NBC-TV programme ‘On the Road with Bing: A Special Tribute to Bing Crosby’ which was shown on 28th October 1977.

A brief glimpse of Bing on the stage at the Awards Ceremony was also seen in ‘Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 - 1957’ first shown on the Disney Channel on 21st November 1993 and has subsequently been issued on an MCA video MCAV-10846.

“Bing Crosby, making three music awards, was kidded no end by Hope. But Der Bingle more than held his own, returning quip for quip. It was one of the night’s most amusing interludes.”

(‘Hollywood Citizen News’ 31st March 1955)

No. 20  8th May 1955 – ‘Toast Of The Town’ (CBS)

Hosted by Ed Sullivan. With Eddie Fisher, The Mariners, Eileen Barton, Wonder Boy John, Richard Hearne and Robert L’Amouret.

During the programme, filmed extracts from the recent Hollywood premiere of ‘Daddy Long Legs’ starring Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron were shown.  Those interviewed at the event included Bing Crosby, Claudette Colbert, Joan Crawford, Jennifer Jones, Jane Russell, Harry James, Betty Grable, Victor Mature, Maureen O’Hara, Clifton Webb, Robert Cummings, Jeanne Crain and others.

No. 21  24th May 1955 - ‘The Bob Hope Show’ (NBC) (a)

Guest appearance. With Don Hartman and Jane Russell.

Note:

(a) The entire show was issued on DVD by Bobontv.com, their reference number 052455. Apart from the usual Hope monologue, the programme was composed mainly of clips from his movies (see press report). Bing’s participation was limited to a sketch based on the premise that he is throwing a party for Bob and Jane Russell is to be Bob’s date. Bob, in top hat, white tie and tails, arrives at the Crosby residence. Expecting a surprise party, he enters unannounced, only to find that the place is deserted. After looking around the house, he finally enters the bedroom to discover Bing, clad in pyjamas with ice pack on his head, fast asleep in bed! On enquiring about the party, Bing says, ‘Oh, that was last night!’ Clips from the ‘Road’ films were shown including the complete ‘Put It There Pal’ scene from ‘Road To Utopia’. When Bob leaves the room, he has a giant movie poster on his back (placed there by Bing no doubt) advertising the film, ‘The Country Girl’.

          The complete show was included in a video (un-numbered) issued by Festival Films.

“Bob Hope closed the book on another television season with a cavalcade of clips from his Paramount past and enough footage on his future, ‘The Seven Little Foys’ to whet audience curiosity. . . .In the guest corner were Bing Crosby, Jane Russell and Don Hartman, executive producer at Paramount. . . .As name attractions, Cros and Russell were point-getters but they were used only sparingly and their material not conducive to the holding of sides or shrieks of sheer delight. They served mostly the purpose of dialoguing the lead-ins to the old films, most of which had Hope in kissing scenes. . .It seemed a waste of both Crosby and Russell, their participation being so functional to obviate any attempt at comedy. . .”

(‘Variety’ 25th May 1955)  

No. 22 10th March 1956 - ‘Ford Star Jubilee’ - ‘High Tor’ (CBS)  (a)

Directed by James Neilsen. Orchestra conducted by Joseph Lilley. With Julie Andrews, Nancy Olson, Everett Sloane, Lloyd Corrigan and Hans Conried.

*Living One Day At A Time

  Sad Is The Life Of A Sailor’s Wife                                                                 Julie Andrews

  When You’re In Love                                                                                     Julie Andrews & Everett Sloane

*A Little Love, A Little While

  When You’re In Love (Reprise)                                                                      Everett Sloane

*John Barleycorn

  Once Upon A Long Ago                                                                                  Julie Andrews

*Once Upon A Long Ago

*A Little Love, A Little While (Reprise)

Note:

(a)     An augmented audio version of the programme, containing narration and songs not heard on the broadcast was issued on the Decca LP DL8272 - ‘Bing Crosby - High Tor’

Schwartz sent me up the recordings of the songs for “High Tor” and I think they are quite good. They have a lot of quality and they are in the mood of the piece. I read the script again and I think this can be quite a nice film. I don’t know about its commercial potentialities or whether or not audiences will understand it completely, but that doesn’t worry me. I would rather be associated with something like this that at least represents an effort to achieve something lofty, than to fall into the rut of all that other bilge that is being produced these days for TV.

I anticipate already that there will be some criticism about this film by some of the newspaper TV columnists, etc., but if it’s done well, and I anticipate it will be, I don’t see how we can be too vulnerable. For the same reason, I don’t think there will be any throwing of hats in the air or dancing in the streets over the film. Let’s just settle for it being “nice”.

(Bing Crosby, in a letter dated 5th October 1955 to George Rosenberg.)

 “Crosby’s entry into the 90-minute spectacular on CBS-TV’s ‘Ford Star Jubilee’, Saturday night (10th) was hardly as rewarding as the auspicious occasion warranted. Out of Maxwell Anderson’s ‘High Tor’ fancy, originally presented on Broadway 20 years ago as a straight play, the network fashioned a filmusical version, the joint effort of Arthur Schwartz and Anderson (with Schwartz also doubling as producer)

The songs were good, at least a couple of them way up on the potential list of solid clicks. There was a stunning performance from Julie Andrews, the ex-ingenue of ‘The Boy Friend’, as the ephemeral Dutch phantom walking the ‘High Tor’ mountain for 300 years. But basically, what evolved was a flimsy, ‘boy meets ghost, loses girl, boy loses ghost, gets girl’ vehicle that would find it tough going as the bottom half of a theatrical double feature. Through it all, Crosby was lost. True, his ballading was good. Crosby and his bouncy ‘John Barleycorn’ rendition was one of the show’s high spots but his love-making had just about as much substance as the Dutch ghosts on High Tor. His poetic meanderings were neither fanciful nor symbolic. It just wasn’t in the film clips for a placid and, let’s face it, not-so-young contented guy in a comfortable jacket to project himself as an escapist from a material world through the flights of Anderson’s dream on the Tappan Zee.

When he came upstage to do his songs (four in all) with all his muted charm and affability, it was strictly Crosby and not Van Dorn, the man in love with his mountain. For that matter the entire Dutch crew, from the captain down, had little understanding or feeling for what Anderson was trying to say.

Strange were many things about the production. Why, for example, Crosby wasn’t even given a nibble at the best of the Schwartz tunes, ‘When You’re In Love’, to which, non-singer, Everett Sloane fell heir. Or why the camera transitions were so awkward, considering the scope that the filmization afforded. Or why Ford permitted an invitation to a tune-out even before the film got started with an elongated commercial that must have consumed five minutes.

This musical version of bank robbers scheming to buy High Tor. . . also enlisted the services of Nancy Olsen, who, at least, had a comprehensible role and therefore rang true to her performance. . . It remained for Miss Andrews to really capture Anderson’s elusive fantasy on life and love.

The film was made for CBS in 12 days. It cost about $450,000. The network reserves the right to give it a couple more screenings, then it reverts to Crosby and Schwartz for any possible residual values. These are doubtful assets.”

(‘Variety’ 14th March 1956)

“Somewhere in the double translation - from stage to tv-pix terms and from dramatic to musical comedy form - much of what made ‘High Tor’ a Broadway success seems to have got lost. What emerges on the home screens in this film, said to have cost upwards of $500,000, is essentially, a listless exercise, with rather undistinguished musical and murky philosophizing, leavened only by the stingiest pinches of comedy.

A strangely subdued Bing Crosby walks through his role with little conviction, making for the most part like a straight musical comedy juvenile. His gifts of off-hand repartee and clowning are little in evidence and his ponderous philosophizing proves too static to register dramatically. Only in his vocalizing does he show his accustomed style and verve. . . Miss Andrews, a British import for Broadway’s ‘The Girl (sic) Friend’, is too ethereal for dramatic conviction but is lovely in her Dutch costuming and able in her warbling chores with Crosby. . . Nancy Olsen makes the most of her standard role as the brisk modern maid. . . Editing, while generally competent, at times, shows regrettable lapses. In one sequence, heavy rain deluging Conreid and Corrigan, miraculously stops when Crosby walks on the scene. At other times, playback synchronization between Crosby’s voice and his lip movements are noticeably at variance.”

(‘Daily Variety’ 12th March 1956)

‘CBS TV’s presentation of ‘High Tor’ has been described by Oscar Levant as a sort of sleepy hollow legend, being both ‘sleepy’ and ‘hollow’.  Whereas, this is probably too harsh a judgment of the musical version of the Maxwell Anderson play, the production wasn’t, exactly, a hundred per cent as successful.  What happens to have gone wrong is that the whimsy that was present in the intimacy of the theatre, just didn’t get transposed to the screen. The effect as a result was somewhat like trying to pretend ‘Finian’s Rainbow’ without blarney.  The story is intriguing, if somewhat complex.  Bing Crosby owns a mountain, the mountain is coveted by various scoundrels. A ghostly ship with a ghostly Dutch crew makes its appearance. There are romantic complications as Crosby is torn between the shapely spectre of Julie Andrews and a real live girl, Nancy Olsen, while Everett Sloane pitches woo as a phantom.  The only trouble with all this is that it is taken too seriously.  There are some lively tunes among the six or seven introduced in the teleplay and it should be interesting to see whether the combination of TV and Bing Crosby boosts any of them into the hit category.’

(‘Billboard’ 24th March 1956)

No. 23  17th June 1956 - ‘The Bob Hope Sunday Spectacular’

With Les Brown and his Band of Renown, George Sanders, Marilyn Maxwell, Betty Grable, Jane Russell and Dorothy Lamour.

Guest appearance.                                                                              (a)

Note:

(a)           An outtake from ‘Road To Bali’ was shown.

No. 24  15th July 1956 - ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ (CBS)

Filmed guest appearance to promote ‘High Society’ (a). With Harold Lang, Joan Holloway, Shirley Yagamuchi, Wesson & Polk, Louis Armstrong and Julie Andrews.

*Mississippi Mud                                                                                (b)

*A-Tisket, A-Tasket                                                                            (b)

  I Could Have Danced All Night                                                                      Julie Andrews

  Show Me                                                                                                        Julie Andrews

  Muskrat Ramble                                                                                              Louis Armstrong

  Basin Street Blues                                                                                           Louis Armstrong

  The Faithful Hussar                                                                                         Louis Armstrong

  Stompin’ at the Savoy                                                                                      Louis Armstrong

Note:

(a)           Film clips were shown of ‘Well Did You Evah!’, ‘You’re Sensational’ and ‘Now You Has Jazz’ from ‘High Society’.

(b)           Unaccompanied fragments only.

“Frank Sinatra may think that Ed Sullivan is ‘sick, sick, sick’ but he nevertheless wound up on the latter’s CBS-TV show as a performer on Sunday night (15th). It was, of course, via the film route, plugging the Metro pic, ‘High Society’. Sinatra was heard doing a couple of choruses solo and one with Bing Crosby, who also appeared on the Sullivan show in a filmed interview. The sequence was a thinly veiled but entertaining plug for ‘High Society’ and had Crosby, in his usual breezy manner, speaking about various facets of the pop biz and his favorite personalities.”

(‘Variety’ 18th July 1956)

No. 25  6th October 1956 - ‘Ford Star Jubilee’ - ‘You’re The Top’ (CBS)

Made a special appearance (filmed at Pebble Beach) in this tribute to Cole Porter. Introduces the show and later presents a clip from High Society of the 'Now You Has Jazz' number.

Directed by Seymour Berns.  Orchestra directed by David Rose. With The Don Crichton Dancers, The Toppers, Louis Armstrong, Dorothy Dandridge, Sally Forrest, Dolores Gray, Peter Lind Hayes, Mary Healy, Shirley Jones, Gordon MacRae, George Sanders, George Chakiris and Cole Porter.

Another Op’nin’, Another Show                                                                        Entire cast

Anything Goes - dance routine                                                                           Orchestra        
    *Introduction to the show                                                                                   Bing Crosby

    You Do Something To Me                                                                                  Dorothy Dandridge

In The Still Of The Night                                                                                    Gordon MacRae & Shirley Jones

You’re The Top                                                                                                  Mary Healy & Peter Lind Hayes

Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall In Love                                                                             George Sanders & Dolores Gray

Night And Day                                                                                                    George Chakiris

    Thank You So Much, Mrs. Lowsborough-Goodby                                             George Sanders

    C'est Magnifique                                                                                                 George Sanders

    Blow, Gabriel, Blow                                                                                           Louis Armstrong

My Heart Belongs To Daddy                                                                               Dorothy Dandridge

Always True To You In My Fashion                                                                   Dolores Gray

So In Love                                                                                                           Gordon MacRae

    I Hate Men                                                                                                          Shirley Jones

    Wunderbar                                                                                                          Gordon MacRae & Shirley Jones

    Don't Fence Me In (snatch only)                                                                         The Toppers

    Drink, Drink, Drink (The Drinking Song)                                                            The Toppers

    I Get A Kick Out Of You                                                                                     Dolores Gray

    Why Can’t You Behave                                                                                       Dolores Gray

    Just One Of Those Things                                                                                    Dolores Gray   

    I Love You (impressions of other singers)                                                            Gordon MacRae

    Begin The Beguine                                                                                              Gordon MacRae
    *Introduction of 'Now You Have Jazz' clip                                                          Bing Crosby

    Well, Did You Evah!                                                                                           Cole Porter & entire cast        
    Another Op’nin’, Another Show                                                                         Entire cast

“Cole Porter was treated to a pleasing once-over-lightly on CBS TV’s ‘Ford Star Jubilee’ Saturday night (6th) as the 90 minute spec series returned for the new season. . . There was no stinting on production credits or in the assembling of talent. . . plus a filmed insert of Bing Crosby and the composer himself joining in for the finale. . . The filmed Crosby insert, perhaps a concession to the Ford demands, was of dubious merit and inevitably led to the integration of one of his film clips from his ‘High Society’ pic. But at least it was one of the more entertaining clips backed by Satchmo and his combo.”

(‘Variety’ 10th October 1956)

No. 26  6th November 1956 - ‘See You At The Polls’  (a)

Appeared as part of a gathering of Hollywood stars including, Jimmy Durante, Bob Hope, Peter Lawford and Groucho Marx.

The purpose of the programme was to remind American citizens of their right to vote.

*The Gypsy In My Soul                                                                     (b)

Notes:

(a)           This was an assembled programme consisting of clips from television shows and films, produced by the American Heritage Foundation.

(b)           The item was first seen on the Jack Benny Show (Programme No. 12, 21st March 1954).

No. 27  11th November 1956 - ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ (CBS)   

Guest appearance. With Phil Silvers, Marcel Marceau, Julie Andrews, Louis Armstrong and Kate Smith.

Medley:                                                                                                             Julie Andrews

  Wouldn’t It Be Luverly

  Someone To Watch Over Me

  I’ll Follow My Secret Heart

*True Love

  God Bless America                                                                                            Kate Smith

“. . . The big hoop-la, of course and a rarity in the area of ‘live’ tv, was the Bing Crosby appearance and soloing of his ‘True Love’, with an enforced reprise, hitched to a Sullivan wager that it’ll register second only to ‘White Christmas’ in disc clicks. ‘Love’ was done to a Bing turn but it was in the banter division, chiefly with Phil Silvers, that the Crosby personality asserted itself as of old. Their by-play in the show’s opening moments, set a pace for hilarity that was only topped when Silvers, in perhaps his most stand-out non-Bilko turn on tv, turned in a skit on ‘Ol Man River’ at a ‘Show Boat’ rehearsal that hit a peak in comedics.”

(‘Variety’ 14th November 1956)

No. 28  22nd January 1957 - ‘The Phil Silvers Show’ - ‘Sgt. Bilko Presents Bing Crosby’ (CBS)   (a)

Guest appearance.

*The Wreck OfThe Hesperus (Longfellow)                                                    Recitation

Note:

(a)           A video version of the programme was issued on Fox Video 0647 - ‘Sergeant Bilko - Volume Two’

No. 29  27th March 1957 - 29th Academy Awards Ceremony

Guest appearance. (Filmed contribution)

*True Love

No. 30  16th June 1957 - ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ (CBS)  

Filmed guest appearance. With Susan Heinkel, Page & Bray, Don Rondo, Rusty Draper, John Raitt, Inger Stevens, Polly Bergen and Johnny Mathis.  A film clip of Bing singing ‘Temptation’ was shown.

“On film, Bing Crosby exchanged a couple of pleasant minutes of chatter with Sullivan but for an indifferently, integrated plug on his new pic, ‘Man On Fire’, he introduced Inger Stevens who appears with him in the picture.”

(‘Variety’ 19th June 1957)

No. 31  13th October 1957 - ‘The Edsel Show ‘ (CBS) (a)

Directed by Seymour Berns. Written and produced by Bill Morrow. Orchestra directed by Toots Camarata. Musical supervision by Buddy Cole with additional arrangements by John Scott Trotter. With Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Bob Hope, Lindsay Crosby, The Four Preps and Mr. Conn & Mr. Mann.

*Now You Has Jazz                                                                           (b) (g)      with Louis Armstrong

Medley:

All The Way                                                                                     (g)            Frank Sinatra

  Love And Marriage                                                                           (g)            Frank Sinatra

  Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home                                                               Frank Sinatra

*True Love

  South Of The Border                                                                         (c)             Orchestra

*Mexicali Rose                                                                                    (c)

*South Of The Border                                                                         (c)            with Frank Sinatra

*Paris In The Spring                                                                            (c)            with Frank Sinatra

  Mademoiselle De Paris                                                                     (c)             Orchestra

*I Love Paris                                                                                       (c)             with Frank Sinatra

*Sweet Leilani                                                                                    (c)             with Frank Sinatra

*Road To Morocco                                                                             (c) (g)       with Frank Sinatra & Bob Hope

  I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan                                                                Rosemary Clooney

Medley:

  Boola Boola                                                                                     (g)            The Four Preps

*Collegiate                                                                                         (g)            with Frank Sinatra

*The Whiffenpoof Song                                                                      (g)

  The Sweetheart Of Sigma Chi                                                                          Frank Sinatra

*September Song                                                                                (d)           with Frank Sinatra

*There’s A Long, Long Trail                                                                              with Frank Sinatra

  In The Middle Of An Island                                                                             Lindsay Crosby

  The Birth Of The Blues                                                                    (e) (g)      Frank Sinatra & Louis Armstrong

Medley:

  Love Is The Sweetest Thing                                                                              Rosemary Clooney                                                    

  I Want To Be Happy                                                                                         Rosemary Clooney

  Where The Blue Of The Night                                                                          Frank Sinatra

*Goody Goody

  Love Thy Neighbour                                                                                         Rosemary Clooney

*I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande)                                                 with Frank Sinatra

*Nature Boy

  I’m Always Chasing Rainbows                                                                         Frank Sinatra

  There Is Nothing Like A Dame                                                                         Frank Sinatra

  Somebody Loves Me                                                                                        Rosemary Clooney

  It All Depends On You                                                                                     Frank Sinatra

*Let’s Take An Old Fashioned Walk

  I’ll Walk Alone                                                                                                Rosemary Clooney

  I’m Walking Behind You                                                                                  Frank Sinatra

*Swinging On A Star                                                                                          with Frank Sinatra

*Small Fry (Parody)

*I’d Climb The Highest Mountain                                                                      with Frank Sinatra

  I’ve Got You Under My Skin                                                                           Frank Sinatra

  Why Don’t We Do This More Often?                                                              Rosemary Clooney

*It’s Been A Long, Long Time

*Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive

  I Can’t Give You Anything But Love                                                               Frank Sinatra

*Please

  I’ve Got A Feelin’ You’re Foolin’                                                                    Rosemary Clooney

  I Get A Kick Out Of You                                                                                  Rosemary Clooney

  June Night                                                                                                         Rosemary Clooney

*You Go To My Head (Parody)                                                                          with Frank Sinatra

  Just One Of Those Things                                                                                  Rosemary Clooney

  It’s A Grand Night For Singing (Parody)                                                           Frank Sinatra

  ‘S Wonderful                                                                                                    Rosemary Clooney

*Jealous

  I Got Rhythm                                                                                                     Frank Sinatra

*Hound Dog

  No Other Love                                                                                                  Rosemary Clooney

  Blues In The Night                                                                                            Frank Sinatra

  Tea For Two (Parody)                                                                                       Rosemary Clooney

  Three Little Words                                                                                            Frank Sinatra

*My Blue Heaven (Parody)                                                              (f)               with Frank Sinatra & Rosemary Clooney

  Three O’clock In The Morning                                                                          Frank Sinatra

*Three Little Fishes                                                                                             with Frank Sinatra & Rosemary Clooney

  On The Atcheson, Topeka & The Santa Fe                                                        Rosemary Clooney

*Sunday, Monday Or Always

  Three Coins In The Fountain                                                                             Frank Sinatra

*Columbia, The Gem Of The Ocean (aka ‘The Red, White And Blue’)              with Rosemary Clooney

*Ma Blushin’ Rosie                                                                                             with Frank Sinatra

*Side By Side                                                                                                      with Frank Sinatra & Rosemary Clooney

*On The Sunny Side Of The Street                                                 (g)                with Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney & Louis Armstrong

Notes:

(a)           Bing arranged for this ‘live’ program to be ‘produced’ by Gonzaga University in order that the profits could go to them in a tax efficient way. The program won the ‘Look’ magazine TV Award for ‘Best Musical Show.’

                A video version of the programme was issued on International Licensing & Copyright ILC0094 - ‘Frank Sinatra Live At the Edsel Show’ and on Festival Films (catalogue no. unknown) ‘Bing Crosby and Friends Volume 1’.

                The item was also shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204). An abridged version was also included on Questar DVD QD3175 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’. An abridged audio version of the show was issued on Loota LP 4901 ‘The Edsel Show’. In addition, short extracts were included in the A. & E. Biography Channel programme ‘Bing Crosby: America’s Crooner’ which was first televised on 14th December 1993 and has been repeated on several occasions since and also issued on video. Brief extracts were also seen in the KSPS-TV documentary Bing: Going My Way shown on PBS in May 2003 and subsequently issued on DVD and video and in the BBC2-TV presentation ‘Bing On Bing’ transmitted in the UK on December 25, 2002.

(b)           A video version of this item appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’ and on the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991.

                An abridged video version was also seen in ‘Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 - 1957’ first shown on the Disney Channel on 21st November 1993 and subsequently issued on an MCA video MCAV-10846.

                A brief extract was used in the Independent TV presentation ‘The South Bank Show’ shown in the UK on 26th December 1999 and in the USA on 24th December 2000 on the Bravo channel as ‘Bravo Profiles Legendary Crooner Bing Crosby’.

                BCE 6 (CD) “Bing in Dixieland” (audio and video versions included in download issue)

An audio version was also  issued on American Masters CD - 'Bing Crosby Rediscovered: The Soundtrack'.

(c)           Video versions of these items were included in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991.

                The ‘Road to Morocco’ segment was also seen in ‘Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 - 1957’ first shown on the Disney Channel on 21st November 1993 and subsequently issued on an MCA video MCAV-10846.

(d)           This item was included in ‘Remembering Bing’, a 90-minute special produced by WTTW, Chicago and televised by the Public Broadcasting Service on 28th November 1987.

        An abridged video version was also seen in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991.

        A video version was included in the Public Broadcasting Service TV special ‘Frank Sinatra - The Classic Duets’ aired in the USA in December 2002 and March 2003. The special has subsequently been issued on DVD and video.

       An audio version was issued on Capitol CD 72435-42771-2-2 – ‘Frank Sinatra - Classic Duets’

(e)          An audio version of this item was included on Voice CD V-CD-1101 – ‘Frank Sinatra – The Live Duets 1943 - 1957’

(f)            A brief extract was used in the Independent TV presentation ‘The South Bank Show’ shown in the UK on 26th December 1999 and in the USA on 24th December 2000 on the Bravo channel as ‘Bravo Profiles Legendary Crooner Bing Crosby’.

(g)            Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 2), issued in 2018.

“The Edsel Show, a special kick-off for Ford’s new line of cars on tv, was a smooth, fast ride all the way. In fact, without even seeming to try, it shaped up as one of video’s top musical offerings, in the same class as the Mary Martin-Ethel Merman layout several years ago, on the ‘Ford Jubilee’ show.

This time, it was the tandem of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, two savvy pros who were at the top of their form. For Crosby, it was his best tv showing to date and for those who remember live radio way back when, Der Bingle generated the same easy charm that was responsible for his long-time run on the AM kilocycles. Sinatra, likewise, displayed a finesse and a sureness that bespeaks his multi-faceted showbiz experience. In addition, the one-hour stanza showcased, among others, another veteran performer, Louis Armstrong, in some nifty routines.

But basically, it was Crosby and Sinatra, in a freewheeling songalog and an informal script that never got in the way of the singing. Working solo, duo and trio (with Rosemary Clooney), they covered several dozen songs, most of them in quickie versions. In the biggest production of a show that was marked with a minimum of production frills, Crosby and Sinatra did a song ‘take-off’ on ‘Around The World In 80 Days’, winding up with Bob Hope entering for a short routine on ‘We’re Off On The Road To Morocco’

Crosby’s number with Armstrong and his combo on ‘Now You Has Jazz’ was a crackerjack getaway. Satchmo returned again for a nifty rundown of ‘The Birth Of The Blues’ with Sinatra. Miss Clooney had one solo slot on a show ballad midway in the show, while Lindsay Crosby, son of Bing, delivered, ‘In The Middle Of An Island’, in fair style, with backing from the Four Preps. In the hoofing division, Mr. Conn & Mr. Mann, two slick tapsters were on and off fast.

For the final quarter-hour, Crosby, Sinatra and Miss Clooney joined in a clever medley of romantic oldies. As with the rest of the show, this routine was handled with a breezy comedic touch that didn’t strain for laughs.

The new Edsel cars were effectively plugged via some film clips and some asides from Crosby and Sinatra. The latter also appeared to slide in a plug for his upcoming show for Chesterfield on the TV network.”

(‘Variety’ 16th October 1957)

No. 32  20th December 1957 - ‘Happy Holidays with Bing & Frank’ (ABC)  (a) 

Guest appearance. Written by Bill Morrow, produced by William Self and directed by Frank Sinatra. Orchestra directed by Nelson Riddle, with Ralph Brewster Singers..

  Mistletoe And Holly                                                                                           Frank Sinatra

*Happy Holiday                                                                                 (b)             with Frank Sinatra

*Jingle Bells                                                                                                        with Frank Sinatra

Medley:

*Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly                                                              with Frank Sinatra & Chorus

*God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen                                                                          with Frank Sinatra & Chorus

*Hark! The Herald Angels Sing                                                                           with Frank Sinatra & Chorus

*O Come All Ye Faithful                                                                                     with Frank Sinatra & Chorus

  It Came Upon A Midnight Clear                                                                        Frank Sinatra

*Away In A Manger

*O Little Town Of Bethlehem                                                                             with Frank Sinatra

*Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer

  Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town                                                                         Frank Sinatra

*The Christmas Song                                                                                           with Frank Sinatra

*White Christmas                                                                                                with Frank Sinatra

Notes:

(a)           Recorded 18th October 1957 at the Goldwyn Studios and originally shown in monochrome. A colour version was re-discovered by the Sinatra family and was shown on the TRIO channel in the US during 2001 and then issued on a DVD titled ‘Happy Holidays with Bing & Frank’ by Hart Sharp Video numbered 29567 0003-2 in 2003. The entire show was included in the Infinity Entertainment 2-DVD set “Bing Crosby: The Television Specials – Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials” and on the Shout! Factory 7-DVD set “Frank Sinatra Concert Collection”, both of which were released in November 2010.  The entire show was also included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 3), issued in 2018. An audio version of the programme was issued on Ho-Ho-Ho Records LP 1088 - ‘A Warm & Wonderful Christmas Eve With Bing & Frank’ and items have subsequently been issued on many CDs, notably, Laserlight 12775 ‘Christmas Sing with Frank and Bing’ and Eclipse 64914-2 ‘Christmas with Bing and Frank’.

                The programme was sponsored by Bulova Watches and Chesterfield Cigarettes.

(b)           A few bars only.

“Bing Crosby guested on Frank Sinatra’s ABC-TV Christmas Show, last Friday (20th) and Sinatra & Co., would have been hard put to find a more vivid contrast with the memorable early season Edsel show. Where the latter was vibrant, this Sinatra filmed episode was static; where the Edsel outing was spontaneous and fresh, this was studied, pretentious and awkward. Comparison is not really invidious, since it was the Sinatra-Crosby teaming that made the Edsel show the great TV outing that it was. Yet, the results on this Yule edition of the Sinatra showcase seem a summary of the failings of the entire Sinatra series on ABC - it’s uncomfortable, Even discounting the often sloppy production, the absence of a central theme or point of view, the fact is that Sinatra never quite seems at his best or his easiest and the attitude affects his guests. Sinatra himself directed this outing, his first directorial stint and in this regard the show was commonplace, with Crosby and the Voice, first carolling over a home bar, then, in old-English costume, in a street setting, then back in the too posh setting of the Sinatra living room. The pair went through some 15 Christmas songs, traditional and modern but neither were in their best voice and unlike the Edsel outing, the combination wasn’t a happy one, with the harmony somewhat forced and at times, rather strident. Worst attribute of the show and the facet that seems to cause the most discomfort, in the dialogue, is Sinatra, spouting a torrent of flip expressions that, presumably, are supposed to be sophisticated and hep but come across in a completely affected manner. He doesn’t seem at ease and neither did Crosby who had to suffer with the same business. It’s a case of writer, Bill Morrow, who should know better than to try his old ‘Kraft Music Hall’ flippancies in another era and with so completely a different type of personality as Sinatra. For all the ABC decisions to do more live shows with Sinatra and with all the big guest star bookings on the show, no improvement in the program or the ratings is likely to begin until Sinatra starts acting himself. He can work all the tension he wants into a song or even a performance but on television ya gotta be relaxed and ya gotta be straightforward and believable or it’s murder, as Sinatra is now experiencing it.”

(‘Variety’ 24th December 1957)

No. 33  12th January 1958 - ‘Bing Crosby And His Friends’ (CBS)   (a)

Directed by Seymour Berns. With the Buddy Cole Orchestra, John Daly, Tommy Harmon, Kathryn Crosby, Bob Hope, Phil Harris, Buddy Lester, Red Skelton, Bob Crosby and Fred MacMurray.

The first telecast of the Bing Crosby Pro-Am Golf Tournament. Bing presented a live variety show and introduced the song ‘Straight Down The Middle’.

Television coverage of this annual event continued during the remainder of Bing’s life and for a time, after his death. No further references to the event will be made in these listings.

*Straight Down The Middle

*Tomorrow’s My Lucky Day

Note:

(a)           A thirty-minute video excerpt was issued on Video Resources ‘Make Me Laugh - Bing & Friends’ (Catalogue number unknown)

“Bing Crosby and Friends put on some sort of a show yesterday afternoon. Ostensibly, a sports program, featuring the finals of Bing’s tournament at Pebble Beach, it also contained attempts at entertainment.

The golf shots were confusing and meaningless, especially when every other ball flew off into the ocean. The comedy and entertainment pieces were contrived and superficial excepting a fairly nice slice of repartee, involving Crosby and Bob Hope.

One rattling piece of incongruity - During a commercial spell, brother Bob said, in effect, that no ‘plugs’ for movies or current jobs would be allowed to come from the guest stars, due to the charity aspect of the affair. Then Bing and Bob did a smart about-face by giving the old pitcheroo to a new Hope movie.”

(‘Los Angeles Evening Herald Express’ 13th January 1958)

“Apparently feeling that straight golf, even with celebrities, is too specialized a field for the mass audience, Crosby decided to jazz things up, shooting film clips of celebs in comedy routines, doing a filmed fashion show and providing some other extraneous inserts. But the technique didn’t work . . . In setting out to give the audience apples and pears, Crosby and CBS came up with a lemon.”

(‘Variety’ 15th January 1958)

No. 34  2nd March 1958 - ‘The Bob Hope Show’ (NBC) (a)

Guest appearance. With Les Brown and his Band, Anita Ekberg, Natalie Wood and Robert Wagner.

  Two Sleepy People                                                                                             Bob Hope and Natalie Wood

*Nothing In Common                                                                        (b)               with Bob Hope

Note:

(a)           The entire show was issued on DVD by bobontv.com in 2010, reference No. 030258.

(b)           A video version of this item was included in the NBC-TV programme ‘On the Road with Bing: A Special Tribute to Bing Crosby’ which was shown on 28th October 1977.

                An abridged version of this item was also included in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991.

“The ‘well-alongers’ must have taken huge delight from Crosby and Hope, a winning parlay on any track. . . From Hope’s crackling monologue down through the curtain call bits, it was a gay romp. What looked like a walk-on for Crosby developed into one of those precious moments on television when the pair traded gags. It’s a pleasure to hear these vets bandy words. The dialogue is easy, charming and smooth. Together, they seem not to need a script. The relaxed give and take does it for them. This was comedy on a superlative level that beat a steady tattoo on the risibilities of the onlookers.”

(‘Variety’ 5th March 1958)

No. 35  24th September 1958 - ‘The George Jessel Show’

Guest appearance.

“Tonight, Bing Crosby trades chit-chat with George Jessel. . . You may watch Der Bingle at 8.30 on the station he owns, Channel 13. Before Bing shows up on the Jessel show tonight, comic Gene Baylos will warm up the viewers.”

(‘Los Angeles Evening Herald Express’ 24th September 1958)

No. 36  30th September 1958 - ‘The Eddie Fisher Show’

Guest appearance. Walk-on spot with Dean Martin interrupting Eddie Fisher and Jerry Lewis.

“The big moment in the Eddie Fisher show came when he and Jerry Lewis were clowning and Bing Crosby and Dean Martin walked onto the stage. Not a single boo from the audience and Eddie’s representatives vow the crowd wasn’t screened.”

(‘Los Angeles Evening Herald Express’ 1st October 1958)

No. 37  1st October 1958 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show for Oldsmobile’ (ABC)   (a)

Directed by Bill Colleran. Written by Bill Morrow. Musical direction by Buddy Cole. With Tom Hanson & Tad Tadlock, Bill Hayes, Patti Page, Florence Henderson, Dean Martin and Mahalia Jackson.

*Well, Did You Evah! (Parody)                                                         (i)            with Dean Martin, Patti Page, Bill Hayes & Florence Henderson

*Swanee                                                                                             (g)                                                                                                          

*In My Merry Oldsmobile (Parody)                                                                   with Patti Page, Bill Hayes & Florence Henderson

  Summertime                                                                                      (i)           Mahalia Jackson

  Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child                                       (i)           Mahalia Jackson

Medley:                                                                                              (h)

  Torna A Surriento                                                                             (i)             Dean Martin        

*My Wild Irish Rose                                                                           (i)

  Oh, Marie                                                                                                           Dean Martin

*Galway Bay                                                                                      (b)             with Dean Martin

*Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral                (Parody)                                     (c)             with Dean Martin

Medley:

*In A Little Spanish Town

*Swinging On A Star                                                                          (i)               with Dean Martin

  I Only Have Eyes For You (Parody)                                                                    Dean Martin

  Once Upon A Time (It Happened)                                                                       Dean Martin

*My Little Buckaroo                                                                          (d)               with Dean Martin

  I Heard a Love Song in Paris (La Seine)                                                              Patti Page

*True Love                                                                                         (e)               with Dean Martin & Patti Page

*Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries                                                        (i)                with Dean Martin & Patti Page

  Here’s To My Lady                                                                          (f)                Orchestra & Chorus

‘We Get Letters’ Medley:                                                                (i)

*Mississippi Moon

  Tears In My Ears                                                                                                Patti Page

  Grace                                                                                                                 Dean Martin

*Twang, Twang, Twang                                                                                      with Dean Martin & Patti Page

*When The Saints Go Marching In                                                                     with Mahalia Jackson

*For My Good Fortune                                                                                       with Dean Martin & Mahalia Jackson

*Far Away Places                                                                                               

*I Guess I’ll Get The Papers (And Go Home)                                                      with Dean Martin & Patti Page

  Well, Did You Evah! (Parody)                                                         (i)              Chorus

Notes:

(a)           This was a ‘live’ show.

(b)           Dean Martin’s contribution consisted of spoken interjections only.

(c)           Dean Martin sings ‘O Sole Mio’ in counterpoint.

(d)           Dean Martin’s contribution consisted of a snatch of ‘Volare’.            

(e)           A video version of this item appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’.

(f)            Incidental accompaniment to a dance routine by Tom Hanson & Tad Tadlock.

(g)           The item was shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204).

(h)           Included as an extra on the Infinity Entertainment DVD “The Legendary Bing Crosby” (IEG2204).

(i)         Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 2), issued in 2018.

“A couple more like this one and ABC-TV will get a reputation for having put television back in show business. Without equivocation, the Bing Crosby Special last Wednesday night (1st) was a delightful viewing experience from beginning to end. A strictly professional enterprise from which Oldsmobile extracted maximum mileage in a tasteful serving of some of the best song salesmen extant. If the product itself, the ’59 Olds, can deliver half the qualitative, freewheeling performance that Crosby & Co achieved last week, then GM’s got itself a happy division.

Here was the plot - Crosby, Dean Martin, Patti Page and the wonderful Mahalia Jackson in a virtual hour songfest, either in solo, duet, trio or whatever which way. That’s all! For background, no elaborate, over-stuffed production but merely a simple crazy-quilt pattern of lights that made for an ingenious bit of electronic hoop-de-doo and a stunning effect in keeping the imaginative qualities of the show as a whole.

The pleasures were varied and frequent, including one of Crosby’s top tv performances to date. In fact the Bingo and Dean Martin were having themselves a merry romp throughout and even if Bill Morrow’s scripting wasn’t always at peak form, the ease and naturalness with which the banter was tossed off, more than compensated for this deficiency.

The opening, ‘What A Swell Party’ (sic) set the mood and the tempo and from then on it was pretty much of a breeze for everyone concerned. There was Crosby’s ‘Swanee’, a beautiful Mahalia Jackson rendition of ‘Summertime’, some Bing & Dean nip-ups, both verbal and vocal, spanning a wide and tuneful range; some Patti Page soloing and one of those inevitable Patti, Bing & Dean three-way clambakes, in both serious and satiric vein, reaching a peak of comicality in some ribbing of ‘We Get Letters’ and kidding around with ‘Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries’ and a rock ‘n’ roll joust. Then a lively Mahalia Jackson spiritual and a kidding-on-the-square ‘Wait For The Reviews’ finale.”

(‘Variety’ 8th October 1958)

Bing Crosby moved up to television's top rung last night with the first of his programs for the American Broadcasting Company. The presentation was a musical hour of charm, diversity, humor and taste; it was produced with enormous style and sophistication. The Groaner, who once had doubts about TV, has conquered another medium. This was a Crosby both old and new. Old for his informality, light banter and wry quips. New for his amusing admission of the passing years, the hard work that obviously went into his TV show and the refreshing avoidance of any jokes about Bob Hope. Mr. Crosby is now strictly modern.

(Jack Gould, New York Times, 2nd October 1958)

No. 38  22nd November 1958 - ‘The Dean Martin Show for Timex’ (NBC)

Guest appearance. Produced and directed by Jack Donohue. With the David Rose Orchestra, Phil Harris, The Treniers and Dean Martin.

*Now You Has Jazz (Parody)                                                                               with Dean Martin and Phil Harris

  Just In Time                                                                                                        Dean Martin

*Volare                                                                                                 (a)           Dean Martin

  John Henry                                                                                                         Phil Harris

  Why, Oh Why                                                                                                     The Treniers

R.O.C.K.                                                                                                             The Treniers

  I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter                                         Dean Martin & The Treniers

Medley:

  What’ll I Do?                                                                                                      Dean Martin

  All By Myself                                                                                                     Dean Martin

  All Alone                                                                                                            Dean Martin

  Makin’ Whoopee                                                                                                Dean Martin & Phil Harris

  Guys And Dolls                                                                                                  Dean Martin & Phil Harris

  They Didn’t Believe Me                                                                                      Dean Martin

*Gigi

Medley:

  I Surrender Dear                                                                                                 Dean Martin

  Just One More Chance                                                                                        Dean Martin

  May I?                                                                                                                 Dean Martin

*Learn To Croon

*Please

*Thanks

  June In January                                                                                                   Dean Martin

*Love In Bloom

*Love Is Just Around The Corner                                                                         with Dean Martin

*Love Thy Neighbour

*Soon

*It’s Easy To Remember

Note:

(a)           There are spoken comments from Bing and Phil Harris and both accompany Dean Martin for the last few lines, which include a snatch of ‘Where The Blue Of The Night’ from Bing.

“The only sustained bit of entertainment coming out of Dean Martin’s first show of the season, occurred in the last quarter hour when Martin and guest, Bing Crosby parlayed a medley of evergreens into a delightful, easygoing songfest. That the tunes were Crosby perennials helped add a neat nostalgic flavor to the segment.

But it took Martin a long time to get on the road to nostalgia. Preceding entries were arranged in hodge-podge manner without any particular flow or meaning. Although the solo shots by Martin and Crosby were okay, the horseplay preceding most of the numbers and centring, particularly, on Martin’s sobriety and/or Crosby’s gold is tiresome stuff at this point in the game. The studied casualness was strained and didn’t come off.”

(‘Variety’ 26th November 1958)

“There was an outstanding medley near the wind-up, with Martin and Bing Crosby, his guest, delivering some of Der Bingle’s hits of yesterday and a lot of viewers must have wished this piece de resistance had been lengthier. . . They could have used more of Crosby with Martin for the first half, when Bing was on rarely. . . Martin’s patter was good and Bing quipped about his sons’ penchant for marriage in Las Vegas. Martin registered with ‘Volare’, as Bing and Phil Harris kidded him about hamming it up. . . Harris scored with a dramatic rendition of ‘John Henry’; Crosby was a smooth as syrup with ‘Gigi’; then Martin and Crosby went into the click hits, reeling off vintagers such as, ‘Learn To Croon’, ‘I Surrender Dear’ etc’. Martin would sing a few, then Crosby would pick it up and then they would duet. It was a solid, terrific routine.”

(‘Daily Variety’ 24th November 1958)

No. 39  December 1958 - USO Christmas Show   (a)

Introduced by President Eisenhower. With The Band Of The USA, Anna Maria Alberghetti, June Allyson, Louis Armstrong, Jack Benny, Polly Bergen, Milton Berle, Ray Bolger, George Burns, Marge & Gower Champion, Cyd Charisse, Van Cliben, Rhonda Fleming, Benny Goodman, Eydie Gorme, Bob Hope, Lena Horne, Betty Hutton, Danny Kaye, Frankie Laine, Tony Martin, David Niven, Kim Novak, Gregory Peck, Walter Pidgeon, Dick Powell, Jane Powell, Martha Raye, Jimmie Rodgers, Jane Russell, Dick Shawn, Dinah Shore, James Stewart, Gale Storm, Danny Thomas and Miyoshi Umecki.

  Around The World                                                                                                            Rhonda Fleming

  They Can’t Take That Away From Me                                                                              Dinah Shore

  It Might As Well Be Spring                                                                                               Miyoshi Umecki

  Piano solo                                                                                                                         Van Cliben

  Lullaby Of Broadway                                                                                                        Betty Hutton

  It’s A Most Unusual Day                                                                                                   Jane Powell

  Avalon                                                                                                                               Benny Goodman Quintet

  Ivory Tower                                                                                                                       Gale Storm

  I’d Do Anything                                                                                                                 Lena Horne

*White Christmas                                                                                                (b)

  I’ve Got The World On A String                                                                                       Anna Maria Alberghetti

  When Your Lover Has Gone                                                                                             Eydie Gorme

  Smiles                                                                                                               (c)            Jimmie Rodgers, Tony Martin & Frankie Laine

  There’s No Tomorrow (O Sole Mio)                                                                                 Tony Martin

  Oh-Oh, I’m Falling In Love Again                                                                                     Jimmie Rodgers

  That’s My Desire                                                                                                               Frankie Laine

  Taking A Chance On Love                                                                                                 Martha Raye

  My Honey, I Will Pine For You                                                                       (d)             Jack Benny, George Burns & James Stewart

  Come Rain Or Come Shine                                                                                                Polly Bergen

  When The Saints Go Marching In                                                                                      Danny Kaye & Louis Armstrong

  Silent Night                                                                                                        (e)

Notes:

(a)           A filmed all-star variety special for Overseas American Forces. Shown on AFRTS.  An edited thirty-minute video version (with Bing’s portion intact) was issued on Home Video Syndications VC-210 - ‘Visions Of Christmas’

(b)           Bing appears to sing ‘White Christmas’ by lip-synching to his 1955 recording with the Paul Weston Orchestra and the Norman Luboff Choir.

(c)           Brief parody

(d)           See programme No.12 when a similar act, under the same banner of ‘Goldie, Fields and Glide’ was performed. James Stewart deputises for Bing on this occasion.

(e)           Various groups of the entertainers take part (Bing was not present).

No. 40  2nd March 1959 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show for Oldsmobile’ (ABC)  (a)

Produced and directed by Bill Colleran. Written by Bill Morrow. With Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Tom Hanson & Tad Tadlock, Jo Stafford, James Garner, Dean Martin, Bill Hayes & Florence Henderson, Phillip Crosby and Dennis Crosby.

*Love Won’t Let You Get Away (Parody)                                     (c) (f)                       with cast

*Ol’ Man River                                                                              (b) (c) (e) (f)

  I’ll Be Seeing You                                                                             (f)                       Jo Stafford

*It’s Easy To Remember                                                                   (d) (f)                    with Dean Martin                                                               

*Hooray For Love                                                                              (f)                         with Jo Stafford & James Garner

Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home                                                                                James Garner

  Stardust / Way DownYonder in New Orleans                                                              Chorus & Orchestra

*Fancy Meeting You Here                                                                 (c)                        with Jo Stafford

*On A Slow Boat To China                                                               (c)                        with Jo Stafford

*I Can’t Get Started                                                                                                       with Jo Stafford

*Hindustan                                                                                         (c)                        with Jo Stafford

*It Happened In Monterey                                                                                              with Jo Stafford

*You Came A Long Way From St. Louis                                                                        with Jo Stafford

*Love Won’t Let You Get Away                                                                                     with Jo Stafford

*Twilight On The Trail                                                                    (b)

*Love Won’t Let You Get Away (Parody)                                       (f)                            with cast

*The Jones Boy                                                                                                               with Phillip Crosby and Dennis Crosby.

Notes:

(a)           An abridged version of the show was shown on the Nostalgia cable channel in the USA in August 1995.

                Phillip and Dennis Crosby used a parody of ‘The Children’s Marching Song’ to link the various segments.

(b) Video versions appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’.

(c)           Audio versions of these songs were included on the Bluebird CD ‘Fancy Meeting You Here’.

(d)           A cappella - Bing has only a line or two.

(e)           The item was shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204).

(f)         Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 2), issued in 2018.

“Bing Crosby’s second show of the season for Oldsmobile was a highly entertaining exercise in cleverness. From Bill Morrow’s script through the special musical material by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen to the settings by Jim Trittipo, the stanza was sparked by a wit and an ingenuity which gave an extra edge to the line-up of names…

Morrow’s scripting, as usual, was keyed to the Crosby style of relaxed but completely constructed palaver. The show also happened to be solid in the performance department, as well. On hand were Jo Stafford who was at the top of her form in her solo of ‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ and her wind-up, 20-minute duet with Crosby on a flock of standards. Dean Martin, unbilled and unannounced, turned up for a gag imitation of Bing Crosby in his salad days while Garner was ingratiating in his singing and chatter assignments.

The Crosby twins, Phillip and Dennis, were used as prop boys, singing the intros and shifting the Trittipo sets in a flowing transition from number to number. Their integration into the long Stafford-Crosby duet via do-it-yourself constructions of Chinese junks, Mexican sombreros, airplanes and the Eiffel Tower was standout. They also joined Crosby for a pleasant workout on a hit of a couple of years ago, ‘The Jones Boy’.”

(‘Variety’ 4th March 1959)

A scenic designer named James Trittipo virtually stole the Bing Crosby Show last night on Channel 7. His impressionistic settings made of unfinished lumber were breathtaking in their inventiveness, simplicity and humor...Otherwise the show was in the best Crosby tradition, unhurried entertainment that was consistently pleasant.

(Jack Gould, New York Times, 3rd March 1959)

No. 41  19th March 1959 - ‘The Dean Martin Show’  (Colour)  (a)

Guest appearance.  Produced and directed by Jack Donohue. With the David Rose Orchestra, The Curfew Kids, Donald O’Connor, Gisele MacKenzie and Dean Martin.

  Small Fry                                                                                                          Dean Martin & Donald O’Connor

  Back In The Old Routine                                                                                  Dean Martin & Donald O’Connor

 *Back In The Old Routine                                                                                 with Dean Martin

"We kept waiting for Bing Crosby’s “surprise” visit to last night’s “Dean Martin Show,” hoping it would add a little life to a listless exhibition, but it was three minutes to signoff before Bing put in his appearance, and by then it was too late.

The Bing bang proved a dud anyway—a line of dialogue, a bit of song, some foot movements. Nothing.

Martin can be affable and amusing, but last night, despite the presence of such potentially socko guests as Donald O’Connor and Gisele MacKenzie, he was just tedious. Maybe, as seemed the case last season with his buddy, Frank Sinatra, he’s just using TV these days as a restful fill-in between movie assignments.

There were songs, dances and unfunny sayings—and, of, yes: card tricks! —without over-all theme or coordinating point of view. The final number, the one in which Crosby momentarily participated, was “Back in the Old Routine,” and that pretty much summed up the taped hour. Routine."

(Harry Harris, The Philadelphia Inquirer, March 20, 1959)

No. 42  29th September 1959 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show  for Oldsmobile’ (ABC)  (a)

Written by Bill Morrow and directed by Bill Colleran. With the Axel Stordahl Orchestra, Jayne Turner, Bill Hayes and Florence Henderson, George Shearing, Joe Bushkin, Paul Smith, Peggy Lee, Louis Armstrong and Frank Sinatra.

*I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore (Parody)                                                  with Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee & Louis Armstrong

*Looking At The World Through Rose-Coloured Glasses

  Willow Weep For Me                                                                                     Frank Sinatra

  Baubles, Bangles and Beads                                                                           Peggy Lee

Piano Medley:                                                                                                  with George Shearing, Joe Bushkin and Paul Smith (Pianos)

*I Love A Piano                                                                                                 with Frank Sinatra & Peggy Lee

  Lullaby Of Birdland                                                                                         Peggy Lee with George Shearing (Piano)

  The One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else                                                    Frank Sinatra with Paul Smith (Piano)

*Where The Blue Of The Night                                                                          with Joe Bushkin (Piano)

*I Love A Piano (Reprise)                                                                                  with Frank Sinatra & Peggy Lee

  Mack The Knife                                                                                                Louis Armstrong

*Too Neat To Be A Beatnik                                                                               with Peggy Lee

*Basin Street Blues                                                                             (b)           with Louis Armstrong

*Everybody Loves My Baby

*Lazy Bones                                                                                                       with Louis Armstrong

Medley:

Them There Eyes                                                                                              Louis Armstrong

  Some Of These Days                                                                                        Peggy Lee

  If I Could Be With You                                                                                    Frank Sinatra

  Lazy River                                                                                                        Frank Sinatra & Peggy Lee

*(We're Gonna Be In) High Society                                                                   with Peggy Lee

  Sleepy Time Down South                                                                                Louis Armstrong

*Now You Has Jazz                                                                                           with Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee & Louis Armstrong

Notes:

(a)     A video version was issued on Festival Films ‘Bing Crosby and Friends Volume 2’.  An abridged edition of the show was televised on the Nostalgia cable channel in the USA in October 1995. The entire show was issued on the Collectors’ Choice Music 2-DVD set “Bing Crosby: The Television Specials – Volume 1” in April 2010 and included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 1), issued in 2018.

(b)     An abridged video version of this item was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978. A video clip of this item also appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’.

“Mount Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Louis Armstrong, Joe Bushkin, George Shearing and Paul Smith in a tasteful, Bill Colleran framework and its hardly an accident that you come up with a 60-minute layout that’s alternately, sophisticated, smart, breezy, snazzy and solid entertainment. Which just about characterises last Tuesday night’s, ‘Bing Crosby Show’

Crosby bore the brunt of the show and for the most part was in fine fettle, whether working solo or dueting with Sinatra or Miss Lee or ‘Satchmo’. With a Bill Morrow scripting assist, Crosby and Sinatra tossed the gab ball back and forth and this may have been the only fall from grace. It wasn’t Grade A gab tossing.

Whether it was Satchmo’s blowing up a storm or vocalising, or Crosby, Sinatra or Miss Lee singing, dueting or as a threesome, or yet again, a Bushkin-Shearing-Smith grand slam in their 88 virtuosing, it came out like tv being restored to the show biz pedestal. These Crosby outings have a habit of upgrading the medium.

There was special song material by Sammy Cahn (who co-produced with Colleran) and Jimmy Van Heusen; a bang up orchestral background by Axel Stordahl and an overall decor that was elegant simplicity.

The sequencing of the numbers gave the show a correct tempo and pacing, from the opening, ‘I’m Glad We’re Not Young Anymore’ by the Crosby-Sinatra-Miss Lee-Armstrong foursome to the closing medley by the quartet. Interlaced were such highlights as Crosby’s ‘Looking At The World Through Rose-Coloured Glasses’, his trademarked ‘When (sic) The Blue Of The Night’, his duet with Miss Lee on ‘Too Neat To Be A Beatnik’; Sinatra’s ‘Willow Weep For Me’, ‘The One I Love’ and ‘If I Could Be With You’; Miss Lee’s ‘Baubles, Bangles And Beads’, ‘Some Of These Days’ and ‘The One I Love’; Satchmo’s ‘Mack The Knife’; ‘Basin Street’ and ‘Lazy River’. Dovetailed with the vocals was a fetching terpsichoreal sequence by Jayne Turner and dancers - a capsule jazz version of ‘Cinderella’.

There was more, too, virtually all of it rich in texture and amply rewarding for the viewing and the listening.”

(‘Variety’ 30th September 1959)

Although some critics found the television medium too sterile for Peggy Lee, an appearance in late 1959 proved not only her suitability for it, but also the fact that, done well, television could be unbeatable. The variety show, as practiced by the pros, was not yet an also-ran forum for mediocre entertainers. At this point, the talent was first rate, the energy enormous, and the music jazzed. The Bing Crosby Show, on which Lee appeared, was arguably the single greatest musical-variety show that ever aired, featuring nothing less than the Mount Rushmore of popular singing at the end of the era when pop-jazz ruled the land.

Start with music by Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen. Add a roster of musicians led by the brilliant Brit, George Shearing, and pianists Paul Smith and Joe Bushkin, a player with swing in his blood who had worked with Billie Holiday, Tommy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman. Finally, bring on three more musical guests accompanying Bing: Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, and Peggy Lee. The sum total? An hour of astounding talent, all caught in a crosscurrent between the old and not really so staid, and the pulls of the blossoming counterculture whose influences could no longer be ignored.

(Peter Richmond, The Life and Music of Miss Peggy Lee, page 267)

On an episode of the televised Bing Crosby Show, Lee joined Crosby, Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong for a delightful quartet, “I’m Glad We’re Not Young Anymore.” This performance went down in history via one particularly famous photograph in which the foursome stood arm-in-arm singing together; this illustrious picture became affectionately known as the “Mount Rushmore” of twentieth-century American music, and for good reason. Armstrong represented the founding voice of jazz, Crosby and Sinatra held their own as the two pinnacle male performers in popular music and film musicals through much of the century from the swing and post-swing eras, extending from the 1930s into the 1970s (Sinatra’s career lasted even longer), and Peggy Lee crossed into all of the above genres, forging her own path as swing, jazz and pop diva, songwriter, and universal artist. Witnessing the tongue-in-cheek comical performance from which the famous photo originated has remained a rewarding endeavor for fans of the four stars.

(Tish Oney, Peggy Lee – A Century of Song, page 152)

No. 43  19th October 1959 - ‘The Frank Sinatra Timex Show’ (ABC)   (a)

Guest appearance. Directed by Bill Colleran. Executive producers Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen. With the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Dean Martin, Mitzi Gaynor and Jimmy Durante

*High Hopes (Parody)                                                                                        with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Mitzi Gaynor

  Day In, Day Out                                                                                                Frank Sinatra

*Together Wherever We Go                                                              (b)             with Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin

  Hurricane Mitzi                                                                               (c)            Mitzi Gaynor

  Talk To Me                                                                                                      Frank Sinatra

*Cheek To Cheek                                                                                               with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Mitzi Gaynor

  Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams                                                                       Dean Martin

Medley:

*Give Us The Good Old Songs                                                                          with Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin

*Down By The Old Mill Stream

  The Old Grey Mare                                                                                         Frank Sinatra

  In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree                                                             Dean Martin

  That Old Feeling                                                                                             Frank Sinatra

*Down The Old Ox Road

  Ol’ Rockin’ Chair                                                                                            Dean Martin

  Old Devil Moon                                                                                               Frank Sinatra

  You’re An Old Smoothie                                                                                 Dean Martin

*My Old Flame

*Ol’ Man River                                                                                                   with Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin

  High Hopes                                                                                                        Frank Sinatra & Children’s Chorus

Medley:

Just One Of Those Things                                                                                  Frank Sinatra

  Angel Eyes                                                                                                         Frank Sinatra

  The Lady Is A Tramp                                                                                         Frank Sinatra

Medley:

*You Gotta Start Off Each Day With A Song                                                      with Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin

  Who Will Be With You When I’m Far Away?                                                  Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin

*Inka Dinka Doo                                                                                                 with Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin

*Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home                                                      with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Mitzi Gaynor   & Jimmy Durante

Notes:

(a) A video version of the programme was issued on Alpha Distribution VST035 ‘The Frank Sinatra Show No. 3’, also on Mountain Video VCM035 ‘The Frank Sinatra Show’ and on Festival Films (No catalogue No.) ‘Bing Crosby and Friends Volume 3’.

(b)     A video version was included in the Public Broadcasting Service TV special ‘Frank Sinatra – The Classic Duets’ aired in the USA in December 2002 and March 2003. The special has subsequently been issued on DVD and video.

An audio version was issued on Capitol CD 72435-42771-2-2 – ‘Frank Sinatra - Classic Duets’

(c)     Non-vocal.  Incidental music for dance routine only.

“ABC-TV atoned for a bundle of vidpix scenes on Monday night (19th) when it ushered in the first of four Frank Sinatra specials this season, in an hour frolic that paid off with the desired entertainment wallop. On deck for the occasion, along with Sinatra, were Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Mitzi Gaynor (with a special surprise appearance by Jimmy Durante for the finale).  Spice it up with those distinctive touches that have now become par for the course where producer-director Bill Colleran is concerned, and what does it matter if Sinatra has been in better voice, if there’s too-gimmicky backgrounding or if the silhouetting, shading and lighting on occasion distracted rather than enhanced?

In the words of the Bingo, bring forth three vagrant minstrels together and brother, you got yourself a summit meeting. You’ve got to go a long way to find three personalities who blend with such perfection. The trio’s closer, providing a tantalising sneak preview of their Clayton, Jackson & Durante filmization on the drawing board for ’60, was whammo from ‘Start Off Each Day With A Song’ to ‘Inka Dinka Doo’ and ‘Bill Bailey’ (with, of course, the Schnozz himself as the clincher).

Or again, the threesome kicking around a bagful of old ASCAP standards and clowning up the ‘Together’ number. And if Sinatra in solo was a bit off the pedestal in his ‘Day In, Day Out’, he more than redeemed himself as he reprised his nitery routine (backed by a small combo) as he fractured his audience with ‘Lady Is a Tramp’ and ‘Just One Of Those Things’ . . .”

(‘Variety’ 21st October 1959)

“Frank Sinatra's first show on Channel 7 last night ranged in mood from torpor to a state of adept showmanship that might be expected from a combination of his talents with those of Bing Crosby, Dean Martin and Mitzi Gaynor. The trouble was that the program had a disconnected quality about it, as if the curtain dropped between its segments. There was no easy flowing continuity. The high points included songs sung in night-club fashion by Mr. Sinatra, a medley by his guests, who introduced the show, and the finale starring all hands, and, surprise, Jimmy Durante.”

(Richard F. Shepard, New York Times, 20th October 1959)

No. 44  29th February 1960 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show for Oldsmobile’ (ABC)   (a)

Produced and directed by Nick Vanoff. Written by Bill Morrow, John Aylesworth and Franl Peppiatt. Orchestra directed by Vic Schoen. With Elaine Dunne, Sandy Stewart, Perry Como, Phillip Crosby, Dennis Crosby and Lindsay Crosby.

*Sing, Sing, Sing                                                                                  (e)             with Perry Como & the Crosby Boys

*Zing A Little Zong                                                                              (e)            with Perry Como

Medley:

*Lazy                                                                                                                     with Perry Como

*Gone Fishin’                                                                                                        with Perry Como

*Lazy Afternoon                                                                                                    with Perry Como

*Hoop-De-Doo                                                                                    (e)              with Perry Como

*Getting To Know You                                                                       (e)             with Perry Como, Elaine Dunne & Sandy Stewart

Medley:

Zing A Little Zong                                                                             (e)            Elaine Dunne & Sandy Stewart

  Dream Along With Me (I’m On My Way To A Star)                                         Sandy Stewart

  Where the Blue of the Night                                                                              Elaine Dunne

  Catch A Falling Star                                                                                          Sandy Stewart

  Swinging On A Star                                                                                           Elaine Dunne

  Hot Diggity                                                                                                        Sandy Stewart

  Pennies From Heaven                                                                                        Elaine Dunne

  Papa Loves Mambo                                                                                           Sandy Stewart

  Play A Simple Melody                                                                                      Elaine Dunne & Sandy Stewart

*A Couple Of Song And Dance Men                                                                  with Perry Como, Elaine Dunne & Sandy Stewart

  Bye, Bye, Blackbird                                                                                          Sandy Stewart

Medley:                                                                                                 (b)

*Mimi                                                                                                                  with Perry Como

  Louise                                                                                                                Perry Como

*Thank Heaven For Little Girls                                                                       

*Valentine                                                                                                           with Perry Como

*Thank Heaven For Little Girls (Reprise)                                                            with Perry Como

  How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em Down On The Farm                                                 Vic Schoen Orchestra

  Scarlet Ribbons                                                                                                  Phillip, Dennis & Lindsay Crosby

  Before I Leave This Town                                                                                  Phillip, Dennis & Lindsay Crosby

*Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho                                                        (c)              with Phillip, Dennis & Lindsay Crosby

  Come Along With Me To New York                                                                  Elaine Dunne

Medley:                                                                                              (b)                                          

*Sing, Sing, Sing                                                                                 (e)             with Perry Como

*Ma Blushin’ Rosie                                                                            (e) 

  Dinah                                                                                                (e)             Perry Como

*Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider                                                                                 with Perry Como

*Gigi

  I Could Write A Book                                                                                       Perry Como

*I Found A Million-Dollar Baby (In A Five & Ten Cent Store)

*I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan                                                               with Perry Como

*Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

  Dream Along With Me (I’m On My Way To A Star)                                         Perry Como

*Get Happy                                                                                          (d)           with Perry Como

*When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob Bobbin’ Along

  Mr. Meadowlark                                                                                                Perry Como

*Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight)

  I Whistle A Happy Tune                                                                                    Perry Como

*Avalon

  Manhattan                                                                                                         Perry Como

*Chicago (That Toddlin’ Town)

*Hit The Road To Dreamland                                                                              with Perry Como

  Show Me The Way To Go Home                                                                       Perry Como

*Two Sleepy People (Parody)                                                                              with Perry Como

Notes:

(a)      Recorded 11th January 1960. An abridged version of the show was shown on the Nostalgia cable channel in the USA in September 1995.

(b)      An audio version of the medley was issued on Broadway Intermission LP BR-123 ‘Crosby and Como’.

(c)      A video version of this item appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’ and it was also included as an extra on the Infinity Entertainment DVD “The Legendary Bing Crosby” (IEG2204). An audio version was issued on Broadway Intermission LP BR-123 ‘Crosby and Como’ and on American Masters CD - 'Bing Crosby Rediscovered: The Soundtrack'.

(d)      Bing ‘scats’ only.

(e)     Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials", (Disc 2), issued in 2018.

“Pairing Perry Como with Bing Crosby may not be change of pace casting but the two stars are masters of the song craft and joined together for a consistently pleasing and of course, always relaxing musical session. It was the first that they had worked together and now, Crosby is slated to play the Como show March 16 on NBC-TV on a home-and-home guest arrangement. It was, perhaps, inevitable that the Como-Crosby tandem would invite a script that laid on both performers’ easy-going, if not somnolent, style. A couple of nifty laughs were extracted from this angle but it was accented somewhat too heavily through the hour.

Overall, however, the scripting team, headed by Crosby’s veteran phrasemaker, Bill Morrow, turned out some typically smooth-riding persiflage for Der Bingle and his guest. In their song stints, done mostly in duet, C & C delivered with their trademarked casualness, with no effort to bowl over the viewer. The backgrounds were minimal, with some chorus boys used as occasional transitions as the baritone crooners worked through several long standard medleys. Included were a collection of ‘lazy’ songs, a Maurice Chevalier wrap-up midway and a random sample of oldies for the finale.

Also part of the guest line-up were three of Crosby’s four sons who contributed a couple of nifty folk songs, ‘Scarlet Ribbons’ and ‘A Fox Went A’Hunting’, joining with their pere in a slick version of ‘Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho’. They bowed off after engaging in an amusing display of way-back hoofing.

The guest line-up was completed by a couple of good-looking talents, singer-dancer, Elaine Dunne and songstress, Sandy Stewart. Their intro routine via some cross talk between Crosby and Como was slightly too cute but the girls handled their assignments expertly.”

(‘Variety’ 2nd March 1960)

No. 45  16th March 1960 - ‘Perry Como’s Kraft Music Hall’ (NBC) (Colour)

Guest appearance. With Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, the Ray Charles Mixed Group, Genevieve and Peter Gennaro.

*Dream Along With Me (I’m On My Way To A Star)                   (a)

*In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening                                     (a)           with Perry Como                                 

*On Behalf Of The Visiting Firemen                                              (a)           with Perry Como 

*In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening (Reprise)                     (a)            with Perry Como

Medley:                                                                                         (b)

*Yes! We Have No Bananas                                                                            with Perry Como 

*The Aba Daba Honeymoon                                                                           with Perry Como 

*I'm Just Wild About Animal Crackers

  Barney Google                                                                                               Perry Como         

*Collegiate                                                                                                       with Perry Como 

*C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-I-N-O-P-L-E                                                                    with Perry Como 

*Crazy Words-Crazy Tune (Vo-Do-De-O)                                                       with Perry Como 

*It Ain’t Gonna Rain No Mo’                                                                          with Perry Como 

*Ice Cream (I Scream -You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream)               with Perry Como 

*Mr. Gallagher & Mr. Shean                                                                            with Perry Como 

Medley:                                                                                                                

  Who Threw The Overalls In Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder?                                 Genevieve

*MacNamara’s Band                                                                                       with Chorus

*Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral                                                                               with Perry Como

*Dear Old Donegal

  It’s A Great Day For The Irish                                                                        Chorus

Medley:                                                                                         (c)          

*Sing, Sing, Sing

*I Hear Music                                                                                                   with Perry Como

  Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning                                                    Perry Como

*Ma Blushin’ Rosie

*Here Comes The Sun

  Blue Skies                                                                                                       Perry Como

*It’s A Lovely Day, Today

  Breezin’ Along With The Breeze                                                                    Perry Como

*Let’s Get Away From It All                                                                             with Perry Como

  Back In Your Own Backyard                                                                           Perry Como

*Mountain Greenery                                                                         (d)            with Perry Como

*Aren’t You Glad You’re You?                                                                        with Perry Como

*When I Take My Sugar To Tea

  When My Sugar Walks Down The Street                                                        Perry Como

*At Sundown

  My Blue Heaven                                                                                             Perry Como

*Moonlight Bay                                                                                (e)            with Perry Como

*Where The Blue Of The Night                                                        (e)

  Dream Along With Me (I’m On My Way To A Star)                      (e)           Perry Como

*Let’s Put Out The Lights And Go To Sleep (Parody)                  (e) (f)          with Perry Como

*On Behalf Of The Visiting Firemen (Reprise)                                                 with Perry Como

*In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening (Reprise)                                        with Perry Como

*I Hear Music (Reprise)                                                                                   with Perry Como

Notes:

(a)           Audio versions of these items were issued on Broadway Intermission LP BR-123 ‘Crosby and Como’.

(b)           An audio version of the medley was issued on Broadway Intermission LP BR-123 ‘Crosby and Como’.

(c)           A video version of the medley was issued on Festival Films (unnumbered) - ‘Bing Crosby Surprise Package’.

                An audio version of the medley was issued on Broadway Intermission LP BR-123 ‘Crosby and Como’.

(d)           A video version of this item was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and   Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978.

(e) Extracts of these items were seen in ‘Remembering Bing’, a 90-minute special produced by WTTW, Chicago and televised by the Public Broadcasting Service on 28th November 1987.

(f) Shown on ‘An Evening At  Pop’s’ with Perry Como as guest, on PBS September 1988.

“The flip side of the C & C songalog is just as good as the original. Which means that Bing Crosby and Perry Como, in taking up last Wednesday (16th) on Kraft Music Hall, just about where they left off a couple of weeks previous on the Bingo ABC special, had themselves another ball as they cavorted through a mile-wide repertory. Practically half of the full-hour showcase was strictly from duet and a more engaging earful would be hard to come by. They ranged all over the lot, from the ‘crazy songs’ of the ‘20’s as their forepart contribution to an up-dated 15-minute roundelay as the closer.

All told, it was a melodic and a tasteful production, geared for sight values and dressed up in NBC’s finest compatible hues, with an appropriate genuflecting to St. Pat, as Crosby, Como and guest star, Genevieve frolicked on the tinted green. Genevieve’s Gallic tempoed tunes and charm, whether she was working solo or in concert with Crosby and/or Como, framed themselves favourably around the display. It was an infectious kind of fun with some supplementary contributions by Peter Gennaro in the terp department and fine choraling by the Ray Charles mixed group. Basically, this was Bank Night for C & C fans.”

(‘Variety’ 23rd March 1960)

No. 46  24th March 1960 - ‘Revlon Revue’ – ‘A Salute To Paul Whiteman’ (CBS)

Presented by Revlon to celebrate Whiteman’s 50th anniversary in show business and his 70th birthday.

Guest appearance. Hosted by Mike Wallace, with Jack Teagarden, Buster Keaton and Peggy Lee.

  Basin Street Blues                                                                                             Jack Teagarden

  When Day Is Done                                                                                            Paul Whiteman Orchestra

Pearl Bailey Medley:                                                                                       Peggy Lee

  Rockin’ Chair

  The Gypsy In My Soul

  Georgia On My Mind

  It’s So Peaceful In The Country

  Hold On

  Rockin’ Chair (Reprise)

Medley:

  Jeepers Creepers                                                                                                Peggy Lee and Jack Teagarden

  Lazy River                                                                                                          Jack Teagarden

  Them There Eyes                                                                                                Peggy Lee with Jack Teagarden (Trombone)

  Christmas Night In Harlem                                                                                 Peggy Lee and Jack Teagarden

*Mississippi Mud                                                                                 (a)

*Happy Birthday To You                                                                      (a)

Orchestral Medley:                                                                                           Paul Whiteman Orchestra

  Tiger Rag

  You’re Driving Me Crazy

  Song Of India

  Rhapsody In Blue

Note:

(a)           Snatches only of these items

“Paul Whiteman, one of the major figures in the history of pop and jazz music, rated a more swinging tribute on his 70th birthday than he was accorded on the ‘Revlon Revue’ last Thursday night (24). The stanza was strictly routine and a frequently listless run-down of tunes associated with Whiteman. Bing Crosby, one of the Rhythm Boys in the Whiteman band, during the late 1920’s, turned up on the show, via a tape sequence, to do a fast ‘Happy Birthday’ chorus to the man who launched him on his crooning career. Like the rest of the show, Crosby’s accolade to Whiteman was devoid of real warmth…”

(‘Variety’ 30th March 1960)

No. 47  5th October 1960 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show for Oldsmobile’ (ABC)   (a)

Produced and directed by William O. Harbach. With Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Dennis, Phillip & Lindsay Crosby, Carol Lawrence, Rosemary Clooney and Johnny Mercer.

*On The Street Where You Live                                                       (b) (k)

*Let’s Take An Old-Fashioned Walk                                                                 with Rosemary Clooney

*Lazy Bones (Parody)                                                                                        with Johnny Mercer                                           

*Lullaby Of Broadway (Parody)                                                                        with Carol Lawrence                                          

  Daddy (Parody)                                                                                                Dennis, Phillip & Lindsay Crosby

Song Writers Medley:                                                                                                                      

*I Want To Be Happy                                                                                          with Rosemary Clooney

  Great Day!                                                                                                         Rosemary Clooney

*I Found A Million-Dollar Baby

  On The Atcheson, Topeka & The Santa Fe                                                       Johnny Mercer

*That Old Black Magic

  Over The Rainbow                                                                                            Rosemary Clooney with Chorus

  Old Devil Moon                                                                                                Johnny Mercer

*Feudin’ And Fightin’                                                                                         with Rosemary Clooney

  South American Way                                                                                         Carol Lawrence

*I Can’t Give You Anything But Love                                                                 with Carol Lawrence

  I Won’t Dance                                                                                   (c)            Orchestra

  Long Ago And Far Away                                                                                   Rosemary Clooney

  A Foggy Day                                                                                                      Johnny Mercer & Rosemary Clooney

*Swanee

*I Want To Be Happy                                                                                          with Johnny Mercer, Rosemary Clooney & Carol Lawrence

  Limehouse Blues                                                                                               Dennis, Phillip & Lindsay Crosby

*Please                                                                                                (d)           with Dennis, Phillip & Lindsay Crosby

*Mississippi Mud                                                                                                with Dennis, Phillip & Lindsay Crosby

Medley:                                                                                               (e)          

  If I Had My Druthers                                                                                        Rosemary Clooney

  You Are My Lucky Star (Parody)                                                                    Rosemary Clooney

  The March Of The Gladiators (Parody)                                                            Rosemary Clooney

  The Man On The Flying Trapeze (Parody)                                                       Rosemary Clooney

  Love Is Sweeping The Country (Parody)                                                          Rosemary Clooney

*The Love Nest (Parody)

  How About You?                                                                                              Rosemary Clooney

*If I Had My Druthers

*Tea For Two (Parody)                                                                                      with Rosemary Clooney

*Popeye The Sailor Man

*I Get A Kick Out Of You (Parody)                                                                   with Rosemary Clooney

*You Gotta Be A Football Hero

(To Get Along With The Beautiful Girls)                                                    with Rosemary Clooney

*Aren’t You Glad You’re You?                                                        (f)             with Rosemary Clooney

  I Like The Likes Of You                                                                                   Rosemary Clooney

*Stay As Sweet As You Are                                                            (f)

*Aren’t You Glad You’re You? (Reprise)                                                          with Rosemary Clooney

*There Will Never Be Another You                                                 (f)               with Rosemary Clooney

  When I Was Very Young                                                                (g) (k)        Carol Lawrence   

Old Time Radio Medley:                                                               (h) (k)

*Where The Blue Of The Night

*Mr. Gallagher & Mr. Shean (Parody)                                                              with Johnny Mercer

*Mr. Meadowlark                                                                                              with Johnny Mercer

*On Behalf Of The Visiting Firemen                                                                 with Johnny Mercer           

*Mr Gallagher And Mr Shean (Reprise)                                                            with Johnny Mercer

  There Will Never Be Another You                                                (k)             Rosemary Clooney

Medley:                                                                                           (i)

*Pennies From Heaven

*June In January                                                                               (j)

*Learn To Croon                                                                              (j)

*I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande)

*Tumbling Tumbleweeds

*Sweet Leilani

*Blue Hawaii

*Play A Simple Melody

Notes:

(a)     Recorded August 1960. The programme was issued on a Festival Films video as ‘Bing Crosby and Friends Volume 6’. An abridged version of the show was televised on the Nostalgia cable channel in the USA in January 1996.

(b)     An audio version was issued on Broadway Intermission BR-135 - ‘Crosbyana - Volume 5 from Bing’s Collection’.

The arrangement for this item includes portions of the four songs shown in italics. A device that serves to introduce the main participants in the show.

(c)      Non vocal.  Incidental music to accompany Carol Lawrence dance routine.

(d)      An abridged video version of this item was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978.

           An abridged version of this item was also seen in ‘Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 - 1957’ first shown on the Disney Channel on 21st November 1993 and subsequently issued on an MCA video MCAV-10846.

(e)      An audio version was issued on Broadway Intermission BR-135 - ‘Crosbyana - Volume 5 from Bing’s Collection’. Most of the titles shown are fragmentary and parodies. A brief glimpse of Bing and Rosemary Clooney together was also seen in ‘Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 - 1957’ first shown on the Disney Channel 21st November 1993 and subsequently issued on an MCA video MCAV-10846.

(f)      Video versions of these items appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’.

(g) Mainly a dance routine by Carol Lawrence, including ‘Little Orphan Annie’ sung by Chorus.

(h)      An audio version was issued on Broadway Intermission BR-135 - ‘Crosbyana - Volume 5 from Bing’s Collection’

(i)       With the aid of split screen technique, Bing duets with several versions of himself. An audio version was issued on Broadway Intermission BR-135 - ‘Crosbyana - Volume 5 from Bing’s Collection’ (Date shown as ‘1961’). Extracts were shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204).

(j)      Video versions of these items appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’.

(k) Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 4), issued in 2018.

“Bing Crosby, in his first special of the new season, was the front man of a neat musical stanza, last Wednesday night (5th). Keyed by Crosby in his customary relaxed groove, the session framed an excellent roster of supporting performers in a swinging format. The quartet of scripters supplied a breezy continuity which didn’t get in the way of the music, while the production mountings were imaginative without being pretentious.

The music was pegged to a series of flexible medleys which permitted Crosby and company to work ensemble and solo. After Crosby’s, ‘On The Street Where You Live’ opener, Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Mercer and Carol Lawrence brought on in a ‘singing game’ involving a chain of cleffing collaborations. It started with the Irving Caesar-Vincent Youmans, ‘I Wanna Be Happy’ to Youmans-Billy Rose’s, ‘Great Day!’ to Rose-Warren’s, ‘I Found A Million Dollar Baby’ etc. It was a clever device for running through about a dozen great standards.

The Crosby sons, minus Gary, contributed a bright, ‘Limehouse Blues’ and then joined with papa on a couple of numbers, including a rock ‘n’ roll take-off on, ‘Please’. Crosby’s ‘old master’ quality was vividly, on display, in this contrast with the younger generation’s derivative talent. Crosby also teamed with Miss Clooney in a nifty piece of material cut from ‘Aren’t You Glad You’re You?’ and then worked with Mercer in a nifty creation of the old days of radio…. Miss Clooney handled one solo number, ‘There’ll Never Be Another You’, in classy style against an appropriately formal background.

For the wind-up, Crosby delivered a medley of his past hits, playing against two other Crosby images, in a cleverly and precisely executed process of film super-impositions. Nelson Riddle’s Orchestra cut the show sharply, throughout.”

(‘Variety’ 12th October 1960)

“. . . besides the three junior Crosby’s, there will also be, three of the senior. Aided by a little electronic chicanery, the old man appears on screen in triplicate for a brace of numbers.”

(‘TV Guide’ 5th October 1960)

Bing Crosby’s first special of the season, an attraction on Channel 7 last night, was a highly tuneful outing of very considerable style and imagination. Dispensing with the Palm Springs chatter that had grown a trifle wearing last season, the Old Groaner concentrated this time on a variety of medleys done in different styles with Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Mercer, Carol Lawrence and his sons, Dennis, Phillip and Lindsay. It was unpretentious, relaxed and musically fresh. Admittedly, the individuals in charge of the sound portion of the show were not at their most efficient. At the outset a mixture of delightful standard numbers was all but obscured by Nelson Riddle’s orchestra...The show’s final number involved a triple exposure, which had three different Bing Crosby's in different costumes, singing simultaneously. It was a real technical feat and interesting and amusing to watch. The three Crosby sons, once the brats of video, have come a long way, the number with their father, adapting “Please” to a Presley rhythm was fine.

(Jack Gould, ‘New York Times’ 6th October 1960)

No. 48  19th October 1960 - ‘Tonight’ (BBC)  (a)

Interviewed at Sunningdale Golf Course in the UK by Derek Hart. Bing whistles a few bars of ‘Where The Blue Of The Night’.

Note:

(a)           Recorded 15th October 1960.

No. 49  20th March 1961 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show for Oldsmobile’ (ABC)   (a)

Produced and directed by William O. Harbach. With the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Aldo Monaco, Hugh Lambert, Carol Lawrence and Maurice Chevalier.

*Ridin’ High                                                                                         (b) (k)      with Maurice Chevalier & Carol Lawrence

*Without A Song

*It’s A Good Day                                                                                  (c)           with Chorus

*In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening                                           (d) (k)      with Maurice Chevalier & Carol Lawrence

  Sing, Sing, Sing   / Big Noise From Winnetka                                     (e)           Orchestra

Medley:                                                                                                                

*Once In Love With Amy

*Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider                                                                                 with Maurice Chevalier

*Gigi

  Charmaine                                                                                                          Maurice Chevalier

*Candy

*Gigi (Reprise)

*(I’m) Chiquita Banana                                                                                        with Maurice Chevalier

  In My Merry Oldsmobile                                                                                    Maurice Chevalier

*Louise                                                                                                                 with Maurice Chevalier

*Mexicali Rose

  Mimi                                                                                                                    Maurice Chevalier

*If You Knew Susie                                                                                               with Maurice Chevalier

*Evelina                                                                                                                with Chorus

  Linda                                                                                                                   Maurice Chevalier

*Count Your Blessings (Instead Of Sheep) (Parody)

  Margie                                                                                                                 Maurice Chevalier

*Ma Blushin’ Rosie                                                                                               with Maurice Chevalier

*Thank Heaven For Little Girls                                                                             with Maurice Chevalier

  Anema e Core (How Wonderful To Know)                                    (k)                Aldo Monaco

  Granada                                                                                           (k)              Aldo Monaco

  Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries                                                                            Maurice Chevalier

*Pigalle                                                                                             (k)               with Maurice Chevalier

*Alouette                                                                                          (f) (k)          with Maurice Chevalier and Chorus

*The Second Time Around                                                              (j)                with Chorus

*Flattery (Can Charge Your Battery)                                               (g)               with Carol Lawrence

Medley:                                                                                                                

*Yesterdays                                                                                                         

  September Song                                                                                                 Maurice Chevalier

  Young At Heart                                                                             (h)                Chorus

*I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore                                                                     with Maurice Chevalier

*I Wish I Were In Love Again                                                        (i)                  with Maurice Chevalier and Chorus

Notes:

(a)      Recorded February 1961. An edited audio version of the programme was issued on De Baron Grouch LP 47 - ‘Three Giants’. The final medley was not included. ‘Flattery’ is shown on the sleeve as ‘What Do You Think Of Me?’

(b)      Includes a snatch of ‘In My Merry Oldsmobile’.

(c)      Arrangement includes snatch of ‘Great Day!’.

(d)      Arrangement includes snatch of ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’.

(e)       Orchestral accompaniment to Carol Lawrence dance routine.

(f)        Included as an extra on the Infinity Entertainment DVD “The Legendary Bing Crosby” (IEG2204).

(g)      Arrangement includes snatches of ‘Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home’ (sung by Bing) ‘Too Marvellous For Words’ (Bing) and ‘Cheek To Cheek’ (Carol Lawrence).

A brief glimpse of Bing dancing with Carol Lawrence was also seen in ‘Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 - 1957’ first shown on the Disney Channel on 21st November 1993 and subsequently issued on an MCA video MCAV-10846.

(h) Fragment only.

(i) Closes with a reprise of ‘I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore’.

An abridged video version of the item was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978.

  An audio version was issued on American Masters CD - 'Bing Crosby Rediscovered: The Soundtrack'.

(j)     An audio version was issued on American Masters CD - 'Bing Crosby Rediscovered: The Soundtrack'.
(k)    Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 5) issued in 2018.

“Bing Crosby keeps topping himself. His latest semi-annual ABC-TV romp for Oldsmobile, with Maurice Chevalier as his singing partner and Carol Lawrence as an added starter, was a zestful, fast-hour with wit, warmth and good humour.

Crosby and Chevalier made a fine team, not so much in their vocal meshing as in their wonderful reactions to each other. And since producer-director, Bill Harbach and his three writers played the hour as a sort of ‘fun with music’ show, the Crosby-Chevalier pairing played off, incandescently.

The twosome got their best licks in, during a pair of medleys, one pegged on femme names in a ‘little black book’ sequence of memorabilia which gave them a crack at ‘Louisa’ (sic), ‘Mimi’, ‘Gigi’, ‘Ida’, ‘Candy’ and several more, done with appropriate tongue in cheek and camaraderie. And a second, more sentimental, turn pegged to ‘I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore’ and ‘I Wish I Were In Love Again’. Both were top-flight in performance and effect.

Miss Lawrence got her licks in, vocally and dancewise . . . And her turn with Crosby, a cute piece of fluff titled, ‘Flattery Charges My Battery’ was pure fun.  Monaco is a Crosby discovery, an Italian tenor with a remarkable control of his vocal nuances plus lots of lung power. Other high points of the show were Chevalier’s solos on ‘Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries’ and ‘Pigalle’ (sic) and Crosby and Chevalier with a femme chorus on the jazziest version of ‘Alouette’ yet. Nelson Riddle Orchestra backed with verve and distinction.”

(‘Variety’ 22nd March 1961)

No. 50  3rd August 1961 - ‘Tonight’ (BBC)   (a)

Another recorded interview for this popular early evening magazine programme. (See Programme No. 48)

Note:

(a)           Recorded 2nd August 1961

No. 51  5th August 1961 - ‘The Rosemary Clooney Show’ (ATV)   (a)

Guest appearance.

*Fancy Meeting You Here                                                                                                with Rosemary Clooney

*Fancy Meeting You Here                                                                                (b)           with Dave King

Notes:

(a)           This was a ‘live’ show.

(b)           Rosemary Clooney introduces Bing to Dave King resulting in this duet of the final lines of the song.

No. 52  26th August 1961 - ‘Big Night Out Presents The Peggy Lee Show’ (ABC [UK])   (a)

Guest appearance. With the Bob Sharples Orchestra, The Victor Feldman Quartet, David Kossoff, Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn. Directed by Philip Jones.

  I Love Being Here With You                                                                            Peggy Lee

  Moments Like This                                                                                           Peggy Lee

  Mary Ellen                                                                                                       Peggy Lee and David Kossoff

  Fever                                                                                                                Peggy Lee

 Till There Was You                                                                                           Peggy Lee

  Fly Me ToThe Moon                                                                                        Peggy Lee

*All Of You                                                                              (b)                     with Peggy Lee

  Life Is For Livin'                                                                                               Peggy Lee

Medley:                                                                                                              with Jimmy Van Heusen (Piano)

  Swinging On A Star                                                                                           Sammy Cahn

  Three Coins In The Fountain                                                                             Sammy Cahn

  All The Way                                                                                                      Peggy Lee

  Love And Marriage                                                                                            Sammy Cahn

  The Second Time Around                                                                                  Peggy Lee

*Moonlight Becomes You

*But Beautiful

*High Hopes                                                                                                        with Peggy Lee, Sammy Cahn & David Kossoff

Life Is For Livin’ (Parody)                                                                                   Peggy Lee

Note:

(a)           Recorded 31st July 1961. The entire show was included in the DVD "Light Entertainment Rarities" issued by Studio Canal in November 2020.

(b)           Very brief contribution by Bing, singing with his pipe in his mouth as he comes to life as a dummy.

“ABC TV’s ‘Big Night Out’ which had previously suffered delusions of grandeur, not justified by the outcome, at least lived up to its sizeable handle in this offering. The show was built around Peggy Lee, quite an edifice in herself and its chief guest was Bing Crosby, who’d groaned his way over from the local movie studios where he’s making another ‘Road’ picture with Hope.

It was Peggy Lee’s first outing on British tv and she scored with a relaxed and polished selection of standards, sprinkled with the odd novelty. . .There followed a neat tour of waxworks, to the accompaniment of ‘The Look Of You’ (sic), at the end of which, Bing Crosby, who was pretending to be a dummy, took life.

A gay interlude introduced songwriters, Sammy Cahn and Jimmy Van Heusen, who strung along some of their past hits, such as, ‘Swing (sic) On A Star’ and ‘Second Time Around’, with Cahn striding out with his amateur pipes. Peggy Lee gave snatches of ‘All The Way’ and the whole thing was agreeably informal.

Crosby, in faltering vocal form, reminisced with numbers from past ‘Road’ movies and joined the assembled company in a final ‘High Hopes’. It was one of those guestings when it seemed more important to be there than to bring a contribution.”

(‘Variety’ 26th August 1961)

No. 53  10th September 1961 - ‘Sunday Night At The London Palladium’ (ATV)

Guest appearance. With the London Palladium Orchestra conducted by Jack Parnell, the Tiller Girls, Yana, Bruce Forsyth and Bob Hope.

“The big draw was its star, Bob Hope, who was given 20 minutes of the running time and deserved 10. He was content with a string of cracks about TV westerns, golf and Crosby, all of which seemed vaguely familiar. . .A surprise finale brought on Bing Crosby, in cap and apron, to sweep the stage but groan nothing. It was a good mechanical act but others could have read the gag book, too.”

(‘Variety’ 13th September 1961)

No. 54  24th September 1961 - ‘The DuPont Show’ - ‘Happy With The Blues’ (NBC)

With the Paul Weston Orchestra, La Vern Baker, Joanie Sommers, Robert Strauss, Peggy Lee, Vic Damone and Harold Arlen.

Bing narrates the story of Harold Arlen’s song-writing career. (Voice over only)

“Take a score or more of Harold Arlen stock tunes and entrust them to some of today’s most expert practitioners, it’s a cinch you got yourself a show. . . Bing Crosby (offscreen) narrated a sequence capsulising the Arlen career with accompanying stills augmented by some brief Crosby - Judy Garland - Ethel Waters vocals.”

(‘Variety’ 27th September 1961)

No. 55  1st October 1961 - ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ (CBS)

Filmed guest appearance with Bob Hope. With Phil Silvers, Nancy Dussault, John Readon, Peter Nero and the McGuire Sisters.

Film clips of Sullivan’s recent trip around the world include a visit to London, where he talks with Bob Hope and Bing about their new ‘Road’ picture ‘The Road to Hong Kong.’

No. 55a  8th October 1961 DuPont Show of the week "USO - Wherever They Go (NBC)

A tribute to the USO. Many stars are featured including Bing and Bob Hope.

No. 56  29th October 1961 - ‘The World Of Bob Hope’ (NBC)

Brief appearance.

“As the first of the ‘World Of’ Specials for Purex in 1961-62, this series looks like a promising venture into the relatively uncharted area of television biography. The kick-off focussed on the life of Bob Hope and while the show did not dig too deeply into the man or his environment, it was an interesting, informal glimpse of the great entertainer. Fascinating bits of film interlaced Hope’s career with such names as Frances Langford, Jerry Colonna, Bill Goodwin and Dorothy Lamour etc. In the case of Bing Crosby, it was symptomatic of this overall superficial prose that no attempt was made to depict Hope’s personal reactions to Crosby.”

(‘Variety’ 1st November 1961)

No. 57  5th November 1961 - ‘The Time, The Place And The Camera’ (ATV)

Interviewed. A British current affairs programme hosted by Bernard Braden.

No. 58  11th December 1961 – ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)   (a)

Directed by Peter Croft. Choral direction by Norman Luboff. With the Peter Knight Orchestra, The Happy Wanderers, Sean Glenville, Ron Moody, Miles Malleson, Miriam Karlin, Marion Ryan, Shirley Bassey, Dave King, Terry-Thomas and Bob Hope.

*Great Day!                                                                                                          with Chorus

  That’s Amoré                                                                                                     Dave King

*Learn To Croon

Medley:                                                                                                                

*Tea For Two                                                                                                       with Marion Ryan

*When I Take My Sugar To Tea                                                                           with Marion Ryan

  A Nice Cup Of Tea                                                                                             Dave King & Marion Ryan

  Java Jive                                                                                                              Dave King

*A Cup Of Coffee, A Sandwich And You                                                             with Dave King & Marion Ryan

*So Long! Oo-long (How Long You Gonna Be Gone?)                                        with Dave King & Marion Ryan

*Tea For Two (Reprise)                                                                                        with Dave King & Marion Ryan

  Bye, Bye, Blues                                                                               (b) (c)        The Happy Wanderers

*The Sheikh Of Araby                                                                       (b) (d)        with The Happy Wanderers

*My Melancholy Baby (Parody)                                                       (b) (e)

*My Fate Is In Your Hands                                                               (b) (f)

*Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be                                                                      with Miriam Karlin

Medley:

  Lucky Day (This Is My)                                                                                    Shirley Bassey

  I’m Shooting High                                                                                             Shirley Bassey

  As I Love You                                                                                                   Shirley Bassey

Medley:

  Make Yourself At Home                                                                                  Chorus

  Where Did You Get That Hat?                                                                         Chorus

*Any Old Iron                                                                                                    with Chorus

*Lily Of Laguna

*If You’re Irish Come Into The Parlour                                                              with Sean Glenville & Chorus

*Knees Up Mother Brown                                                                  (g)

*White Christmas                                                                                (h)           with Chorus

Notes:

(a)     Recorded 12th November 1961 in the Associated-Rediffusion Television Studio 5 at Wembley, London. The entire show was included in the Infinity Entertainment 2-DVD set “Bing Crosby: The Television Specials – Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials” released in November 2010 and included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 3), issued in 2018.. An abridged version of the show was televised on the Nostalgia cable channel in the USA in November 1995. Also the entire show was issued on the Festival Films video ‘Bing Crosby & Friends - Vol. 9 - Christmas Show’. Brief glimpses of Bing with Marion Ryan and Dave King were seen in ‘Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 - 1957’ first shown on the Disney Channel on 21st November 1993 and subsequently issued on an MCA video MCAV-10846.

(b)     All four of these items were interpolated into what, in fact, amounted to a lengthy sketch, concerning Bing’s arrest and trial on a charge of ‘singing in the street without a licence’. The ‘policeman’ was played by Ron Moody and the ‘judge’ by Miles Malleson.

(c)      Accordion only, providing incidental accompaniment to a dance routine by the Happy Wanderers.

(d)      Sung as accompaniment to a further dance by the Happy Wanderers.

(e)      A snatch only, sung a cappella.

(f)       An audio version was issued on Crosbyana Collector’s Library EP CCL-1 - ‘Bing And Phillip Crosby Sing Thanks and Other Hits’.

(g)      The song is interrupted by the ‘surprise’ appearance of Bob Hope (suitably attired) as Bing’s long-lost ‘Aunt Matilda’.

(h)      An abridged video version appeared in the CBS-TV special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978. An extract was also shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204).

“It was a cold day on November I2th in London, and as I had journeyed a considerable distance, I went into the TV studios foyer early, where I was allowed to sit in the warm until it was time to enter the studios. This part, offered me by fortune, the opportunity of seeing another great star. As I sat there, in came about five men wrapped in heavy overcoats; they went to the reception desk and asked to be directed to the studio where Bing was working. The first person I recognised was the well known Radio and TV personality Jerry Desmonde, who used to be the side kick for the late and great comedian Sid Field. Then I took a look at another chap who was wearing a hat, and it was the one and only Bob Hope. I did not recognise the others; as they went down the stairs to enter the corridor leading to the studio Bob Hope cracked ‘We look like an audition for a Gypsy band’. Well, I did not see Bob do his part in the show; and Shirley Bassey also did her part before I had entered the studio, due to her having an engagement at night in the South of England.

At about 4.30 p.m., I along with a lot of other people made our way into the studio, and I just stood and stared at the hundreds of huge lights hanging from all angles from the studio roof, along with monitor sets, microphones, and on the floor great tangles of cables and TV cameras. I sat myself on the front row of seats on the studio floor and waited, and as we waited, Bing and Rosie Clooney were to be heard singing for our entertainment from the ‘Fancy Meeting You Here’ LP. A studio manager then came along and said a few words to the audience, explaining about the scenes that had already been shot, and those which we were to see being recorded. Then he introduced that great personality Dave King, who did his best to warm up the audience. Dave did a great job, but everyone seemed to be waiting for someone else by this time. Dave sensed this and shouted out words to the effect of ‘Fetch that guy in from the golf course.’ And sure enough, from behind the crowd of studio staff and TV cameras wandered that so familiar figure, to the tune of great applause. Bing Crosby came up to the audience and explained about the show which was running late, and he hoped that it didn’t cause inconvenience to anyone. If Bing only knew what his presence meant to all those in the audience, he need never have spoken those words.

 Bing then commenced with the opening announcement of his TV show and then sang ‘Great Day’. This scene was shot twice as the tapes were not running smoothly on the first take. From then on, the whole thing was a dream come true; there was Bing and his guests going through one scene after another with no trouble at all. And Bing looked so smart in a very nice suit, and a delightful head of hair. He really looked in his forties, and most certainly not in his late fifties. They say Como is relaxed, but you should see Bing. He wandered about the huge studio floor as the cameras switched to another set, doing a little soft shoe shuffle to amuse himself, and whistling here and there. Then as the 30 second count down for the next take commenced, he just stood there without any apparent care in the world. And as the orchestra struck up he launched into his next song or scene as I can only imagine Bing can.

 We saw him sing duets with Marion Ryan and Dave King, do a comedy routine with Terry Thomas and one with a girl whose name escapes me [Miriam Karlin]. She was taking the part of a painter, and with Bing did a number called ‘Fings Ain’t What They Used To Be’. Bing then joined some real London street buskers, and sang a song with them which leads up to another very funny scene in a law court; Bing having been arrested by a London Policeman for singing in the street without a licence. The Judge turns out to be a fan of Bing’s, and comments ‘Whatever has happened in Hollywood for you to have to turn to singing in the streets?’

My great moment came when Bing walked right up to a TV camera not many yards from me, and announced his final number, I had never dared to dream that I would ever hear Bing sing in person, but I have always longed to hear him sing one number; within easy earshot of his actual voice . . .and my great moment came . . . he did not name the number but said words to the effect that ‘Here’s one I should know well.’ A shiver of delight ran right through me as the orchestra and choir came in . . . and Bing’s great voice was only equalled by the great song itself, Irving Berlin’s one and only WHITE CHRISTMAS. As long as I live I swear I’ll never forget that precious minute or two as Bing entranced everyone with the most famous song he has ever sung.

 Bing thanked the audience for being so kind to him; and that was that. . . I travelled home on that Sunday night with a memory which overshadowed any other show business event I have ever witnessed - I recall with pleasure the first time I ever saw and heard Louis Armstrong, Jack Teagarden and Earl Hines, Michael Holliday, Kid Ory and his Jazz Band. I shall recall this Crosby show with pleasure, but that final number of Bing singing ‘White Christmas’ within actual earshot, is the memory which overshadows everything.”

(Stan White, writing in ‘Crosby Post’ December, 1961)

“This first of two Bing Crosby specials for ABC-TV may have been thin and tired in theme and some of its comedy but the hour managed to present some easy-going and bright musical moments. Videotaped on London locations and at Associated Rediffusion’s Wembley studios, with Crosby and an all-British cast, it opened and closed effectively but sagged in the middle in sequences that had the vet crooner seeking out his British ancestry.

Highlights were the opener, a song-and-dance number in the traditional Crosby style aided by comedian, Dave King and singer, Marion Ryan; a Crosby and Terry-Thomas comedy bit in a Somerset House setting; songs of Welsh, blues-belter (and a looker), Shirley Bassey (although marred by poor dubbing) and a wind-up pub scene with Crosby and the Happy Wanderers, a buskers group, with a string of songs in the Mitch Miller sing-a-long vogue. Crosby closed with ‘White Christmas’, natch, backed by the Norman Luboff Choir.”

(‘Variety’ 13th December 1961)

“It was time last night for Bing Crosby's occasional television special on Channel 7; this one was taped in England and used a number of British artists in an outing that was to prove very thin. By now it is no secret that the timbre and resonance of the Crosby voice have altered with the passing year, and last night the strain of the assignment imply could not be concealed. For some strange reason the obvious way out of the difficulty, capitalizing on the Crosby suavity and reinforcing him with a strong supporting company, was not utilized. A favorite British comedian, Terry-Thomas, had one or two moments of fun but David King was not employed to good advantage. The sketches were of no help either. A young lady named Shirley Bassey, who Mr. Crosby described as a major London hit, encountered formidable difficulty in living up to her billing. And Marion Ryan and Miriam Karlin had somewhat similar problems.”

(Jack Gould, New York Times, 12th December 1961)

No. 59  27th February 1962 - ‘The Bob Hope Show’ (NBC)  (a)    

Guest appearance. Directed by Jack Shea. With the David Rose Orchestra, Steve Allen, Joan Collins, Joanie Sommers and Jack Paar.

  It’s Love                                                                                                              Joanie Sommers

*‘Jobs For The Kids’ Sketch                                                              (b)              with Bob Hope, Steve Allen & Jack Paar

Note:

(a)           The entire show was issued on DVD by bobontv.com in 2010, reference No. 022762.

(b)           An extract from the skit featuring Bing was included in the NBC-TV programme ‘On the Road with Bing: A Special Tribute to Bing Crosby’ which was shown on 28th October 1977.

Finale was a zany, erratic skit with Paar, Allen, Hope and, as a surprise ‘walk-on’, Bing Crosby. They played children soliciting a job from General David Sarnoff, the RCA (and NBC) mastermind. Sarnoff was simulated, of course.

(“Variety’ 6th March 1962)

No. 60  25th March 1962 - Shell Advertisement in UK

Bing’s version of this advert was shown for the first time. He recorded the jingle to accompany the film on 8th November 1961. He also appeared in many other promotions, notably for ‘Minute Maid’. It has been considered impractical to individually list these items.

No. 61  3rd April 1962 - ‘Picture Parade’ (BBC)   (a)

Interviewed together with Bob Hope by Robert Robinson as a promotion for the film ‘The Road To Hong Kong’.

*Teamwork                                                                                                          with Bob Hope

Note:

(a)           Recorded 19th October 1961. Cecil Madden, a senior BBC executive, sent an internal memo at the time.

Many congratulations on achieving such an exciting special programme with Hope and Crosby for “Picture Parade”, and at no cost for fees. To have them working a specially written script by (Dennis) Goodwin and singing together in our studios was an achievement we shall long remember. I will do my best to get the cover of the Radio Times with the special photographs when you use it. Crosby feeling ill, and the worry of a substantial informal audience all added to a difficult day which was splendidly surmounted by all. Well done!

No. 62  14th May 1962 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)   (a)

Directed by Stan Harris. Chorus directed by Joseph Lilley. With the David Rose Orchestra, The Smothers Brothers, Pete Fountain, Edie Adams, Gary Crosby and Bob Hope.

*America                                                                                                           with Edie Adams, Gary Crosby, Bob Hope & Chorus

Road Films Medley:                                                                                                                         

*You Lucky People You                                                                  (b)             with Bob Hope

*Moonlight Becomes You

*Road To Morocco                                                                                            with Bob Hope

*Personality                                                                                                       with Bob Hope

*But Beautiful                                                                                                    with Bob Hope

*Teamwork                                                                                       (b)            with Bob Hope

  I Need Some Night Life                                                                  (b)             Edie Adams

  Loads of Love                                                                                                   Edie Adams

*Let’s Not Be Sensible

  I Got Rhythm                                                                                                    Pete Fountain & his Group

*Play A Simple Melody                                                                  (b)               with Gary Crosby & Pete Fountain & his Group

*Camp Karefree                                                                               b)               with Gary Crosby, Edie Adams & Bob Hope

  Chicken Fat                                                                                   (b)               Gary Crosby

  Chocolate                                                                                      (b)               The Smothers Brothers

*Zing A Little Zong                                                                                             with Cast

Note:

(a)           Recorded April 1962. Pre-show publicity indicates that ‘Lollipops And Roses’ was to be sung by Bing and ‘A Fine Romance’ by Bob Hope and Edie Adams, but these items were missing from the copies viewed by the compilers. An abridged version of the show was televised on the Nostalgia cable channel in the USA in February 1996.

                A video version of the programme was issued on Video Yesteryear No. 591 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show 14th May 1962’ and on Festival Films ‘Bing Crosby and Friends Volume 7’.

                The entire show was issued on the Collectors’ Choice Music 2-DVD set “Bing Crosby: The Television Specials – Volume 1” in April 2010.

(b)            Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 4) issued in 2018.

 “It’s probable that Bing Crosby gets lots of loot for his ABC-TV specials. He’s worth it. On Monday (14th), Crosby put together an imaginative stanza, hip and quick and he was aided tremendously by a very funny, Bob Hope, by a charming and swinging, Edie Adams and his look-alike, offspring, Gary Crosby. Right from the opener, a theatrical number built around ‘America’, the flashy piece of music from ‘West Side Story’, the hour program jumped.

The Crosby-Hope ‘review’ of music from their old ‘Road’ pictures was to be expected but expected or not, these two old pros made it light and easy and almost worth all the several minutes devoted to this two-man medley. The numbers by Miss Adams were musical pleasures. When son, Gary and his father stood there, the younger might not have been quite so proficiently casual as his pere but he tried and he was a fair contrapuntal match for the old man.

The Smothers Brothers were OK towards the finale and sets by Spencer Davies were fine, which to sum it up, means Crosby put on a good show for ABC and his sponsors.”

(‘Variety’ 16th May 1962)

“…I was preparing to go back to Maryland when I heard Bing was doing a television special to promote the movie (‘Road To Hong Kong’).  I called him and said that if he wanted me, I would stay over in Hollywood for a few days.  Mr. Crosby informed me that it was too late to write me in.  When I saw his special, however, I was really shocked to see them using large blow-ups of me and they kept talking about me all through the show.”

(From ‘My Side Of The Road’ by Dorothy Lamour)

No. 63  24th June 1962 - ‘The Ed Sullivan Show ‘ (CBS)

Guest appearance. This was Ed Sullivan’s 14th Anniversary Show and in a change of style, he sat in the audience for most of show. Guest stars included Lucille Ball, Jerry Lewis, Steve Allen, Jack Carter, Phil Silvers, Jack Benny, Teresa Brewer, Red Buttons, Johnny Carson, Ted Mack, Will Jordan, Arthur & Katherine Murray and George Gobel.

*I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me

  Anniversary Waltz                                                                            (a)
  Climb Every Mountain                                                                                       Kate Smith
  Smile Medley                                                                                                     Teresa Brewer

Note:

(a) Non-vocal.  Incidental accompaniment to dance routine by Arthur & Katherine Murray.

No. 64  19th July 1962

Bing is interviewed by a KGMB-TV reporter at Honolulu Airport prior to his departure for California. Mary Frances and Harry Crosby are also seen.

Note:

(a) The interview was included on the Collectors’ Choice Music 2-DVD set “Bing Crosby: The Television Specials – Volume 1” issued in April, 2010 and included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 1), issued in 2018.

No. 65  24th October 1962 - ‘The Bob Hope Show’ (NBC)   (a)

Guest appearance. Directed by Jack Shea. With the Les Brown Orchestra, Juliet Prowse and Lucille Ball.

*‘Bonanza’ Sketch                                                                                               with Bob Hope & Juliet Prowse

  Turkey Trot                                                                                        (b)           Juliet Prowse

*I Can’t Begin To Tell You

*Put It There Pal                                                                                                  with Bob Hope

Notes:

(a)           A snatch of the opening dialogue between Bing and Bob plus the entire ‘Bonanza’ sketch was included in the NBC-TV programme ‘On the Road with Bing: A Special Tribute to Bing Crosby’ which was shown on 28th October 1977. The ‘Bonanza’ sketch, with Bing as Ben Cartwright and Bob Hope playing all three sons, lampooned the popular TV western series, which ran on NBC-TV from September 1959 to January 1973. The entire show was issued on DVD by bobontv.com in 2010, reference No. 102462.

 (b)         Arrangement includes ‘Twelfth Street Rag’.

“Hope was the incontrovertible star within a supporting constellation consisting of Bing Crosby, Lucille Ball and Juliet Prowse. . .The second skit, a take-off on ‘Bonanza’, was even better. In this one, Crosby was the head of a vast Texan Empire and father of three sons. All of whom were played by Hope. With Miss Prowse rung in for some sex appeal, it was a risible romp in a madcap groove which Hope carried off with flawless timing and unruffled aplomb. . .Crosby was featured in the finale, doing an okay solo on ‘I Can’t Begin To Tell You’ and then duetting on ‘Put ‘er (sic) There Pal’ from their film ‘Road To Utopia’. It was top-name and top-drawer, all the way.”

(‘Variety’ 31st October 1962)

“Bob Hope returned to the air Wednesday night with the first of six specials. You could usually say where there’s Hope, there’s life—but not this time. Maybe it was because it was a filmed show—or could his writers still be on vacation? Whatever the reason, Hope didn’t have it. It wasn’t because of his lack of talent. He had his perennial sparring partner Bing Crosby, comedienne Lucille Ball and delicious dancer, Juliet Prowse. But except for Bing it was almost a total loss . . . The one bright spot of the otherwise lackluster performance was the last ten minutes when Crosby sang and then Hope joined in for a duet on their old palship song ‘Put It There Pal’—with new lyrics, it was refreshing indeed.

(‘Milwaukee Journal’)

No. 66  24th December 1962 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show for Clairol’ (ABC) (Colour)   (a)

Directed by Norman Abbott. Orchestra conducted by Andre Previn. Chorus directed by Joseph Lilley. With The United Nations Children’s Choir and Mary Martin.

*This Is A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening                                                with Mary Martin

Medley:                                                                                          (b)                                                                                          

*I Like Music                                                                                                  with Mary Martin

*I Hear Music                                                                                                 with Mary Martin

  The Song Is You                                                                                            Mary Martin

*Cheek To Cheek                                                                                             with Mary Martin

*I Got Rhythm

*This Is A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening (Reprise)                                 with Mary Martin

*This Is A Grand Occasion                                                                              with Mary Martin

*I Left My Heart In San Francisco                                                  (c)

‘Signs Song’ routine                                                                                        Mary Martin

*Doin' The Bing                                                                              (d)

 But Not For Me                                                                                              Andre Previn (piano solo)

Coffee Break Medley:                                                                                                                     

*What’s New

  Mad About The Boy                                                                                        Mary Martin

*Singin’ In The Rain                                                                                          with Mary Martin

*I Love To Whistle                                                                                            with Mary Martin

  A Wonderful Guy                                                                                             Mary Martin

*I Like The Likes Of You                                                                                   with Mary Martin

*Only Forever                                                                                                    with Mary Martin

*The Song Is Ended

*Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie                                                   (e)               with Mary Martin

  God Rest Ye Merry, Gentleman                                                                       Andre Previn Orchestra

*Little Drummer Boy                                                                       (f)

*Some Children See Him                                                                                   with Mary Martin

  Let There Be Peace On Earth                                                                           The United Nations Children’s Choir

*White Christmas                                                                                (g)          with Mary Martin

Notes:

(a)     Recorded November 1962. This was the first ‘special’ broadcast by ABC in colour. The entire show was included in the Infinity Entertainment 2-DVD set “Bing Crosby: The Television Specials – Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials” released in November 2010 and included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 3), issued in 2018.  The latter DVD includes an outtake of the Coffee Medley, Mary Martin singing, "You're Nearer" and an outtake of "White Christmas". An abridged version of the show was televised on the Nostalgia cable channel in the USA in December 1995.

(b)    The medley was sung with Bing and Mary Martin, alongside Andre Previn, who was providing piano accompaniment.

(c)     A video version of this item appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’.      

Audio versions were issued on Crosbyana Collector’s Library EP CCL-1 - ‘Bing And Phillip Crosby Sing Thanks and Other Hits’, Limited Edition Club JGB1007 - ‘B.C. - T.V. (Bing On The Box)’ and Universal CD B0027588-02 "Among My Souvenirs - More Treasures from the Crosby Archive" 

(d)      Audio and video versions were included in the iTunes album "Bing Crosby: Shall We Dance?"

(e) An abridged video version of this item was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978. Part of this item also appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

An abridged version was also seen in ‘Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 - 1957’ first shown on the Disney Channel on 21st November 1993 and subsequently issued on an MCA video MCAV-10846.

(f) This version was edited and included in the TV special The Nick At Nite Holiday Special shown on November 28, 2003 with Clay Aiken appearing to sing a duet with Bing.

(g) The duet is augmented, later, by Andre Previn and the United Nations Children’s Choir for a short reprise.

“The potential of this Bing Crosby Christmas Eve special was great, as he and guest star Mary Martin opened with ‘This Is A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening’. Unfortunately, though, the two savvy singers didn’t live up to the potential. The hour was an overly casual affair that produced little of the magic expected of a Crosby-Martin parlay. The songbag was, for the most part, made up of just a few identifying bars that dissipated the values of the standards put on display. The full-length, special material songs fell short, too. . . Crosby’s material song, ‘Doing The Bing’, was pegged on his easy-going manner and was given sock production styling by the imaginative choreographic work of Marc Breaux and Dede Wood.”

(‘Variety’ 26th December 1962)

No. 66a 30th December 1962 ‘Once Upon A Dime’ (KTTV)

Guest appearance. The 25th Anniversary of the March of Dimes is celebrated. Producer-Director Jack Donohue. With Andre Previn, Lionel Hampton, Connie Stevens, Juliet Prowse, Pearl Bailey and Dean Martin.

No. 67 17th February 1963 - ‘The Dinah Shore Show’ (NBC) (Colour) (a)

Guest appearance. Directed by Dean Whitmore. With orchestra conducted by Harry Zimmerman, Al Hirt and his Band and Bud & Travis.

Wonderful Boy Dinah Shore

Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year Dinah Shore

*You’ll Never Get Away with Dinah Shore

Medley:

‘S Wonderful Chorus

*Quizas, Quizas, Quizas

*In A Little Spanish Town

Easy To Love Al Hirt & his Band

Chop Suey Al Hirt & his Band

Serenade In Blue Dinah Shore with Al Hirt & his Band

*South Rampart Street Parade with Dinah Shore & Al Hirt (Trumpet)

Raspberries Bud & Travis

La Bamba Bud & Travis

Medley: (b) with Dinah Shore

*Let’s Be Buddies

*Friends

*How About You?

*Just The Way You Are

*I’d Do Anything

*Teamwork

*Let The Rest Of The World Go By (c) with Dinah Shore

*‘S Wonderful (Parody) (d) with Dinah Shore

Notes:

(a) Recorded December 1962.

(b) An audio version of the medley was issued on Limited Edition Club JGB1007 - ‘B.C. - T.V. (Bing On The Box)’.

The last five songs in the medley were included in the programme ‘MWAH! The Best of the Dinah Shore Show’ broadcast by various PBS Stations in the US in early March 2003.

(c) An audio version was issued on Limited Edition Club JGB1007 - ‘B.C. - T.V. (Bing On The Box)’

(d) An audio version was issued on Limited Edition Club JGB1007 - ‘B.C. - T.V. (Bing On The Box)’ (Shown as ‘Let’s Be Going Our Way’)

“Dinah Shore’s show became a major event with the addition of Bing Crosby to its cast. The presence of Der Bingle was not only a valuable asset to its entertainment values but he seemed to excite every department, as well. . . Bing’s casual air and humor-laden renditions generated excitement. ‘In A Little Spanish Town’ and ‘Que Sas’ (sic) comprised his first medley. Then with Miss Shore, he sat down for a light-hearted and gay session of singing and banter. It was an easy, graceful stint by a pair of pros. Crosby also seemed a bit thinner than usual but didn’t let it interfere with his work. He seems ageless.”

(‘Variety’ 20th February 1963)

No. 68 16th September 1963 - ‘Come A’ Running’ (CBS)

The pilot episode was screened for a proposed series, starring Linden Chiles and Ruth Hussey. The option was not taken up on what appears to have been another turgid ‘doctor/nurse’ saga. It earns a place here because Bing is said to be heard singing the intended theme song, ‘Come A’ Running’.

No. 69 7th November 1963 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (CBS) (a)

Produced and directed by Nick Vanoff. With the Andre Previn Orchestra, The Young Americans, Caterina Valente and Buddy Ebsen. The script is  by Bill Morrow and Max Wilk. Choreography by Marc Breaux and Dee Dee Wood.

*A Doodling Song (b) (f)      with The Young Americans

*Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams (b) (f)      with The Young Americans

Medley: The Young Americans

I’ve Been Ramblin’

Jamaica Farewell

Cottonfields

Michael, Row The Boat                                                                     (f)

The Crawdad Song                                                                             (f)

This Land Is Your Land                                                                      (f)

*In The Summertime with Buddy Ebsen

Never Will I Marry Caterina Valente

Medley: with Caterina Valente

*Never On Sunday                                                                              (f)                     

*Quizas, Quizas, Quizas                                                                      (f)                

*Quando, Quando, Quando

*Bei Mir Bist Du Schön

*Sukiyaki

*Mademoiselle De Paris

*The Language Of Love

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah                                                                        (f)            Andre Previn (Piano)

Yankee Doodle Dandy                                                                     (f)            The Young Americans

*Shenandoah (Across The Wide Missouri) (c) (f)            with The Young Americans

Medley:

At The Codfish Ball The Young Americans

Broadway Rhythm The Young Americans

*You Are My Lucky Star (d)

Easy To Love The Young Americans

*The Ballad Of Davy Crockett (e) with Buddy Ebsen & Chorus

I’ve Got You Under My Skin Caterina Valente

*Danke Schöen                                                                                  (f)               with Buddy Ebsen & Caterina Valente

Notes:

(a) Recorded 29th September 1963. A video version of the programme was issued on Festival Films ‘Bing Crosby and Friends Volume 5’

(b) An audio version was issued on Broadway Intermission LP BR-135 - ‘Crosbyana - Volume 5 from Bing’s Collection’.

(c) An audio version was issued on Broadway Intermission LP BR-135 - ‘Crosbyana - Volume 5 from Bing’s Collection’. (Shown as ‘Shennandoah’. Date shown as 29.9.60)

(d) An audio version was issued on Broadway Intermission LP BR-135 - ‘Crosbyana - Volume 5 from Bing’s Collection’. (Shown as ‘You’re My Lucky Star’ and as being from ‘Hollywood Place [sic]’. Date shown as 1/11/66)

(e) An audio version was issued on Broadway Intermission LP BR-135 - ‘Crosbyana - Volume 5 from Bing’s Collection’. (Source and date shown as ‘Duet with Buddy Ebson [sic] - Hollywood Place [sic] 1959’).

(f)           Included in the Time Life DVD set “The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials” (Disc 4) issued in 2018.

“Always a low pressure performer, Bing Crosby seemed to be virtually rolling on his rims in his first special of the 1963-64 season. The Old Groaner still appeared youthful but there was a telltale trace of tiredness in some of his routines. Crosby, however, is still a persuasive smoothie with his rococo lines supplied by scripter, Bill Morrow and he piloted this stanza down a pleasing, if familiar groove. It was an all-musical session spotlighting vocals by Crosby, Buddy Ebsen and a large Coast Choral group, the Young Americans. . . Ebsen, in his ‘Beverly Hillbillies’ role, joined with Crosby in a work-over of a charming folk-styled tune, ‘In The Summertime’.

Continental songstress, Caterina Valente was brought on with a weak comedy intro but she came through with an effective rendition of ‘Never Will I Marry’ and joined with Crosby in a snappy international medley of tunes that ranged from, ‘Never On Sunday’ through ‘Sukiyaki’ to ‘Mademoiselle De Paris’.

Second half of the show revolved around a group of old picture and legit tunes with Crosby and the guests working solo and in tandem on such numbers as ‘Codfish Ball’, ‘Broadway Rhythm’, ‘I’ve Got You Under My Skin’ and ‘Davy Crockett’. The singing and hoofing were entertaining enough despite the unimaginative staging. The show was marked by some clever commercial concoctions. The Pepsodent plug featured some by-play between Crosby and Jerry Colonna, who was long identified with the product via his association with Bob Hope. In the Pontiac plug, Phil Harris turned up in a screwball golf match with Crosby.”

(‘Variety’ 13th November 1963)

None of us, including Bing Crosby, are getting any younger. The crooner, youthfully attired in what appeared to be a blazer, was on the Columbia Broadcasting System last night in a special that wasn’t very special at all. He sang a few old songs, a few new ones and traded some unfunny musical variety-show patter with his guests – Buddy Ebsen and Caterina Valente. Mr. Crosby still has the same quiet, relaxed manner and his sleepy-time voice, apparently in fine condition, roved through “Dream Your Troubles Away” and “Shenandoah”. Delicate hearts in many homes probably skipped several beats...The program emerged as a harmless hodgepodge of folk, popular and semiclassical music.

(‘New York Times’ 8th November 1963)

No. 69a 15th November 1963 - The Chrysler Theatre - The House Next Door

A comedy of errors about an East Coast man who acquires a Beverly Hills mansion for a pittance because it is located next to one owned by a mobster. Starring Bob Hope, Jill St. John and Kathryn Crosby. Bing makes a short cameo appearance in the final scene as a handsome stranger who distracts Bob’s wife (played by Kathryn).

No. 70 8th December 1963 – The Best on Record (The Grammy Awards) (NBC)

During the evening of 11th November, Bing was filmed being presented with a Lifetime Achievement Grammy from the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences by Frank Sinatra. The film was intended to be used in an NBC special at the Grammy Awards event to be called ‘The Best on Record’, which was scheduled to be televised on 24th November but was cancelled due to the death of President Kennedy. The show was eventually seen on December 8. The citation read:

“For his outstanding recordings which span more than 30 years, consistently embodying superior musicianship, uncompromising dignity and a never-failing enthusiasm, and have served as an inspiration to those within the industry as well as millions of listeners the world over.”

No. 71 13th December 1963 - ‘The Bob Hope Comedy Hour’ (NBC) (a)

Co-host with Jack Benny. With Les Brown and his Band of Renown, Danny Thomas and Juliet Prowse.

*Do You Hear What I Hear? (b)

Notes:

(a) In the absence of Bob Hope who was suffering from an eye ailment, Bing introduced the show and later the ‘Look’ magazine All-American Football team. Apart from this and his song, the programme was padded with a comedy routine by Jack Benny and re-runs of a couple of sketches from previous Hope shows.

Most of Bing’s contribution was taped on 24th November 1963. The entire show was issued on DVD in 2010 by Bobontv.com, their reference number 121363.

(b) Bing lip-synched to his 1963 recording with the Ralph Carmichael Orchestra & Chorus (See also Programme No. 120). A video version of this item was included in the NBC-TV programme ‘On the Road with Bing: A Special Tribute to Bing Crosby’ which was shown on 28th October 1977.

    “With Bob Hope benched for a few weeks by an eye ailment, Jack Benny and Bing Crosby co-quarter-backed his ‘Chrysler Comedy Hour’, last Friday and, with the help of some choice sketches from previous Hope programs, made it a winning outing. The show was noticeably a patchwork of tapes and almost totally devoid of the immediacy and spontaneity that is normally felt in a Hope broadcast. But the star’s illness, wittily dwelled upon by Benny and Crosby, turned that into an advantage in the manner of a tribute. The viewer found himself present, not merely as a consumer of entertainment but as a friend of the hospitalised comic and a well-wisher.

The opening monologues took the form of the traditional show biz roasts, with Crosby testifying that, in all his years with Hope, the comic never up-staged or hogged a scene - ‘although Heaven knows, he tried’.

For a finale, Crosby introduced the ‘Look’ magazine, All-American Football Team and the various Bowl Game Queens with a lukewarm gag for each member. The segment had no appropriateness in the program but did serve for topicality and, along with a Crosby rendition of, ‘Do You Hear What I Hear?’, helped to keep the show from seeming to be an entire re-run.”

(‘Variety’ 18th December 1963)

No. 72 23rd December 1963 - ‘Hollywood and The Stars - The One And Only Bing’ (NBC) (a)

First showing of this documentary. Narrated by Joseph Cotten.

Note:

(a) A video version of the programme was issued on Festival Films (unnumbered) - ‘Bing Crosby’s Cavalcade’

No. 73 24th December 1963 - ‘The Promise’ (Colour)

A half-hour hour programme with narration by Bing. He did not appear on camera, nor did he sing. Father Peyton’s Family Theater Group re-enacted events leading to the birth of Christ.

No. 74 4th January 1964 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (a)

With Les Brown & his Orchestra, Les Salvadori (musical clowns), The Andre Tahon Puppets, The Hardy Family (acrobats), Silvan, The Young Americans, Bobby Van, Nancy Wilson, Gary Crosby, Bob Newhart and Mickey Rooney.

 Dominique                                                                                                         The Andre Tahon Puppets

 Mickey Rooney and Bobby Van spot

The Hardy Family spot

  Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho Gary Crosby

*Teamwork with Gary Crosby

Silvan spot (magician)

  I’m Almost In Your Arms Nancy Wilson

  Bob Newhart spot

Robert Cummings has a walk on spot to promote next week's show

 Saturday Night                                                                                                   The Young Americans

 Green, Green The Young Americans

If I Had A Hammer The Young Americans

*Climb Ev’ry Mountain (b) with the Young Americans

Notes:

(a) Recorded 28th December 1963.

The Hollywood Palace was an hour-long variety show that ran on the ABC network from January 1964 until February 1970. Instead of a permanent host, guest hosts were used. Bing Crosby, a frequent guest host, hosted the first and last Hollywood Palace episodes.

The series began as a mid-season replacement for ‘The Jerry Lewis Show.’ ABC originally had high hopes for Lewis’ live, two-hour variety series. They signed the comedian to a 5-year contract for a reported $35 million. The network also purchased the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles and re-christened it ‘The Jerry Lewis Theatre.’ After Lewis’ series failed, ABC renamed the theatre ‘The Hollywood Palace.’ The first two seasons of The Hollywood Palace were in black and white. The show switched to colour on 18th September 1965 (the beginning of the third season). Collectors of this series may notice that black and white copies of the colour episodes are in circulation. That’s because, during the series run, ABC produced B&W 16mm kinescope copies of the colour episodes. Many of these B&W kinescopes ended up in the collections of 16mm film collectors. In more recent years, VHS copies have been mastered from these B&W kinescopes. The original colour videotapes do exist but they are not as accessible to collectors as the B&W kinescopes.

(b) An audio version was issued on Crosbyana Collector’s Library EP CCL-1 - ‘Bing And Phillip Crosby Sing Thanks and Other Hits’.

A briskly paced vaudeville show was unveiled on Saturday evening by the American Broadcasting Company to take the place of the recent Jerry Lewis stage weight. For popular diversion, the hour gives promise of turning out nicely.

The show bears the title of "The Hollywood Palace" and adheres straightforwardly to the tested formula of the two a day. Last night there were clowns for an opener, the main star was penciled in for next of closing and there was a song fest to empty the studio. The producers, Nick Vanoff and William O. Harbach, displayed their showmanship by engaging some fine acts to bridge the intervals between headliners. Andre Tahon's puppet company was nothing short of superb in its miniature version of the singing nuns doing "Dominique." The Hardy family, a father and his three engaging young daughters, were tumblers extraordinary. Silvan was truly a mystifying illusionist; it was a pity he had to be cropped for a middle commercial.

With its chief feature, the show took no chances: it presented Bob Newhart in his wonderful monologue on Sir Walter Raleigh trying to convince his London superior of the uses of tobacco. And Mickey Rooney's vitality stood him in good stead in making the most of his rather thin sketch involving "Candid Camera." Nancy Wilson, Gary Crosby, the Young Americans and Bing Crosby, who doubled as master of ceremonies, completed the roster. The musical aspects of the show, as a matter of fact, were the weakest part of the evening.

But a good augury of the future was the insistence of Mel Feber, the director, that the show keep moving. It looks as if there may be some new competition on the Ed Sullivan level of television.

(Jack Gould, New York Times, 6th January 1964)

“If I had anything to do with ‘Hollywood Palace’, the show replacing ‘The Jerry Lewis Show’, I would have had Dean Martin as M.C., saving Bing Crosby for the second instalment. ‘The Hollywood Palace’ tried to be ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ while also trying to hold on to ‘The Lawrence Welk’ audience and high ratings - not recognising the awful truth that it is Lawrence, himself who has this undefinable magic. No other substitute can harvest his crop of corn and high-number rating.”

(‘Hollywood Citizen News’ 8th January 1964)

No. 75 15th February 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show for Lever Brothers’ (CBS) (a)

Produced and directed by Nick Vanoff. With John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra, Peter Gennaro. Kathryn Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Bob Hope.

*Pennies From Heaven                                                                     (i)

*Something To Do with Rosemary Clooney, Kathryn Crosby & Peter Gennaro

*I Believe In You (g) (i)         with Bob Hope

I Want To Be Happy (b) Orchestra & Chorus

*Dream (c) with Kathryn Crosby

*The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game In New York

                                                                                                        (g) (i)         with Frank Sinatra & Dean Martin

Medley: (h)

*Don’t Fence Me In with Rosemary Clooney

*I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande) with Rosemary Clooney

*She’ll Be Comin’ Round The Mountain with Rosemary Clooney

*The Crawdad Song with Rosemary Clooney

*San Antonio Rose with Rosemary Clooney

*Down In The Valley with Rosemary Clooney

*On Top Of Old Smokey with Rosemary Clooney & Chorus

*You Are My Sunshine with Rosemary Clooney

Stranger In Paradise (d) Orchestra & Chorus

Medley:

*A Scarf, A Stool, A Song And Imagination (e) with Chorus

Imagination Rosemary Clooney

*I Left My Heart In San Francisco (e) with Chorus

Two Ladies In De Shade Of De Banana Tree (b) Orchestra & Chorus

My Ship Kathryn Crosby

*Love Makes The World Go Round (e) & (f) with Rosemary Clooney

*A Scarf, A Stool, A Song And Imagination (Reprise) with Rosemary Clooney, Kathryn Crosby & Peter Gennaro.

Notes:

(a) Recorded 27th October 1963 & 3rd February 1964. A video version of the show was issued by Festival Films in 2002 entitled ‘Bing Crosby & Friends - Vol. 8 - ‘All-Star’ Show’.

(It is not difficult to believe that some portions of the show were filmed more than three months apart. The segments featuring Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Bob Hope have obviously been recorded separately.

In addition to the vocal duet with Hope, there is a two-part sketch focusing on Bing and Bob’s disparate and entirely fictional versions of their first meeting in which Bob Hope plays a somewhat dishevelled caddy and Bing, an equally shabby, ‘shoeshine boy’, who warbles a few lines from ‘Where The Blue Of The Night’. This particular sketch with Hope was included in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991.)

(b) Accompaniment for dance routine by Peter Gennaro.

(c) An audio version was issued on Limited Edition Club LP JGB1007 - ‘B.C. - T.V. (Bing On The Box)’

(d) Accompaniment for dance routine by Kathryn Crosby and Peter Gennaro.

(e) An audio version was issued on Broadway Intermission LP BR-136 ‘Bing Crosby - From Bing’s Personal Collection - Crosbyana Volume 6’.

(f) Rosemary Clooney sings a few lines of ‘Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo’ contrapuntally

(g) Shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204).

An audio version was issued on American Masters CD - 'Bing Crosby Rediscovered: The Soundtrack'.

(h) This medley was included in the Passport Video DVD-1560 “Rosemary Clooney – Singing At Her Best” released in 2004.

(i)    Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 5) issued in 2018.

“Bing Crosby, who can somehow do no wrong in front of the camera, ambled his way, effortlessly, through his hour Saturday night special on CBS-TV. His tired pals, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, didn’t generate much excitement. It was left up to Peter Gennaro and his dancers to add any sparkle the program had.

Bing’s wife, Kathryn, was not much of a plus or minus in the line-up. She was there and she did, very nicely, what she had been taught to do which was a novelty in itself. Actually, she was a welcome change from Bing’s sons who usually show up on his TV clambakes.”

(‘Hollywood Citizen News’ 18th February 1964)

“This one had billing as ‘a special’ but therein lies a misnomer. There’s nothing special about a program, despite illustrious show business names, which lacks both wit and wisdom. . . Mrs. Crosby proved to be the hit of the show, being amiable and attractive. Otherwise Crosby’s show was a disjointed effort.

While the various players gave a fair account of themselves, mainly via the song and dance material and the quipping clashes between Crosby and Hope, the program itself was devoid of cohesion. It was as if each segment had been filmed on its own and then all the pieces were put together as an afterthought, with continuity not in mind.

Crosby was strong with ‘Pennies From Heaven’ and ‘San Francisco’ and he and spouse were fine with the ‘Dream’ combo but for the rest, well, it was just a lost world. . . .The show was probably okay for the fans but the advertised come-on must have left a number of people, unhappy.”

(‘Variety’ 19th February 1964)

The Prestons, the father-and-son law team on "The Defenders," were pre-empted last night on the Columbia Broadcasting System to make way for Bing Crosby's special musical hour. Followers of the Saturday night legal dramatics probably questioned the wisdom of the substitution. Mr. Crosby’s hour boasted a number of stars including his wife, Kathryn Crosby, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Rosemary Clooney, and Pete Gennaro. But not too much originality was employed in their use, and the show followed a predictable course. The longest sequence had Mr. Crosby and Mr. Hope exchanging insults as usual. Otherwise, the sixty minutes primarily had Mr. Crosby and his colleagues in random numbers, the choice of which left much to be desired in lilt or melody. The evening’s major pleasure was Mrs. Crosby, who in song and dance projected an attractively youthful verve.

(Jack Gould, New York Times, 16th February 1964)

No. 76 20th June 1964 - ‘Los Expertos Contestan’ (a)

Records a Spanish-speaking panel game show for Latin American release.

Note:

(a) Date of taping only. Transmission details unknown.

No. 77 13th September 1964 – ‘ABC’s Wide World of Entertainment’ (ABC)

Produced and directed by Dwight Hemion. With Gene Barry, Inger Stevens, Kathy Nolan, Jimmy Dean, Sammy Jackson, David Hedison, Tony Franciosa, Richard Basehart, David Janssen, Lawrence Welk, Connie Stevens and Mickey Rooney.

*On ABC This Coming Year with Chorus

*Play A Simple Melody with Mickey Rooney, Sammy Jackson, David Hedison, Tony Franciosa & Richard Basehart

*Style with Mickey Rooney & David Janssen

*The Beer Barrel Polka with Jimmy Dean & Lawrence Welk (Accordion)

“Crosby, last night served as host of a program introducing the stars and shows debuting this week on ABC. It was a nice bit of fluffery serving to show the network’s intense concentration upon strictly light-hearted programing.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 14th September 1964)

“Some day, it’s to be fervently hoped, somebody’ll come along with an effective ‘let me entertain you’ trailer on things to come – a trailer, for example, that won’t have the opposite effect of what was intended and induce viewers to stay away. . . When the hour was over, what was chiefly demonstrated (and perhaps, compensated for the entire 60 minutes) was the indestructibility of Bing Crosby.”

(‘Variety’ 16th September 1964)

“When Bing Crosby walked into the Stadium Club at Chavez Ravine with his pal Ed Crowley prior to an Angels baseball game, it might be assumed that he was out for an evening of relaxation. Nope. He was working. He was on hand to close a deal with Bill Rigney, Angel’s manager and Albie Pearson, littlest Angel of them all, to play an umpire in an upcoming chapter of his new TV series, ‘The Bing Crosby Show’, premiering tomorrow on ABC-TV.

Because I’ve known and liked Bing for a long time, I decided to join and ask him a rather rude question: ‘Under any criterion employed by modern man to measure success, you are successful. You’ve sold more records than any singer in history (estimated 200 million). You’ve starred in 56 motion pictures over twenty-five years. You own banks, real estate, stocks, your own Bing Crosby Production company - and you are a very happily married man. So why are you taking on one of the most rugged work schedules in show business - the weekly TV series?’

‘I was wondering when you were going to get to the question’, said Bing, looking very sharp, fit and fine. He said, amiably, ‘I’m an actor and I suppose an actor must act. I can’t fish and play golf all the time’.

Who’s been fishing and playing golf all the time? During the past four months, Bing has co-starred with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin in that spoof on gangsters, ‘Robin And The Seven Hoods’, his production company is the producer of ‘Ben Casey’, ‘Breaking Point’, ‘Slattery’s Hurricane’ and now his ‘Bing Crosby’ shows; and he’s moved his family, actress Kathryn Grant and their three youngsters, Harry, Mary Frances and Nathaniel, from Holmby Hills to a beautiful new estate near San Francisco.

‘But, seriously, about this working thing’, Bing went on in a sort of musing way, ‘a man in my position has a tiger by the tail. He just can’t let go any old time. So many people become dependent on him for their livelihood. If he quits, scores of jobs go down the drain. Each job represents a family’.

A big smile spread over Bing’s face. ‘At least, that’s the argument I give myself. Maybe I’m just a workhorse at heart who wants to work’. ‘Will you continue to do movies now that you’re active in the jute mill of weekly TV?’, I put in. ‘Sure’, he said, ‘Don’t other TV people make movies?’

The game was about to start but I did get from Bing that his new series is a family situation comedy in which his wife will be portrayed by Beverly Garland and their names are Bing and Ellie Collins. The darnedest things happen to the family but why not tune in yourself, tomorrow night, and see how it all starts.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 13th September 1964)

No. 78 14th September 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC) (a) & (b)

‘A Fine Romance’ - Stung by daughter, Janice’s description of their marriage as, ‘dull’, Bing and Ellie decide to rekindle their, supposedly, ‘lost fire’.

*It Had To Be You with Beverly Garland

Notes:

(a)    Bing’s debut in a television situation comedy series that received a mixed reception from the critics. The consensus of opinion seemed to be, unoriginal but pleasant enough, without setting the woods on fire. His role was ‘Bing Collins’, a happily married family man, with wife, Ellie, played by Beverly Garland, daughters Janice and Joyce by Carol Faylen and Diane Sherry. Further support came from live-in handyman, Willie Walters played by Frank McHugh.

The background of this other ‘Bing’ was somewhat vague. Depending on which source is consulted, he is variously described as ‘an electrical engineer’, ‘a building engineer’, ‘an architectural designer’ or, ‘a teacher of engineering at a college’, who also had similarly, blurred beginnings in the armed forces/show business/vaudeville. This latter plot device permitted the interpolation of at least one song (sometimes accompanied by ‘family’ and/or guests), in each of the 28 episodes. The series was produced by Steven Gethers and directed by James Sheldon.

Carol Faylen was the daughter of character actor Frank Faylen (who appeared in many of Bing’s films) and of actress Carol Hughes (‘Dale Arden’ in the third Flash Gordon series).  She seems to have ‘retired’ from show business after this series although Diane Sherry went on to have a career in TV and movies, playing the part of Lana Lang in the 1978 film ‘Superman’. Beverly Garland has kept very busy over the years and she too had a Superman connection playing the part of Ellen Lane in ‘Lois & Clark - The New Adventures of Superman’, the popular TV series. ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ was one of the last major jobs for Frank McHugh (who worked with Bing in ‘Going My Way’) although he did appear in the Elvis Presley film ‘Easy Come, Easy Go’ in 1967. McHugh died in 1981.

(b)    The opening song (over the titles) was ‘There’s More To Life Than Just Living’ and the closer, ‘It All Adds Up’. See Note (b)

“BING CROSBY has ANOTHER wife—and he’s going back to work.”

“And as he’s 60, multimillionaire with thriving business interests, happily married with a family, people are asking. . . WHY?

For Bing has agreed, for the first time in his career, to a weekly TV series, a family show with lovely Beverly Garland as Mrs. Bing Collins, his wife, Carol Faylen as their 16-year-old daughter, Joyce, and Diane Sherry as their 11-year-old daughter Janice. Living with the family is Bing Collins’s wartime buddy Willie (played by comedian Frank McHugh) who dropped in for a meal and just hasn’t left.

Why face the high pressure and grind of a weekly show, particularly when for years you have worried about the dangers of over-exposure?

Says Bing: ‘I liked what they showed me and thought I’d take a crack at it.’

The fact is that Bing was bored. His holdings in the orange-juice business, real estate, oil and Bing Crosby Productions were all in good hands, needed little attention from him. He’d had all the golf and fishing he wanted.

Agents and friends had been trying for years to persuade Bing to take on a weekly TV show. His answer was that he didn’t mind an occasional appearance but that was all.

‘Suppose I made 52 movies a year? Who’d come to watch me after the fifth or sixth? They’d get fed up with my voice, my kisser, every aspect of me. No.’

Then one of Bing’s agents, Meta Rosenberg, took over a proposition for Bing to make several specials. Her viewpoint: There were already so many specials on TV that there was nothing very special about them.

‘What would be special to if we could ever talk Bing into doing a weekly series,’ she said.

‘After all good motion-picture roles for Bing are hard to come by, but he’s still a fine actor in good physical condition with an excellent mind and great stores of energy.’

So, she went to Bing and put up the proposition again, pointing out that stars such as Lucille Ball, Red Skelton and Donna Reed had all been appearing regularly on TV for years

Bing said he would try it, if he liked the format of the shows they planned. The Bing Collins family was the result. Bing, as Bing Collins, is an engineer who is also consultant to a nearby university. As a father he is sensible and witty. It’s a family with no zany relationships—just a group of happy people whose life can be fun. He sings in each show, gives the youngsters sound advice. For instance, when elder daughter, Joyce pleads for an equal-terms relationship with her parents he explains: ‘You want to be us. And you can’t. And you force us into trying to be you And we can’t. We’re not meant to be friends, baby. I’m your father. And you’re my kid. And if that’s an outmoded parent-child relationship I’m all for it.’

It’s quality with a pedigree. Most half-hour TV shows are budgeted at around 50.000 to 60,000 dollars (£22,300 to £26,700) a program. ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ is closer to 70,000 dollars (£31,250). Bing’s take from this package, which he owns completely, is from 15,000 to 20,000 dollars (£4700 to £8930) a week.

It hits the screen this month in the U.S.”

(‘TV Week’ 19th September 1964)

Bing Crosby, in his first TV series rather than a special, has been assigned the 9:30 niche and his domestic situation comedy might work out in to something rather nice and different. At least he starts out as a sensible father, not a wack, and he and his TV wife, Beverly Garland, live a more gentle life than is the norm for couples on the screen,

Don Beaumont’s opening script had several warmly understanding insights into married life in the middle years, notably the fact that conversation has a way of always veering back to the welfare of one’s children. If James Sheldon, the director, can withstand the normal TV pressures for fierce activity in comedy, Mr. Crosby’s family series could evolve pleasantly.

(Jack Gould, New York Times, 15th September 1964)

“The feeling is inescapable in watching the new Bing Crosby situation comedy series which premiered Monday night (14th) on ABC-TV, that it’s just about fifteen years too late in arriving. For when all is said and done - and the saying and the doing take a long time - the new 30-minute entry is nothing more than a variation on a dozen similar, ‘Ozzie And Harriet’, ‘Make Room For Daddy’ themes.

Attractive people all, as were (and are) their predecessors, each responding to the other’s cues with all proper and warmed-over nuances to match their own stylised comedics and delivery. But, unfortunately, its all been seen and acted and scripted before, with nary a bow to innovation. It’s telegraphed to the viewer from the word ‘go’ and while there is no denying that Crosby has a way with a given situation, it lacks any inventiveness to take it out of its vintage mould.

It’s all played low key and casual (often to the point of dragging) as Crosby and his mate, Beverly Garland (in this initial instalment), relive their courtship, amid the more frantic behaviourism of their teen-age daughters, Carol Faylen and Diane Sherry. Even the old props will be recognisable - as for example, the wartime pal, (Frank McHugh) who becomes a permanent houseguest. That’s really going back. Don Beaumont as the scripter, James Sheldon as director and Steven Gethers as producer are a match for Crosby and the others in perpetuating the cliché.”

(‘Variety’ 16th September 1964)

No. 79 21st September 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘Exactly Like Who?’ - With Gary Crosby. Joyce can hardly wait for her new boyfriend, Don to meet her family. She claims that he’s the living, singing image of her father.

Lavender Blue Beverly Garland

Come What May Gary Crosby

*Night And Day

Gary Crosby guests as song promoter. Bing suspects he has cribbed his newest ‘hit’ from a popular song.

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 21st September 1964)

No. 80 28th September 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘A Bit Of Fresh Danish’ - With Ulla Jacobsson. The Collins’ household has an unusual visitor. It’s Dr. Olga Dannebrog, an outspoken, freethinking blonde who Bing met at an engineering convention in Copenhagen.

*L'Amour, Toujours, L'Amour (Love Everlasting)                                            (a cappella)

*Annie Laurie (in Danish) with Ulla Jacobsson

*The Campbell’s Are Coming(in Danish)                                                         with Ulla Jacobsson

*Karoline with Ulla Jacobsson & Frank McHugh

“Excellent episode. At last, Bing’s series hits on all cylinders and shows some promise. The plot concerns a scientist Bing met in Copenhagen who has come to town on a visit. The scientist happens to be a tasty bit of Danish pastry, complete with Danish ideas of love and courtship. There are not real belly laughs as we go through the standard jealousy routines but the characters gel, the pace is perfect and it’s a smile from start to finish.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 28th September 1964)

No. 81 5th October 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘The Green Couch’ - With The Wellingtons. Ellie’s worried about the teen-age dive that Joyce frequents but Bing doesn’t share her concern.

*Saturday Night (a) with Carol Faylen & The Wellingtons

Note:

(a) A ‘blow-up’ version of this song was included in a selection of outtakes from the series issued on a video ‘Bing Crosby’s Cavalcade’ (unnumbered) by Festival Films.

“Bing continues to come out on top in his role as one of TV’s most sensible husband/fathers. Tonight wife, Beverly Garland and friend, Frank McHugh wind up in the clink after a small misunderstanding with the police and Bing has to bail them out.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 5th October 1964)

No. 82 6th October 1964 – ‘The Bell Telephone Hour’ (NBC) (Colour)

Guest appearance. With the Donald Voorhees Orchestra, the Buddy Cole Trio, Grant Johannesen, The McGuire Sisters and Burl Ives.

*Great Day

*Avalon (a)

*Chinatown, My Chinatown (a)

*Alabamy Bound (a)

*I’m Confessin’ (b)

*When I Take My Sugar To Tea

*Never Be Afraid

Notes:

(a) Audio versions of these items were issued on Longines SYS 5114 (LWS 384) - ‘The Best of the Telephone Hour’

(b) An audio version of this item was issued on Longines SYS 5117 (LWS 387) - ‘Command Performance’

“. . . The series came out for the seventh TV season bell with a stellar marquee of Burl Ives, the McGuire Sisters, concert pianist Grant Johannesen and a wham plus in the person of Bing Crosby. . . Der Bingle, backed by Buddy Cole’s combo, was likewise retrospective but let it be said that his evergreen nostalgia was, indeed, a capper to this latest Bell seminar in musical democracy. It was notably, Bing’s first stint on the show, which beamed live from NBC’s Burbank plant.”

(‘Variety’ 7th October 1964)

"This doesn’t seem to be Bing Crosby’s year on TV.  Bing’s so-so ABC series hasn’t got off the ground yet. And last night, as the final act of an otherwise sparkling Bell Telephone Hour, the groaner seemed to saunter through a medley of his favorite tunes in an undistinguished fashion. His usual feel of excellence wasn’t evident in the performance."

(Kay Gardella, Daily News, 7th October, 1964)

No. 83 12th October 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘Hoop Shots’ - With Jimmy Boyd. Joyce disrupts the family’s tranquillity by becoming engaged to a lanky basketball player with a chronic case of the shakes.

*Sally, Let Your Bangs Hang Down with ‘the family’

*Skillet Good And Greasy with ‘the family’

Bing and Ellie try to break up romance between teen-age daughter and basketball star with the shakes.

(Democrat and Chronicle, 12th October, 1964)

No. 84 19th October 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘Flashback’ - The Collinses indulge in a bit of nostalgia. They watch home movies of the day when Bing met Ellie and Willie.

*Can’t We Talk It Over? (a)

*Sweet Georgia Brown

Notes:

(a) A few bars only.

“A delightful half-hour. Fans are treated to a little bit of background on Bing Collins’ Army career, his courtship of Ellie and their early marriage years in effectively handled flashbacks. Beverly Garland (Ellie) is a standout in these sequences.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 19th October 1964)

No. 85 26th October 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘The Education Of Bing Collins’ - With Macdonald Carey. Joyce is not happy about the prospect of her cultivated history teacher meeting her ‘lowbrow’ parents.

*Gaudeamus Igitur (a)

*Shuffle Off To Buffalo (b) with Beverly Garland and MacDonald Carey

Notes:

(a) A few bars only.

(b) A ‘blow-up’ version of this song was included in a selection of outtakes from the series issued on a video ‘Bing Crosby’s Cavalcade’ (unnumbered) by Festival Films.

“There’s an abundance of charm and ease in this pleasant entry. Debonair Macdonald Carey guest stars as Bing’s daughter’s history professor, and it follows that she (Joyce) develops an unusually strong interest in history.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 26th October 1964)

No. 86 9th November 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘The Dominant Male’ - With Gary Crosby. Joyce’s boyfriend, Don, maintains that ‘the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world’ and he challenges Bing to prove otherwise.

*How Deep Is The Ocean? (a)

*Hallelujah, I Love Her So with Gary Crosby

Note:

(a) Also reprised.

The Bing Crosby Show won’t win any prizes tonight but admirers of the series should enjoy its relaxed pace, and the efforts again of Bing’s eldest son, Gary.

(Fort Lauderdale News, 9th November, 1964)

No. 87 16th November 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘The Importance Of Bea ‘n’ Willie’ - With Elizabeth Fraser. Willie is smitten with the daughter of the local lumberman but Willie’s so shy that the Collinses feel obliged to do some coaching from the side-lines.

*My Wild Days Are Over

*Cutie, Who Ties Your Tie? with Diane Sherry

*You Can’t Get Along With ‘Em Or Without ‘Em

“Cute show with plenty of laughs. Willie (Frank McHugh) gets stung by one of Cupid’s biggest arrows and doesn’t know how to cope with it.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 16th November 1964)

No. 88 23rd November 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘The Liberated Woman’ - With Glenda Farrell. After reading a book on woman’s need for self-expression, visiting Aunt Lulu begins coaching the Collins in dramatics.

You’re An Old Smoothie Beverly Garland

*You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To

No. 89 30th November 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘Genius At Work’ - With Thomas Gomez. Bing and Ellie order their brilliant but chronically messy daughter, Janice, to shape up - a world famous mathematician is coming for a stay.

*I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues

*D’Ye Ken John Peel with Beverly Garland, Frank McHugh & Carol Faylen

*D’Ye Ken John Peel (Parody - a cappella)

Note:

(a) Recorded 3rd August 1964.

Bing and Ellie take in a temporary house guest against their better judgement simply because he’s a genius who needs a quiet place to work. But, when the professor sets up shop at Bing’s home he creates havoc in the household and in the family. Thomas Gomez is pretty funny as a true eccentric, in fact a real nut, though the show as a whole is much more of a cartoon than usual.

(Press and Sun-Bulletin, November 30, 1964)

No. 90 7th December 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘The Yadwin Report’ - With Don Penny. The Collinses seem so happy that Joyce’s boyfriend can come to only one conclusion - their marriage is doomed.

*You’re Just In Love with Beverly Garland

“Funny and breezy episode. The Collins’ marriage is rated by a junior size psychologist who happens to be daughter Joyce’s latest boyfriend.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 7th December 1964)

No. 91 14th December 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC) (a)

‘Janice And Me On A Saturday Spent With Random Inputs No. 1’ - With David Wayne. Janice and a leading exponent of electronic music, combine efforts to prove that Bing’s notions of music are antiquated.

*The Birth Of The Blues

Note:

(a) Recorded 11th June 1964

“This charming series takes a humorous poke at electronic music. Daughter Janice helps a kookie composer with his latest way-out work. David Wayne plays the composer as though he were Burgess Meredith playing a mad scientist.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 14th December 1964)

No. 93 21st December 1964 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC) (Colour)

‘The Christmas Show’ - With The Wellingtons. The Collinses, their singing guests, The Wellingtons and assorted carolers celebrate the holiday season in song. John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra provide the musical backing.

*Christmas Candles

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Carolers

*We Wish You The Merriest with Carolers and Cast

*La Pinãta with Carolers and Cast

*Do You Hear What I Hear? with Carolers

*Argyll The Christmas Stocking with Carol Faylen and Diane Sherry

White Christmas Beverly Garland

*White Christmas

“Good holiday entertainment for the family. Short on plot but long on song as Bing and company gather round the piano and offer a program of some new Christmas songs, as well as his holiday trademark, ‘White Christmas’.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 21st December 1964)

Monday’s (21) seg of this fresh-man situationer did what it figured to do with Crosby as star – tossed out the plot and settled down to a pleasant holiday songfest with Bing, his TV household – Beverly Garland, Frank McHugh, et al – plus an augmentation from the Wellington trio of lads and a group called The Carolers (who were doing just that outside when the family flagged them in). The tree-trimming, gift-giving seg delivered ‘seasonal songs’, capped inevitably with a Crosby-Garland rendition of “White Christmas”. Miss Garland, of course, being the show's hausfrau. The two, by the way, make a fine couple, and Crosby is convincingly his own age in this series.

(‘Variety’, 23rd December 1964)

No. 94 11th January 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘The Soft Life’ - The Collinses take a vacation but have differing ideas regarding their accommodation.

*Lazy Bones (a)

*Mountain Greenery

Note:

(a) A few bars only

“Entertaining episode. Bing and his wife have differing ideas about vacations and each tries to prove that their way is best. Bing chooses a well-equipped cabin while the rest of the Collins clan, rough it, by camping out in clear sight of Bing’s relaxed luxury.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 11th January 1965)

“Bing Crosby, who started his first weekly television show last fall, expressed doubt yesterday that the series would continue next season.... “It’s been fun and it hasn’t been too hard a chore,” the singer and actor said. “But according to the rating, we haven’t been doing so well. I think I’d have to get on a glass bottom boat to find the rating. It’s a rat race. If you don’t get a rating they dump you.” Mr. Crosby said he was not depressed by the show’s rating and that usually a show required “a couple of years to get a good rating.””

(‘New York Times’ 13th January 1965)

No. 95 16th January 1965 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC)

Produced by William O. Harbach. Directed by Grey Lockwood. With Mitchell Ayres and the Hollywood Palace Orchestra, The Three Rebertes, Jacques D’Amboise & Catherine Mazzo, Leonardo, Corbett Monica, The King Family, Frank McHugh and Beverly Garland. In addition, Gene Barry, George Burns, Cyd Charisse, Buddy Ebsen, Phil Harris, Liberace, Tony Martin, and Ed Wynn make brief guest appearances.

*There’s More To Life Than Just Living (a)

The Three Rebertes (acrobats)

*She Can Carry A Gun with George Burns & Ed Wynn  

  Jacques D’Amboise & Catherine Mazzo (ballet)

Frank McHugh spot with Bing

  Corbett Monica spot

Medley:  The King Family

Lollipops And Roses

There Is Nothing Like A Dame

A Lot Of Livin' To Do

Too Young

I’m Old Fashioned

*Dream (When You're Feeling Blue) with The King Family

Leonardo (juggler)

Beverly Garland spot with Bing

*Top Banana (b) with Frank McHugh

*Happy Birthday To You (c) with entire company

Notes:

(a) An audio version of this item was issued on Broadway Intermission BR-135 - ‘Crosbyana - Volume 5 from Bing’s Collection’ (Source shown as ‘Hollywood Place (sic), 1959’)

(b) Also reprised with Frank McHugh and Beverly Garland.

(c) On this first anniversary of the Hollywood Palace, the last eight personalities shown in the cast list, all former hosts for the series, joined Bing in a ‘Birthday’ sketch as well as having separate walk-on spots.

(d)     The show was taped on January 9.

“The Hollywood Palace has done right well for itself in the first year of its existence. Originally set as a replacement for the ‘Jerry Lewis Show’, this variety layout has established itself firmly in the entertainment scheme and is vying for the top spot in the variety field. The first birthday party show was emceed by Bing Crosby who also emceed its premiere on January 4th, a year ago. As guests, the producers gathered many of the emcees that had appeared during the year, for extremely brief bits. . . Crosby, in addition to conferenciering, reparteed with Frank McHugh, Beverly Garland and the raft of guests, to give this show a great big, agreeable and ingratiating effect.”

(‘Variety’ 20th January 1965)

"A rousing anniversary show with host Bing Crosby. Old vaudeville lines are exchanged between Bing and his guests, Phil Harris, George Burns, Ed Wynn, Tony Martin, Cyd Charisse and Liberace. Beverly Garland of the Crosby series sings, and all the King Sisters do a medley. In addition, there’s the talented ballet dance Jacques d’Amboise, a husband and wife monologue by Corbett Monica, a plate spinner and an Italian tumbling act."

(Quad-City Times, 16th January, 1965)

No. 96 18th January 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘Bugged By The Love Bugs’ - With The Standells. Bing becomes a virtual pariah in his own home - just because he turned down two free tickets to a rock ‘n’ roll concert.

*Kansas City with The Standells

“Cute, timely show. A rock ‘n’ roll group known as ‘The Love Bugs’ comes to town and the Collins’ house is thrown into a dither. The girls are heartbroken when they miss the big concert but the group’s manager turns out to be an old friend of Bing’s so everything ends up swinging.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 18th January 1965)

No. 96a 23rd January 1965 - The King Family Show (ABC)

Bing makes a filmed introduction to the first episode of this popular variety series.
Bing's contribution appears to have been filmed at Desilu on the set of his weekly sit-com series.

No. 97 25th January 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC) (a)

‘Are Parents People?’ - with Ken Murray and Pam Austin. Joyce and her friend, Clarissa, upset Bing and Ellie with their Easter vacation plans - they’ve decided to tour Mexico all by themselves.

*Cuanto Le Gusta with Carol Faylen

The Wiggle Ball Carol Faylen and Pam Austin

*South Of The Border

Note:

(a) A video version of the programme was issued on Festival Films ‘Bing Crosby and Friends Volume 7’

The show contains a profoundly great line: “Never be fair with teenagers, they’ll rack you up every time.” Joyce wants to go to Mexico with an equally young friend and Bing’s natural instinct is to refuse to let her. There’s an amusing scene as the girls try to get jobs in a chorus for spite. Then they fail as car-hops. Sanity finally prevails. Cute show.

(Press and Sun-Bulletin, January 25, 1965)

No. 98 1st February 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘That’s The Way The Suki Yaki’s’ - With James Shigeta. Bing really goes for the way Japanese wives pamper their husbands which provokes Ellie into wagering that he couldn’t take even one week of it.

*The Japanese Sandman

“Pleasant show. Bing and Ellie declare war when Bing decides the ‘old tradition’ is more desirable than the new, after spending an evening at a Japanese couple’s home. Plenty of sight gags here.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 1st February 1965)

No. 99 8th February 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC) (a)

‘The Gifted Child’ - With Arthur Franz. Ellie is beside herself with worry when precocious Janice informs her parents that the school has sent her to see a psychiatrist.

*Sometimes I’m Happy with Diane Sherry

Note:

(a) Recorded 25th August 1964.

“A cute show with a built-in message. Janice (Diane Sherry) discovers she’s under consideration to skip a grade and her reaction is anything but joyous. Her family goes along with her as she tries to make a decision.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 8th February 1965)

No. 100 15th February 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC) (a)

‘The Image’ - With Kathryn Crosby, Pat Harrington Jr. and George Gobel. Ellie goes along with a scheme to upgrade Bing’s public image, which involves her with an effervescent interior decorator.

*In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town with ‘the family’

Note:

(a) Recorded 1st February 1965.

“Publicity expert (Pat Harrington Jr.) and a decorator (Kathryn Crosby) try to jazz up Bing’s personality. George Gobel plays a motel manager.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 15th February 1965)

No. 101 22nd February 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘The Keefers Come Calling’ - With Frankie Avalon and Vikki Carr. Bing and Ellie help their new neighbours, a pair of teen-age newly weds, adjust to married life.

*You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me with Beverly Garland

  You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me Frankie Avalon & Vikki Carr.

“A good show which places its focus on a pair of newly weds, charmingly played by Frankie Avalon and Vikki Carr, who move into the neighbourhood. When their marital problems become too much for them, Bing and his wife step in and mediate.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 22nd February 1965)

No. 102 1st March 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC) (a)

‘Operation Man Save’ - With Joan Fontaine and Dennis Day. Ellie takes a cue from Bing’s highly efficient secretary and tries to introduce a little organisation at home.

*Exactly Like You

Exactly Like You (a cappella) Beverly Garland, Frank McHugh, Carol Faylen & Diane Sherry

Note:

(a) A video version of the show was included in the Festival Films video ‘Bing Crosby & Friends - Vol. 8 - ‘All-Star Show’.

“Guest star, Joan Fontaine lends her chic style to this one in the role of Bing’s efficient secretary. Her ‘helpful’ suggestions almost cause a domestic crisis in the Collins’ household. Dennis Day plays her down-trodden husband.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 1st March 1965)

No. 103 8th March 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘One For The Birds’ - With Phil Harris. Bing’s former vaudeville partner, Barney Jenks, shows up for a few day’s visit with a new partner - a trained crow named Blackie, in tow. During their stay, a number of burglaries are reported in the locality.

*Baby Face with Phil Harris

*The Prisoner’s Song (a cappella) with Phil Harris

*Bye, Bye, Blackbird (a) with Phil Harris

Note:

(a) A ‘blow-up’ version of this song was included in a selection of outtakes from the series issued on a video ‘Bing Crosby’s Cavalcade’ (unnumbered) by Festival Films.

Phil Harris guests as a vaudevillian who resembles a Phil Harris type of character, which gives Bing a chance to join him in some corny old-fashioned songs and patter. There’s a plot too, something about an untrustworthy talking crow, but the main reason for watching is to observe a couple of old pros like Bing and Phil go through their paces.

(Press and Sun-Bulletin, March 8, 1965)

No. 104 10th March 1965 - ‘The Grand Award Of Sports’ (ABC)

Produced and directed by Charles Dubin. With Jim McKay, Chris Schenkel, Colonel John Glenn and others.

Co-host with Kathryn Crosby. Autolite Institute Of Life statues were awarded to top names in 20 categories of sport in a live telecast from New York World’s Fair.

“Grand Award of Sports on ABC-TV was an obvious attempt to imitate the glamor and excitement of the annual Academy Awards. But the 90-minute show was spectacular only in its failure to generate any real interest. Emcee Bing Crosby was his of the Church of one by its lead- usual hip and casual self, a parlay that couldn’t offset the boredom as athletes in just about everything from pro football to beanbag plodded to the podium to collect hardware.”

(‘Variety’ 17th March 1965)

No. 105 22nd March 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘The Test’ - Bing insists that Joyce learn the rule book before taking her driver’s examination but he’s not doing much for his own renewal test.

Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive Carol Faylen & The Wellingtons

*The Little Things In Life

A good show to catch if you’re about to take your driver’s test. Joyce is taking the test and you can study the rules with her. The gag in this one is that Bing has let his licence expire and has to take a test himself – but he’s forgotten all the rules. Bing gets to sing “The Little Things in Life” which this show is one of.

(Press and Sun-Bulletin, March 22, 1965)

No. 106 29th March 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC) (a)

‘Moonlighting Becomes You’ - With Mel Tormé.

*Them There Eyes

*Smack Dab In The Middle with Mel Tormé

Note:

(a) A video version of the programme was issued on Festival Films -’Bing Crosby and Friends Volume 6’

“Professor (Mel Tormé) moonlights as a jazz pianist in a cellar café.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 29th March 1965)

No. 107 5th April 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC)

‘What’s A Buddy For’ - With Lloyd Nolan and The Bob Mitchell Boy’s Choir.

*A Smile Looks Good On Any Face with The Bob Mitchell Boy’s Choir

“Insurance broker (Lloyd Nolan) talks Bing into umpiring a Little League game.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 5th April 1965)

No. 108 12th April 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC) (a)

‘Conform, Conform, Whoever You Are’

*When I Was A Lad (from ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’- a cappella)

*Auld Lang Syne with ‘the family’

Note:

(a) Recorded 23rd September 1964. This was no doubt originally intended to be shown on 28th December 1964 (See press quote).

“In a revolt against conformity, Bing and Ellie plan to celebrate New Year’s Eve in a cosy mountain cabin.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 12th April 1965)

No. 109 12th April 1965 - ‘The Lucy Show’ (CBS) (Colour)

In this episode entitled ‘Lucy, the Disk Jockey’, Lucille Ball played a radio station DJ. Although Bing did not appear on camera, he did contribute a vocal. Lucy introduced Bing by saying ‘here’s a recording of Bing Crosby singing Stephen Foster’. She played the ‘record’ and Bing’s voice, a cappella, sang (to the tune of ‘De Camptown Races’) ‘dum-dum-dum-dum-dee-dee-dee, Ste-phen Fos-ter’.

No. 110 19th April 1965 - ‘The Bing Crosby Show’ (ABC) (a)

‘Real Estate Venture’ - With Ruth Roman. Energetic realtor, Amanda Rankin, convinces Ellie that, she too, is a born real estate saleswoman.

*My Heart Belongs To Daddy (Parody) (b)

*Home, Sweet, Home (c)

*My Blue Heaven

Notes:

(a) The entire show was included in the Festival Films video ‘Bing Crosby & Friends - Vol. 9 - Christmas Show’.

(b) A fragment only.

(c) Bing hums and whistles only to a piano accompaniment.

“Dynamic realtor (Ruth Roman) convinces Ellie that she should sell the house and join her staff.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 19th April 1965)

No.111 27th June 1965 (BBC1)

Richard Allison briefly interviews Bing on his arrival in London and this is shown on a news bulletin.

No. 112 27th June 1965 - ‘The Eamonn Andrews Show’ (ABC in UK)

Guest appearance. With Spike Milligan, Cilla Black, Patrick Campbell and Harry H. Corbett.

Ol’ Man River Cilla Black

*The Thrill Is Gone (a)

Note:

(a) Fragment only.

No. 113 30th June 1965 - Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships (BBC)

Short interview.

No. 114 6th July 1965 - ‘Late Night Line-Up’ (BBC2)

Interviewed by Joan Bakewell. This was probably filmed at the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships.

No.115 7th September 1965 – ‘Hollywood Talent Scouts’ (CBS)

Interviewed by Art Linkletter on the set of ‘Stagecoach’

No. 116 18th September 1965 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour) (a)

Directed by Grey Lockwood. Produced by William O. Harbach. With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, the Tibor Rudas Dancers, the Black Theatre of Prague, The Nitwits, Burns and Schreiber, Bertha & Tina (elephants), Tim Conway and Caterina Valente.

*On The Hollywood Palace This Coming Year

Tibor Rudas Dancers

Burns and Schreiber (comedy sketch in taxi)
Black Theatre of Prague (black light show)

Goody Goody Caterina Valente

Meditation Caterina Valente

The Nitwits (comedy band)

Bertha & Tina (elephants) 

  Tim Conway spot with Bing (jockey skit)

Medley: with Caterina Valente

*Fancy Meeting You Here

*On A Slow Boat To China

*It Happened In Monterey

*Hindustan

*On A Slow Boat To China (Reprise)

“Hollywood Palace starting its third year on the vaudeo spectrum, seems to continue in affable and agreeable ways. At this point the format continues to be serviceable and there’s no cause to re-write this hit. The formula of a name emcee and name talent is sufficiently potent to make this one of the better variety displays on the medium.

Bing Crosby making his third appearance on this soiree gave the season’s premiere a flavor unique to him. He mixes affability and entertainment in equally potent doses and gets involved in the proceedings to give the show an entertaining tone. For example, he ‘straighted’ for Tim Conway of ‘McHale’s Navy’, who needed a straight of Crosby’s calibre to look good. He sang with Caterina Valente and each endowed the other with an added ingredient. On her own, Miss Valente delivered with her accustomed top-rated product.”

(‘Variety’ 22nd September 1965)

Note

(a) Recorded 5th September 1965. The entire show was issued on video by Nostalgia Family Video.

No. 117 25th September 1965 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour) (a)

Produced by William O. Harbach. Directed by Grey Lockwood. With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, the Young Americans, La Norma, Fred Roby, Sims’ Performing Ponies, Carl Ballantine, Pat Woodell, Louis Armstrong and Phil Harris.

*My Blue Heaven

Sims’ Performing Ponies,

Carl Ballantine (magician)

It Might As Well Be Spring Pat Woodell

Waiting For The Robert E. Lee The Young Americans

Swanee The Young Americans

*Happiness Is with The Young Americans

La Norma (trapeze artist)

Way Down Yonder In New Orleans Louis Armstrong

*Dardanella with Louis Armstrong

Fred Roby (ventriloquist)

King Of The Road Phil Harris

*South Rampart Street Parade with Phil Harris, Louis Armstrong and The Young Americans

Note

(a) Recorded 14th September 1965

“No matter how many times you experience it, there is no ‘high’ in life quite like the adrenaline-surge in your body as you stand waiting behind a curtain to open upon the stage of a TV variety show. The orchestra goes into the intro for your song. You hear the long, sustaining roll on the timpani drums. The string section is coming in on a single-note trill. Then you hear the brass building in pitch and volume when suddenly the curtain opens to reveal a truly awesome sight. At least it was an awesome sight for me to see late that Friday afternoon, September 3, 1965, when the curtain opened on the stage of the ABC TV variety show, Hollywood Palace.

Standing about 15 feet to my left is big-bandleader Phil Harris. Standing about 12 feet to my right is show business legend Louis Armstrong. And standing center-stage about eight feet in front of me to my left is the entertainer I most admire in life - Bing Crosby. . . This particular Palace is going to be publicized in the TV viewing guides as ‘Bing Crosby hosts Louis Armstrong’s fiftieth year in show business.’

. . . Amid lingering uneasiness throughout the city, an extremely large crowd is lined up out front of the ABC Palace Theater on Vine about one-half block north of Hollywood Blvd. Making my way down an iron fire escape on the south side of the theater where the second and third-story dressing rooms are located, I’m amazed to see so many people waiting to get in to the late-afternoon taping of the dress rehearsal. . . Less than an hour later the full-dress rehearsal is being taped. I don’t remember now all of the songs performed. But I do remember that after two or three, I am performing with Mr. Crosby a moderately obscure song of the time called ‘Happiness Is’. He had had a special arrangement made, complete with key changes that move one-half step upwards after every chorus. And the original lacklustre verses are rewritten into clever new lyrics about various celebrities. I always liked the up-beat melody, so I still remember some phrases, like this one:

‘To a waiter, it’s a tip, tip, tip,

To Phil Harris, it’s a nip, nip, nip.

To a jockey, it’s a nag, nag, nag,

And to a G. I., it’s a Bob Hope gag’.

When the Bob Hope line comes up in the dress rehearsal and the final performance, both audiences emit a sustained ‘Aaaaaaaw’ that everyone up on stage can clearly hear above the ongoing music. Through part of this song, Mr. Crosby is seated on a stool. On the floor around him are several young female singers with their arms around the bottoms of his legs. One day at rehearsal, Lisa, one of the girls, had found a hole in one of his pant cuffs. She put her finger through it and wiggled it around while laughing out loud for all to see. He just smiled and paid no attention.

While standing behind him for part of this number I often think he has a poor tailor. Even his performance clothes look - in a word - ‘baggy.’ When I tell my folks about this one night, my mother says he always had a reputation over the years for being a bad dresser. And yet his loose-fitting garments may be the result of nothing more than him being on a diet at the time - something my current age has much experience with. Back then, however, that thought never occurs to the 17-year-old mind in my 145-pound body. . . . At 62, his voice is deep, full and every bit as resonant as it was for any performance at any time in his career. Watching him whenever possible, it seems to me as though it is just so effortless on his part. His head tilts back slightly, the jaw drops and out comes this incredible sound unlike any voice before or since.

On Monday, the first day of rehearsal, everyone takes turns on stage recording all the numbers with the full orchestra. For the remainder of the week the daily rehearsing is performed to the pre-recorded sound which is constantly stopped and rewound while the Director and the TV camera people work the show out visually from various angles. The orchestra will not reappear until the dress rehearsal late the following Friday afternoon.

On variety programs of this time there is a short break on the day before dress rehearsals. This allows newcomers to briefly kibitz with the stars. Like me, everyone in that show could hardly wait to return from their dressing rooms with some memento for these stars to autograph. In my case, I had brought along the record jacket from ‘Robin and the Seven Hoods’ on which Mr. Crosby is centered between Sinatra, Martin, Davis and Peter Falk. When he reaches out to sign it for me, I just cannot resist telling him the many number of times I had gone to see the film.

‘Myyyyyy,’ he says in that familiar low-baritone voice as he drops his head and looks at me from out of the top of his eyes, ‘but you are a brave soul.’ On the soundtrack recording of ‘Style’, his voice can be clearly heard speaking after the song concludes: ‘Come on, let’s get some clothes on or we’ll be late for breakfast.’ A passing comment from me about this remark only brings a bewildered expression from him.

Standing there, less than four feet from him as he signs the album and hands it back to me, I am thinking how authentic his hairpiece appears. No one unaware of the truth would ever have suspected it is not his real hair. But overall, the one aspect I find truly remarkable about his appearance is that he has the most youthful-looking eyes I have ever seen in any person. Either before or since, I have never seen such bright blue irises surrounded by such large, pure white sclera. They are totally devoid of any red blood vessels, which is probably why Phil Harris comments at one point that Bing should not worry his ‘baby-blues.’

Misters Crosby and Harris have some comic patter they perform together at one point. And I am so happy that on Thursday, the last day before dress rehearsal, there seems to be endless equipment problems. Over and over again the Director’s voice bellows out from the control room speaker: ‘One more time from the top, please.’ The two seasoned veterans then redo all the punchlines, complete with feigned laughter and totally rehearsed ‘ad lib’s.’ And every time they make it sound as though they are just having a casual, impromptu conversation in someone’s living room. It is quite an on-the-job education for those of us present from the younger set. . .

This Friday is also the first day that Louis Armstrong appears at rehearsal, primarily for camera placement and sound levels. Mr. Armstrong was age 65 at the time. A number of the younger performers think the network is especially insensitive to his physical condition, for he had been given a dressing room on the second floor. To reach it, he has to slowly labor up two floors of thin metal steps.

I remember on the day of kibitz, my request for Mr. Armstrong’s autograph turns an expression of pain upon his face into that wonderful smile. His smile could cause the sun to shine, even indoors. After he graciously signs my album, I watch him take very short and slow steps towards the dressing room stairs. His head is bowed forward, and it seems to take him forever to reach the second floor. But as far as I know, he never once complains to a soul about not having a first-floor dressing room. I shall always remember him as the quintessential gentleman of charm, grace, personality, humor and - most of all - talent.

He and Mr. Crosby perform something together, which I have since forgotten. But what I will never forget is the closing finale, in which everyone on the show takes part. Talk about a show-stopper, the closing number is South Rampart Street Parade. A wonderful series of interlaced melodies and counterpoints composed by Ray Bauduc and Bob Haggart with lyrics by Steve Allen, the entire composition conveys the feeling of an oncoming parade building in volume and rhythm. Only this arrangement has something no street parade ever has - a studio orchestra with a string section. Added to this layered complexity are the jazz ‘fills’ of Mr. Armstrong’s horn and numerous sections of syncopated rhythm.

Wow, what an experience!

There are many unforgettable musical moments I can look back on. But if I had to select one that approaches a spiritual level of magic, it would be this one.”

(Richard Zimmerman, one of the Young Americans, writing in ‘BING’ magazine, winter 2001)

No. 118 16th November 1965 - CBS News Special - Sinatra

Bing is briefly interviewed in this hour-long special and warmly praises Sinatra.

No. 119 20th November 1965 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour)

With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, Desmond & Marx (comedy act), Charlie Manna, Willie Mays, Michael The Waiter, The Kessler Twins, John W. Bubbles, Diahann Carroll and Bob Hope.

*Them There Eyes

Bob Hope spot promoting an LP about Hope's trip to Vietnam

Willie Mays spot

Falling And Fooling For You                                                                             Desmond & Marx

Got To Keep Moving Blues                                                                               Desmond & Marx

  Married I Can Always Get The Kessler Twins
*Identical (a) with The Kessler Twins
Charlie Manna spot (comedian)

When My Baby Smiles At Me John W. Bubbles

Medley:
*You Can Dramatise The Feeling With A Hat with John W. Bubbles

*A Couple Of Song And Dance Men with John W. Bubbles

*Red Sails In The Sunset
*In A Little Spanish Town with John W. Bubbles
I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire John W. Bubbles
*Prisoner Of Love
M.I.C.K.E.Y.M.O.U.S.E. John W. Bubbles
*London Bridge Is Falling Down with John W. Bubbles
Stranger In Paradise John W. Bubbles
*Old Devil Moon

Get Me To The Church On Time John W. Bubbles
*You Go To My Head
*Me And My Shadow  with John W. Bubbles
*You Can Dramatise The Feeling With A Hat (Reprise) with John W. Bubbles

Michael The Waiter spot (juggler)

You Go To My Head  Diahann Carroll

Going Out Of My Head  Diahann Carroll
If I Ruled The World  Diahann Carroll

  Bob Hope spot with Bing

*Count Your Blessings (Instead Of Sheep) with Chorus

Note:

(a) Bing’s contribution consists of two lines.

"Bing Crosby will make his third appearance of the season as host of The Hollywood Palace, at 9:30 p.m. today to sing familiar melodies and present other musicians and a wide variety of acts, in color. Veteran vaudeville dance and singer John Bubbles, formerly of the team of Buck and Bubbles and the creator of the “Sportin; Life” role in the Broadway production of “Porgy and Bess” is slated to present a new routine, Song stylist Diahann Carroll is high in the billing for the show as are the blonde Kessler singing twins – Alice and Ellen – from West Germany. Another performer from West Germany is Michael, the waiter, who does amazing feats with trays and cutlery. From England comes the singing and dancing team of Desmond and Marks, and from America’s night club circuit comes comedian Charlie Manna."

(The Times Herald, November 20, 1965)

“Then there was the great team of Buck and Bubbles, particularly the dancing member of the team, Bubbles. He was considered by Fred Astaire (and many others) to be the greatest soft shoe, buck and wing, or tap dancer who ever lived. At every performance we had visiting dancers in the wings who had dropped in from other vaudeville circuits or motion picture presentation houses, who came over to watch and learn. People like Eleanor Powell and Hal Le Roy. Five times a day, seven days a week, Bubbles never danced the same routine twice, but always an inspired improvisation. Later he went on to play ‘Sportin’ Life’ in ‘Porgy and Bess’.”

(Bing Crosby, writing in ‘Call Me Lucky’)

No. 120 15th December 1965 - ‘The Bob Hope Comedy Special’ (NBC) (Colour) (a)

Guest appearance. With Nancy Wilson, Janet Leigh and Jack Benny. Directed by Jack Shea.

I’ll Only Miss HimWhen I Think Of Him                                                     Nancy Wilson

This Dream Nancy Wilson

*‘The Tenant’ Sketch (b) with Bob Hope

*Do You Hear What I Hear? (c)

Notes:

(a) The entire show was issued on DVD by Bobontv.com in 2010, their reference number 121565. An edited version was included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 10) issued in 2018.

(b) A video version of this item in which Bob Hope becomes Bing’s tenant at his Palm Springs home was included in the NBC-TV programme ‘On the Road with Bing: A Special Tribute to Bing Crosby’ shown on 28th October 1977.

(c) Bing lip-synched to his 1963 recording with the Ralph Carmichael Orchestra & Chorus (See also Programme No. 71).

“Last week’s TV outing was a fair variety show that didn’t quite live up to its super stellar cast. . .The comedy sketches were uneven, the best, possibly because it was the broadest, involving Jack Benny as an escaped convict hiding out at the North Pole and Hope as Santa. Less effective was the skit in which Bing tried to get rid of his Palm Springs tenant (Hope), so that he could sell his mansion. Crosby nicely warbled his way through a Yule tune but basically, the show seemed to be hung up on the audio personalities of Hope, Crosby and Benny.”

(‘Variety’ 22nd December 1965)

No. 121 25th December 1965 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour) (a)

With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, Bob Williams & Louie, Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians, Landon's Midgets and Blinko the Clown,  Harry L. Crosby III, Dorothy Collins, Bob Crane and the cast of ‘Hogan’s Heroes’ (Werner Klemperer, John Banner, Robert Clary, Richard Dawson, Larry Hovis and Ivan Dixon). (b)

*The White World Of Winter  with Chorus
Landon's Midgets and Blinko the Clown

  The Nutcracker Suite (Tchaikovsky) (c) Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians
*The Whiffenpoof Song  with Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians
  Hogan's Heroes spot

It Might As Well Be Spring  Dorothy Collins
*The Glow Worm (Parody) with Dorothy Collins

  Bob Williams & Louie (dog act)

Medley:
*It’s Christmas Time Again with Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians
*Go Tell It On The Mountain with Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians

Twelve Days Of Christmas Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians
Stille Nacht (Silent Night)  Werner Klemperer & John Banner
French Carol Robert Clary
Deck The Halls Dorothy Collins
*We Wish You The Merriest  with Dorothy Collins, Bob Crane & Cast

O Come Little Children (Humperdinck) (d) Harry L. Crosby III
*White Christmas (e)

Notes:

(a) Recorded 29th November 1965. A video version of the programme was issued on Festival Films – ‘Bing Crosby and Friends Volume 4’.

(b) ‘Hogan's Heroes’ was a TV series from Bing Crosby Productions that ran for 168 episodes. The plot involved shrewd, smooth-talking, ‘Col. Robert Hogan’ (Bob Crane) leading a ragtag band of POW's held in the mythical ‘Stalag 13’. The Germans, in the shape of ‘Col. Wilhelm Klink’ (Werner Klemperer) with ‘Sgt. Hans Schultz’ (John Banner), as his bumbling sidekick, gave Hogan and his gang plenty of opportunities to sabotage their war efforts. Four of the other cast members (in the order shown above), played respectively, ‘Cpl. Louis LeBeau’, ‘Cpl. Peter Newkirk’, ‘Sgt. Andrew Carter’ and ‘Cpl. James Kinchloe’.

Bob Crane had enjoyed a successful career in radio with KNX in Los Angeles. His television break came in 1963, when he played 'Dr. Dave Kelsey’ on the popular ‘Donna Reed Show’ but he was dropped after two years. In 1965, he landed the starring role in ‘Hogan's Heroes’. The show gained a place in the top 10 by the end of its first season and Crane was nominated for an Emmy twice, in 1966 and 1967. In 1971, the new president of CBS abruptly cancelled ‘Hogan's Heroes’. In the aftermath, he continued to act. However, the roles were few and unfulfilling. On 29th June1978, Bob Crane was murdered in his rented apartment/hotel room in Scottsdale. He was 49 years old. His murder remains unsolved.

(c) A vocal arrangement of themes from the well-known Christmas ballet including, ‘Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy’, ‘Waltz Of The Flowers’ and ‘Arabian Dance’.

(d) Harry L. Crosby III (aged 7) makes his first television appearance. A video version was included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video.

(e) A fragment was included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video.

“…When the “Hollywood Palace” chips are down, Harbach, or his executive producer, Nick Vanoff, or his director, Grey Lockwood, can always take advantage of two or more options. The final show is totally taped, the dress rehearsal is totally taped (at the El Capitan Theater) and musical sounds involving movement or large groups are pre-taped in a recording studio.

Mix them all together, select the best bits from each, and Harbach has got himself a show to suit his fancy…Sometimes he lets the final show go as is; sometimes he dips into the “dress” tape and lifts anywhere from a little to a lot.

It is common practice for most variety shows these days. Ed Sullivan is an exception. Ed is the last of the live wires. When a “live” Sullivan show is in progress, the whole Eastern seaboard is watching. Nothing can be retracted…

Bing’s “Hollywood Palace” show tomorrow night is highlighted by soaring Christmas music from Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians, and by the first TV appearance of Bing’s boy, Harry…

Young Harry premieres as a soloist rendering eight lines from “Oh, Come Little Children.” Everybody is supposed to strictly follow the cue cards but at the dress rehearsal Harry winged an ad lib, his first. When Bing introduced him as “a classy singer…he’s going to do “Oh Come Little Children” from “Hansel and Gretel” by Humperdinck,” Harry suddenly looked up with surprise and said, “I am?”

It wasn’t in the script. I don’t know if it will be in the final show. Later, when Bing was singing “White Christmas” there was a rustle of amusement from the audience. It happened after Harry noticed that his father was sitting with knees crossed. Harry abruptly decided to imitate him.”
(Dwight Newton, The San Francisco Examiner (page 15), December 24, 1965)

“Bing Crosby makes the fourth of eight planned appearances this season (he returns next week for anniversary show) hosting Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians, Dorothy Collins., stars of “Hogan's Heroes,” Blinko the clown, Landon's Midgets, puppeteer Andre Tahon and 7-year old Harry Lillis Crosby III in his professional singing debut.”
(Independent Press-Telegram, December 25, 1965)

No. 122 1st January 1966 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour) (a)

With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, Donna Butterworth, Bob Newhart, Sonny & Cher, David Nelson and the Flying Artons, Marilyn Maye, Ben Blue and Danny Thomas.

*This Could Be The Start Of Something Big

Danny Thomas spot with Bing

 The Flying Artons (trapeze artists including David Nelson)

  Victor Borge clip

Misty Marilyn Maye

Bob Newhart spot

Swanee  Donna Butterworth

Waiting For The Robert E. Lee Donna Butterworth

*My Little Grass Shack In Kealakekua, Hawaii with Donna Butterworth

Ben Blue (pantominist)

  What Now My Love Sonny & Cher

*Have You Made Your Resolutions? with Sonny & Cher

  Clips from earlier shows when things went wrong

  Sam Yorty, Mayor of Los Angeles presents a citation

*High Hopes

Note:

(a) Recorded December 20, 1965.

“Holiday man Bing Crosby hosts the show again. Listening with awe and wonder as Sonny and Cher drive the kids crazy with their renditions of songs. Plainly, Bing feels more at home with monologist Bob Newhart, who shares comedy honors with Oldster Ben Blue’s familiar pantomime bit and French pantomimist Yonal. Eight year old singer Donna Butterworth completes the variety bill.”

(Quad-City Times, January 1, 1966)

No. 123 13th January 1966 - ‘Telescope - Call Him Lucky’ (CBC Canada) (a)

Profile. Includes interview with Fletcher Markle.

Note:

(a) Recorded October 1965.

"Canada likes Bing Crosby, Fletcher Markle likes Bing Crosby and Bing Crosby likes Fletcher Markle and Canada, so it was a cheery half hour with Bing and Fletcher chatting companionably about nothing in particular. With no one out to rock the boat, it was certainly no Mike Wallace interview, but it was a remarkably agreeable way I found, to get from 9:30 to 10.00."
(Frank Penn, The Ottawa Citizen, January 14, 1966)

No. 124 6th February 1966 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC) (Colour)

Fishing for marlin in Mexico with Joe Brooks.

In the Bay of California, between the Baja California Peninsular and the mainland of Mexico, Crosby and Brooks will fish for striped Marlin, a spectacular fish that can weigh up to 500 pounds and take leaps across the water at speeds approaching 15 knots.

The fishing adventure from Crosby’s 26ft. boat, the Maria Francesca, will take place in waters known as the Bay of Cortez. The remote bay is surrounded by barren, forbidding country and all modern conveniences and equipment must be flown in from hundreds of miles.

ABC color cameras will record the singer’s battle with the powerful marlin and also capture in slow motion the Marlin’s bursting leaps as it runs the line of the fisherman’s 12 pound test leader.

(Longville News-Journal, February 6, 1966)

No. 125 19th February 1966 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour)

With The Hugh Lambert Dancers, Roger Ray, The Fiji Island Band, Henny Youngman, Gary Crosby, Edgar Bergen and Rosemary Clooney.

*Just The Way You Are (a)

Hugh Lambert Dancers

Henny Youngman spot

Who Can I Turn To? Gary Crosby

  Find the Lemon skit                                                                                        Gary Ctosby & Henny Youngman
Senikau-ni Bula  The Fiji Island Band

Krisimasi The Fiji Island Band

  Roger Ray (comedy xylophonist)

  Edgar Bergen  & Charlie McCarthy act

Blues Medley: (b) Rosemary Clooney

I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues

You Don’t Know About Misery

Mood Indigo

Medley: with Rosemary Clooney

*Hear That Band

*The Daughter Of Molly Malone

*Poor People Of Paris

*New Vienna Woods

*Hear That Band (Reprise)                                                                               with entire cast

Notes:

(a) Arrangement includes a snatch of ‘Stay As Sweet As You Are’.

(b) The medley is introduced and closed with a few lines on the subject of ‘torch songs’ – perhaps parodied or possibly especially written for the occasion.

“A good night for the middle-aged set with host Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Edgar Bergen and Henny Youngman on tap. Rounding out the bill are the Hugh Lambert Dancers, Roger Ray who practically destroys the xylophone and the Fiji Island Band.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 19th February 1966)

No. 126 26th March 1966 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour)

With Cully Richards, The Harris Nelson Family, David Frost, Nanette Fabray, Jackie Mason and Tammy Grimes.

*When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along

American Patrol Nanette Fabray

  David Frost spot

Cully Richards (comedy sorcery act)

  Feelin' Good Tammy Grimes

*Typically English with Tammy Grimes

  Medley of various tunes                                                                                      The Harris Nelson Family  (comedy band)                                                                              

*The Men In My Little Girl’s Life

  Jackie Mason spot

Medley: with Nanette Fabray

*If You Wanna Learn Your History

*B-U-Ug

*Greensleeves

*English Country Garden

*Quartet from ‘Rigoletto’ (Parody)

*Tell Me Pretty Maiden

*Indian Love Call

*Baby, It’s Cold Outside

*B-U-Ug (Reprise)

“Host, Bing Crosby and guests, Tammy Grimes and Nanette Fabray spend most of the hour, singing tunes. In addition Miss Fabray is tap-dancing again: Britain’s David Frost and Jackie Mason deliver soft quiet-type comedy monologues and the vaudeville acts feature a tumbling group and pantomimist Cully Richards.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 26th March 1966)

“If ‘Batman’ succeeds by being very bad, ‘Hollywood Palace’ scores by being very good. Last Saturday (26th), with Bing Crosby as emcee, viewers were treated to another potpourri of talent, with Jackie Mason, Tammy Grimes, Nanette Fabray and David Frost among the ingredients of this sumptuous video dish. . . Miss Fabray closed the session as Crosby joined in a humorous duet tracing the development of music from the cave man of prehistoric times to the ‘cave man’ of today. . . Host, Crosby, offered his rendition of the current hit, ‘The Men In My Little Girl’s Life’ which is part soliloquy. But singing rather than saying songs is his forte, as he demonstrated in the opener, ‘When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along’.”

(‘Variety’ 30th March 1966)

No. 127 27th March 1966 -’Timmy’s Easter Parade Of Stars’ (Canada) (aka ‘The Easter Seal Show’) (a)

Guest appearance. With Orchestra conducted by Lucio Agostini, The Art Hallman Singers, Robbie Lane and the Disciples, Juliette and Kathryn Crosby.

*When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along

More Juliette

*Easter Parade (Parody) with Juliette

*Swinging On A Star with "Timmy" & chorus

*The Men In My Little Girl’s Life

Note:

(a) Recorded 7th March 1966 before an audience of 1,200 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto, Canada. The show is one of Canada’s biggest show business charity shows and it aids Canada’s handicapped children.

“… The television show was taped on the following evening and what a wonderful experience it was. My daughter, Diane, who also admires Bing very much, accompanied me to the show and we were delighted to find that our seats were in the twelfth row, on the side of the theatre from which Bing was working. What a wonderful thrill as the curtain went up to the strains of the Lucio Agostini orchestra playing the ever-beautiful “Blue of the Night”—and Bing appeared on stage. It seemed just incredible that we were actually sitting there watching the great Mr. Crosby in person!

As the show was being taped, it was a start and stop affair. This made it all the more interesting for, between numbers when the tape was stopped, Bing was on stage, talking casually to the audience, the technicians, the performers, and lending a hand whenever he saw the need. We were particularly impressed by his never-failing patience, friendliness and good humour throughout the entire show.

We had been told that it was Bing’s friend, Mr. Max Bell, who had invited and “coaxed” Bing to come to Toronto to do this show. But it was obvious from Bing’s own remarks that he had been very happy to come as he said he wanted to express to Canada his gratitude for many good times he has spent in various parts of the country hunting and fishing and making good friends. What nicer way than to give so freely of his time and talents for such a worthy cause.

Bing opened the show with his own terrific version of “Red Red Robin”, and the show was off to a happy start, most of the performers on the show were Canadian, which, Bing said, was “as it should be,” but besides emceeing the show, Bing managed to get in four songs, each of which had its own specia1appeal, and all were well-chosen to fit the occasion.

At one point in the show, Bing had a chat with “Timmy” who asked Bing if he would have time to meet some of his little crippled friends. Bing said he most certainly would and then did a very appealing version of “Swinging on a Star” with Timmy and his friends. Bing is always so good with children. You can just imagine the scene as Bing looked round at each of the children and smiled saying: “Well, this is the biggest group I’ve worked with since I sang with the Fred Waring Pennsylvanians.”

Just about the happiest moment in the show came when Bing introduced “A young lady who’s very special to me—because she keeps my sons out of my golfing equipment, fishing tackle and shot guns—my wife Kathryn” It had been Bing’s idea to bring Kathryn along to appear on the show and her appearance just made it complete. The audience was clearly delighted to see her. Kathryn came on stage smiling. She is very sweet and friendly, and looked so beautiful in a pink fur-trimmed gown, with a short full skirt, and very stylish white lace hose.

Kathryn talked to Bing and the audience about the Easter Seal campaign and the excellent work which is done through donations received. But after a few short minutes, Bing said: “That was very well said, Kathryn,—and now I am going to excuse you.” “Already?” she exclaimed, smiling—“I was just going to sing!” “Well,” said Bing, “I’m about to introduce a lovely lady and I don’t want to see my wife crying in public.” “I never cry darling,” said Kathryn “but I’ll be in the wings, waiting— and watching,” and kissed him on the cheek. As she left the stage, Bing called out: “Where’d you get the socks?” “From when I was a nurse,” Kathryn called back. Bing then introduced Toronto’s own Juliette—my favourite female vocalist if I may say so here. Glamorous Juliette has been charming her fellow Canadians with her lovely songs and warm personality on her own weekly show for many years and it was a real treat to see my two favourites together. Juliette expressed her genuine pleasure at meeting Bing. “You know,” she said, “Like every other female vocalist, I’ve often wondered if I would ever have a chance to stand right beside you and sing a duet with you.” “I thought you’d never ask me,” said Bing, as the orchestra struck up “Easter Parade”. This produced one of the most delightful moments in the show. The words of the song had been changed slightly to fit the occasion—and this must have been somewhat confusing, though Bing wasn’t using the cue card. But in the second chorus, when he was supposed to sing “I’ll be all in clover”, the words eluded Bing and unable to pick up the place on the cue card, he came in, like the pro that he is, in perfect tune and time, with the surprising words—“I can ‘t see the next line.” Juliette, quite a pro herself, quickly filled him in and not a note was missed. A most delightful duet, with a special added dash of true Crosbyanna.

Something very amusing happened as Bing was about to do his closing song. The orchestra went into the introduction too soon and Bing didn’t quite make it to centre stage on time. “You’d better give me that intro again, Lucio,” called Bing. The orchestra, hidden behind the curtains for this number, must have been completely thrown. All was silent for so long that Bing finally walked over and put his ear to the curtain, calling out “Hello-o-o there. Is anybody there?” And then to the audience: “I think they’ve all gone home.” But soon the orchestra started the song again and Bing, seated on a stool, alone in the spotlight at centre stage, closed the show with his own unforgettable version of “The Men in My little Girl’s Life”. /Bing does this song so well that it is really regrettable that he has not made a recording of it for general release.

At the end of the show, all the performers came on stage. Timmy presented Kathryn with a huge bouquet of red roses and it was a very touching moment as she bent down to kiss him on the cheek.

When the curtain went down, Bing came out front and thanked the audience for “helping us to put this show together,” said once again how happy he was to have been able to do it and with a smile and a wave, a “Goodnight and God Bless you”, was gone.”

(Lillian Potter, writing in BINGANG magazine, December 1966)

“Bing was in Toronto last week for the video-taping of the Timmy Easter Seal Show. The cast and crew at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Canadian National Exhibition, were captivated by the Crosby personality. Despite his genuine modest manner, it was evident to everyone that we were in the presence of an incomparable performer.

During the rehearsals for the CTV program he sang with the ease that others have emulated through the years; his voice was never more mellow. His opening selection, “When the Red, Red, Robin Comes Bobbin’ Along”, he handled in his delightful breezy manner. “Easter Parade” offered Juliette the opportunity to duet with Mr. C. The crippled children joined the Oscar winning star to recall from ‘Going My Way’, the Academy Award winner, “Swinging On A Star.” But, his most impressive performance was a tender interpretation of the current hit, “The Men In My Little Girl’s Life.”

The ease with which he emcecd the show was infectious. The variety bill included: Jackie Vernon (who was appearing at the RoyalYork), Gord Lightfoot, The Brian Brown Trio, Robbie Laine and Juliette. Alex Barris, the popular Toronto columnist and TV personality, wrote a solid script—with Crosby jargon much in evidence.

When I first heard that Bing would host the big Easter show, I sent him a note telling him where I could be reached in Toronto. It was a real treat to receive a phone call from him, shortly after his arrival—I doubt if my mother-in-law will use her phone for a long time. We had several opportunities to talk to Bing throughout the day and early evening. During the breaks in the rehearsal he sat in the near - empty theatre with Alex, my wife and I. In the mid-afternoon we were joined by his wife Kathy, who also made an appearance on the program. Mrs. Crosby is not only very pretty, but also a very pleasant person.”

(Gord Atkinson, The Ottawa Citizen, 19th March 1966)

No. 128 20th April 1966 - ‘The Road To Lebanon’ (A Danny Thomas Special) (NBC) (Colour) (a)

Guest appearance. Directed by Alan Handley. With Harper MacKay and his Orchestra, Hugh Downs, Claudine Auger, Sheldon Leonard and Bob Hope.

*The Road To Lebanon

*White Christmas (b)

Oh, Moon Danny Thomas

*Together Wherever We Go with Danny Thomas

Cool Water (c) Danny Thomas

*I Enjoy Being A Girl (Parody) with Claudine Auger

*The Road To Lebanon (Reprise) with Danny Thomas & Claudine Auger

Notes:

(a) A video version of the programme was issued on Video Yesteryear No. 230 -‘The Road To Lebanon’

A poor quality black & white version was also issued on Elstree Hill Entertainment 730009-3 as part of the 3-DVD box set ‘The Bob Hope Collection’

(b) Brief snatches only.

(c) A snatch only, a cappella.

“Danny, Bing Crosby and Claudine Auger (of ‘Thunderball’ fame) star in this spoof of Crosby and Hope’s ‘Road’ pictures. In an interview on the ‘Today Show’, Bing tells host, Hugh Downs, that he doesn’t want Hope as his co-star in ‘The Road To Lebanon’. ‘Danny Thomas would be perfect’, says Crosby. ‘He’s younger, fresher and Lebanese’. So, Crosby heads for Lebanon to sign Danny.”

(‘TV Guide’ 20th April 1966)

“Fashioned on the old ‘Road’ features that Bob Hope and Bing Crosby used to make, and aping the style as it parodied the situations, this Garry Marshall – Jerry Belson script had Thomas visiting his ancestral homeland to judge the Miss Lebanon beauty contest and being pursued first by Crosby who wanted to team up with him and slough off Hope as a partner, and second by the son of a Lebanese sheik who was to exact punishment for a tribal sin committed by one of Thomas’ forebears – getting a nose job. The wellspring of much of the hour’s comedy was that the ‘son’ was really a daughter, played by Claudine Auger who was everything her role demanded – sexy. . . .The scripters managed to pave some openings along the way for a couple of songs by Crosby and a singleton by Thomas. . . . Producers Alan Handley and Bob Wynn kept production values high throughout, and Handley’s direction was slick and strictly big time.”

(‘Variety’ 27th April 1966)

No. 129 1st May 1966 - ’The Magic Of Broadcasting’ (CBS) (Colour) (a)

Directed by Ben Hill. With John Scott Trotter, Sheldon Leonard, Diane Sherry, Kerry McLane, Rod Serling, Arthur Godfrey and Lucille Ball.

*Love Is Just Around The Corner

*Pennies From Heaven

*I’ve Got A Pocketful Of Dreams

*Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie with Diane Sherry & Kerry McLane

*Blue Skies

*Swinging On A Star with Diane Sherry & Kerry McLane

Note:

(a) Bing was co-host for the show with Arthur Godfrey and Lucille Ball introducing film clips. His contribution to the programme was taped on 17th February 1966 at the Desilu Studios.

“Arthur Godfrey is host for a nostalgic review of the great stars and favourite programs of radio and television history. Joining him are Bing Crosby, who uses an ancient Atwater Kent radio to acquaint two youngsters with musical stars of the past, including Al Jolson, Ben Bernie, Helen Morgan and Arthur Tracy; Lucille Ball, seen at rehearsals for her TV show with series co-star Gale Gordon (radio’s first Flash Gordon); Sheldon Leonard, TV producer of such series as ‘I Spy’ and ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’; writer Rod Serling, who discusses the live dramas of television’s ‘Golden Age’ and bandleader, John Scott Trotter, who reviews the big bands of yesteryear. Films, stills and transcripts include ‘Amos ‘n’ Andy’; Fanny Brice; Rudy Vallee; Milton Berle; ‘Fibber McGee and Molly’ and Fred Allen.”

(‘TV Guide’ 20th April 1966)

“If there was anything this star-studded botch lacked, it was any kind of ‘magic’. In the scan of broadcasting from early radio days to TV present, the show fell into almost total disarray in striving to cover too much. The historic segments, a hodge-podge of clips, stills and sounds came off as a meaningless recitation. The viewer kept waiting for a spark in the debris which would give the feel of the medium’s past. Nothing happened.

It was as though reels from another special were unspooling in a reprise of a day in the life of producer, Sheldon Leonard and Lucille Ball at work on the set. And Bing Crosby’s inane bit at opening with two kids in a record shop seemed more like a gimmick out of the past than the historic footage.

The first mistake in this Lee Mendelson production may well have been putting it in color. The switches from tint to b & w to sepia and yellow-tinted b & w was the crowning touch to the mishmash of the whole.”

(‘Variety’ 4th May 1966)

No. 130 21st May 1966 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour)

With The King Family, The Mecners, Pat Daly & Bill Wayne, Mac Ronay, Leslie Uggams, Shelley Berman and Johnny Mercer.

*This Is One Of Those Songs (a)

The Mecners (acrobats)

Shelley Berman spot

*From Monday On with Johnny Mercer

Medley:

*Three Little Words

Too Marvellous For Words Johnny Mercer

*Witchcraft

That Old Black Magic Johnny Mercer

*Chattanooga Choo Choo

On The Atcheson, Topeka & The Santa Fe Johnny Mercer

*A Shine On Your Shoes

Come Rain Or Come Shine Johnny Mercer

*Three O’clock In The Morning

One For My Baby Johnny Mercer

*Yes, We Have No Bananas

Tangerine Johnny Mercer

*Lazy River

Lazy Bones / Moon River Johnny Mercer

*Manãna

Blues In The Night (Parody) Johnny Mercer

*Winter Wonderland

In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening Johnny Mercer

*Take Me Out To The Ball Game

And The Angels Sing Johnny Mercer

*Love Me Or Leave Me

Autumn Leaves Johnny Mercer

*Russian Lullaby

Fools Rush In Johnny Mercer

*Manhattan

I’m Old Fashioned Johnny Mercer

*The Night They Invented Champagne

Days Of Wine And Roses Johnny Mercer

*Shoo-Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy

Dream Johnny Mercer

*Miss America

Goody Goody (Parody) Johnny Mercer

*What A Difference A Day Made

Day In, Day Out Johnny Mercer

*New York, New York

Hooray For Hollywood Johnny Mercer

*Margie

Laura Johnny Mercer

*Diga Diga Doo

*Something’s Gotta Give with Johnny Mercer

  Mac Ronay (French mime-magician)

  What Did I Have That I Don't Have? Leslie Uggams

Inka-Dinka-Doo Leslie Uggams
  Red River Valley                                                                                             The King Cousins
  Yesterday                                                                                                         The King Sisters
  What The World Needs Now                                                                           The King Family
*Young At Heart with The King Family

*You Make Me Feel So Young with The King Family

“Except for comic, Shelley Berman at the telephone, this is mostly a singing show with Bing Crosby as its host. Bing joins songwriter, Johnny Mercer for a medley and manages to merge with the huge King Family for a few tunes at the end. Leslie Uggams rounds out the vocal list with numbers like ‘Inka Dinka Doo’ and vaudeville acts including a trio of sway poles, two British comics and a glass tumbler juggler round out the bill.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 21st May 1966)

“With Bing Crosby as host, Saturday’s (21st) ‘Hollywood Palace’ was another well-blended hour of mirth and melody. Whether in a solo of ‘One Of Those Songs’ or, joined by the King Family, the crooner sang in pleasant low-key manner that has kept his popularity constant for what seems like generations. Old buddy, Johnny Mercer was on hand for a humorous duet with Bing which in medley fashion ran down the list of Mercer hit favourites through the years. . .”

(‘Variety’ 25th May 1966)

Note:

(a) This item was shown on ‘The Best Of The Hollywood Palace’, hosted by Susanne Summers, on ABC-TV in 1993.

No. 131 6th June 1966 - ‘Kaleidoscope’ Channel 9 (KQED San Francisco)

Interviewed by Jim Day on this local PBS station. (a)

Note:

(a) An extract from the interview may serve to illustrate Bing’s philosophy of life in his later years.

J.D: ‘You say that more recently you've come to think that your mother was right about her prayers. What's happened more recently that's caused you to think that luck is a little less important?’
Bing: ‘Well mebbe I've become a little closer to religion. And thinking it over, and the way things go, you become convinced that there is a Divine Providence that looks after you. I don't suppose the Good Lord was looking after me whether or not I recorded this or recorded that. But you have to feel that some influence other than something worldly was working. My mother was such a wonderful woman and she did so many good things and such good work and she wanted success and happiness for me so maybe the Lord, to make her happy, had good things happen to me.’
J.D: ‘Why have you been brought closer to religion in recent years?’
Bing: ‘Well I can't account for it, except as you get older, you seek the solace of religion. I always was a pretty good Catholic. I had lots of transgressions for which I was properly sorry but in our church, if you're penitent, you're still in the fold. But as you get older, Jim, as you know - you're just a young fellow - but you'll come to it later in life - you'll become sere and yellow like me, that religion is a great solace and a great refuge and a great comfort.’
J.D.: ‘How long do you intend to continue singing?’
Bing: ‘Not much longer!’
J.D.: ‘Why not?’
Bing: ‘Oh, it doesn't sound so good anymore. I make a record now and the disc comes back to me a few days later. I play it at home and I play it about half through and I take it off. It sounds too bad.’

No. 132 9th June 1966 - ‘Across The Seven Seas - Private Plane Paradise’ (Colour)

Guest appearance. Bing escorts viewers around his home in Las Cruces, Baja California, Mexico.

Note:

(a) A video version was included on ‘Around the World In Technicolor’ distributed by LS Video Inc.

No. 133 17th September 1966 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour)

Produced by William O. Harbach. Directed by Grey Lockwood. With The Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, Mac Ronay, The Rhodins, The Mamas & the Papas, Lola Falana, Jane Marsh, Joyce Jameson, Sid Caesar and George Burns.

*Strike Up The Band (a)

The Rhodins (trapeze act)

Promise Me Anything Lola Falana

You’ll Never Have To Go To Bed At All George Burns

*You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You (a) with George Burns

Mimi’s Aria (Puccini) Jane Marsh

Mac Ronay (French mime-magician)

Dancing Bear The Mamas & The Papas

Dancing In The Street The Mamas & The Papas

 Sketch (A Star Comes to Suburbia) Sid Caesar, Mickey Deems & Joyce Jameson (and Bing)

Note:

(a) An abridged video version of these items was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978.

(b)           Recorded July 29, 1966.

“New season. Bing Crosby returns to host the season’s premiere, sing with George Burns and act in a comedy sketch with Sid Caesar and Joyce Jameson about a harassed husband in a split-level house. Burns brags about his talents as a vocalist. Crosby introduces opera soprano, Jane Marsh, recent winner of the Tchaikovsky contest in Moscow, for an aria from ‘La Boheme’ and variety novelties like the Mamas and the Papas, a French pantomimist, a trapeze act and dancer-singer, Lola Falana.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 17th September 1966)

“‘Hollywood Palace’ is basking in its reputation as one of the better produced variety shows. Nick Vanoff and Bill Harbach seem to be able to extract a maximum from each act and a distinguished emcee gives gloss to the show and provides the acts with an excellent setting.

In its premiere for the new season, Bing Crosby paced the proceedings, imparting his own brand of affability and easy-going charm. Crosby contributed as a singer, comedian and conferencier and rated high in each sector. As far as additional name value, the show had its share. Sid Caesar, in a slimmer package, looked like his old self. . . his skit with Joyce Jameson, portraying suburbanites whose home Crosby visited, had the air of exaggerated truth. It had funny moments and excellent execution.”

(‘Variety’ 21st September 1966)

No. 134 30th October 1966 - ‘The Andy Williams Show’ (NBC) (Colour) (a)

Guest appearance. With The Young Americans, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Kate Smith and the Allyn Ferguson Orchestra.

Moon River Andy Williams
*Where The Blue of the Night
Sixteen Tons  Tennessee Ernie Ford
When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain Kate Smith

I’ve Got You Under My Skin  Andy Williams
Sixteen Tons  Tennessee Ernie Ford
(I’m A) Natural Man Tennessee Ernie Ford

Medley: Tennessee Ernie Ford & Andy Williams

May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose
Your Cheatin’ Heart

Medley: The Young Americans

Seventy-Six Trombones
A Spoonful Of Sugar
Once Upon A Time
Back In The Old Routine
I’ve Been Breakin’ Rocks On A Chain Gang
Single Minute Waltz
A Home In The Meadow
I Fell In Love
I Wanna Be Loved By You
Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue

Medley: (b) with Andy Williams

*In A Little Spanish Town (c)

*Don’t Fence Me In

*I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande)

*In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening

*Swinging On A Star (d)

*When You And I Were Young Maggie Blues (e)

Who Can I Turn To? Kate Smith

Medley:

Back In Your Old Backyard Andy Williams & Kate Smith

‘Way Back Home Andy Williams & Kate Smith

Carolina In The Morning  Andy Williams & Kate Smith

(Back Home Again In) Indiana Andy Williams & Kate Smith

*Home On The Range (f)

I Know A Place Kate Smith

Chicago  Andy Williams

I Left My Heart In San Francisco Kate Smith

Home Sweet Home Andy Williams & Kate Smith

Finale

Right Here In The USA  Kate Smith, Andy Williams & The Young Americans

This Land Is Your Land  Tennessee Ernie Ford
*Yankee Doodle Dandy                                                                                       with Tennessee Ernie Ford    
   Dixie                                                                                                                Andy Williams

*This Land Is Your Land with Tennessee Ernie Ford & Andy Williams
*God Bless America with Kate Smith, Andy Williams, Tennessee Ernie Ford & The Young Americans

The Impossible Dream Andy Williams

May Each Day Andy Williams

Notes:

(a) Recorded July 1966. The programme commenced with the four main participants singing snatches of their own theme songs, in an opening very similar to the opening of ‘The Big Broadcast’ in 1932.

(b) All but the opening song of the medley was included in “Duets: The Andy Williams Show” broadcast by BBC 4 on October 9, 2009.

(c) A video version of this item was issued on SMV Enterprises 201/042 - ‘The Best Of The Andy Williams Show’.

(d) The item was shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204).

(e) Included as an extra on the Infinity Entertainment Group DVD “The Legendary Bing Crosby” (No.IEG2204).

(f) Sung by Bing and lip synched by Andy Williams.

The Andy Williams Show did all the right things with guest stars Bing Crosby, Kate Smith and Tennessee Ernie Ford last night. The hour was considerably better than "special" in the TV programming sense. Most of the TV variety hours, of course, are suffering in the ratings because of the movie competition.
(New York Post, October 31, 1966)

I cite for example, “The Andy Williams Show.” especially this week’s hour which should have been irresistible to every “old square" in the country. Indeed, anybody who didn't enjoy thus particular program probably should be investigated for un-American tendencies.
Andy brought on Bing Crosby, Kate Smith, Tennessee Ernie Ford and the Young Americans for a smooth, easy-going hour of old-fashioned musical Americana. It was one of the most entertaining programs of any kind that I’ve seen this season.

With all the tonsilpower available, it’s no wonder the emphasis was on music though Bing did come through with a couple of funny anecdotes at the expense of Bob Hope – a fair turn about since it’s usually the other way around.

Andy modestly cast himself in the role of harmonizer and worked with each guest to excellent effect. His medley of duets with Crosby was particularly winning.

(Jerry Coffey, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, November 1, 1966)

Although I had some of the biggest stars in show business as guests over the years, one of the greatest thrills was when my childhood hero, Bing Crosby, agreed to be on the show. I hadn’t seen Bing in almost twenty years, not since my brothers and I had made “Swinging on a Star” with him, but he had sent me a gracious letter when I recorded “Hawaiian Wedding Song,” telling me how much he liked it. He loved Hawaiian music and had recorded many songs, including “Ke Kali Nei Au,” the original lyrics for “Hawaiian Wedding Song.” Of course, I was thrilled to get that acknowledgment.

He was a guest on the show two or three times, including an appearance during my first season. When he stopped by my dressing room to say hello, he was wearing his trademark hat, smoking his pipe, and wearing an old cardigan. At one time I’m sure it had been a very lovely cashmere sweater—it was obviously one of his favorites—but now it had a hole in the sleeve at the elbow and looked a little weary all over.

Bing reminded me of my dad, who got so attached to his favorite jackets or sweaters that he would wear them forever. I can remember my mom despairing of ever smartening him up and once going as far as throwing his current holed and threadbare favorite sweater away. Five minutes later, as my mom settled down in an armchair with a magazine, my dad tiptoed out the back door, retrieved the sweater from the trash can, and was wearing it when we all sat down to supper that night. Mom looked up, gave an exasperated sigh, and said, “All right, Jay, you win, but at least let me darn the holes.” He kept wearing it for a few more years until finally it was so shabby that even Dad had to concede its days were over.

Bing’s cardigan wasn’t quite in that state, but it had certainly seen better days. I don’t know whether wearing his favorite old clothes relaxed him, but he was certainly in a mellow mood that day. Friends had warned me that Bing was quite a “buttoned-up” sort of person, but to my surprise he really seemed to relax and open up while we were sitting around chatting in my dressing room. He started telling me about his early days as one of seven kids growing up in Spokane, Washington. He had been christened Harry but was renamed after The Bingville Bugle, a parody of a hillbilly newspaper that started appearing in his local paper. According to Bing it was a very funny spoof, and he and his friends were forever quoting it to one another. As a result, his friends began calling him Bing from Bingville, and the name eventually stuck.

When he grew up, he went to college, intending to be a lawyer, but two things changed his life. The first was when he went to see Al Jolson perform at a local theater and was so blown away by the experience that he never forgot it. Forty years later, as we chatted in that Burbank studio, he was still in awe of that performance by Jolson, calling him “the greatest entertainer I ever saw.” The other key event was when he sent away for a set of drums on mail order, taught himself to play, and then began playing and singing with a local band. “I made so much money doing that,” Bing told me, “that I thought, Why would I want to be a lawyer when I can make more money and have a lot more fun doing this?”

I really felt I’d seen at least a glimpse of the real Bing Crosby that day, even if only for those few minutes, before a couple of network executives arrived, and Bing slipped back into his normal role; like so many big stars he had developed an affable but rather distant public manner, one that kept all but the most persistent Bing worshipers at arm’s length.

When we recorded the show, I was as excited as a kid in a candy store to be sitting on a stool alongside Bing and singing a medley of duets with him. We even sang “Swinging on a Star,” just like the Williams Brothers had done with him all those years before. I was a reasonably well-known performer by then, but Bing was in an entirely different league—the first and greatest singing star of the modern era and the man who paved the way for all the singers, like me, who followed him. I found it both humbling and hugely exciting to be sharing a stage with him, listening to that wonderful relaxed delivery and that still silky smooth and beautiful voice.

(Andy Williams, writing in Moon River and Me, pages 141-143)

No. 135 16th November 1966 - ‘The Bob Hope Chrysler Comedy Special’ (NBC) (Colour) (a)

Guest appearance. The show was subtitled ‘Bing & Me’. With Les Brown and his Band of Renown, Bach-Yen (‘Miss Vietnam’) and Bob Hope.

Medley:

*Pennies From Heaven

*The Second Time Around

*In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening

*A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody (b)

*‘A Day At The Races’ Sketch with Bob Hope

*Typically English with Bob Hope

*‘Fantastic Voyage’ Sketch with Bob Hope

*White Christmas (b)

Notes:

(a) A video version of the show containing everything except Bing’s songs was issued by Respond2 Entertainment (#6001) as ‘Bob Hope’s Comedy Collection 1966’. The entire show was issued on DVD in 2010 by Bobontv.com, their reference number 111666.

(b) Snatches only of these items.

“Time has not withered the charm of the pairing of Bob Hope and Bing Crosby and as a result this show was an unalloyed delight. . . There were two major sketches on the show, both of them excellent. The first was a wacky skit with Hope as a rich Texan and Crosby as a snooty Englishman, both of them with horses in a race. The two began by betting their vast holdings against one another in the race and the scene ended in a comically bizarre courtroom scene. In the other big sketch - a comic takeoff on ‘The Fantastic Voyage’ - Hope and Crosby were miniaturized to delve into Jackie Gleason’s stomach to remove an impacted shot glass. The gastric interior set was superb and the pair utilized the gag potential of the situation to the hilt.

As a closer, Hope and Crosby paraded an octet of up-and-coming film starlets across the stage with a brief stop at the microphone. They were all pretty, but were generally at a loss as straight-women to the stars’ razor-sharp gagology.”

(‘Variety’ 23rd November 1966)

No. 136 26th November 1966 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour) (a)

With Bill Dana, Tagora, The Gimma Brothers, Liliane Montevecchi, Vikki Carr, Sid Caesar and Dorothy Lamour.

*Mame (b)

The Gimma Brothers (comedy acrobat act)

Bye, Bye, Blackbird Vikki Carr

Cuando Caliente El Sol Vikki Carr

*Comedy routine (c) with Bill Dana

All Of You Dorothy Lamour

Medley: with Dorothy Lamour

*Road To Morocco (Parody)

*Moonlight Becomes You

*You Don’t Have To Know The Language

The Moon Of Manakoora Dorothy Lamour

*But Beautiful

*Apalachicola FLA.

*Sunday, Monday Or Always

*Road To Morocco

Tagora (fire-eater)

   I Wanna Be Loved By You Liliane Montevecchi

   Sid Caesar (Fools Profile sketch) (assisted by Dorothy Lamour)

  *Sunrise, Sunset (d)

Notes:

(a) Taped August 3. The entire show was issued on video by Nostalgia Family Video.

(b) An audio version was issued on Limited Edition Club LP JGB1007 - ‘B.C. - T.V. (Bing On The Box)’ (Shown as ‘Name’)

(c) Bing joins Bill Dana during his spot as ‘Jose Jimenez’ and indulges in some comedy dialogue with him.

(d) An audio version was issued on Crosbyana Collector’s Library EP CCL-1 - ‘Bing And Phillip Crosby Sing Thanks and Other Hits’.

“Bing Crosby hosts “Hollywood Palace” and teams up with singer – actress Dorothy Lamour for the first time since the old Crosby – Bob Hope – Lamour “road” pictures. Other entertainers are comedians Sid Caesar and Bill Dana, singer Vikki Carr, singer – dancer Liliane Montevecchi, fire-eater Tagora and the tumbling Gimma Brothers.”

(Tulare Advance-Register, November 26, 1966)

No. 137 24th December 1966 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour) (a)

Produced by William O. Harbach. Directed by Grey Lockwood. With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, Murillo, Rene and his Puppets, Excess Baggage, The Kuban Cossacks, Bob Newhart, Cyd Charisse, Roy Fitzell, Kate Smith and Kathryn, Harry, Mary Frances and Nathaniel Crosby.

*The Christmas Waltz (b) with Chorus

The Kuban Cossacks

Bob Newhart spot

Christmas Eve In My Home Town Kate Smith

Medley:

*The Way To Get Ready For Winter with Kate Smith

*Jingle Bells with Kate Smith

*Sleigh Ride with Kate Smith

*Winter Wonderland with Kate Smith

Excess Baggage (dog act)

Murillo (highwire act)

  The Legend Of Pierrot And Pierrette danced by Cyd Charisse and Roy Fitzell

Waltz of the Flowers (Tchaikovsky) Rene and his Puppets     

Medley:

*Silver Bells (d) with Harry, Mary Frances & Nathaniel Crosby

Silent Night Mary Frances Crosby

*Do You Hear What I Hear? } (e) (h) with Kathryn, Harry, Mary Frances & Nathaniel Crosby

Little Drummer Boy } Kathryn Crosby

*What Do You Want For Christmas? (d) (h) with Kathryn, Harry, Mary Frances & Nathaniel Crosby

*The Twelve Days Of Christmas (f) (h) with Kathryn, Harry, Mary Frances & Nathaniel Crosby

O Come Little Children Harry Crosby

Never Never Land Kathryn Crosby

*Silver Bells (Reprise) with Kathryn Crosby

*White Christmas (g) with Chorus

Notes:

(a) A video version was issued on Amvest Video VHS-CVS-1002 -’Christmas With Bing Crosby & Kate Smith Live at the Hollywood Palace’.

A video version showing Bing introducing his family was included in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991.

(b) Arrangement includes a fragment of ‘Happy Holiday’. 

An abridged video version of this item was included in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991. A version was also included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video.

(c) These two items were incidental accompaniment to dances by, respectively, Cyd Charisse & Roy Fitzell and Rene and his Puppets.

(d) A video version of these items was included in the CBS special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978.

Video versions also appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

A brief extract was also seen in the Channel 4 TV presentation ‘Top Ten Christmas’ shown in the UK on 24th December 1999.

(e) Sung contrapuntally with Kathryn Crosby’s version of ‘Little Drummer Boy’.

(f) A video version of this item was included in the CBS-TV special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978.

(g) An abridged video version appeared in the CBS-TV special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978.

A similarly abridged video version was also included in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991.

Abridged versions also appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

An extract was included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video.

An edited version was used in Nick & Jessica’s Family Christmas shown on ABC-TV on December 1, 2004 with Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey singing along with Bing.

(h) Video versions of these items were included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video.

“It wouldn’t be a Hollywood Christmas without Bing Crosby singing his ‘Happy Holiday’ and ‘White Christmas. In fact, the whole family including the tiny ones, is on hand for carols and holiday songs, reinforced by Kate Smith with a collection of winter melodies. Bob Newhart’s monologue deals with a man returning a gift toupee to a department store, lovely Cyd Charisse and her partner perform a puppet dance and dog acts, Cossacks and puppets complete the vaudeville bill.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 24th December 1966)

No. 138 31st December 1966 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour)

Produced by William O. Harbach. With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, Skitch Henderson, The Mills Brothers, Dorothy Collins, The Volentes, Johnny Puleo & Harmonica Gang, Szony and Claire, Burns and Schreiber and Charles Aznavour.

*Cabaret
The Volentes (trick cyclists)

  It’s A New Dawn, It’s A New Day Dorothy Collins

Medley (a) Johnny Puleo & Harmonica Gang

Don’t Blame Me The Mills Brothers
*Paper Doll (b) with The Mills Brothers

Szony and Claire (dance team)

Le Temps Charles Aznavour

Yesterday, When I Was Young Charles Aznavour

Burns and Schreiber (comedy act)

  Lover Skitch Henderson (piano) with Orchestra

Medley: (with Skitch Henderson on piano)
*Mame with The Mills Brothers, Dorothy Collins & Charles Aznavour
*A Man And A Woman  with Dorothy Collins
The Shadow Of Your Smile Charles Aznavour
*Somewhere My Love (Lara’s Theme)

A Taste Of Honey Dorothy Collins
*Somewhere My Love (Lara’s Theme) with the Mills Brothers

These Boots Are Made For Walkin' Dorothy Collins
Spanish Flea                                                                                                       The Mills Brothers

*Winchester Cathedral
Michelle Charles Aznavour
*Batman Theme  (c) with Mills Brothers & Chorus
*Strangers In The Night with Charles Aznavour & The Mills Brothers
*That’s Life with The Mills Brothers, Dorothy Collins & Charles Aznavour

*Auld Lang Syne (d)

Notes:

(a) Comedy medley (featuring ‘Tzena, Tzena, Tzena’, ‘Around the World’ and ‘Charmaine’ amongst others)

(b) An abridged video version of this item was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978.

(c) ‘Batman’ chanted a few times only.

(d) A few piano chords only, ostensibly played by Bing. He does not sing.

“Bing Crosby rings in the New Year with songs ranging from “Laura’s Theme” (sic) to “Auld Lang Syne;” France’s Charles Aznavour offers a medley of melancholy tunes, backed by Dorothy Collins, Skitch Henderson and the Mills Brothers. Comics Burns and Schreiber return with a new taxicab routine, ballet stars Szony and Clair perform and Johnny Puleo’s Harmonica Gang and the unicyclist Volentes round out the bill."

(The Sacramento Bill, December 31, 1966)

No. 139 25th December 1966 - ‘The Late Late Show’ (RTE Eire)

Bing makes an audio contribution by telephone from his home.

No. 140 14th January 1967 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour) (a)

Produced by William O. Harbach. With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, Swordsmen of the Lido, Tim Conway, Senator Everett Dirksen, Edie Adams, Jimmy Durante and Bob Hope.

*Put On A Happy Face (parody)
  Bob Hope walks on to introduce Hank Stram (coach) & Mike Garrett of the Kansas City Chiefs

Lady Godiva skit                                                                                                Edie Adams
  Tim Conway (Daredevil Dan skit)

Swordsmen of the Lido

  Various fluffs from earlier shows including:

*Paper Doll (outtake)                                                                            (b) with The Mills Brothers
Nobody Wants My Money Jimmy Durante

The Eagle Rock  Jimmy Durante
*Sing Soft, Sing Sweet, Sing Gentle  (c) with Jimmy Durante
*Happy Birthday To You with Jimmy Durante & Bob Hope

*Inka Dinka Doo (parody) with Jimmy Durante & Bob Hope
Excerpt from ‘The Gallant Men’ (Narration) Senator Everett Dirksen with Chorus
*This Is A Great Country with Chorus

Notes:

(a) Recorded 6th January 1967, apparently after a parade through the streets of Hollywood with Bing acting as Grand Marshal although this had probably taken place in December.

The entire show was issued on video by Nostalgia Family Video.

A video version of the Bing/Bob Hope dialogue was included in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991. Also an HBO documentary shown on January 28, 2004 about the first Super Bowl in 1967, included a brief extract showing Bing and Bob Hope joking about which team they wanted to win the Super Bowl. Bing chose the Green Bay Packers, the eventual winners.

(b) Bing joins in the verse only.

Video outtake of a ‘fluff’ from a recording of the programme of the 31st December 1966.

An abridged video version of this item was included in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991.

(c) An abridged video version of this item was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978 and also in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991.

“A strong bill tonight. From Florida Senator Dirksen recites ‘The Gallant Men’ and exchanges humorous patter with Bing Crosby via the split screen. Jimmy Durante duets with Crosby and sings unforgettable tunes, surrounded by pretty girls. Tim Conway does a monologue about racing car drivers and Edie Adams appears in an eye-popping costume as Lady Godiva. Also a collection of ‘fluffs’ by guest stars during the past year, adds to the fun.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ - 14th January 1967)

“‘The Hollywood Palace’ may not match the venerable stature of the ‘Ed Sullivan Show’, but it has reached its fourth birthday. And in this day of 13-week cycles, ‘ second seasons’ and maybe thirds, finishing three years and starting strong on the fourth on TV looms as quite an accomplishment.

So last Saturday night (14th), the Hollywood Palace had a happy style birthday party with Bing Crosby, who did similar chores for the debut show in 1964, emceeing and performing with his customary or rather, legendary smoothness. He was surrounded by a solid roster of performers, including such veteran show biz comrades as Bob Hope, who dropped in from the other network to give his greetings, and Jimmy Durante, as bouncy as ever. . . Show also included a couple of film bits. One clip showed the anniversary parade organised for the ‘Palace’ by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. . .”

(‘Variety’ 18th January 1967)

No. 141 29th January 1967 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC) (Colour)

Fishing for salmon at Cockermouth on the River Derwent in England with professional, Joe Brooks. Filmed in September 1966.

Note:

(a) A very brief extract from the programme was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978.

No. 142 18th February 1967 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour) (a)

Produced by William O. Harbach. With Mitchell Ayres and the Hollywood Palace Orchestra, The Medini Brothers, The Nitwits, Dom DeLuise, Hendra and Ullett, Ella Fitzgerald, Phil Harris and Alice Faye.

*The Good Old Days with Chorus

The Medini Brothers (acrobats)

  So Danco Samba (b) Ella Fitzgerald

How Long Has This Been Going On? Ella Fitzgerald

Medley:

*London Bridge Is Falling Down (c) with Ella Fitzgerald

*Row, Row, Row Your Boat (c) with Ella Fitzgerald

*Three Blind Mice with Ella Fitzgerald

*Frere Jacques with Ella Fitzgerald

Where The Blue Of The Night Ella Fitzgerald (scat only)

*A-Tisket, A-Tasket

*London Bridge Is Falling Down (Reprise) with Ella Fitzgerald

*Row, Row, Row Your Boat (Reprise) (d) with Ella Fitzgerald

*Sketch (e) with Dom DeLuise

Mame Alice Faye

The Nitwits (comedy band)

Battle of Britain skit                                                                                           Hendra and Ullett (comedy team)                                      

It Was A Very Good Year Phil Harris

Medley: with Alice Faye & Phil Harris

*K-K-K-Katy

*Hello, Frisco, Hello (f)

*Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly?

*The Grizzly Bear

*Alexander’s Ragtime Band

Notes:

(a) Recorded 5th November 1966.

(b) Arrangement includes ‘The Girl From Ipanema’ and ‘The Peanut Vendor’.

(c) A video version of this item was included in the final Hollywood Palace show transmitted on 7th February 1970 (see show No. 184) and in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978.

(d) A brief extract was seen included in the final Hollywood Palace show transmitted on 7th February 1970 (see show No. 184) and in ‘Remembering Bing’, a 90-minute special produced by WTTW, Chicago and televised on the Public Broadcasting Service on 28th November 1987.

(e) Bing also has a brief part in Dom DeLuise’s skit. Bing plays the director of the TV commercial, which Dom is ‘filming’ for a bank. Dom has it letter perfect - until the cameras start to roll. Bing’s only wardrobe change is from his tuxedo jacket to a light blue cardigan for the sketch.

(f) An abridged video version of this item was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978.

“An hour for the grown-ups with Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Alice Faye and Phil Harris. Crosby, Alice and Phil revive old Fox movie musical tunes. Ella sings rounds with Bing. Alice dances to ‘Mame’. Dom DeLuise’s bank commercial. English comedians Hendra & Ullett talk about the RAF and Danny Saylor’s pole-climbing act round out the highlights of the show.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 18th February 1967)

“Bing Crosby played host to Ella on ‘The Hollywood Palace’ …the show was most identified with Bing Crosby, who hosted approximately once every four weeks and did his Christmas shows as part of the series. Der Bingle introduced Ella as, ‘The Sandy Koufax of Song, the Brooks Robinson of Rhythm, the All-Star of Timing – The Peerless One.’ This was their first professional pairing since the old radio days and they were obviously enjoying each other. Ella wore a heavily frosted wig and black, strapless evening gown with a chiffon sheath and a bow at the back. . . The obligatory medley had Ella and Bing discussing that the best way to get started in singing was to do children’s songs. Bing joked that he knew every children’s song (alluding to his late-in-life second family), leading into the medley and then the two songsters’ theme songs, (Bing whistled as Ella scatted).”

(From ‘First Lady Of Song’ by Geoffrey Mark Fidelman)

No. 143 14th March 1967 - ‘A Little Bit Of Irish’ (Colour) (a)

Devised and presented by George O’Reilly. Produced by Fred O’Donovan and Buddy Bregman. Directed by John Robins. Script and narration by Bing Crosby and Kathryn Crosby. With The Radio Eireann Light Orchestra, The Guinness Choir, The Little Dublin Singers, Dermot O’Brien and his Clubmen, The Ludlows, The Rory O’Connor Dancers, Alma Carroll, John McNally, Bernadette Greevy, Siobhan McKenna, Milo O’Shea and Kathryn Crosby

*Molly Malone (In Dublin’s Fair City) (b) (c)

*Come Back To Erin (b)

The Bold Fenian Men The Ludlows

The Song Of Glen Dún Bernadette Greevy

Irish Dance Set The Rory O’Connor Dancers

Dramatic poem Milo O’Shea

*Galway Bay (b)

*Molly Malone (In Dublin’s Fair City) (b)

*The Isle Of Innisfree (b) with the Young Dublin Singers

Off To Philadelphia In The Morning John McNally

Gaelic Lament Alma Carroll and the Young Dublin Singers

Poems (‘The Fool’ and ‘The Mother’) Siobhan McKenna

Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms (b) The Guinness Choir

The Boys Of Wexford (b) The Guinness Choir

The Devil’s Own Dermot O’Brien and his Clubmen

Come To The Bower Dermot O’Brien and his Clubmen

The Merry Ploughboy Dermot O’Brien and his Clubmen

A Christian Irish Boy Dermot O’Brien and his Clubmen

*MacNamara’s Band (b) (c) with Milo O’Shea and Dermot O’Brien

*When Irish Eyes Are Smiling (b)

Notes:

(a) Recorded in Dublin, Ireland on 20th. and 21st September 1966 at locations including O’Connell St., Howth Castle, the Abbey Theatre and the Guinness Brewery.

The entire show was issued on the DVD “A Little Bit Of Irish” by Varese Saraband in 2006 and included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 5) issued in 2018..

(b) Audio versions of these items were issued on the Golden Olden CD GORCD 101 ‘A Little Bit of Irish: Bing Crosby & Guests’ and on Golden Olden audio cassette.

(c) These items were featured in TJL Productions’ “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling – An Irish Parade Of Stars” shown on PBS stations in the USA during March 2010.

“Hosted by Bing Crosby at his most nonchalant, this pleasing songalog was presented as an affectionate tribute to Ireland, using local talent to give samples from its musical backlog. . . Crosby himself strolled effortlessly though such numbers as ‘Dublin Bay’ (sic), ‘Molly Malone’, Come Back to Erin’, and other folk standards, and wife Kathryn occasionally acted as hostess with suitable charm. . . Crosby wandered through the Guinness factory and other venues, like a kindly guide and dodged most of the pitfalls of sentimentality inherent in the subject. With the U. S. bulging with Irishmen, and with the Kennedy connection still to the fore, the show should foster nostalgia and mild pleasure in that particular mart.”

(‘Variety’ 15th March 1967)

No. 144 1st April 1967 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour) (a)

Produced by William O. Harbach. With Mitchell Ayres and the Hollywood Palace Orchestra, The Good Time Washboard Three, Red Buttons, The Ghezzi Brothers, Marvin Roy, The Black Theatre of Prague, Nanette Fabray and Louis Armstrong.

*This Is The Life

  The Ghezzi Brothers (knockabout comedy act)

*Oh! By Jingo! Oh! By Gee! (b) with The Good Time Washboard Three

I’m The First Girl In The Second Row Nanette Fabray

Sam, You Made The Pants Too Long Red Buttons

*‘Joe The Bartender’ Sketch with Red Buttons and Nanette Fabray

*(My Girl Loves) Cheesecake (c) with Louis Armstrong

Medley:

*Let’s Sing Like A Dixieland Band with Louis Armstrong

*Muskrat Ramble with Louis Armstrong

*Let’s Sing Like A Dixieland Band (Reprise) with Louis Armstrong

Notes:

(a) A video version of the programme was issued on Festival Films - ‘Bing Crosby and Friends Volume 4’

(b) Bing sings a few words at the end of the song.

(c) Bing’s contribution is limited to a few words.

“Bing Crosby hosts another Saturday vaudeville bill, setting the pace of the hour with pal, Louis Armstrong. Bing And Louis chatter with ease, sing a Dixieland medley including, ‘Muskrat Ramble’, while Louis sings ‘Cheesecake’ on his own. Crosby, Fabray and Buttons also do the classic sketch, ‘Joe The Bartender’ and French comics the Washboard Three round out the show.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 1st April 1967)

No. 145 13th April 1967 - ‘The Dean Martin Show’ (NBC) (Colour) (a)

Guest appearance. Produced and directed by Greg Garrison. With Les Brown and his Band of Renown, Rowan & Martin, Don Cherry, Polly Bergen and Dean Martin.

Everybody Loves Somebody Dean Martin
Rose, Don’t Have A Second Hand Heart Dean Martin
Cabaret Polly Bergen

Something Wonderful Polly Bergen

‘Let’s Medley: Dean Martin & Polly Bergen
Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall In Love
Let’s Get Away From It All
Let’s Have Another Cup O’Coffee
Let’s Fall In Love

The Story Of My Life Don Cherry

Hicktown Dean Martin & Don Cherry

Parody Medley: Dean Martin with Ken Lane (Piano)
Whispering
I’ve Got Rings On My Fingers

It’s Easy To Remember Dean Martin with Ken Lane (Piano)

Medley: with Dean Martin

*Learn To Croon

*Thanks

*Please

*Empty Saddles

*I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande)

*I’ve Got A Pocketful Of Dreams

*Pennies From Heaven

*Swinging On A Star

*Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive

*In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening

*Personality

*Love Thy Neighbour

*True Love

*Love Is Just Around The Corner

*But Beautiful

*The Second Time Around

*Learn To Croon (Reprise)

*Style (b) with Dean Martin & Don Cherry

Everybody Loves Somebody Dean Martin

Note:

(a) The show was repeated on NBC-TV on June 15, 1967.

(b) Bing, Dean, and Don Cherry don their cardigans (and Bing a fedora) and hit golf balls around a sound stage version of a golf course as they perform the song.

“Pretty fair vocal bill with guests Bing Crosby and Polly Bergen. Mr. C and Dean run through five (sic) Crosby hits and join golf pro, Don Cherry, for a golf (sic) song called ‘Style’.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 13th April 1967)

“Bing Crosby showed up for our last show of the season and he and Dean seemed more relaxed and casual than ten Perry Como’s. It was often reported that Dean had copied Bing’s style when he was getting started (perhaps it was more Bing’s attitude). . . .

For Bing, I suggested a medley of his hits, He said he’d rather do that with Dean and not do a solo himself. Greg agreed that since we had two REALLY big stars the medley could be nice and long. Since they were all Bing’s songs, we didn’t have to rehearse much, and Bing didn’t ask for any changes. He was the ultimate professional—memorized everything he had to, didn’t complain about anything, and disappeared as soon as possible. . . .

The most impressive thing about Bing was the volume he had out of those mellow low tones. They were downright loud!”

(From ‘Backstage at the Dean Martin Show’ by Lee Hale)

No. 146 13th May 1967 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (Colour)

With Barbara McNair, Louis Nye, The Polack Brothers' Elephants, Yonely, The King Family, Frances Langford and Don Ameche.

*A Cockeyed Optimist

The Polack Brothers' Elephants

You’re Gonna Hear From Me Barbara McNair 

  Louis Nye (bank sketch with Bing)

  Watch What Happens The King  Sisters

  Tradition                                                                                                          The King Family

*Bill Bailey Won’t You Please Come Home with the King Family

  Yonely (Hungarian music hall star)

  "The Bickersons" sketch                                                                                   Don Amech & Frances Langford

Medley:

*You Brought Us The Phone with Don Ameche & Frances Langford

*Alexander’s Ragtime Band (parody) with Frances Langford

*Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup with Frances Langford

*Hello, Frisco, Hello with Don Ameche & Frances Langford

*Frere Jacques (parody) with Don Ameche & Frances Langford

Call Me Frances Langford

*All Alone with Don Ameche & Frances Langford

“Last show of Spring has host, Bing Crosby, introducing his guests, Frances Langford, Don Ameche, The King Family and Louis Nye. On a nostalgic note, Miss Langford and Ameche recreate radio’s bickering Bickersons and join Bing for a telephone medley. The huge King Family sing ‘Bill Bailey’ with their host.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 13th May 1967)

No. 146a 19th May 1967 – Girl Talk (Australian TV show)

Hazel Philips interviews Bing. The interview had been recorded earlier in the year at Bing’s home.

Note:

(a)           The interview was included on the Collectors’ Choice Music 2-DVD set “Bing Crosby: The Television Specials – Volume 1” issued in April, 2010 and included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 4) issued in 2018.

No. 147 4th June 1967 - ‘The Eamonn Andrews Show’ (ABC in UK)

Walk-on spot at close of Bob Hope appearance.

No. 148 7th June 1967 - Derby Grandstand (BBC1)

Interviewed.

No. 149 17th July 1967 - Conversations 1967-1968 (Educational Channel 13 New York) (a)

Interviewed by Jim Day. Talks about family and career.

Note:

(a) Recorded May/June 1966. This was a repeat of Programme No. 131.

FROM THIS POINT ONWARDS ALL PROGRAMMES WERE TRANSMITTED IN COLOUR

No. 150 5th September 1967 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (d)

Produced by William O. Harbach. Directed by Grey Lockwood. With Mitchell Ayres and the Hollywood Palace Orchestra, The Association, Ravi Shankar, Joey Heatherton, Diahann Carroll, Milton Berle and Jimmy Durante.

*All Together In The Fall

  Milton Berle & Jimmy Durante spot with Bing

Never My Love The Association
I Only Miss Him When I Think Of Him Diahann Carroll

  Wood, Wood Jimmy Durante

I Love A Parade / The Stars And Stripes Forever! Joey Heatherton

*Girl Talk (a) with Joey Heatherton & Diahann Carroll
*That’s Where My Money Goes (b)

Raga Mishra Piloo Ravi Shankar (Sitar)

 We Are The Men Of Texaco                                                                               Chorus

 Milton Berle spot
  So I Ups To Him                                                                                                Jimmy Durante

*Swinging On A Star

*There’s No Business Like Show Business (c)                with Jimmy Durante & Milton Berle

*To Be A Performer with Jimmy Durante, Milton Berle & Cast

Notes:

(a) Audio versions were issued on Crosbyana Collector’s Library EP CCL-1 - ‘Bing And Phillip Crosby Sing Thanks and Other Hits’ and Limited Edition Club LP JGB1007 - ‘B.C. - T.V. (Bing On The Box)’.

(b) A snatch. A cappella.

(c) Verse only

(d)          Taped August 3.

“The ‘Palace’ season debut has traditionally been a red hot show and this one was no exception. Bing Crosby, as he has for the past five years, headlined the show, this time flanked by Jimmy Durante and Milton Berle. The trio was in great form and their interplay was sheer delight. Crosby was a smooth-as-silk host. . . In a ‘lest we forget’ finale, Crosby warbled ‘Swinging On A Star’, Durante did his class ‘So I Ups To Him’ and Berle came out in Stone Age drag to do one of his old tv-burly bits. It was an exciting half-hour of video vaudeville.”

(‘Variety’ 6th September 1967)

“(Season premiere). Old timers Bing Crosby, Jimmy Durante and Milton Berle ride herd on the gaudy stage. Berle plays “man in the Box”, Durante reviews an ancient vaudeville sketch called “Wood, and the three stars reminisce about the better days singing “Going My Way”, “The Texaco Song”, and Durante’s “So I Ups to Him”. India’s Ravi Shankar plays the sitar for 8 minutes, Joey Heatherton gyrates to “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” Diahann Carroll sings a medley, and The Association group fills out a strong bill in this variety series’ new time plot.”

(The Record, September 5, 1967)

No. 151 9th October 1967 - ‘The Danny Thomas Hour’ - ‘The Demon Under The Bed’ (NBC) (a)

Directed by Peter Tewkesbury. With George Maharis, Joan Collins and Mary Frances Crosby.

*When You And I Were Young Maggie Blues (b)

*They Had To Carry Carrie To The Ferry (b)

*The Band Played On (b)

*Moonlight Bay (b)

*As Time Goes By (b)

*Let Me Dream Again (b)

*Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries

Notes:

(a) Recorded 24th July 1967.

(b) Snatches only of these items.

“Bing Crosby made one of his rare tv dramatic appearances on Danny Thomas’ Monday night show. Nothing rare, however, for the vet crooner-actor as he sidled through a characterisation of an ageing performer, packing a load of juice, seeking self. (‘Country Girl’ etc., etc.).

This time he was followed by a photographer (George Maharis) who hopes to peel off the many masks and find the real Charlie Castle in a still shot or two. The gambit affords director Peter Tewkesbury opportunity to utilize a lot of still photo gimmickry throughout, but it finally seemed a sort of poor man’s ‘Blow Up.’

Joan Collins was attractive as the wife and Mary Frances Crosby, Crosby’s eight year-old daughter preemed in a role that consisted mainly of effusively greeting her old man.”

(‘Variety’ 11th October 1967)

Bing Crosby last night gave a splendid performance in a terrible melodrama, “The Demon Under the Bed,” on the “Danny Thomas Show.” Danny made it worse with sickeningly saccharine entr’acte comments. Danny doesn’t help stories with these intrusions. He murders them. This story, however, died of its own leukemia.

Bing played a movie star reeling from a smashed marriage and threatened throat cancer. “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing,” mourned Bing, hoisting another drink. A photographer, George Maharis, pursued him through his deliria hoping to catch a picture of the real Bing. The pay-off was one of Bing with his daughter (played impressively and feelingly by his 8 year old, Mary Frances). “How’d I ever get through life without you?” Bing weepingly asks Maharis. Hah!

It wasn’t even good soap opera.  But it was a marvelous showcase for Bing to emote in—to be serious, heavy, kindly, curt, hurt, tipsy, distressed and happy. The custom-built plot enabled him to sing. Mary Frances radiated charm, sincerity and sophistication

(Dwight Newton, The San Francisco Examiner, 10th October, 1967)

No. 152 19th October 1967 - ‘The Dean Martin Show’ (NBC)

Guest appearance. Produced and directed by Greg Garrison. With Les Brown and his Band of Renown, The Golddiggers, Lena Horne, Dom DeLuise and Dean Martin.

On A Slow Boat To China Dean Martin

You’d Better Love Me Lena Horne

Softly, As I Leave You Lena Horne

I Concentrate On You Lena Horne

Bumming Around Dean Martin and Lena Horne

The Sheikh of Araby The Golddiggers

Parody Medley: Dean Martin with Ken Lane (Piano)

A Fellow Needs A Girl

Mona Lisa

Medley: with Dean Martin

*Waiting For The Robert E. Lee

*Alexander’s Ragtime Band

*Back In Your Own Backyard

*Avalon

*Carolina In The Morning

*Is It True What They Say About Dixie?

*Toot, Toot, Tootsie

*Alabamy Bound

*Swanee

*April Showers

*‘Golf’ Sketch with Dean Martin & Dom DeLuise

*Give Me The Simple Life with Dean Martin

Medley:

A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening Chorus

*There Will Never Be Another You with Dean Martin and Lena Horne

*I Get A Kick Out Of You with Dean Martin and Lena Horne

You Do Something To Me Dean Martin and Lena Horne

*Life is Just A Bowl Of Cherries with Dean Martin and Lena Horne

*They Can’t Take That Away From Me with Dean Martin and Lena Horne

The Surrey With The Fringe On Top Lena Horne

*Exactly Like You with Dean Martin and Lena Horne

*Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams with Dean Martin and Lena Horne

*I Want To Be Happy with Dean Martin and Lena Horne

*Why Don’t We Do This More Often? with Dean Martin and Lena Horne

*Together with Dean Martin and Lena Horne

Everybody Loves Somebody Dean Martin

Bing Crosby clearly wasn’t amused by his encounter with Horne on her next Martin appearance, aired that November (sic). Horne was no fan. It mystified her why so many musicians—including his early conductor Hayton—thought so highly of the legendary crooner, whose unflappably casual singing was the opposite of her fire-spitting approach. And as a die-hard Republican, Crosby repelled her politically. The Martin episode featured a long medley shared by Horne and the two men. They all sat elbow to elbow, but Horne snubbed Crosby on camera turning her shoulder to him and focusing her attention on Martin. Crosby glared ahead, glum and pouting.

(Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne, by James Gavin, page 367)

Dean Martin’s TV Show is an American Institution in a country where programmes run until they melt. BBC1 imported it last night—and it took only minutes to discover that there is nothing much to distinguish it from any another Hollywood product. Martin, himself, has all the charm of the high professional, but the indestructible mateyness of these US programmes curls me up at the edges.

When the guests come on there are so many kisses and phoney punches in the chest that the whole thing has the air of a regimental reunion at which everybody arrives rather tight. It is always this carefully fostered bonhomie which spoils these American shows, which are worth watching usually simply because of the quality of their guest stars. Last night Martin produced Bing Crosby and Lena Horne—and how can you miss with them? Well, they did not miss with Lena, for her performance was, as ever, impeccable. But how could Bing Crosby be wasted on such a succession of corny situations? It was almost embarrassing to see the Old Master pushed into a corner of the screen, stretching every effort to be as agile as his juniors. What do the British networks have to learn even from a highly rated show like this’? Not much! Our light entertainment misses out in only one way—in the stature of the stars which are available in Hollywood. But if as little value is extracted from them as Dean Martin achieved last night, do we need to mourn? I think not.

(James Thomas, Daily Express (UK newspaper), October 10, 1968)

No. 153 25th October 1967 - ‘The Joey Bishop Show’ (ABC)

Guest appearance. With Dorothy Lamour, Matt Monro, Regis Philbin and Kathryn Crosby.

*Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral (a)

Note:

(a)     Joey Bishop persuades Bing to sing part of this song to Regis Philbin. In reply, Regis sings “Pennies From Heaven” to Bing. The item was shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204).

And so I confessed my dream: I told him that, at the age of six, I decided I wanted to be Bing Crosby—that I knew every lyric of every song Bing had ever sung, that nothing made me happier than singing along with Bing on the radio.

So it had to happen: three months later, Bing was booked to be a guest on our show. I remember spotting him backstage—this easygoing but towering legend wandering our hallways—and I truly couldn’t take my eyes off him. Unfortunately, there were no plans for him to sing that night; he’d simply agreed to come on the show as a panel guest, along with his beautiful wife, Kathy, and share some of his great old stories, then leave. But it was all still terribly exciting. Especially for me. Especially when he walked out and sat right next to me. My whole life flashed before me—thirty years prior to all of this I was just a dream-filled kid, freezing on those cold Bronx nights, listening to Bing sing on my little radio. How did all this happen? Who could have imagined that now, so many years later, I would be sitting next to Bing Crosby on a big network TV show in Hollywood? It’s one of those times when you have to pinch yourself in order to believe it.

The show’s producers, of course, would have loved for Bing to sing anything that night, but they were afraid to ask him. Then, as the interview progressed, Joey had an idea. He would try to talk him into it by using me as his pawn, right on the air! “Bing, see this kid,” Joey said, nodding toward me. “He’s the biggest fan you ever had. It would be the biggest thrill of his life if you would sing a song for him. How about ‘Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral? I was getting nervous. How would Bing react? Well, he turned, looked directly at me, and simply sang the song a capella. He sounded great. It was so exciting, my head was spinning. How could I tell him what he had meant to me all these years? I should have, but I couldn’t.

(Regis Philbin, writing in How I Got This Way, pages 5-6)

No. 154 31st October 1967 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC)

Produced by William O. Harbach. Directed by Grey Lockwood. With Mitchell Ayres and the Hollywood Palace Orchestra, The United Nations Children’s Choir, Fred & Mickie Finn, Gail Martin, Paul Lynde, Roger Miller, and Victor Borge.

*It’s A Small World with The United Nations Children’s Choir
Paul Lynde chat with Bing

  Down Yonder Fred & Mickie Finn

Noodlin’ Rag Fred & Mickie Finn

You Can’t Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd Roger Miller
The Code Of The West Roger Miller

Medley:

*My Heart Is A Hobo with Roger Miller

*Second Hand Rose (Parody) with Roger Miller

*King Of The Road with Roger Miller

*Ain’t Got A Dime To My Name with Roger Miller

*Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?

I Wanna Be Free Roger Miller

*Engine, Engine Number Nine with Roger Miller

*My Heart Is A Hobo (Reprise) with Roger Miller

*Comedy Dialogue (a) with Victor Borge

Phonetic Punctuation                                                                                        Victor Borge

  Sunny Gail Martin

Medley:

*You Make Me Feel So Young with Gail Martin

My Old Flame Gail Martin

*My Favourite Things with Gail Martin

Sweet Violets Gail Martin

*Lollipops And Roses with Gail Martin

My Kind Of Town (Parody) Gail Martin

*Mutual Admiration Society with Gail Martin

*That’s Amore (Parody) with Gail Martin

*You Make Me Feel So Young (Reprise) with Gail Martin

*My Old Flame (Reprise) with Gail Martin

*Lollipops And Roses (Reprise) with Gail Martin

*‘Meditation’ Sketch (‘What Is Happiness?’) (a) with Paul Lynde (as Kalta Kasha the Great)
*My Cup Runneth Over (b) with Chorus

Notes:

(a) Bing had a scene with Victor Borge, with both seated at the piano, reminiscing about their days on the Kraft Music Hall. Later, Victor recreated the ‘Phonetic Punctuation’ routine he made famous on KMH twenty-six years earlier. Bing remarked ‘it sounds just as good as it did 26 years ago!’ Bing also takes part in the ‘Meditation’ sketch with Paul Lynde near the end of the programme.

(b) An audio version was issued on Crosbyana Collector’s Library EP CCL-1 - ‘Bing And Phillip Crosby Sing Thanks and Other Hits’.

“Bing Crosby welcomes Victor Borge, Roger Miller, Mickey Finn, and Dean Martin’s daughter, Gail, to the vaudeville hour. Bing and Roger Miller run through a medley of road tunes, then add Victor Borge and Paul Lynde to a number called “I Like Rock ‘n’ Roll Music.” Borge talks and plays his piano. Gail Martin joins Bing for three songs, Paul Lynde appears as an Indian mystic, and Bing joins the U. N. Children’s Choir for “Small World” in the finale.”

(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, October 31, 1967)

No. 155 21st November 1967 - ‘One Night Stands’ (ABC)

Bing narrates this documentary about the live entertainment circuit as seen by three groups of performers, Woody Herman and his Orchestra, Johnny Rivers, and the Bartok-Hunt Circus.

No. 156 25th November 1967 - ‘The Jackie Gleason Show’ (CBS) (a)

Guest appearance. With Jackie Gleason, Alan King, Liberace, June Taylor Dancers and Stan Ross. Musical Director Sammy Spear, the Director is Frank Bunetta.

Medley: with Jackie Gleason

*Valentine

*Ramona

*K-K-K-Katie

*Sweet Leilani

*Tangerine

*Marie

*I Wonder What’s Become Of Sally?

*My Gal Sal

*Chloe

*Frances

*Mona Lisa

*The Girl From Ipanema

*Miss America

*Girls, Girls, Girls

*Dear Hearts And Gentle People

*San Fernando Valley

*Don’t Fence Me In

*Thanks A Million with Jackie Gleason, Alan King & Liberace

(a) An edited version of the show was included in the DVD Box Set "The Jackie Gleason Show in Color", released by Time Life in 2017. Bing's song "Don't Fence Me In" was inclided as well as the final "Thanks A Million" but Bing's other songs were omitted.

“Comedian Jackie Gleason’s CBS show was something for the older folks at home, last Saturday night. There was the august piping of Bing Crosby and dance, yet from Liberace (Nureyev he ain’t!). Gleason and Crosby kicked around a parody medley in good style and Crosby later returned with tunes that set a nostalgic tone to the hour — ‘Dear Hearts and Gentle People,’ ‘San Fernando Valley,’ and ‘Don’t Fence Me In’. . .”

(‘Variety’ 29th November 1967)

No. 157 29th November 1967 - ‘Today’ (NBC)

Guest appearance. Interviewed by Hugh Downs, Bing pays tribute to Bob Hope on his 30th anniversary on NBC.

No. 158 20th December 1967 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC)

Produced by William O. Harbach. With Mitchell Ayres and the Hollywood Palace Orchestra, Louis Nye, Adam West, The King Family, Marquis Chimps, Joyce Cuoco, Kathryn Crosby and the Crosby children.

It’s Beginning To Look Like Christmas Chorus

  Louis Nye spot with Bing and the Crosby family

*Talk To The Animals (a) with Kathryn Crosby & the Crosby children

Consider Yourself The King Family (as Dickensian characters)

Try To Remember Kathryn Crosby

Marquis Chimps

Little Drummer Boy The King Family

*The Violin Song with The King Family, Kathryn Crosby & the Crosby children

*The Little Match Girl (Narration) (b)

Where Is Love? (c) Mary Frances Crosby

Be Our Santa Claus The King Family

The Children’s Marching Song (aka ‘This Old Man’) Adam West & the Crosby children

*White Christmas (d)

*Make Believe Song (e) with Kathryn Crosby, The King Family & the children

*Beautiful Things (f)

Bing and Louis Nye draw out the four winning amateurs to play in the Crosby Pro-Am.

Notes:

(a) A video version of this item appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

A video version of this item was included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video.

(b) A video version of this item was included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video. An audio version of this item also appeared on the LP ‘Moments to Remember Vol. 5’.

(c) A video version of this item was included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video.

(d) A video extract from this item was included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video.

(e) A vocal adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s ‘Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy’.

(f) An audio version was issued on issued on Limited Edition Club LP JGB1007 - ‘B.C. - T.V. (Bing On The Box)’.

(g)      The show was supposed to be transmitted on December 19 but had to be moved at the last minute because of a broadcast by President Johnson.

…Like Mitzi’s show, the Hollywood Palace, which was pre-empted Tuesday night by President Johnson’s conversation with three network correspondents, came over Wednesday evening as a Christmas special (ABC).

And no wonder, considering the fact that its host was Bing Crosby, “Mr. Christmas Himself.” And on hand to assist him in enkindling the jollity of the season were, among others: his wife and some of his children, the King Family, Adam (Batman) West, and Louis Nye, one of the truly funny comics.

These pleasant personalities merged their talents into a combination of fun and songs, ideal viewing for every member of the family, especially the young ones. And what about “White Christmas,” the song forever associated with Bing? Oh yes, he still sings it as only he can.

(Ben Gross, Daily News [New York], December 22, 1967)

No. 159 13th January 1968 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (a)

Produced by William O. Harbach. With Mitchell Ayres and the Hollywood Palace Orchestra, Roosevelt Grier, Peggy Lee, Milton Berle, Phil Harris, Lawrence Welk, The Fearsome Foursome, The Solokhins and Jimmy Durante.

*Step To The Rear (b)

  Jimmy Durante is wheeled on with glamour girls for a talk with Bing about the birthday cake he is making

  The Solokhins (acrobats of the Moscow Circus)

  Phil Harris pedals on to the stage for a short interchange with Bing.

  What Is A Woman? Peggy Lee

Seems Like Old Times Peggy Lee

Spanish Harlem (c) Roosevelt Grier

Under The Boardwalk Roosevelt Grier & The Fearsome Foursome

  Mock presentation to Bing the football player, led by Milton Berle

*Go, Go, Gonzaga with male cast

Lawrence Welk walk on.

Medley: (d)

*Gee! It’s Good To See You

When He Makes Music Peggy Lee

*Do I Hear A Waltz? with Peggy Lee

*Something Stupid with Peggy Lee

*A Doodlin' Song with Peggy Lee

*I Can Sing A Rainbow with Peggy Lee

*Where The Blue Of The Night

*Yellow Bird with Peggy Lee

*Gee! It’s Good To See You (reprise)                                             (a)              with Peggy Lee

  Compilation reel from earlier Hollywood Palace shows

*Step To The Rear (reprise) (b) with cast

Notes:

(a) Recorded 21st December 1967. Towards the close, the programme is ‘padded’ with ten minutes of excerpts from previous ‘Hollywood Palace’ programmes. In the context of this directory, the most significant of these will be a clip from Programme No. 142, featuring that portion of the medley with Ella Fitzgerald which includes, ‘Frere Jacques’, ‘Where The Blue Of The Night’ and ‘A-Tisket, A-Tasket’.

The entire show was issued on video by Nostalgia Family Video.

(b) The song includes parodied lyrics in accordance with its position as the opening and closing number.

(c) Roosevelt Grier was a large New York Giants’ football player with pretensions to being a reasonable singer. The ‘Fearsome Foursome’ were an equally, heftily-built quartet of fellow footballers who, in this instance, provided vocal accompaniment.

(d) An audio version of the medley was issued on Limited Edition Club LP JGB1007 - ‘B.C. - T.V. (Bing On The Box)’.

The Hollywood Palace returns to the spot it should never have left, and it also returns to a format that was best suited to the show, straight vaudeville instead of “theme” shows. Bing Crosby, the king of HP hosts, celebrates the time change and also the show’s fifth anniversary with a fine lineup: Jimmy Durante, Peggy Lee, Phil Harris, Milton Berle, the Solokhins from the Moscow Circus, Rosie Grier and the Fearless Foursome of the Los Angeles Rams, Roger Brown, Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Merlin Olsen. But undoubtedly the show’s highspot is a l5-minute segment looking back on past shows with stars like Nat Cole, Ed Wynn, Bert Lahr and Buster Keaton.

(The Edwardsville Intelligencer, January 13, 1968)

No. 160 28th January 1968 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC) (a)

Hunting sand grouse with Phil Harris in Tanzania. Produced by Lorne Hassan.

*Mr. Gallagher & Mr. Shean  (b) with Phil Harris & Harry Crosby

*Come To Tanzania  (c) with Phil Harris

Notes:

(a) A video excerpt from the show was issued on Worldvision Home Video 2022 - ‘The American Sportsman: Bird Hunting’.

(b) This parodied device was invariably used when Bing and Phil Harris appeared together in this series. (See ‘Variety’ quote).

(c)   An extract was included in the Barbara Walters tribute to Bing shown on 14th October 1977 on ABC-TV.

“This fine show for the hunting and fishing crowd is back and had an all-star cast for the sendoff seg. . . Second part of the hour featured Bing Crosby and Phil Harris hunting sand grouse in Africa. [First part featured actor, Van Heflin, fishing for marlin]. If you have to spend viewing time in a shooting blind, it couldn’t have been in more entertaining company. The Harris-Crosby banter was like a nostalgic visit to one of those old Hope-Crosby road musicals. And, indeed, the seg even had music as Harris and Crosby dueted a seemingly offhand ditty on the whole affair to close it out. Both, incidentally, are excellent shots, proving it by bagging a score of birds.”

(‘Variety’ 31st January 1968)

No. 161 12th February 1968 - ‘The Night Of The Century’ (NBC) (a)

Guest appearance. ‘A Salute To The USO’ at the New Madison Square Garden. With Les Brown and his Band of Renown, The West Point Cadet Glee Club, Barbara Eden, Pearl Bailey and Bob Hope.

Medley: West Point Cadet Glee Club
The Army Air Corps Song

Anchors Aweigh

The Marines’ Hymn

The US Field Artillery March (The Caissons Go Rolling Along)

That’s Life Pearl Bailey
*My Cup Runneth Over

Medley:

*Buttons And Bows

Please Bob Hope

*Two Sleepy People

Swinging On A Star Bob Hope

*Thanks For The Memory

White Christmas Bob Hope

*Road To Morocco with Bob Hope

*Put It There Pal with Bob Hope

Medley: Barbara Eden

The Circus Is Coming To Town

  The Skater’s Waltz
When You’re At The Dog Show
A Man And Woman
One Of Those Songs (Parody)

*‘Boxing Match’ Sketch (b)

Notes:

(a) Recorded 11th February 1968. Bing sang other songs during the show that were not included in the television presentation. The entire show was issued on DVD in 2010 by Bobontv.com, their reference number 021268.

        A brief extract from the opening dialogue between Bing and Bob Hope was included in the NBC-TV programme ‘On the Road with Bing: A Special Tribute to Bing Crosby’ which was shown on 28th October 1977.

(b) Bob Hope versus Rocky Marciano!  Bing acted as a referee and Barbara Eden portrayed a nurse in this sketch and Ed Sullivan along with several famous boxers such as Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney, appeared for the finale of the sketch in which everyone danced a waltz. Bing first partnered Barbara Eden, then Ed Sullivan!

A video version of the boxing match was included in the NBC-TV programme ‘On the Road with Bing: A Special Tribute to Bing Crosby’ which was shown on 28th October 1977 and in ‘100 Years of Hope & Humor’, an NBC-TV special shown on 20th April 2003. It was also included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 10) issued in 2018.

...Crosby, looking less buoyant than Hope, none the less reeled off a medley of his standards and their double routine comprised singing one another’s trademark song. When Hope essayed “White Christmas,” Bing ad libbed “Forgive him Irving” (Berlin). They wound up with a medley from their “Road” pictures. There were a flock of asides such as “I just got back from Cape Town and all my parts are new” and “Hope was invited to the White House; they couldn’t get Eartha Kitt.”

(Variety, February 14, 1968)

The new Madison Square Garden had a historic and glittering premiere last night as 19,832 persons paid $10 to $250 a seat to attend a “Salute to the USO” and be entertained by the antics of such performers as Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. It was a gay and responsive crowd, liberally sprinkled with men in military uniforms, which turned out for a fun night in Fun City but with a noble underlying motive. The proceeds are scheduled for the benefit of the United Service Organizations…Scores of celebrities were on hand, including Mayor Lindsay, who showed up in a tuxedo after taping his weekly TV show. …The show was supposed to get under way at 8:30 p.m., but it was 8:50 before the mayor showed up. It was 9 p.m. when Les Brown and his orchestra struck up the National Anthem, accompanied by the cadet glee club of the United States Military Academy at West Point….Hope and his guests, many of them ad-libbing with the help of “idiot cards” -- much of the big show being taped for a telecast tonight -- were light of heart. Pearl Bailey started her songs with “Poor Butterfly” and ended with “Mame.” Bing Crosby, Hope’s co-star of the evening, began with “Cockeyed Optimist” and later joined his partner in a medley of songs…

(Nathan Kanter and Arthur Mulligan, New York Daily News, February 12, 1968)

No. 162 9th March 1968 – ‘Bing Crosby At Gonzaga’ (KREM-TV)

Television coverage of Bing’s dedication of the Microfilm Research Centre at his alma mater.

No. 163 17th March 1968 – ‘Bing Crosby’s Washington State’ (a)

Bing narrates a promotional film, designed to encourage people to visit Washington State.

Note:

(a) Believed to have been recorded circa September 1967

No. 164 20th April 1968 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC)

Produced by William O. Harbach. Directed by Grey Lockwood. With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, Gene Baylos, Every Mother’s Son, The King Sisters, Bunraku (Japanese puppeteers), Florence Henderson, Joe Bushkin and Sid Caesar.

*Simon Says with Children’s Chorus

Gene Baylos (comedian) with Bing

Medley:  The King Sisters

You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You

If I Had You

All By Myself

You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You (reprise)

(Theme from) Valley Of The Dolls The King Sisters

*Playlet (puppets)                                                                                 (a)  with Bunraku

Dr. Dolittle Joe Bushkin (Piano)

‘Animals’ Medley: with Joe Bushkin (Vocal & Piano)

*Talk To The Animals

*The Aba Daba Honeymoon

*The Donkey Serenade

*Mairzy Doats

*Three Little Fishes

*(How Much Is That) Doggy In The Window?

*Talk To The Animals (Reprise)

Put Your Mind At Ease  Every Mother’s Son

When I Look In Your Eyes Florence Henderson

‘Strings’ Medley: with Florence Henderson

*There Are All Kinds Of Strings

*I’ve Got The World On A String

*I’ll String Along With You

*Holiday For Strings

*Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart

*No Strings

*‘Restaurant’ Sketch with Sid Caesar and Florence Henderson.

*Where The Rainbow Ends with Chorus

Note:

(a) Narration only for this puppet item themed on the exploits of a Japanese warlord.

“Bing Crosby helps pull down the curtain for the season. Surrounded by a raft of kids, Crosby begins with “Simon Says,” and joins Florence Henderson for a medley of oldies. Sid Caesar plays a waiter having trouble with a chef; The King Sisters come on for a medley of tunes; jazz pianist Joey Bishop introduces his new group, Every Mother’s Son; and Japanese puppets and comic Gene Baylos round out the bill. (Color)”

(The Indianapolis Star, April 20, 1968)

On April 20th 1968, that jaunty, eternally youthful leprechaun from Washington State ambled on to the now well worn ABC TV stage at the Hollywood Palace, to offer his special blend of songs and fancy patter. The Groaner glided through “Where the Rainbow Ends” in good style and in doing this song, billed as NEW from France, it was a marked association with the release of his Pickwick International Products single of the same name.  Incidentally, the reverse side is “What’s More American” distilled from Crosby’s “Thoroughly Modern Bing” album. Also on the bill at the Palace, I found the singing King Sisters, a team in which Bing likes to exercise his pipes. Crosby worked with sixteen children of the Palace productions crew, but the best segment found Florence Henderson and Bing trying to order hamburgers from a snobbish waiter, portrayed by Sid Caesar.

(Fred Romary, writing in BING magazine, August 1968 [#11])

No. 165 5th May 1968 - ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ - ‘A Tribute to Irving Berlin’ (CBS) (a)

Guest appearance. With the Harry James Orchestra, The Fred Waring Glee Club, Robert Goulet, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Ethel Merman, Peter Gennaro and Bob Hope.

Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor The Fred Waring Glee Club

*Marie From Sunny Italy

*Call Me Up Some Rainy Afternoon

*The International Rag

*Alexander’s Ragtime Band (b)

Marie Robert Goulet

I Used To Play It By Ear Robert Goulet & The Fred Waring Glee Club

The Song Is Ended Robert Goulet

All By Myself Robert Goulet

Medley: Ethel Merman

Sunshine

I Got Lost In His Arms

Anything You Can Do

They Say It’s Wonderful

Always Diana Ross & The Supremes

Medley: Ethel Merman with Diana Ross & The Supremes

Say It With Music

It’s A Lovely Day Today

Heat Wave

Say It Isn’t So

Puttin’ On The Ritz Morecambe & Wise

*White Christmas (c)

God Bless America Irving Berlin & Chorus

Notes:

(a) Recorded 11th February 1968.

The programme included a spoken tribute to the composer on his eightieth birthday by President Lyndon B. Johnson and also featured various film clips including ‘Easter Parade’ with Fred Astaire & Judy Garland (from ‘Easter Parade’); ‘Blue Skies’ featuring Bing (from ‘Blue Skies’); ‘Top Hat, White Tie, & Tails’ featuring Fred Astaire (from ‘Top Hat’); ‘Cheek To Cheek’ with Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers (from ‘Top Hat’); ‘A Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody’ featuring Dennis Morgan (from ‘The Great Ziegfeld’); ‘Oh! How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning’ featuring Irving Berlin (from ‘This Is The Army’).

(b) An audio version was issued on a 5 record set Columbia XLP157989/93 ‘Ed Sullivan Presents The Sullivan Years’.

(c) In addition, a clip from ‘Holiday Inn’ with Bing singing ‘White Christmas’ was shown, which segued into a ‘live’ performance. (See press quote). Bing said of the song and of Berlin: ‘It’s been a great influence on my career and I’m forever grateful to Irving for giving it to me to sing. Probably the greatest break I ever had and I love him for it’

A video version of this item was issued on Buena Vista Home Video 1533 - ‘A Classic Christmas From The Ed Sullivan Show’.

“Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’, biggest disc seller of all time, was one of the show’s centrepieces in a nifty bit of film editing. Crosby was first shown singing the number in a b & w clip from the film ‘Holiday Inn’ and then segued smoothly into Crosby rendering the song in color on videotape. . . Crosby also was in excellent form on several early Berlin songs, including his first one, ‘Marie from Sunny Italy,’ ‘International Rag,’ and ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’.”

(‘Variety’ 8th May 1968)

“Crosby began at the beginning, with ‘Marie From Sunny Italy’ and so, was directly responsible for cracking one record that Berlin had always been proud to talk about – that the song had never earned him more than 37 cents in royalties.”

(From ‘A Salute To Irving Berlin’ by Michael Freedland)

No. 166 28th September 1968 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC)

Produced by William O. Harbach. Directed by Grey Lockwood. With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, The Four Robertis, The Iriston Horsemen, Bob Gibson (baseball player), Abbey Lincoln, Jeannie C. Riley, Bobby Goldsboro and Sid Caesar.

*If You’re Looking For A Man with Chorus

Milton Berle walk-on

The Four Robertis (acrobats)

Africa                                                                                                                  Abbey Lincoln

Sid Caesar spot (Professor Ludwig Know-it-all)

  The Now Generation                                                                                           "Your Own Thing" cast

  Don Adams walk-on

  Honey Bobby Goldsboro

The Straight Life Bobby Goldsboro

  Don Knotts walk-on

The Iriston Horsemen

Bob Gibson walk-on

  Harper Valley PTA Jeannie C. Riley

Medley: with Jeannie C. Riley & Bobby Goldsboro

*Nashville Cats

*Gentle On My Mind

*Little Green Apples

*Hold Me Tight

“The Hollywood Palace is in for its sixth seasonal go-round, thanks in part to Ed Sullivan’s vaudeo spadework but mostly to a crackerjack production and creative staff that makes the hour flow smoothly. Another plus is in the rotating emcees of star value, with Bing Crosby as the inaugural host in his twenty-fifth appearance on the show. . . . Sid Caesar took a turn as Prof. Ludwig, coach of an Olympic karate team and Crosby helped along on the tomfoolery. . . Crosby had a quickie interview with Bob Gibson, ace pitcher of the St. Louis Cardinals who start in the baseball annual today (Wednesday). Der Bingle announced it as Tuesday. Must be the Pittsburgh Pirate blues!”

(‘Variety’ 2nd October 1968)

No. 167 23rd October 1968 - ‘The Bing Crosby Special’ (NBC)

Produced by Ray Charles. Directed by Marc Breaux. With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Jose Feliciano, Stella Stevens, Dorothy Lamour and Bob Hope.

*Making Movies with Bob Hope, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Jose Feliciano and Stella Stevens

*Believe Me When I Say You're Looking Great                                               with Bob Hope

High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me) Diana Ross & The Supremes

"Paint Your Wagon" Medley: (a) with Diana Ross & The Supremes

*I’m On My Way

*I Talk To The Trees

*They Call The Wind ‘Maria’

California Dreamin’ Jose Feliciano (Vocal & Guitar)

*Mama Don’t Allow It (b) with Jose Feliciano (Vocal & Guitar)

*When A Girl Comes To Hollywood (c) with Stella Stevens

*That Face/Funny Face (d) with Chorus

*What The World Needs Now Is Love (e)

Hits Medley:

*Do You Know The Way To San Jose? with Diana Ross & The Supremes

Don’t Give Up Jose Feliciano

I Say A Little Prayer Diana Ross & The Supremes

*Eleanor Rigby

Little Green Apples Diana Ross & The Supremes

*By The Time I Get To Phoenix

That Kind Of Woman Diana Ross

Love Is Blue Jose Feliciano (Guitar only)

*The Fool On The Hill with Diana Ross & The Supremes

Hi-Heel Sneakers Jose Feliciano

*Gentle On My Mind

Harper Valley PTA Diana Ross

*Hey, Jude with Diana Ross & The Supremes & Jose Feliciano

This Guy’s In Love With You Diana Ross & The Supremes

*And I Love Her

*Hold Me Tight with Diana Ross & The Supremes & Jose Feliciano

*Those Were The Days with Diana Ross & The Supremes & Jose Feliciano

*Believe Me (Reprise) with Bob Hope

Notes:

(a) An audio version was issued on Universal CD B0027588-02 "Among My Souvenirs - More Treasures from the Crosby Archive". Bing and Diana Ross & The Supremes sang ‘I Still See Elisa’ after ‘I Talk To The Trees’ on the original soundtrack but this was cut during the final edit and was not aired.

(b) The item was shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204).

(c) Bing’s contribution is limited to a couple of lines at the beginning of this production number for Stella Stevens, which also includes ‘The Charleston’, ‘I Say Amen Ev’ry Time I Say My Prayers’, and ‘Be Yourself’.

(d) An audio version was issued on Limited Edition Club LP JGB1007 - ‘B.C. - T.V. (Bing On The Box)’.

(e) A few bars only during a ‘flower power’ Western sketch with Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour.

“The ‘ole boys’, Crosby and Hope, wander through their hunting grounds, Paramount Studios, checking the action and newcomers like Stella Stevens, The Supremes and blind guitarist, Jose Feliciano. Their repartee has zing on the studio’s western set with Bing playing a ‘flower sheriff’ advocating love to villain Hope. Musical high spot is an updated version of ‘High Noon’ by Miss Ross and The Supremes. The ‘Paint Your Wagon’ medley by Bing, Diana Ross and the Supremes comes a close second. Jose Feliciano duets with Bing and Hope and Crosby join Stella Stevens in a corny screen test sketch.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 23rd October 1968)

“This hour-long Bing Crosby special had its bright moments, but its format—a lightly-plotted variety show—worked against it catching fire for any sustained period despite strong contributions by Crosby, Bob Hope and an excellent guest star roster. . .

The storyline had Hope & Crosby coming back to Paramount for what they hoped would be another ‘Road’ pic, a Par plug repeated in a ‘Paint Your Wagon’ medley. . . Crosby and Hope were charming in their traditional comedic horseplay but some of the material was not exactly appropriate for their years. Whatever their private vigour may be, a necking contest skit with Miss Stevens had about it a definitely uneasy air.”

(‘Variety’ 30th October 1968)

“…Crosby, in excellent voice and obviously enjoying himself, performed in several production numbers, the highlight being his number with the brilliant singer-guitarist, Feliciano. Their number “Mama Don’t Allow” was a near-classic. Bing’s closing number with the Supremes and Feliciano was nearly as good. They spun through a medley of today’s hits and Bing matched them stride for stride, note for note. Charisma, man, charisma.”

(Don Page, The Los Angeles Times, October 24, 1968)

No. 167A 18th November 1968 – ‘Here Come The Stars’ (a)

From the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Bing is ‘roasted’ by (in order) George Jessel, Jan Daley, Curtis & Tracey, Pat Buttram, Rich Little, Pat & Cash, Morey Amsterdam, Dorothy Lamour, Phil Harris and Dorothy Kirsten.

I Enjoy Being A Girl Jan Daley

The Impossible Dream Pat & Cash

You Are Love Dorothy Kirsten

You Go To My Head Dorothy Kirsten

Note:

(a) The first half of this hour-long show was released by Classic TV entitled ‘The Missing Halves Special’. This series ‘roasted’ (i. e. mocked in a humorous and warm way) various celebrities using speeches from friends and colleagues.

“The program with George Jessel and Rich Little was a lot of fun to do. Jessel has always been a great friend of mine, and I find him very funny. I know to a lot of people, he doesn’t come off that way, but he’s such a character, everything he does makes me laugh. Rich Little is tremendously gifted, it seemed to me.”

(Bing Crosby, in a letter to Gord Atkinson, 10th May 1969)

No. 168 23rd November 1968 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC)

Press releases were issued for this programme, indicating that Bing was to be host with guests, Gene Barry, Larry Cantrell, Shelley Berman, George Carl and Greco & Willard. In fact, it seems that the Hollywood Palace Show of that date was hosted by Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca. This entry must therefore be considered doubtful.

No. 169 21st December 1968 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (a)

Produced by William O. Harbach. Directed by Grey Lockwood. With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, John Byner,  Nicolai Olkovikov, The Lennon Sisters, Glen Campbell, Kathryn Crosby and the Crosby children.

*This Is That Time Of The Year with Kathryn Crosby & the children

*Cast presents Bing with Christmas gifts (b)

The Christmas Waltz The Lennon Sisters

The Christmas Song The Lennon Sisters

  John Byner spot
*When The Kids Get Married (c) with Kathryn Crosby

John Byner reading telegrams to Bing

Nicolai Olkovikov (juggler on horseback)

  Ann Glen Campbell
Wichita Lineman Glen Campbell

*1432 Franklin Pike Circle Hero with Glen Campbell

Medley:

*White Christmas  (d)

*Christmas Bells Are Ringing with Lennon Sisters, John Byner & Glen Campbell

*Do You Hear What I Hear? (e) with Kathryn Crosby & the children

Christmas Eve Glen Campbell & Lennon Sisters

O Come Little Children Harry Crosby

Christmas Is A Birthday Kathryn Crosby with Lennon Sisters

*Christmas Is A-Comin’ with John Byner & Cast
*Silent Night (f)

*We Wish You A Merry Christmas with Cast

Notes:

(a) Recorded 12th December 1968. The entire show was issued on video by Nostalgia Family Video.

(b) John Byner (as ‘George Jessel’) keeps forgetting to give his present to Bing.

Glen Campbell gives Bing a Beatles album; ‘A real rarity’, Glen comments, ‘John Lennon is fully clothed on the cover’. The Lennon Sisters gift to their host, is a sweater with four arms!

Later, the Crosby kids offer their father, a copy of Glen Campbell’s ‘Wichita Lineman’ album. Bing remarks ‘I thought we had an understanding that we only play ONE singer’s records at our house’. To which Nathaniel replies, ‘We tried, Daddy, but our machine doesn’t play 78’s.’

In a near-mishap, young Harry Crosby almost drives a golf cart (a supposed gift from Jack Benny) off the stage and into the audience! He stops just short of having the front wheels leave the stage and Bing quips ‘We purty near lost the whole cast right there!’ (This, because Kathryn, Mary Frances, and Nathaniel were also riding in the cart).

Video extracts from this item were included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video.

(c) A video version of this item was included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video.

(d) Rendition includes the rarely heard verse. A video extract from this item was included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video.

Part of this item also appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

(e) A video version of this item was included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video.

(f) A video version of this item was included in Christmas at the Hollywood Palace, a program shown on PBS-TV in December 2004 and made available on DVD and video.

“Bing Crosby plays his traditional role as guest-host on the annual Christmas show of ABC-TV’s “The Hollywood Palace” tonight at 9:30. Also on the holiday program will be Bing’s wife Kathryn and the Crosby children, Harry Lillis, Mary Frances and Nathaniel. Featured on the Christmas show will be the Lennon Sisters offering a selection of Yuletide favorites; pop singer Glen Campbell; comedian John Byner and juggler Nicolai Olkovikov from the Moscow State Circus, who performs while riding a horse.”

(The Daily Record, December 21, 1968)

No. 170 4th January 1969 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (a)

With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, Bob Hope, Stu Gilliam, Earl Wilson, Judy Carne, Dovyeko Acrobatic Troupe (of the Moscow State Circus), Bobbie Gentry and Tiny Tim.

*Once-A-Year Day!

*Happy Birthday (parody)

  Earl Wilson presents Bing and Bob Hope with Show Business Hall of Fame awards.

  Ring-A-Round-Rosy Rag                                                                               Judy Carne

Stu Gilliam (comedian)

Mornin’ Glory Bobbie Gentry

*Okolona River Bottom Band                                                           (c)           with Bobbie Gentry

Dovyeko Acrobatic Troupe

Come To The Ball Tiny Tim

My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time Tiny Tim

Great Balls of Fire Tiny Tim

Crosby Films Medley: (b)

Happy Feet Tiny Tim

*Down The Old Ox Road

Learn To Croon Tiny Tim

*Please

Where The Blue Of The Night Tiny Tim

*Love Is Just Around The Corner

June In January Tiny Tim

*I Love You Samantha

*True Love with Bobbie Gentry

*In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening with Tiny Tim & Bobbie Gentry

*The Straight Life

*Little Green Apples

Notes:

(a) Bing and Bob Hope were presented with the first Annual Show Business Hall of Fame awards during the show by Earl Wilson (columnist).

(This entry has appeared in earlier listings of Bing’s TV appearances as ‘The Hall Of Fame Awards’ but it was not, in fact, a separate programme.)
(b) All titles in the medley were delivered a cappella. Some of the introductory dialogue between Bing and Tiny Tim was included in the final Hollywood Palace show transmitted on 7th February 1970 (see show No. 184).

"Bing really gets into the groove on this performance. As a 65 year old man, Bing is confronted with the challenge of singing with a modern and ultra-hip singer of the calibre of Bobbie and on her territory too ... not only is he to sing one of her compositions but he's to do it in a modern deep funky vibe sort of rock style.

With the opening bars of the driving bass and punching trumpets you know that Bing is far removed from the comfort zone of his 20 greatest hits. Bobbie takes the lead with her so perfectly crafted super sultry singing voice ... and one wonders how Bing will raise to the challenges presented.  We aren't left waiting long. Before Bobbie finishes her solo, Bing looking as jaunty as ever slides in some hummed notes and we know that the master is on his game and this is going to be something special. Bing opens his solo and what's immediately noticeable is that this is not his laid back and relaxing voice. This is a voice with drive and edge. It has sharpness and texture, range and resonance. It’s a voice that has been crafted through the ages.

Bing easily assails the solo. He is confident and swinging hard. His complete mastery is on full display.  The challenge will be the duet. Bing and Bobbie had never sung together before and Bing had no prior knowledge of this song and probably wasn't all that familiar with even the style of music. Bing rises to the challenge.  Imperceptibly, he lets Bobbie take the lead and gives her full room to sing her song in her style. It's his job to fit in around her. He does this effortlessly by instinctively taking the harmony line in this driving rock song. It was a masterstroke because it allowed the richness and complexity of the two singers' voices to complement and blend with each other so beautifully. Bobbie is the driving backbone of the song but the melding and dovetailing is all Bing. That's Bing's genius and that's what makes this song such a winner.

Bing was able to bridge musical genres and the nearly 40-year age difference to make it work. Master singing! The interpolation of Bing's 1927 hit 'Mississippi Mud' could easily have been the ruin of the song but Bing handles the transition masterfully. 'Okolona' presents us with a magnificent performance by both singers and ranks as a triumph of Bing's later years.  We are fortunate that this hidden treasure has been preserved."

(John-yk5vv, YouTube)

“Bing Crosby runs the show and, with the help of Earl Wilson, accepts his first Show Business Hall of Fame Award along with Bob Hope. Bing, Tiny Tim and Bobbie Gentry match up for “Cool Cool Cool of the Evening”; Tiny Tim croons a medley; “Laugh-In’s” Judy Carne sings and dances, and the team of Gentry and Crosby warm up. Also, there is Stu Gilliam and Moscow State Circus acrobats to round out the hour. Color.”

(The Sacramento Bee, January 4, 1969)

As for Crosby, the opportunity for Tiny to meet this idol of his came when he was invited to perform on the television program the Hollywood Palace. Tiny had said he would do the show with either Elvis Presley or Crosby. Ultimately, Crosby was selected and the episode was taped in late 1968 and aired in early January of 1969.

 “We’re very proud to have here a young fella who represents one of the most phenomenal success stories in show business,” Crosby told the crowd as he introduced Tiny. “For the first time on the Hollywood Palace, the man who made tulips the national flower...Tiny Tim!” When Tiny took to the stage and performed a few songs from the then-recently released Tiny Tim’s Second Album, “Come to the Ball,” My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time,” and “Great Balls of Fire,” he received a lively reaction from a clearly amused live audience. “Verrrry interesting,” said Crosby as he approached Tiny, inciting laughter from the audience. “You have quite a style there. I don’t know how to characterize it. Well, it’s spirited!”

What followed was later described by Tiny as one of the best moments in show business. Though not devoid of humorous moments, such as Crosby addressing Tiny as “TT” and Tiny, despite Crosby’s insistence, refusing to call him Bing, but rather, “Mr. Bing,” it was made clear in the segment that Crosby genuinely appreciated what Tiny had to offer as an entertainer. Playing on Tiny’s encyclopedic knowledge of vintage music, Crosby quizzed Tiny by singing songs from films he had starred in and then asked Tiny to name the film and then sing another song from the same movie. Tiny, true to form, nailed all of Crosby’s trivia questions and the segment closed with Tiny, Crosby, and, oddly, Bobbie Gentry singing a rendition of “In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening.”

(Justin Martell, as seen in an interview in Amoeblog, January 11, 2011)

No. 172 15th February 1969 - ‘Feelin’ Groovy at Marine World’ (ABC) (a)

Directed by John Urie. With Anissa (‘Buffy’) Jones (b), The Rascals and Kathryn Crosby.

*Feelin' Good

*The 59th Street Bridge Song (aka ‘Feelin’ Groovy’)

*A Beautiful Morning

*Groovin’

Medley:

*Three Little Fishes (Parody)

*All Of You with Anissa Jones

*Smiles

Can’t Take My Eyes Off You Anissa Jones

*You Couldn’t Be Cuter with Anissa Jones

*The Way You Look Tonight

The Look Of Love Anissa Jones

*Three Little Fishes (Reprise) with Anissa Jones

Notes:

(a) Recorded 14th September 1968.

(b) Mary Anissa Jones, who was aged 10 when this programme was recorded, spent most of her childhood portraying the role of ‘Buffy’ in the long-running sitcom, ‘Family Affair’ starring Brian Keith and Sebastian Cabot. She died from combined drug intoxication when she was 18.

“ABC plugged its own corporation’s 40-acre amusement park in Redwood City, south of San Francisco. The park’s performing dolphins and seals and water-skiing elephants were on view as Bing Crosby toured round with Anissa Jones. . . Crosby was right in the groove with such snappy Adland banter as ‘large economy size’ to describe a big turtle, and ‘brushes after every meal’ to highlight the whale’s display of her imposing choppers. . .”

(‘Variety’ 19th February 1969)

No. 173 17th February 1969 - Chrysler Presents ‘The Bob Hope Special’ (NBC)

Directed by Dick McDonough. With Lisa Miller, Diana Ross and The Supremes, Martha Raye, George Burns and Bob Hope.

Cornet Man Diana Ross & The Supremes

Sam, You Made The Pants Too Long Diana Ross & The Supremes

*When The Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along

Gee, I Wish I Had A Girl Like Mother George Burns

(If You Can’t Sing It) You’ll Have To Swing It Martha Raye

*We Like Working With Each Other (a) with Bob Hope

My Man Diana Ross

Medley:

Wonderful You Diana Ross

Ordinary People  Bob Hope

I Believe In You  Diana Ross

Younger Than Springtime Bob Hope

Mad About The Boy Diana Ross

I Don’t Know Why Bob Hope

I Could Write A Book Diana Ross

I Feel Pretty  Bob Hope

Mr. Wonderful Diana Ross

Ain’t We Got Fun  Bob Hope & Diana Ross

Note:

(a) Includes Bing and Bob Hope re-working old vaudeville routines. (See press report)

These items were included in the NBC-TV programme ‘On the Road with Bing: A Special Tribute to Bing Crosby’ which was shown on 28th October 1977. Black and white versions were included in ‘100 Years of Hope & Humor’, an NBC-TV special shown on 20th April 2003. The entire show was issued on DVD by bobontv.com in 2010, reference No. 021769.

“This was a slapdash conglomeration of song, dance and joke but the circuit-vaudeville frame was particularly suited to the vet talents on hand and the proper end purpose of high entertainment was well served. . . This troupe was bursting with millionaire (literally) talent and host Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, in a bright and easygoing re-creation of a comedy team, seemed to be having a great time.”

(‘Variety’ 19th February 1969)

“Hope comes up with an hour of old vaudeville routines. Hope, Crosby and Burns resurrect ‘Goldie, Fields & Glide’, one of the worst acts ever dreamed up. Bob and Bing revive their 1932 routine called ‘Crossovers’ in which two men meet in the street. Bing is slated for a list of ‘bird’ songs like ‘Red, Red Robin’.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 23rd October 1968)

No. 174 1st March 1969 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC)

With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, Guy Marks, Nicolai Olkovikov, The Temptations, Frank Sinatra Jr, Gary Crosby and Victor Borge.

*Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da

Runaway Child, Running Wild The Temptations
*My Girl with The Temptations

Guy Marks (comedian)

  Gentle On My Mind Gary Crosby

*Row, Row, Row Your Boat with Frank Sinatra Jr & Gary Crosby

*Three Blind Mice with Frank Sinatra Jr & Gary Crosby

*Fugue For Tinhorns with Frank Sinatra Jr & Gary Crosby

Victor Borge spot with Bing

Nicolai Olkovikov (juggler on horseback)

  Love Was Here Before The Stars Frank Sinatra Jr

We’ll Be Together Again Frank Sinatra Jr

  Victor Borge spot
*Hey, Jude with Gary Crosby & Chorus

Note:

(a) Recorded 18th February 1969.

“Bing Crosby hosts a men’s club show. Old pals Bing and Victor Borge reminisce a bit, and then Victor wanders on describing an Oriental poem and tries to teach Bing some peculiarities in arithmetic. Son Gary Crosby and Frank Sinatra Jr. demonstrate their inheritance in solos before harmonizing with Bing; The Temptations sing alone and with Bing; and a juggler from the Moscow State Circus rounds out the bill.”

(Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, March 1, 1969)

No. 175 9th March 1969 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC)

Bing and Gaylord Perry (pitcher for San Francisco Giants) are after quail in the countryside near Pinehurst, North Carolina.

*Downtown (Parody)

*Lazy River (Parody)

*Carolina In The Morning (Parody)

No. 176 5th April 1969 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (a)

With the Mitchell Ayres Orchestra, The Four Tops, George Carl, The Dagestan Tightrope Walkers, Phillip Crosby, Shelley Berman and Sally Ann Howes.

*Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Sally Ann Howes & Chorus

In The Still Of The Night The Four Tops

Eleanor Rigby The Four Tops

Shelley Berman (comedian)

The Dagestan Tightrope Walkers

For Once In My Life Phillip Crosby

Medley: with Phillip Crosby

*Sam’s Song

*When You And I Were Young Maggie Blues

*Play A Simple Melody

George Carl (pantomime artist)

  Just One Of Those Things Sally Ann Howes

Free Again Sally Ann Howes

Medley:

*Let’s All Go Down The Strand with Sally Ann Howes & Chorus

*I’ve Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts with Sally Ann Howes

*Any Old Iron with Sally Ann Howes

We Are Little Wayside Flowers Sally Ann Howes

*I’m Henery The Eighth, I Am

*Underneath The Arches with Sally Ann Howes

*With A Little Bit Of Luck with Sally Ann Howes & Chorus

*Both Sides Now with Chorus

Note:

(a) Recorded 19th March 1969.

“Hollywood Palace. The head man, Bing Crosby, brings down the curtain for the variety hall’s sixth season. With help from son Phil, father Bing croons “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” as well as some melodies he recorded with son Gary. Sally Ann Howes and Bing trot out English music hall tunes; Shelley Berman phones his doctor after business hours; The Four Tops sing about “Eleanor Rigby”; and pantomimist George Carl and Moscow tightrope walkers round out the acts of the hour.”

(Wisconsin State Journal, April 5, 1969)

No. 177 4th October 1969 - ‘The Jackie Gleason Show’ - ‘The Honeymooners In Hollywood’ (CBS) (a)

Guest appearance. With orchestra conducted by Sammy Spear.

*There’s Nothing That I Haven’t Sung About

*You Gotta Be You with Jackie Gleason and Art Carney

Note:

(a) Recorded 15th-19th September 1969.

Bing Crosby, Maureen O’Hara and Bert Parks are on hand, bearing most of the brunt of the four lucky Brooklynites’ impact on Tinseltown. The Kramdens and the Nortons, arriving in Hollywood to collect the prize for the song-writing contest, bed down in Miss O’Hara’s mansion and proceed to make hay on an unlimited expense account. Crosby, literally following a golf ball into their lives, becomes the object of composer Kramden’s campaign to get a name crooner to plug his tunes. But just when the vacationing bus driver thinks he’s got Der Bingle all sewed up, the contest press agent (Parks) scotches everything by cutting off the couples’ funds. The usual noisy, slap-stick fun, with a couple of easy-going numbers from Crosby.

(The Morning Call, October 4, 1969)

No. 178 11th October 1969 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (a)

Produced by William O. Harbach. Directed by Marc Breaux. With Orchestra directed by Nick Perito, The Rodrigues Brothers, Sweetwater, Gwen Verdon, Dick Shawn, Bobbie Gentry and Engelbert Humperdinck.

*Here We Go Again with Chorus

  Sammy Davis Jr. walk-on

Psychedelic Stomp Gwen Verdon

Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child Sweetwater

Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme "walk-on"

Dick Shawn (comedian)

You've Made Me So Very Happy Bobbie Gentry

*Put A Little Love In Your Heart with Bobbie Gentry & Chorus

  Roy Rogers & Dale Evans "walk-on"

  Flip Wilson "walk-on"

(Tom Jones seen in audience)

  The Rodrigues Brothers (highwire act)

  I Could Have Danced All Night Engelbert Humperdinck

I’m A Better Man Engelbert Humperdinck

Beatles Medley:

*Yellow Submarine with Engelbert Humperdinck

*Can’t Buy Me Love with Engelbert Humperdinck & Gwen Verdon

The Fool On The Hill Bobbie Gentry

Yesterday Engelbert Humperdinck

With A Little Help From My Friends Dick Shawn, Bobbie Gentry & Gwen Verdon

*And I Love Her

*Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da with Engelbert Humperdinck, Gwen Verdon, Bobbie Gentry & Dick Shawn

*Love’s Been Good To Me

Note:
(a)     Recorded 30th September 1969. There were also short guest appearances by Sammy Davis Jr., Tom Jones, Flip Wilson, Roy Rogers & Dale Evans, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, all of whom were scheduled to host forthcoming Hollywood Palace shows.

“Hollywood Palace has long impressed as a slickly produced vaudeo, and the preem of the seventh season was no exception. Bing Crosby teed off the 69-70 term, as he has the six previous. This time, Crosby’s bit included clips from his previous intros and Der Bingle performed an original song about the Palace and its guest celebs through the years. The song was hardly chart material but served its purpose of setting the proper motif for the new season. . . . Also on hand was Engelbert Humperdinck, whose presence accentuated the star caliber of the guest line-up. All hands joined in a medley of Beatle hits, which among other things demonstrated that the Liverpool four have assembled a first-class repertoire of ‘unhard rock’ music. . . . Crosby closed the proceedings with a sentimental number.”

(‘Variety’ 15th October 1969)

"I started singing my ballad of the time, which was probably the Burt Bacharach song I’m a Better Man, and Bing was standing there, 10ft away, with his arms folded, watching me. He had his pipe in his mouth and his trademark trilby. I was pretty nervous because I’d grown up seeing him in those Road to … films with Bob Hope, and, of course, listening to all those great records such as White Christmas. So to see him in person was quite incredible. When I finished singing, he took his pipe out of his mouth and said, ‘That’s some set of pipes you got there, boy.’ That was all he said. Quite a compliment though, coming from Bing Crosby. After I finished rehearsing, I went backstage and met his sons, then Bing. It was the first and only time we ever met. I’d heard that he wasn’t very sociable, but I found him to be just like his screen image: the relaxed man next door. We sat down. I asked if we could have this picture taken together."

(Engelbert Humperdinck, as quoted in the Telegraph Magazine, 2009)

No. 179 6th November 1969 - ‘The Dean Martin Show’ (NBC) (a)

Guest appearance. With Les Brown and his Band of Renown, Jack Gilford, Eva Gabor, Dom DeLuise and Dean Martin.

Somebody Stole My Gal Dean Martin

It’s So Nice To Have A Man Around The House Eva Gabor

Makin’ Whoopee (Parody) Dean Martin and Eva Gabor

Up, Up And Away Dean Martin

I’m Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover (Parody) Dean Martin (with Ken Lane - Vocal and Piano)

It Might As Well Be Spring (Parody) Dean Martin (with Ken Lane - Piano)

It’s The Talk Of The Town Dean Martin (with Ken Lane - Piano)

*The Straight Life

*Hi, Neighbour with Dean Martin

Medley: (b) with Dean Martin

*Then I’ll Be Happy

*Mississippi Mud

*I’m A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas

*Little Old Lady

*Got A Date With An Angel

*Dig You Later (A Hubba, Hubba, Hubba!)

*Let Me Sing And I’m Happy

Everybody Loves Somebody Dean Martin

Notes:

(a) The programme included a walk-on appearance by Julie Andrews to plug a forthcoming show.

(b) The medley with Dean was recorded on 28th September 1969.

“Bing Crosby is everywhere on the tube these days. He strolls on with our host to engage in a spoof on the old radio chatter shows and the sketch allows the men to play the ‘happiness boys’, crooning a medley of songs with ‘happy’ (?) in the titles.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 6th November 1969)

No. 180 10th November 1969 - ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ (CBS) (a)

Guest appearance. Orchestra directed by Harry Zimmermann. With Dan Rowan, Dick Martin, Ella Fitzgerald and Carol Burnett.

*Flattery (Will Get You Somewhere) (b) with Carol Burnett

I’ll Never Fall In Love Again Carol Burnett & Ella Fitzgerald

Paramount Medley: with Ella Fitzgerald

*Moon River

*Buttons And Bows

*In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening

*Swinging On A Star

*Call Me Irresponsible

*Thanks For The Memory

*We’re Funny Men

Notes:

(a)        Recorded 22nd - 28th November 1969. The programme included a cameo appearance by Bob Hope.

(b) A video version of this item was issued on Fox Home Video 8139 - ‘The Carol Burnett Show - A Reunion’.

An audio version was issued on Limited Edition Club LP JGB-1007 - ‘BC-TV Bing on the Box’.

“Postponed from last week, this is a big night with named guests. Bing is the big cheese, singing with Ella and Carol and fawned over by the latter in a restaurant skit and Bing seems to enjoy himself being pushed around by Carol in this routine. The final portion pays tribute to Paramount Studios, Bing’s old Alma Mater.”

(‘Los Angeles Herald Examiner’ 10th November 1969)

What can I say about Bing? Wow! My grandmother and I were usually first in line whenever a Bing Crosby movie (with or without Bob Hope) was showing at our neighborhood theater. He had a cool demeanor that was very attractive to me, even as a kid, and he was a natural- born actor. I got to know him when we swapped appearances on our television shows. He was on my show twice, and I did a couple of his specials.

In one of the sketches on our show I played a starstruck waitress, and when Bing and his manager (Harvey Korman) sit at one of her tables, she goes ape. Totally obnoxious, she badgers Bing into giving her his autograph, forcing Harvey to take a picture of her with Bing, wrapping Bing’s arms around her, etc., etc., and finally ignoring Bing when she spots “a bigger star” coming into the restaurant! Enter Bob Hope!

We had been hiding Bob backstage in a dressing room during the show until it was time for his walk-on. The audience went wild, and Bing’s jaw dropped. It was a complete surprise and he was delighted.

After the sketch, Bing and Bob kidded around for the audience, trading insults, with the cameras still rolling.

Bob: “I’ve just been looking around for work, and I’m glad you found some. It’s nice to see you on your feet. You look wonderful, you really do.” (Caressing Bing’s cheek) “You just come right from the plasterers?” (Referring to Bing’s jacket) “Very nice…these are coming back, y’know. Do you like my suit? I had this made for me in Glendale.”

Bing: Where were you at the time?

As I said before. I couldn’t read music, so I would listen to our special material writers sing the medleys and original numbers on tape every week in order to learn the vocals. Both times he was on, we sent a tape to Bing, who also didn’t read music, and he would show up for rehearsals “note perfect.” He only had to hear it once. And some of the medleys we did were pretty complicated! What you saw on the screen was exactly what he was. Mellow, laid-back, and a real class act.”
(Carol Burnett, In Such Good Company: Eleven Years of Laughter, Mayhem, and Fun in the Sandbox)

“Ella was reunited with Bing Crosby, the last time the two would sing together in public. . . .The camera found Crosby and Ella sitting on stools, Carol noticeably missing as she gave these two superstars the room they needed to work together. The theme of the medley this time was songs from films made by Paramount, which included ‘Moon River,’ ‘Buttons and Bows,’ ‘In The Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening,’ ‘Swinging on a Star,’ ‘Call Me Irresponsible,’ and ‘Thanks for the Memory.’ Both were in excellent voice, obviously enjoying working with one another. This segment was preceded by a skit in which Bob Hope made a surprise appearance, and Hope and Crosby bounced extemporaneous jibes at one another to everyone’s delight. Bing was energized for his tuning with Ella, a highlight of any television season.”

(From ‘First Lady of Song’ by Geoffrey Mark Fidelman)

No. 181 17th December 1969 -‘The Bing Crosby Special’ -‘Bing & Carol -Together Again For The First Time’ (NBC) (a)

Produced by Nick Vanoff and William O. Harbach. Directed by Grey Lockwood. Musical Arrangements by Nick Perito & Joe Lipman. With Roy Clark, Juliet Prowse and Carol Burnett with orchestra directed by John Scott Trotter, .

*Together Again (b) (j)      with cast

Strangers In The Night Roy Clark

Where Or When Juliet Prowse

*I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face (Parody)

On The Street Where You Live (Parody) Carol Burnett

*Remember

Dearie Roy Clark

We Have Nothing In Common Carol Burnett

*Jingle Bells (c) & (d) with Roy Clark, Carol Burnett & Juliet Prowse

The Pretty Little Dolly                                                                     (j)              Carol Burnett

*One Little Word - Married (i) (j)        with Carol Burnett

*Nashville Cats with Roy Clark

*Try A Little Kindness with Roy Clark

*Pickin’ And Grinnin’ (c) (j)             with Roy Clark

Malaguena (e) (j)             Roy Clark (guitar)

Tip Toe Through The Tulips With Me  (f)

*One Step Further Down You Can Go                                              (j)

*If My Friends Could See Me Now                                                   (j)               with  Juliet Prowse

*Here’s To Us (Forever And Always) with Juliet Prowse

*Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (g) with Carol Burnett

*Try To Remember (h) (j)

1960s Medley:

*Never On Sunday                                                                            (j)                with Roy Clark, Carol Burnett & Juliet Prowse

*Moon River                                                                                     (j)                with Roy Clark

Days of Wine and Roses Carol Burnett & Juliet Prowse

Blowing In The Wind Roy Clark

*Sunrise, Sunset with Juliet Prowse

Downtown Roy Clark & Juliet Prowse

A Hard Day’s Night Roy Clark & Juliet Prowse

*Girl From Ipanema

Alfie                                                                                              (j)                 Carol Burnett

*Up, Up And Away with Juliet Prowse

*Little Green Apples with Roy Clark, Carol Burnett & Juliet Prowse

*Aquarius with Roy Clark, Carol Burnett & Juliet Prowse

*White Christmas (c) (j)           with cast

*Together Again (Reprise)                                                              (b)  (j)         with cast

  Strangers In The Night Roy Clark

Where Or When Juliet Prowse

*I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face

On The Street Where You Live Carol Burnett

*Remember

Dearie Roy Clark

Notes:

(a) Recorded 22nd - 28th November 1969. The programme included a cameo appearance by Bob Hope.

(b) The arrangement included snatches of the titles shown in italics.

(c) Abridged video versions of these items were issued on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

(d) The traditional Christmas number is parodied first by Roy Clark in Country & Western style. Then by Carol Burnett & Juliet Prowse in the style of composer, Jerry Herman and finally all three join Bing in a ‘send-up’ of the style of Meredith Willson’s ‘The Music Man’ with ‘Give Me The Jing, Jing, Jing Of The Jingle Bells’. A brief fragment of the latter was seen in the BBC2-TV presentation ‘Bing On Bing’ transmitted in the UK on December 25, 2002.

(e) As accompaniment to dance routine by Juliet Prowse.

(f) Bing lip synch’s to a few bars of Tiny Tim’s recording

(g) This song closes a sketch featuring Carol, as a department store charwoman, and Bing as a janitor.

 An abridged video version of the song was issued on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

(h) A few bars only of this item.

(i) This item was shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204).

(j)        Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 6) issued in 2018.

“[This] was an average holiday network video special—over produced and under-written. Whatever strengths Bing Crosby may have as a tv host were lost in this elaborately hollow televaude special. The show was, on occasion, appealing but its patchwork structure worked against any sort of sustained risibility. . . Roy Clark tried to pull off one of his ‘Hee-Haw’ grinning and picking sessions with Crosby but the latter’s languid style slowed it to a walk. One segment, in which ‘Jingle Bells’ was presented as written by three different current composers, was intermittently amusing. Basically the concept was funnier than its execution.”

(‘Variety’ 24th December 1969)

"The Bing Crosby-Carol Burnett hour, “Together Again for the first Time,” was one of the most enjoyable offerings in which either of those stars has participated in a long time.

This, because it substituted an element of freshness for the stale formats of so many Christmas shows. First of all, it had no one theme, being a mixture of song, comedy, music, nostalgia and whimsy…The program had several novel highlights. One of these had the stars singing “Jingle Bells” as it might have been written by the lyricists and composers of “Gentle on My Mind,” “Hello Dolly,” and “The Music Man.” Another gave us a pantomime with Carol as a charwoman in a department store and Bing as a janitor on Christmas Eve…a lovely conceit.

The hour also include Bing and Clark in a joint session of country tunes. But the topper of the proceedings was the medley of songs – the great oldies of the 1960s. And - if you were inclined to bet that the list would include “White Christmas,” the Irving Berlin ditty forever associated with Crosby---well you’d have been the winner.

All in all, a completely enjoyable, a highly entertaining variety program."

(Ben Gross, Daily News (New York), December 19, 1969)

“However, my biggest thrill on TV was the time I got to work with my total idol, Bing Crosby, on one of his Christmas specials. I flew from Maryland into Los Angeles for the taping. I couldn’t get a direct flight and as a result was running late. I got off the airplane and went right to the rehearsal studio on Sunset Blvd. Les Brown [sic, it was John Scott Trotter], Bing’s orchestra leader, was there, along with some members of the band. I walked in with my clothes bag over one arm, my guitar under the other, and saw Bing lying on a bench. Mind you, we’d never met. He was just stretched out, resting, while the orchestra rehearsed his charts. He had a ball cap pulled down over his eyes, and when he heard me come in he raised it to see who it was. ‘Hey, Roy, how you doin’?’ he said in that familiar drawl. My idol! Of all the people I ever wanted to be like, to emulate, Bing Crosby was at the top of the list! He was everything I ever wanted to be, with one of the truly great voices. In my estimation he could sing a song better than anyone who ever lived. When he sang, he made it look so easy. Like that was the only thing he did. Or when he was acting, it was the same thing, as if that was the only thing he did.

I’ll never forget, we were also supposed to do a duet of ‘Moon River’. Bing and I would get there early, or stay late, to rehearse our parts. This one time we were sitting by the piano, working on the harmonies, when his lovely wife, Kathryn, came into the room. Understand, all of my life I worked with trios of tenor singers, which allowed me to do a lot of switching of parts. If I got too high for one guy, he could drop down and another could take over. The upside of that type of singing is the production of beautiful harmonies. The downside for me was that I didn’t know a legitimate part from Adam. Well, Bing was trying his best to teach me my part, but the harmony I sang wasn’t the harmony written. He sat there, played block chords on the piano, and finally looked up to me after I hit another note I wasn’t supposed to, stopped, turned to Kathryn and said, ‘You know what his problem is? He was raised on that Presbyterian harmony!’”

(From ‘My Life in Spite of Myself’ by Roy Clark)

No. 182 18th December 1969 - Chrysler Presents ‘The Bob Hope Special’ (NBC) (a)

Unbilled guest appearance. With Les Brown and his Band of Renown, Andy Williams, Anthony Newley and Elke Sommer.

*Imagination (b)

I Believe Andy Williams

Everybody’s Talking (c) Bob Hope & Anthony Newley

There’s No Such Thing As Love Anthony Newley

Notes:

(a) The entire show was issued on DVD by bobontv.com in 2010, reference No. 121869.

(b) Bing’s only contribution consists of a few bars of the song at the close of a Santa Claus skit featuring Bob Hope and Elke Sommer.

(c) Interpolated into a sketch.

"…Elke also appears as Mrs. Santa Claus, unhappy at being left alone on Christmas. Bing Crosby returns Hope’s earlier favour by appearing in this skit."

(The Evening News, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, December 18, 1969)

No. 183 3rd January 1970 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (a)

With the Nick Perito Orchestra, The Establishment, Patchett & Tarses, The Kuban Cossacks, Mac Ronay, Leland Palmer, Sergio Franchi and Mary Costa.

*This Is The Life

The Kuban Cossacks

Stay Sergio Franchi

To Give (The Reason I Live)                                                                                Sergio Franchi

Patchett & Tarses (comedians)

  I’m In Love With Vienna Mary Costa

*Pollution with Mary Costa

Little Orphan Annie Leland Palmer

‘Hair’ Medley The Establishment

Aquarius

Where Do I Go?

Let The Sunshine In

  Mac Ronay (French magician)

Crosby Medley:

Love In Bloom Sergio Franchi

June In January Mary Costa

*Love Is Just Around The Corner with Leland Palmer

*Please

*Learn To Croon

*Down The Old Ox Road with Mary Costa

Temptation Sergio Franchi

Happy Feet Leland Palmer

*The Waiter And The Porter And The Upstairs Maid with Mary Costa & Sergio Franchi

*Pennies From Heaven

True Love Mary Costa & Sergio Franchi

*Swinging On A Star with Leland Palmer, Mary Costa & Sergio Franchi

Note

(a) Recorded 11th December 1969. The entire show was issued on video by Nostalgia Family Video.

“Bing Crosby hosts “Hollywood Palace” and presents Metropolitan Opera soprano Mary Costa, Sergio Franchi, the Establishment, singer-dancer Leland Palmer, comics Patchett and Tarses, pantomimist Mac Ronay, and the Kuban Cossacks, folk dancers.”

(Tulare Advance-Register, January 3, 1970)

No. 183a 19th January 1970 - ‘Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In’ (NBC)

Guest appearance.

No. 184 7th February 1970 - ‘The Hollywood Palace’ (ABC) (a)

*Until You’ve Played The Palace (b)

Notes:

(a)      A video version of the programme was issued by Video Yesteryear (Catalogue No. unknown). The programme was composed of clips from previous shows. Bing narrated and sang the one ‘new’ song.

(b) Used to open and close the programme. Brief extracts were seen in ‘Remembering Bing’, a 90-minute special produced by WTTW, Chicago and televised by the Public Broadcasting Service on 28th November 1987.

This item was also shown on ‘The Best Of The Hollywood Palace’, hosted by Susanne Summers, on ABC-TV in 1993.

“Bing Crosby, who hosted opening night at the Palace on 4th January 1964, rings down the curtain with a large sampling of highlights from the past six years. Music. . . 1964 - Nat King Cole (‘Unforgettable’); Ed Wynn & Eydie Gorme (‘Tea For Two’): 1965 - Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass (‘Lonely Bull’): 1966 - Fred Astaire & Ethel Merman (‘Anything Goes’); Martha Raye (‘Little Girl Blue’); Ray Bolger (‘Once In Love With Amy’); Jimmy Durante & Mrs. Miller (‘Inka Dinka Doo’): 1967 - Sammy Davis Jr. (‘Birth Of The Blues’); Bing Crosby & Ella Fitzgerald (‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’): 1969 - James Brown (‘Say It Loud, I’m Black And I’m Proud’).”

(‘TV Guide’ 7th February 1970)

No. 185 8th February 1970 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC)

Fishing for salmon with outdoors editor, Bud Boyd, on the Laxamaryi River, in Iceland.

*The Land Of The Midnight Sun

Note:

(a) An extract was included in the film “The World of Sport Fishing” released in 1972.

No. 186 16th February 1970 – ‘The Bob Hope Chrysler Special’ (NBC) (a)

With Les Brown and his Band of Renown, The West Point Glee Club, Oleg Cassini, Johnny Carson, Johnny Cash, Raquel Welch and Ray Bolger.

*Love’s Been Good To Me

Medley: (b)

*Buttons And Bows

Please Bob Hope

*Two Sleepy People

Swinging On A Star Bob Hope

*Thanks For The Memory                                                                      (c)

White Christmas                                                                                  (c)          Bob Hope

*Road To Morocco with Bob Hope

*Put It There Pal                                                                                    (c)         with Bob Hope

Medley: (Parodies) with Bob Hope, Ray Bolger & Raquel Welch

*You’re The Top

*The Girl That I Marry

*Mame

*Once In Love With Amy (Parody)

Notes:

(a) The programme included video excerpts from the Eisenhower Medical Centre Benefit held at the Waldorf Astoria on 27th January 1970. The entire show was issued on DVD by bobontv.com in 2010, reference No. 021670.

(b) Extracts from the medley were included in the NBC-TV programme ‘On the Road with Bing: A Special Tribute to Bing Crosby’ which was shown on 28th October 1977.

(c)  Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 10) issued in 2018.

“The Special’s strong point was nostalgia, particularly fitting for the occasion. Carson introduced Crosby and Hope for a reprise of the ‘Road Boys’ and the twosome clowned their way through an appealing turn of doing each other’s songs and heckling asides. Warmest bit came when Bolger, Miss Welch, Crosby and Hope saluted Mamie Eisenhower in song; camera stayed on the former First Lady during ‘Mame’ and ‘Once In Love With Mamie’ while quartet sang away off-camera.”

(‘Variety’ 18th February 1970)

No. 187 26th & 27th February 1970 - ‘The Movie Game’ (a)

Hosted by Sonny Fox. With Raymond St. Jacques, Rosemary Forsyth and Margaret O’Brien.

Guest appearance.

Note:

(a) “The Movie Game” was a syndicated series originating from the studios of KTLA in Los Angeles. The game focused on the world of motion pictures. The format had two teams of three players, each with two celebrity guests and a contestant, competing to see which team knew more about movies.

“One of filmdom’s all-time greats, Bing Crosby, makes a rare appearance to play the game with Margaret O’Brien, Raymond St. Jacques and Rosemary Forsyth. Viewers have as much fun as the guests as they try to answer questions based on clips from movies, old and new. A feast for film fans of all ages.”

(‘Los Angeles Times’ 26th February 1970)

No. 188 31st March 1970 - ‘Goldilocks’ (NBC) (a)

Directed by Marc Breaux. Orchestra directed by Doug Goodwin. With the voices of Paul Winchell and Avery Schreiber and featuring Nathaniel Crosby, Mary Frances Crosby and Kathryn Crosby.

*Take A Longer Look

*The Human Race with Kathryn Crosby

Don’t Settle For Less (Than The Best) Mary Frances Crosby

*Take A Longer Look (Reprise) with Cast

Note:     

(a)     Recorded 16th June 1969. A video version was issued by the Mirisch Video Company numbered VHS 601203 and an audio version of the programme was issued on Disneyland ST3998 - ‘Goldilocks’.

“This update of the familiar children’s folk tale was a puzzling network, prime time, programming anomaly. For one thing, it was aired at 8.30 pm EST, later than would be indicated by its pre-teen approach to both the story and its affixed message. For those grammar school scholars who stayed up, its half-hour length and lack of new directions were not worth the effort.

While it might take a Scrooge to fault its tacked-on brotherhood message, it’s a fair guess that an average video-wise tyke would find the moral appeal, simplistic in the extreme. (In this version, a demagogue bobcat tries to run Goldie out of the forest because she is different than the animals. Papa Bear - Bing Crosby - makes an impassioned plea for tolerance and turns the tide). Adults might consider that in these ecologically oriented times, the presence of humans in the forest is, at best, a mixed blessing.

Technically, the show had considerable gloss, including a couple of pleasant, original tunes. The mixture of animation and live actors was well handled and the acting was passable. While the idea of putting Bing’s daughter in as Goldilocks, is cute, Miss Crosby is no thespic heavy weight, even by kid standards.

Finally, there was one very heavy in-show plug for a record of the show that could be bought for $1.98 (regular price $3.98) only at the sponsor’s carpet stores. It was narrated by Bing and was done with no separation from the story. This is the sort of marginal commercial pitch that raises the hackles on parent’s necks.”

(‘Variety’ 8th April 1970)

The story of Goldilocks was brought to the home screen by NBC Tuesday night in a delightful blend of animation and live action.

In this retelling, with Bing Crosby and members of his family, the simple fairy tale took on a new dimension. It became something of an ecological morality play.

Mary Frances Crosby played Goldilocks in her encounter with the three bears – who were none too happy at the prospect of a human in the forest. A new addition to the story, a militant bobcat, warned that “when people move in, this place won’t be worth living in.” Crosby as Papa Bear sang a song about “The Human Race” and its rat race.

People, the bobcat warned bring pollution and cut down trees. But as in all fairy tales – and television – all ended well.

Bing’s voice has gone a little raspy, nevertheless he renders a song better than most singers today and is missed.

(Jerry Buck, Associated Press, April 1, 1970)

No. 189 13th April 1970 - ‘Bing Crosby - Cooling It’ (NBC) (a)

Directed by Marty Pasetta. Orchestra directed by Dick Debenedictis. With Bernadette Peters, Flip Wilson and Dean Martin.

*Cooling It                                                                                           (d)

*Leisure Time                                                                                      (d)

*Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head (b) (d)

Self-Improvement                                                                              (d)           Bernadette Peters

*Turn Around with Bernadette Peters

Medley:

*Breezin’ Along With The Breeze with Dean Martin

*Give Me The Simple Life

*Bidin’ My Time with Dean Martin

*Lazy Day with Dean Martin

*Gone Fishin’

*Lazy River (c) with Dean Martin

*Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think) with Dean Martin

*Breezin’ Along With The Breeze (Reprise) with Dean Martin

*There’s A New World Coming

*Cooling It (Reprise)                                                                           (d)

Notes:

(a) The entire show was issued on the Collectors’ Choice Music 2-DVD set “Bing Crosby: The Television Specials – Volume 1” in April 2010.

(b) A split scene technique is employed to reveal Bing in more formal dress, singing and also attired as a hobo in silent mime.

(c) An abridged video version of this item was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978.

(d)   Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 6) issued in 2018.

“After a rather soggy start, the Bing Crosby Special, ‘Cooling It’, righted itself and built into the best Crosby tv outing in quite a while. Using a musical comedy format to embrace the leisure time motif, Crosby fronted the easily paced hour as glib commentator-host. Highlights were Crosby’s ‘Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head’ done with imaginative double screen effects and a Crosby-Peters ‘Turn Around’ segment that had some pointed writing. . . Flip Wilson’s ‘Geraldine’ in drag character, pumped great verve into a contrived skit that had Crosby and Dean Martin breaking up over Wilson’s camping, after which Martin and Crosby did a showmanly lazy man’s medley for a good climax.”

(‘Variety’ 17th April 1970)

No. 190 12th April 1970 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC)

Sportsman’s ideas for conservation of natural resources.

No.191 13th June 1970  - Sabados Circulares de Mancera  (Channel 13, Argentina) (a)

*Where The Blue Of The Night                                                       (b) (c)

*Pennies From Heaven                                                                      (b)

*Sometimes I'm Happy                       with Kathryn Crosby              (b)

*Solamente Una Vez

*Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

*La Borrachita

*Jingle Bells                                                                                       (b)

*White Christmas                                                                              (b) (d)

*Where The Blue Of The Night                                                          (b)

Notes:

(a) Bing and Kathryn are interviewed by Nicolas “Pipo” Mancera. Their fee is given to Pardo Maternity hospital. Kathryn narrates the history of the maternity hospital and Bing sings a number of songs accompanied by a small group. The show was taped on June 12 and broadcast in black and white.
(b)      Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 8) issued in 2018.
(c)      This was shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD.
(d)       Included as an extra on the Infinity Entertainment Group DVD “The Legendary Bing Crosby” (No. IEG2204).

No. 192 16th July 1970 - ‘Happy Days’ (a)

Hosted by Bob Elliott and Ray Goulding. With Louis Nye and Lionel Hampton.

Note:

(a) Not be confused with the top-rated, long-running, later series of the same title, starring Henry Winkler and Ron Howard, this was described as a ‘variety’ series. A special musical guest was featured weekly and film clips were shown. ‘The Los Angeles Times’ for this date offers, ‘Features include George Raft in a 1930’s gangster film and a rare radio spot with Bing Crosby and Jack Benny’. As ‘radio spots’ featuring Bing and Jack are not particularly rare, it would be fair to assume that this would have to be a filmed item.

No. 192A 10th October 1970 - The Robert K. Dornan Show (KTLA)

Guest appearance on the series premiere of this talk show.

No. 193 25th November 1970 - ‘This Is Your Life - Bob Hope’ (BBC) (a)

Guest appearance.

Note:

(a) Recorded 17th November 1970.

As a matter of interest, in November 2001, ‘The Daily Mail’ in London published the following quote from Lady Caroline Townsend (Hope’s press agent at the time and who now runs her own PR company) - “Out of nowhere, Crosby and Hope strolled by. In real life they disliked each other intensely – Didn’t you know that? Oh, yes, lots of bad feeling. I helped to set up the ‘This Is Your Life’ show on Bob. Everyone was on, including two US Presidents. Crosby refused: didn’t want anything to do with Bob.”

Bing was seen, of course (His contribution taped as clearly as those of President Nixon, Jack Benny and Dorothy Lamour!) and used these words, “I love and admire him – You have to, for his tireless zeal on behalf of every worthwhile cause or project. He’s absolutely indefatigable – and at his age.”

“Then the familiar face with a pipe, on videotape and a voice of mock condescension: ‘I’d be delighted to lend my stature to assist this – unknown. Exactly what is it that this – Bob Hope – does? What is his talent.’ Crosby’s appearance was a true audience pleaser. . .”

(From ‘Bob Hope - A Life In Comedy’ by William Robert Faith)

No. 194 29th November 1970 - ‘The John Wayne TV Special’ - ‘Swing Out, Sweet Land’ (NBC) (a)

Guest appearance (b). With Ann-Margret, Lucille Ball, Jack Benny, Dan Blocker, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash, Roy Clark, The Doodletown Pipers, Lorne Green, Bob Hope, Michael Landon, Dean Martin, Dick Martin, Ross Martin, Ed McMahon, Greg Morris, Hugh O’Brian, Dan Rowan, William Shatner, Red Skelton, Tommy Smothers and Leslie Uggams.

*Huckleberry Finn

Ribbon Of Steel Johnny Cash

This Is A Great Country Glen Campbell

Clementine Leslie Uggams

The Declaration The Doodletown Pipers

Oh! Susannah Roy Clark

*God Bless America with Cast

Notes:

(a) This special was the most expensive single show ever produced for television at the time, costing the sponsor, Budweiser, over $2 million. It achieved a 39.3 rating and was number one in the ratings for the week. It was estimated that 77 million people watched it.

(b) Bing, as Mark Twain, is seen talking with Roscoe Lee Browne playing the character, Frederick Douglass (the abolitionist editor).

An abridged video version of this item was included in the Goodtimes Home Video ‘Bing Crosby - Hollywood’s Greatest Entertainer’ issued in 1991.

“In a $2-million dollar special, the movie hero and a parade of stars explore our history.”

(‘TV Guide’ 28th November 1970)

Bing Crosby, portraying Mark Twain, and Roscoe Lee Browne as Frederick Douglass seemed ill-at-ease in contrived conversational gambit. Lucille Ball, looking lovely, delivered a message by Paul Keyes concerning freedom and the Statue of Liberty. Dan Rowan and Dick Martin performed as the Wright Brothers in a minor bit.

(Variety, November 30, 1970)

No. 195 14th December 1970 - ‘Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In’ (NBC)

Cameo appearance. Debbie Reynolds was the featured guest. Other cameo appearances were made by Rich Little, Phyllis Diller and Jilly Rizzo.

No. 196 16th December 1970 - Bing Crosby’s Christmas Show for the Bell System Family Theatre (NBC) (a)

Directed by Marty Pasetta. With Orchestra directed by Dick Debenedictis, The Doodletown Pipers, Joe Ross, Joe Besser, Melba Moore, Jack Wild, Kathryn, Mary Frances, Nathaniel and Harry Crosby.

*Christmas Is Here To Stay with cast

Love In The Large Size Melba Moore

*Do You Hear What I Hear? (b)

Movin’ The Mail The Doodletown Pipers

*Christmas Is For Children

*The Feast Of Fools  (c)

The Lowest Of The Low Jack Wild

Topsy-Turvy Time Jack Wild

*Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas (d)

Medley

Jingle Bells  (e) Harry, Nathaniel & Mary Frances Crosby

*Sleigh Ride  (e) with Kathryn Crosby

Silver Bells Jack Wild

*Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (f) with Melba Moore

*We Wish You A Merry Christmas  with Cast

O Little Town Of Bethlehem Jack Wild

What Child Is This? Melba Moore

Away In A Manger Kathryn & Mary Frances Crosby

*O Holy Night (g)

*Joy To The World with cast

*White Christmas with cast

Notes:

(a) Recorded 21st - 23rd September 1970 at NBC Studio 2, Burbank, California.

(b) Bing lip-synched to his 1963 recording with the Ralph Carmichael Orchestra & Chorus.

(c) Narration with a chorus or two. Jack Wild, Kathryn Crosby and Mary Frances Crosby feature on screen.

(d) Interpolated into a sketch with Melba Moore. An abridged video version of this item appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

(e) A brief extract was seen in the Channel 4 TV presentation ‘Top Ten Christmas’ shown in the UK on 24th December 1999.

(f) Fragment only.

(g) An abridged video version of this item appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

“Bing Crosby’s ‘Christmas Show’ played it pretty straight as standard holiday season fare, with a good bit of his own family on view as the magnet for family viewers. It was a pleasant show without any particular highlights, one that concentrated on the homey aspects of the Yuletide spirit.

The show played more like a record album than a TV show, with a mixture of traditional Christmas songs and new material written by the scripters, Buz Kohan and Bill Angelos, with an assist from Rod Warren. The latter’s ‘Love In The Large Size’ sung by Melba Moore as the opener, was the best piece of material on the show.

Otherwise, Crosby and the Doodletown Pipers moved through the musical salute in competent fashion. Special material about a Salvation Army lass and a street corner Santa (Miss Moore and Crosby) and a longish ‘Feast Of Fools’ episode, featuring Jack Wild and Crosby’s daughter Mary Frances, were different without being impressive. Both segments maintained the mood of the show, however and that mood also sustained the Crosby family’s rather uncertain singing during the closing carols and Christmas favorites’ medley, which included the inevitable ‘White Christmas’ - effective as ever.

The closest thing to comedy was Crosby’s light-hearted glibness, but the warmth and sincerity of the musical tribute was sufficient to make the special an easy-to-take hour.”

(‘Variety’ 23rd December 1970)

No. 197 7th January 1971 - ‘The ‘Flip Wilson Show’ (NBC) (a)

Guest appearance. With George Wyle Orchestra, The Supremes and David Steinberg.

It's Time To Break Down / Stoned Love The Supremes

*They All Laughed (b)

*Mountain Greenery (b)

*The Blue Room (b)

Medley:

*Don’t Fence Me In

*I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande) with Flip Wilson

*Tumbling Tumbleweeds with Flip Wilson

*Jingle, Jangle, Jingle (I’ve Got Spurs) with Flip Wilson

*Ragtime Cowboy Joe with Flip Wilson

*I Surrender Dear

We’ve Only Just Begun The Supremes

*Auld Lang Syne (c)

*The Night Is Young And You’re So Beautiful (c)

Notes:

(a) During the show, Flip Wilson presented Bing with a platinum disc to mark record sales of more than 300 million.

An abridged half hour version of this show was screened in the USA on the TV Land cable network on 31st August 1997. It omitted Bing's solo numbers, among other items.

(b) Audio versions were issued on Limited Edition Club LP JGB1007 - ‘B.C. - T.V. (Bing On The Box)’

(c) Snatches only, interpolated into ‘Bunny Club’ sketch.

Flip and David Steinberg pair up as fathers comparing notes at the maternity hospital, little league games and high school graduation, As Geraldine, Flip meets Bing Crosby, a plumber in town for a convention; Flip and Bing ramble through a western medley; the Supremes step out for songs, as well as a sketch…

(Honolulu Star-Bulletin, January 10, 1971)

No. 198 19th January 1971 - ‘Movie Of The Week’ - ‘Doctor Cook’s Garden’ (ABC) (a)

Made-for-television suspense drama. Directed by Ted Post. Based on a play written by Ira Levin and filmed on location. The cast also included Frank Converse, Blythe Danner, Bethel Leslie, Barnard Hughes and Abby Lewis.

Note:

(a) Recorded September 1970.

“‘Doctor Cook’s Garden’ was an unusually satisfying entry in ABC’s ‘Movie Of The Week’ series. . . For Bing Crosby, the title role was an acting triumph. In his long list of films, ‘Garden’ was only his second straight acting role (the other was ‘Country Girl’ in 1955’) and he has indeed come a long way since his first ‘doctor’ film - ‘Doctor Rhythm’ in 1938. Playing a part that could have easily been hammed up, Crosby let the fictive character take over - no small trick for a star with a 40-year identity as a singer and light comedy artist.”

(‘Variety’ 20th January 1971)

“Although it was never distributed for theatrical release, this 1971 television movie must be included because it contains one of the performer’s most memorable acting portrayals. . . . An enormously effective horror film produced for television by ABC and Paramount, Dr. Cook’s Garden is of particular interest because it is the first time the performer ever portrayed a villain. There can be no doubt that Doctor Cook was a deranged individual, but Crosby’s performance in the role is far above most other portrayals of screen psychos.”

(From ‘The Films of Bing Crosby’ by Robert Bookbinder)

No. 199 23rd January 1971 - ‘The Pearl Bailey Show’ (ABC)

Guest appearance. Directed by Dean Whitmore. Script by Buz Kohan and Bill Angelos. With Louis Bellson Orchestra, The Allan Davies Singers, The Robert Sidney Dancers, Louis Armstrong and Andy Williams.

Applause Pearl Bailey

*Bridge Over Troubled Water

Medley:

*Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey with Pearl Bailey

*In The Summertime

That’s My Weakness Now Pearl Bailey

*How Could You Believe When I Said I Loved You with Pearl Bailey

*Carolina In The Morning with Pearl Bailey

*Mississippi Mud with Pearl Bailey

*Bye Bye Blues with Pearl Bailey

*The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise with Pearl Bailey

*Shortnin’ Bread

*Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey (Reprise) with Pearl Bailey

Chicago Pearl Bailey

Blueberry Hill Louis Armstrong

Someone Like You Pearl Bailey & Louis Armstrong

Didn’t We? Pearl Bailey & Louis Armstrong

I (Who Have Nothing) Andy Williams

Give Me The Simple Life Andy Williams (with interruptions from Pearl Bailey)

Medley:

*I Don’t Want To Sing That Song (a) with Pearl Bailey, Andy Williams & Louis Armstrong

Where The Blue Of The Night Andy Williams & Louis Armstrong

*Moon River with Louis Armstrong

*Mack The Knife with Andy Williams

*Hello, Dolly! with Andy Williams & Louis Armstrong

Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home Pearl Bailey

Mama, A Rainbow Pearl Bailey

Note:

(a) The song (no doubt, especially written for the occasion) serves to link the numbers in the medley, the premise being that there is one song that each vocalist is ‘tired of singing’. A contra lyric, to the same tune, which suggests, ‘You don’t have to sing that song - That’s what friends are for’ and ‘the friends’ oblige by taking on the ‘unwanted chore’.

. . . it was all Miss Bailey, despite presence of guests, Bing Crosby, Andy Williams and Louis Armstrong. . . Crosby came on for a solo of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, followed by an up-tempo, tricky medley with La Bailey. Same format approach was followed by Armstrong and Williams in their turns - a solo bit, then shared medley with PB. In all instances, except Crosby, the star was on camera, during the solo and dominated the medley portions with asides, sheer dynamics or bits of comedy business.

. . . Finale for male guests was a clever ‘I Don’t Want To Sing That Song’ bit, with everybody doing the other guy’s stock in trade, culminating in the trio doing ‘Hello Dolly’ when Miss Bailey demurred.”

(‘Variety’ 27th January 1971)

No. 200 10th February 1971 - ‘The David Frost Show’ (a)

Guest appearance. With David Frost and Louis Armstrong.

*One Fleeting Hour (b)

*Blueberry Hill with Louis Armstrong

That’s My Desire Tyree Glenn & Louis Armstrong

The Boy From New Orleans Louis Armstrong

Notes:

(a) Recorded 20th January 1971.

(b) Fragment only.

“David’s guests are Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong. Bing introduces two of his hit recordings (‘White Christmas’ and ‘When The Blue Of The Night Meets The Gold Of The Day’), discusses his mother’s influence on his life, his association with Paul Whiteman and his work with a conservation group which is trying to set controls on the fishing of Atlantic salmon. Louis discusses his friendship with Bing and the films they made.”

(‘TV Guide’ 10th February 1971)

No. 201 15th February 1971 - Chrysler Presents ‘The Bob Hope Special’ (NBC) (a)

Guest appearance. Directed by Dick McDonough. With the Les Brown Orchestra, Jerry Colonna, Teresa Graves, Jo Anne Worley and Petula Clark.

*‘Pebble Beach Hotel’ Sketch (b) with Bob Hope

The Song Of My Life Petula Clark

*I Can’t Begin To Tell You (c)

*Make Believe (You’re Glad When You’re Sorry) (c)

*Save Your Sorrow For Tomorrow (c)

Tea For Two Bob Hope & Petula Clark

Make Me Smile  Teresa Graves

Notes:

(a) The entire show was issued on DVD by bobontv.com in 2010, reference No. 021571.

(b) The scene was set in a run-down hotel room supposedly overlooking Monterey Bay and the plot was based on Bing providing a room for Bob’s stay when he plays in Bing’s Pro-Am Golf Tournament. During the sketch, Jerry Colonna (in one of his final TV appearances following a stroke) makes a cameo appearance. When Hope opens a door, believing it to be a closet, Colonna is revealed, embracing a girl and saying, ‘Egad, check out time already?’

(c) Audio versions were issued on Limited Edition Club JGB1007 LP - ‘B.C. - T.V. (Bing On The Box)’ (‘I Can’t Begin To Tell You’ is shown as ‘I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me’)

“Probably the most interesting aspect of the fifth of six scheduled Bob Hope Specials this season, was his top guest and old ‘Road’ playmate, Bing Crosby. Both these showbiz giants are getting on. But time has done less to diminish Crosby’s charm as a singer which is still not to say that he still has his old vocal power or that his fabled insouciance fits as well as it did. It’s just better that his normally relaxed style fits better with his frankly lined face. Perhaps the chief key to how the two have changed, is the skit during which Crosby offers less than first class accommodations to Hope, at his Pebble Beach golf tournament. In the old days on the ‘Roads’, the two scufflers would have settled for a sandwich and a broom closet and a chance to vie for the affections of Dorothy Lamour but these days their squabbles revolve around middle class status feelings. . . Altogether, the special was not unpalatable, but did awaken nostalgia for a time when Hope and Crosby were at or close to No. 1, and 2nd still tried harder.”

(‘Variety’ 17th February 1971)

No. 203 18th March 1971 - ‘Ver-r-r-ry Interesting’ (NBC)

Guest appearance. Directed by Bill Foster. Produced by Paul Ilson and Ernest Chambers. With Arte Johnson, Peter Marshall, Nancy Kulp, Joe Flynn, Elke Sommer and Billy De Wolfe.

American Beauty Rose Elke Sommer

*There’s Nothing That I Haven’t Sung About

*So The Bluebirds And The Blackbirds Got Together with Arte Johnson & Peter Marshall

*Goodnight Sweetheart (Parody) with Arte Johnson & Peter Marshall

I’m A Secret, Secret Man Arte Johnson

“’Ver-r-ry Interesting’ was far from that. ‘Laugh-In’ stalwart Arte Johnson, projecting his now familiar characterizations of German soldier, dirty old man, square Russian and deadly dull professor, stumbled on the traditional bugaboo that inhibits second bananas stepping into the star role;- the mechanics of doubling as host and chief comic at the same time. . . . Bing Crosby had a good vocal spot with a special piece of material, ‘There’s Nothing That I Haven’t Sung About’ with lyrics that reflected most of his song hits over the years. A later Rhythm Boys reprise (with Marshall and Johnson) bombed out, however. . .Typical of the mishandling of Johnson’s special was a finale that had him saying goodbye, which was followed by a poignant ballad ‘I’m a Secret, Secret Man’ which would have made a good opener as sung by the star. It was a strange ending to an out-of-kilter show casing.”

(‘Variety’ 24th March 1971)

No. 204 28th March 1971 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC)

A Quest for Survival. Bing explains the rehabilitation and history of migratory birds.

No. 205 21st June 1971 - CBS News

Bing is interviewed on CBS-TV Morning News by Belva Davis of KPIX/SF.

No. 206 12th August 1971 ‘Today’ (BBC1)

Bing, in London promoting Electrovision, is interviewed on Oxford Street in the rain.

No. 206a  5th October 1971 - 'The Glen Campbell GoodTime Hour' (CBS)

Brief guest appearance. The episode featured Glen presenting the 50th annual Photoplay magazine awards. Bing makes a quip about Bob Hope being there before congratulating all of the winners of the awards.

No. 207 7th October 1971 - ‘The Dean Martin Show’ (NBC)

Guest appearance. Produced and directed by Greg Garrison. Orchestra directed by Les Brown. With Claire & McMahon, Rip Taylor, Richard Castellano, Lou Jacobi, Ken Lane, Kay Medford, The Ding-A-Lings and Dean Martin.

A Whole Lot Of Lovin’ The Ding-A-Lings

*Put Your Hand In The Hand with Dean Martin

*Lay Some Happiness On Me with Dean Martin

‘Cow Milking’ Sketch with Dean Martin
*Ballin’ The Jack
I’ll Be Seeing You (Parody) Dean Martin
*Beautiful Brown Eyes with Dean Martin

*One, Two Three, Waltz
*Beautiful Brown Eyes (Reprise) with Dean Martin

An Evening In Roma Dean Martin
We Can Work It Out  The Ding-A-Lings
When Dean Sings The Ding-A-Lings
I Don’t Know Enough About You Dean Martin & The Ding-A-Lings
How About You? Dean Martin & The Ding-A-Lings

Our Love Affair (Parody)  Dean Martin with Ken Lane (Piano)
This Can’t Be Love (Parody) Dean Martin with Ken Lane (Piano)

Medley:

*Learn To Croon

* I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande) with Dean Martin

*I’ve Got A Pocketful Of Dreams with Dean Martin

*Swinging On A Star with Dean Martin

*Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive with Dean Martin

*In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening with Dean Martin

*Personality with Dean Martin

*Love Thy Neighbour with Dean Martin

*True Love with Dean Martin & Chorus

*Love Is Just Around The Corner with Dean Martin

*But Beautiful with Dean Martin

*The Second Time Around with Dean Martin

*Learn To Croon (Reprise) with Dean Martin & Chorus

*‘Gonzaga Reunion’ Sketch with Dean Martin, Claire & McMahon, Kay Medford & Lou Jacobi

It’s A Most Unusual Day (Parody) (a) Ed Sullivan
*‘Dino Vino Show’ Sketch (b)

Notes:

(a) A ‘surprise’ cameo appearance by Ed Sullivan in an imposture of Dean Martin who, in turn, is seen seated at the piano (in a white wig), lampooning his own regular accompanist, Ken Lane.

(b) The show includes a lip-synch salute featuring the cast miming to various records. Bing, wearing a wig, mimes to ‘Tip-Toe Through The Tulips’ by Tiny Tim, ‘Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer’ by the Chipmunks and ‘Apple Blossom Time’ by the Andrews Sisters.

Dean Martin’s fourth show of the new 1971-72 TV season had something special. That something was the appearance of the old groaner himself - Bing Crosby. Bing worked five segments of the program, which amounted to approximately half of the full hour show. He was boffo all the way.

Bing and Dean opened the show with a rousing rendition of “Put Your Hand in the Hand” (done twice) and “Lay Some Happiness on Me”. From there these two engaged in some comedy patter and then went into a Cow Milking Sketch that brought the audience to howls of approval. Bing seemed to get a bigger kick out of it than anyone. Songs as well as seemingly wild ad libs were sprinkled throughout.

Midway in the proceedings Bing and Dino again teamed up for what was undoubtedly the high spot of the show. This was a medley of some of Der Bingle’s top hit songs and it was a delight. There is a great camaraderie between these two - very, similar to the groaner’s teamwork with Bob Hope…

One of the highlights of the weekly Dean Martin outing is the Lane Family Sketch. This is one of the best written comedy spots in TV today. Bing was prominently featured in this sketch also and brought his part off with charm. The central figure in this sequence is Kay Medford who is truly “beautiful”…

Bing wasn’t through though. He still had one more appearance and this was in a lip sync segment in which he burlesqued various singing stars of the past and present. One, of all people, was that of Tiny Tim…

The real standout of this bright and well paced program, however, was Bing. The old master brought class to every portion in which he appeared.

(Bill Osborn, writing in BINGANG magazine, November 1971)

The lights went dim again on Thursday just in time for channel 3’s Dean Martin Show. And there was my old friend Bing Crosby nourishing those low notes a little more, looking a little fatter in the face I thought. Crosby got in the requisite number of shots about Dean’s drinking prowess. Kay Medford scored a Bulls-eye in preferring the old groaner as a singer because he has “a-ba-ba-boo for a trademark instead of “Dean’s hic-cup.”

(Keith Ashwell, Edmonton Journal, October 8, 1971)

No. 208 2nd November 1971 – ‘Swinging With The Stars’ (a)

Bing is filmed golfing at the Road Runner Golf & Country Club, Scottsdale, Arizona as part of a syndicated series for ABC-TV, hosted by Dale Robertson, featuring golf pro Jim Chenoweth. Bing, with a handicap of seven, plays golf with actor David Wayne.

Note:

(a) The recording date. Details of transmission unknown.

No. 208a  3rd November 1971 - 'The Carol Burnett Show' (CBS) (a)

Guest appearance. With the Peter Matz Orchestra, The Ernest Flatt Dancers, Paul Lynde, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner. Directed by Dave Powers.

*Put A Little Love In Your Heart

*Love Thy Neighbour                                                                      

*‘As the Stomach Turns’ Sketch (b)

*Sing  with Carol Burnett

*Get Happy with Carol Burnett

*‘The Drunkard’s Daughter’ Sketch (c) with Carol Burnett, Paul Lynde & Harvey Korman

I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together Carol Burnett

Notes:

(a) The programme is included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 9) issued in 2018.

(b) Bing plays ‘Father Sarge’.

(c) The sketch includes Carol Burnett singing ‘We’re Lifting Our Spirits’ and Bing, who plays the drunken father, joins in with a few words.

Ole Groaner Bing Crosby visits Carol and helps her pay tribute to noteworthy forms of drama: the old-fashioned meanie picture, and the daytime TV dramas. Otherwise known as soap operas. Paul Lynde also makes a guest appearance, teams with Harvey Korman as Meanie and Moe about to toss poor Carol and her drunken father (Bing Crosby) into the streets until handsome Lyle Waggoner comes to their rescue. On the music side, Bing sings “Put a Little Love in Your Heart” and duets with Carol on “Get Happy” and “Sing.”

(Hartford Courant, November 3, 1971)

No. 209 29th November 1971 - ‘Monsanto Presents Mancini’

Guest appearance. With Henry Mancini, Michael Landon, Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66, Carla Thomas and Hoagy Carmichael.

(Where Do I Begin) Love Story Henry Mancini (Piano) & Orchestra

Old Buttermilk Sky Hoagy Carmichael

*Ol’ Rockin’ Chair with Henry Mancini (Piano)

*Lazy River with Hoagy Carmichael

Didn’t We? Henry Mancini (Piano)

By The Time I Get To Phoenix Michael Landon

Unidentified song Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66

Two For the Road Carla Thomas

Stardust Hoagy Carmichael (Piano)

In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening Hoagy Carmichael

Gone Forever Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66

Stillness Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66

What Is Love? Carla Thomas

Baby Elephant Walk John Muir Junior High School Band

Peter Gunn Theme John Muir Junior High School Band

Charade (closing theme) Henry Mancini (Piano) & Orchestra

Michael Landon (Little Joe Cartwright) makes his television singing debut, Hoagy Carmichael makes a rare TV appearance and Bing Crosby joins Henry Mancini in an hour-long special, the third program starring the three-time Oscar winner.

(The Greenville News, November 29, 1971)

Bing Crosby and Hoagy Carmichael did a low-key rundown on some of Hoagy’s songs (“Ol’ Buttermilk Sky,” “Skylark,” “Lazy River”) backed by Ellis Larkin-ish solo piano of Mancini.

(Variety, December 6, 1971)

No. 210 13th December 1971 - ‘Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In’ (NBC)

Brief cameo appearance. Carroll O’Connor was the main guest and Janet Leigh made a cameo appearance.

No. 211 14th December 1971 - ‘Bing Crosby And The Sounds Of Christmas’ (NBC) (a)

Directed by Marty Pasetta. Orchestra directed by Nick Perito. With The Alan Copeland Singers, The Mitchell Singing Boys Choir, Mary Costa, Robert Goulet and Kathryn, Mary Frances, Nathaniel and Harry Crosby.

*A Time To Be Jolly (b) (h)

Deck The Halls                                                                                   (h)           Kathryn Crosby & the Crosby children

Do You Hear What I Hear? Robert Goulet

*The Cop And The Anthem (c) (h)          with Robert Goulet

Carol Of The Bells Mary Costa

Bells Medley:

*Jingle Bells                                                                                          (h)           with Mary Costa

*Sleigh Ride                                                                                          (h)           with Mary Costa

*Jingle, Jangle, Jingle (I’ve Got Spurs)                                                 (h)

Rings On My Fingers Mary Costa

*The Bells Of St. Mary’s with Mary Costa

*For Me And My Gal

If I Were A Bell Mary Costa

*Jingle Bells (Reprise) with Mary Costa

*(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays with the family

*The Christmas Song  (d) (h)         with Harry Crosby (guitar)

Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy (e) (h)          Orchestra

*Christmas Island                                                                                (i)               with Kathryn Crosby

*(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays (Reprise) with the family

*Christmas Alphabet                                                                          (h)               with Robert Goulet & Mary Costa

Medley:

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen The Mitchell Singing Boys Choir

O Little Town of Bethlehem Kathryn Crosby & the family

*O Come All Ye Faithful

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing The Mitchell Singing Boys Choir

O Holy Night Mary Costa & Robert Goulet

We Three Kings of Orient Are Kathryn Crosby & the family

*The First Nowell (f)

*Joy To The World with cast

*White Christmas (g) (h)        with the family, Mary Costa & Robert Goulet

A Time To Be Jolly                                                                             (h)           Orchestra

Notes:

(a) Recorded September 24th - 28th, 1971 at NBC Studio 2, Burbank, California. The entire show was included in the Infinity Entertainment 2-DVD set “Bing Crosby: The Television Specials – Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials” released in November 2010.

          An edited version of the show was broadcast on November 29, 2019 on get TV.

(b) With contrapuntal accompaniment from the cast singing, ‘The Sounds Of Christmas’. An abridged video version of this item was shown on the CBS special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978. A similar version also appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

(c) A musical playlet based on a typically sentimental fable by O. Henry in which Bing portrays a hobo, who has a hard time getting arrested with a view to spending Christmas in a cosy cell. A video version of this item was included in the CBS special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978.

(d) A video version of this item was included in the CBS special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978. Video versions also appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’ and VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

A brief extract was seen in the BBC2-TV presentation ‘Bing On Bing’ transmitted in the UK on December 25, 2002.

(e) Accompaniment to dance by Mary Frances Crosby.

A video version of this item was included in the CBS special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978.

(f) A video version of this item appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’ also on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

(g) A video version of this item appeared on Warner Music Video 8536 50294 3 - ‘The Magic Of Bing Crosby’. A very brief video extract of this item was included in the CBS-TV special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978. Abridged video versions also appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title. The clip from this item was also shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204).

(h)     Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 6) issued in 2018.

(i)      An audio version was included in the Primary Wave Music CD "Bing Crosby's Christmas Gems" issued in 2023.

Bing Crosby with gaily arranged Christmas numbers beautifully produced, with Costa duoing with Crosby on everything from “Jingle Bells” to “One Horse Sleigh.”

(Variety, December 15, 1971)

Crosby’s show, for the most part, wasn’t a prize winner. His guests were Robert Goulet, opera star Mary Costa, a boys’ choir, Kathryn Crosby and three young Crosby offspring. An opera star was a bit much for what was supposed to be a free and easy outing, and Goulet, who for the record is a pretty easy-going sort in person, always seems to have trouble loosening up when they point a camera at him. As for the Crosby kids, if they’ve got any talent it’s well disguised. Actually, the best performer was old Bing himself. He was in fine form in a vintage role as a tramp trying to get arrested and he had a cute turn with Kathryn impersonating dancing dolls. It looked like the kind of show where the host might have fared better without guests.

(Bob Shiels, Calgary Herald, December 16, 1971)

...Crosby’s “The Sound of Christmas” came along first, looking a lot like a sparkly family Christmas card. Robert Goulet and Mary Costa were along as singing guests. But what Bing called “The House Band of Casa Crosby” were the real stars of the show – wife Kathryn and children Mary Frances, Nathaniel and Harry. There were ornate settings with a decorated Christmas tree, frosted window panes and other traditional trimmings, but the hour had a pleasant amateur quality about it.
(Cynthia Lowry (AP), December 15, 1971)

No. 212 3rd January 1972 - ‘The Merv Griffin Show - A Salute to Director David Butler’

Guest Appearance. With Bob Hope, Dorothy Lamour and David Butler.

*The Pessimistic Character (With The Crab-Apple Face) with David Butler

No. 213 9th January 1972 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC)

With Phil Harris. Hunting white-winged doves in Northern Mexico.

“Deep in Mexico we'd wrapped up a dove hunt segment for “The American Sportsman.” Bing Crosby, Phil Harris and our producer were cleaning up the last of the birds I'd cooked.

“Best thing I ever ate. Let's cook another batch,” Bing noted. I explained the lengthy process of cleaning more birds and cooking them over our open grill, but Bing countered with, “I've got the time.”

By the time I'd bowed to that persuasive line two more times, it was black dark, the crew had long been gone and I'd learned a lesson: “I've got the time” is a very useful line that most of us should use more often. We reached our motel at midnight, facing an early flight the next morning. Word that Bing and Harris would be taking the plane brought out a crowd. None of us was in particularly spry condition, but Harris was really dragging as we walked along the fence toward the plane.

My wife, Mary, edged over, nudged him and stage-whispered, “Hey, Phil, walk pretty for the people!”

He did that, racking his shoulders back, with high fives and handshakes and "Howdy y'alls" the rest of the way. During the years following, I heard “Walk pretty for the people” from Mary a few other times, usually directed at me.”

(Grits Gresham, writing in Guns & Ammo magazine, as reproduced on the web site, www.gunsandammomag.com/gun_columns/grits_0212/)

No. 214 27th February 1972 - ‘Bing Crosby and His Friends’ (NBC) (a)

Directed by Marty Pasetta. Produced by Bob Finkel. Orchestra directed by Nick Perito. With Bob Hope, Pearl Bailey and Carol Burnett.

*You’ve Got Good Friends                                                             (c)            with Cast

*Where The Blue Of The Night (fragment)                                      (c)

*You’ve Got Good Friends (Reprise)                                             (c)            with Cast

*Desiderata (You Are A Child Of The Universe)                           (c)

The Little Things We Do Together Pearl Bailey & Carol Burnett

*You’ve Got Good Friends (Reprise)                                             (c)            with Cast

Road Film Medley:                                                                              

*Put it There Pal                                                                              (c)              with Bob Hope

*Apalachicola FLA. with Bob Hope

*Road To Morocco (Parody)                                                          (c)               with Bob Hope

Here’s That Rainy Day Pearl Bailey

*Saturday Morning Confusion  with Carol Burnett

*Side By-Side By-Side with Cast

*What Would We Do Without You? (b) with Cast

Tired Pearl Bailey

Thanks For The Memory (c)                Bob Hope

I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together (c)    Carol Burnett

*Side By-Side By-Side (Reprise) with Cast

*In My Own Lifetime

Notes:

(a) Recorded 26th - 28th January 1972.

(b) Arrangement includes snatches of the items shown in italics.

(c)            Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 8) issued in 2018.

“The Crosby brand of amiable showmanship got a nice workout in ‘Bing Crosby & His Friends’, an hour-long special that made good use of its guest stars within a ‘friendship’ continuity that was a noticeable departure from the vaudeville format of too many celebrity specials.

With Bob Hope, Carol Burnett and Pearl Bailey on top, Crosby got them all on camera during the theme setting opening song, ‘You’ve Got Good Friends’ and segued from that into a couple of skits that kept all four stars up front in derivations of the same theme. The sketches were pegged on the stars playing themselves in good-natured pre-show camaraderie, which they maintained in later musical specialities with Crosby. Under Bob Finkel’s direction, the show flowed naturally from one segment to another, coming over as a group effort of friends enjoying themselves in an aura of informality and it all worked, disarmingly, well.

Hope and Crosby traded banter as they reprised some of their ‘Road’ songs. Miss Burnett and Crosby did ‘Saturday Morning Confusion’ with homey connotations, and Miss Bailey did, ‘Here’s That Rainy Day’ solo before all four were again united for a medley that again stressed the chumminess aspects in humorous fashion. Crosby cannily used two songs with young record buyer appeal for his solos, coming over well on ‘Desiderata’ and the closing, ‘In My Own Lifetime’.

Much has been said in the past year about musical-variety being a worn out format on the tube; this pleasant hour illustrated that star-studded specials can still cut the mustard when a little thought is expended on how to use big names in an ingratiating way.”

(‘Variety’ 1st March 1972)

No. 216 16th March 1972 - ‘The Flip Wilson Show’ (NBC) (a)

Guest appearance. Directed by Tim Kiley. With the George Wyle Orchestra, Tim Conway and Melba Moore.

*Rover

*A Perfect Day

*Huckleberry Finn

Never Can Say Goodbye Melba Moore

Medley:

*Swinging On A Star with Flip Wilson

*But Beautiful,

*Personality with Flip Wilson

Moonlight Becomes You Flip Wilson

*Swinging On A Star (Reprise) with Flip Wilson

Note:

(a) An abridged half-hour version of this show was screened in the USA on the TV Land cable network on 24th September 1997. It omitted Bing's solo numbers, among other items. Bing also takes part in a sketch with Flip Wilson and Tim Conway in which he plays a plumber visiting a burger bar.

Bing Crosby, Tim Conway and Melba Moore rally round to help The Flip Wilson Show wind up its second season. Bing sings a medley of the three songs he sang when he was 12—back in 1916—the first time he ever performed in front of an audience.

(The Lowell Sun, March 16, 1972)

No. 217 22nd March 1972 - ‘This Is Your Life’ (BBC)

This edition of ‘This Is Your Life’ shown in the UK features ‘flying doctor’ Micky Wood. Bing sends a tribute, which has been filmed outside his Hillsborough home.

No. 218 26th March 1972 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC)

Commentary.

“Something different on American Sportsman. Bing narrates a touching feature on the Guide Dogs for the Blind School in San Rafael, Cal. The focus is on a class whose blind youngsters learn to work with - and trust, the dogs that will serve as their eyes.”

(‘TV Guide’ 26th March 1972)

No. 219 4th October 1972 - ‘The Dick Cavett Show’ (ABC)

Bob Hope guests on the taped Dick Cavett show and Bing makes a special guest appearance.

No. 220 18th November 1972 - ‘The Lee Trevino Show’

Guest appearance.

No. 221 10th December 1972 – ‘Christmas With The Bing Crosby’s’ (NBC) (a)

Directed by Marty Pasetta and produced by Buz Kohan and Bill Angelos. Bob Finkel is executive producer. The Allyn Ferguson Orchestra is directed by Nick Perito. With Sally Struthers, David Hartman, Edward Villella and Kathryn, Mary Frances, Nathaniel and Harry Crosby.

*(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays (b) with Harry Crosby (Guitar)

*Jingle Bells with Cast

*Here We Come A-Carolling with Cast

‘Scrooge’ Sketch:

I Hate People David Hartman

*I’m The Ghost Of Christmas Past with David Hartman

*Put A Little Love In Your Heart with David Hartman

*Here We Come A-Carolling (Reprise) with Cast

*Some Children See Him with Cast

*At The Manger

‘The Gift Of The Magi’ Sketch (c) David Hartman, Sally Struthers & Kathryn Crosby

*At The Manger (Reprise)

*Up On The Housetop with the Crosby family

*(That’s How It Is) When You’re Living With Santa Claus (d) with Kathryn Crosby & the Crosby children

*Lo, How Our Rose Is Blooming with the Crosby family

*The Juggler Of Notre Dame (e)

Christmas Medley

*God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen with David Hartman

O Little Town Of Bethlehem Sally Struthers

*O Come All Ye Faithful

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Kathryn Crosby & the Crosby children

The First Nowell David Hartman

*Joy To The World  with cast

*White Christmas  with cast

Notes:

(a) Recorded 24th - 27th November. An edited version of the show was broadcast on November 29, 2019 on get TV.

(b) Bing sings a second chorus, contrapuntally, of ‘Come On And Join Us Now’.

(c) All dialogue is sung.

(d) Bing’s contribution is limited to a few lines at the end of a lengthy song.

(e) Narration by Bing whilst Edward Villella dances.

“This year’s Crosby clan Christmas show tried for a number of ambitious sequences, only one of which was worth the effort. The misfires took a considerable edge off the homey hour, aimed at the family trade.

After establishing the Crosby’s at home, with Bing singing, ‘There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays’, the remainder of the hour was dovetailed into the carolling trek by the family and its guests. A sequence involving David Hartman as Scrooge and Crosby as the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future, using super-imposed images, did not work pictorially. . .the show righted itself with a pleasant song with rudimentary terps about, ‘When You’re Living With Santa Claus’, done by Mrs. Crosby and the three kids. Ballet star Edward Villella then stole the show with a moving dance version of Anatole France’s ‘The Juggler of Notre Dame’, voice-over narrated by Crosby. This led to a finale of traditional carols and Crosby’s patented ‘White Christmas’.

Sets were plush and effective, except for the obvious fakeness of the snow. The feeling persisted that the adult target was being missed, except for Villella’s stint, the hour concentrated on young - perhaps too young – viewers.”

(‘Variety’ 13th December 1972)

No. 222 23rd December 1972 - ‘The Parkinson Show’ (BBC) (a)

Guest appearance.

*Ben Bolt (b)

*One Fleeting Hour (b)

*Rover (c)

*White Christmas (d) with the Harry Stoneham Five.

Notes:

(a) Recorded 18th September 1972. Bing is the sole guest.

A brief extract was used in the Independent TV presentation ‘The South Bank Show’ shown in the UK on 26th December 1999 and in the USA on 24th December 2000 on the Bravo channel as ‘Bravo Profiles Legendary Crooner Bing Crosby’.

Several extracts were also used in the BBC2-TV programme ‘Living Famously – Bing Crosby’ shown in the UK on 23rd January 2003.

(b) Fragments only of these items.

(c) An extract was included in the BBC2-TV programme ‘Living Famously – Bing Crosby’ shown in the UK on 23rd January 2003.

(d) An abridged video version of this item was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978.

A brief extract was also seen in the Channel 4 TV presentation ‘Top Ten Christmas’ shown in the UK on 24th December 1999.

No. 223 4th February 1973 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC)

With Phil Harris. Shooting ring-necked pheasant in Iowa.

*Mr. Gallagher & Mr. Shean (a) with Phil Harris

Note:

(a) Three different parodies were used. An extract was included in the Barbara Walters tribute to Bing shown on 14th October 1977 on ABC-TV.

NEXT SCENE

Crooner and orange juice king Bing Crosby bubbles soothingly through pleasant covers with Phil Harris at his elbow, also crooning while dog staunches on point. Dog trainer remains stone faced in the background, a stoic in the face of adversity. This is his first recording session. In between songs Crosby and Harris alternately shoot and miss and pop and hit pheasants but all of this seems incidental to the carefully planned, casual twitter and soon they flee from the field anyway. It was near zero degrees out there, too staunch for singing—or pheasant hunting for that matter.

(John Randolph, Bennington Banner, February 6, 1973)

No. 224 9th December 1973 - ‘Bing Crosby’s Sun Valley Christmas Show’ (NBC) (a)

Directed by Art Fisher and produced by Buz Kohan and Bill Angelos. Bob Finkel is executive producer.  Orchestra directed by Peter Matz. With John Mischa Petkevitch, John Byner, Michael Landon, Connie Stevens and Kathryn, Mary Frances, Nathaniel and Harry Crosby.

*Christmas In Sun Valley with the family

We Need A Little Christmas (b) The Crosby family

Balling The Jack (Parody) The Crosby family & John Byner

There’s A Fire In The Corner Slowly Dying Michael Landon

We Need A Little Christmas (Reprise) The Crosby family

Remember, Life Is Never As It Seems Connie Stevens

*Sketch  with Kathryn Crosby & John Byner

*Style (b)

*The Twelve Days Of Christmas with Mary Frances Crosby

We Need A Little Christmas (Final Reprise) The Crosby family

*The Ballad Of The Christmas Star  (c) with Connie Stevens, John Byner, Michael Landon & Kathryn Crosby

*Sleigh Ride (b) with cast

Medley:

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear The Crosby family & Chorus

*God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen with Harry & Nathaniel Crosby

O Little Town Of Bethlehem Kathryn & Mary Frances Crosby

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (d) Kathryn, Harry, Nathaniel & Mary Frances Crosby

*We Three Kings Of Orient Are  (d) with Harry & Nathaniel Crosby

*Joy To The World (d) with cast

O Come All Ye Faithful Chorus

*White Christmas (e) with cast

Notes:

(a) Recorded in Sun Valley, Idaho in February 1973. An edited version of the show was broadcast on November 29, 2019 on get TV.

(b) An abridged video version of this item appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title. A brief extract was also seen in the Channel 4 TV presentation ‘Top Ten Christmas’ shown in the UK on 24th December 1999.

(c) A video version of this item was included in the CBS-TV special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978.

(d) A video version of this item was included in the CBS-TV special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978.

(e) An abridged video version appeared in the CBS-TV special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978. Abridged video versions were also included on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

“The latest Bing Crosby TV essay into celebrating a holiday was hardly a Christmas present. This year his entire (second) family was on camera and, attractive as they may be, they can’t even begin to match the old man’s talent.

Apart from that, the rest of the show was lacklustre. Set in ski resort Sun Valley, it came as no surprise that the whole thing was downhill. It had about as much of the spirit of Christmas as a soggy snowball.

Michael Landon proved his voice is pleasant enough but not of professional quality. Connie Stevens is at least a pro, but not good enough to overcome the sloppy and pointless situations the writers put the cast into.

Crosby is undoubtedly one of the great entertainers America has produced in this century, but he should avoid holidays. His otherwise impeccable musicianship and good taste seem to disappear on such occasions. And all that fine mountain scenery - snow and ice - failed to put enough substance into the show to make it worth the hour.”

(‘Variety’ 12th December 1973)

No. 225 10th February 1974 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC)

Commentary.

“Bing observes the cheetah, one of the world’s fastest land animals, on Kenya’s Serengheti Plains.”

(‘TV Guide’ 10th February 1974)

No. 226 24th February 1974 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC)

With Phil Harris, shooting grouse in Southern Alberta.

*Mr. Gallagher & Mr. Shean (a) with Phil Harris

Note:

(a) Two different parodies are used. An extract was included in the Barbara Walters tribute to Bing shown on 14th October 1977 on ABC-TV.

No. 227 9th October 1974 - ‘Bing Crosby And His Friends’ (CBS) (a)

Produced by Bob Finkel. Directed by Marty Pasetta. With Bob Hope, Pearl Bailey and Sandy Duncan.

*Feels Good, Feels Right with Bob Hope, Pearl Bailey & Sandy Duncan

*It’s Your Delivery with Sandy Duncan & Pearl Bailey

After You’ve Gone Pearl Bailey

I’m A Brass Band Sandy Duncan

*No Time At All

*No Time At All (reprise) with Bob Hope & Pearl Bailey

Thanks For The Memory Sandy Duncan

*You’ll Never Get Away From Me with Bob Hope

Harry Lillis Crosby Medley: (b)

*Where The Blue Of The Night with Bob Hope, Pearl Bailey & Sandy Duncan

*Love Is Just Around The Corner with Pearl Bailey

With Every Breath I Take Sandy Duncan

Moonlight Becomes You Bob Hope

*From The Top Of Your Head (To The Tip Of Your Toes)

Out Of This World Sandy Duncan

*Sweet Leilani

*Blue Hawaii with Sandy Duncan

But Beautiful Pearl Bailey

Road To Morocco Bob Hope & Pearl Bailey

*Swinging On A Star  with Bob Hope, Pearl Bailey & Sandy Duncan

*Small Fry

*I Surrender Dear (c) with Bob Hope

*Sunshine Cake with Bob Hope, Pearl Bailey & Sandy Duncan

*Mississippi Mud with Bob Hope

*In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening with Bob Hope, Pearl Bailey & Sandy Duncan

*Down The Old Ox Road with Bob Hope, Pearl Bailey & Sandy Duncan

*Going My Way

You Keep Coming Back Like a Song (d) Bob Hope, Pearl Bailey & Sandy Duncan

*Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

*Pennies From Heaven

*White Christmas.

*Where The Blue Of The Night

*Feels Good, Feels Right (Reprise) (e)

Notes:

(a) Recorded 10/11th August 1974 at the Hollywood Palace.

(b) The entire medley was framed by an original Bach-like fugue called (apparently) ‘Harry Lillis Crosby’ - sung in the opening and closing of the medley by Pearl Bailey, Sandy Duncan and Bob Hope.

(c) Hope ‘fluffed’ this song as Bing tried to cue him on the lyrics, offering ‘I may act gay. . . I’m not that way. . .’ to which Hope responded, ‘You KNOW I’m not that way!’

(d) This song is reprised to link the last four songs from Bing.

(e) Fragment only.

“Bing Crosby, resurfacing after a serious illness earlier this year, was in fine and typical fettle on ‘Bing Crosby & His Friends’ special on CBS-TV. Shot with a mixture of informality and proscenium stage glitter at the Hollywood Palace, the show got good mileage out of old friends Bob Hope and Pearl Bailey and new friends Sandy Duncan and writers Ken & Mitzie Welch.

The Welches, whose specialty is special musical material, including collages of myriad song hits into a cohesive capsulized whole, contributed most of the material that gave the special a workable format - and the performers responded winningly, within that basic framework. Crosby opened with ‘Feels Good, Feels Right’, setting the show’s mood, and from there on in, the headliners moved freely in and out of camera range with natural ease.

Highspots were a self-descriptive ‘Delivery’ with Crosby, Bailey and Duncan explaining their styles musically, a wel1-staged song-and-dance audition sequence by Duncan, and Bailey’s reprise of her big band singing days with terps as well as vocal on ‘After You’ve Gone’. Hope and Crosby did their usual friendly insult patter, and all the stars combined for a medley of Crosby song hits, packaged in fragmentary form by the resourceful Welches. The hour evolved into effortless entertainment as well as a showmanly reminder of Crosby’s class throughout his career.”

(‘Variety’ 16th October 1974)

No. 228 25th October 1974 - ‘The Kathryn Crosby Show’

Guest appearance. A daily chat show from San Francisco. Kathryn interviews Bing and Phil Harris.

No. 229 15th December 1974 - ‘Christmas With The Bing Crosby’s’ (NBC) (a)

Directed by Marty Pasetta and produced by Buz Kohan and Bill Angelos. Bob Finkel is executive producer. Orchestra directed by Peter Matz. With Mac Davis, Karen Valentine and Kathryn, Mary Frances, Nathaniel and Harry Crosby.

*‘Tis The Week Before Christmas

*The State Versus Santa Claus (b)

‘The Worst Christmas Story Ever’ playlet

There Go Those Two American Artists Mac Davis & Karen Valentine

Home Sweet Home Mac Davis

‘Christmas By Injunction’ playlet (c)

Christmas By Injunction Mac Davis

It Just Don’t Feel Like Christmas Karen Valentine

*We’d Like To Borrow Your Kids  with Mac Davis

*How Would You Like To Go, Kid? with Mac Davis & Kathryn Crosby

*What A Christmas Day  with cast

‘Hobo’ Sketch

Deck The Halls The Crosby family

*Camaraderie (d) with the Crosby family

*The Pleasure Of Your Company with Kathryn Crosby, Karen Valentine & Mac Davis

Christmas Carols Medley: (e)

O Little Town Of Bethlehem Karen Valentine

Away In A Manger Kathryn & Mary Frances Crosby

Silent Night Mac Davis

*We Three Kings Of Orient Are with Harry & Nathaniel Crosby

*Joy To The World with cast

*White Christmas with cast

Notes:

(a) Recorded November 1974. Pre-show publicity indicates that ‘The First Noel’ was sung by Karen Valentine and Kathryn Crosby, but this item was missing from the copies viewed by the compilers.

         An edited version of the show was broadcast on November 29, 2019 on get TV.

(b) A musical playlet in which Bing plays all the parts. A video version was included in the CBS special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ shown on 2nd December 1978.

(c) A musical version of an O. Henry story ‘Christmas by Injunction’.

(d) A video version of this item appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

(e) Bing sings a narrative of the Christmas story woven around the various carols.

“Bing Crosby presented his 39th. annual Christmas show on Sunday night (15), featuring the whole Crosby clan and a couple of guest stars. Best word to describe this ‘Bell System Family Theatre’ special is ‘cute’. With a big living room set as Xmas central (with tree, fireplace, etc.), the Crosby’s and guests Karen Valentine and Mac Davis broke away to musical versions of traditional Christmas stories by O. Henry and others. The special music was pleasant and sometimes clever and not the sort of stuff to put a strain on the talents involved. Needless to say, next-to-closing was a medley of Christmas songs, - with Bing heading the whole cast, capped by ‘White Christmas’.”

(‘Variety’ 18th December 1974)

No. 230 25th December 1974 - ‘The Kathryn Crosby Show’

Guest appearance, with piano accompaniment by Bob Moonan.

*The Pleasure Of Your Company (Parody) with Kathryn Crosby

*Swinging On A Star with Golden Gate Boys’ Choir

*White Christmas (a)

Note:

(a) Also reprised with Kathryn Crosby.

No. 231 19th January 1975 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC)

Bing, Phil Harris and host Curt Gowdy hunt for geese in Maryland marshes.

No. 232 28th January 1975 – ‘The Merv Griffin Show’ (a)

Walk on.

Note:

(a) Recorded in Las Vegas. Transmission details unknown.

No. 233 22nd February 1975 - ‘Grandstand’ (BBC1) (a)

Guest appearance. A ‘live’ Saturday afternoon programme. Over a period of one hour (between sporting events), Bing is interviewed, informally, by Frank Bough and during this he places a bet on a horse called ‘Uncle Bing’ which duly wins.

Note:

(a) A fragment was seen in the BBC2-TV programme ‘Living Famously – Bing Crosby’ shown in the UK on 23rd January 2003.

…I had met the maestro before. He’d been delightfully accommodating, talking to me and the viewers on Grandstand in the intervals between our various events. On and off for a couple of hours he had talked about anything and everything: Grace Kelly, Sinatra, Hope, and his love of sport, particularly golf. An extraordinary thing happened, too. He loved horse racing and took particular interest in the meeting we were covering that day. As we came to our second race, there in the list of runners was a horse called Uncle Bing. It was pure coincidence, but if there was ever a good reason for a bet that was it. ‘Is there someone here who can put me a few pound notes on that one?’ he asked. Amongst the studio team on Grandstand there is no shortage of people who like a flutter. In fact every Saturday afternoon a little sweepstake is organized, known as The Swindle. Our out-of-vision readers Len Martin and Tim Gudgin, are very much in charge, with the help, of course, of our racing sub-editors. Len Martin came over to the desk, and Bing gave him a five pound note. ‘On the nose, please. That’s most kind of you.’ Uncle Bing romped home. The Old Groaner was delighted. Len Martin came over with his winnings and asked Bing if he’d sign the five pound note. Len had stood the bet out of his own pocket, and I know that Bing Crosby’s own note, signed by the maestro himself, is one of Len’s prized possessions. He’ll need to be on very hard times indeed before that one will be used to pay the rent!

(Frank Bough, writing in his book Cue Frank! pages 139-141)

No. 234 27th February 1975 - ‘Pebble Mill At One’ (BBC1)

Guest appearance. Briefly interviewed by Donny McCloud.

No. 235 15th July 1975 – ‘The Day War Broke Out’ (Thames TV) (a)

In a filmed segment, Bing recollects entertaining during World War II.

Note:

(a) Bing’s contribution was recorded on 28th February 1975.

No. 236 24th July 1975 - ‘Top Of The Pops’ (BBC1) (a)

*That’s What Life Is All About (b)

Notes:

(a) Recorded 23rd July 1975.

(b) A brief extract was seen in the BBC2-TV programme ‘Living Famously – Bing Crosby’ shown in the UK on 23rd January 2003.

No. 237 25th July 1975 - ‘Today’ (Thames TV, London)

Bing is interviewed by Llew Gardiner.

No. 238 25th July 1975 – ‘The Merv Griffin Show’ (CBS) (a)

Guest appearance. With Rich Little.

*Where The Morning Glories Grow

*That’s What Life Is All About

Swinging On A Star Rich Little (mimicking Bing’s voice)

Note:

(a) Recorded 26th June 1975 at Caesar’s Palace. Bing came out to thunderous applause as the introduction to “Where The Morning Glories Grow” began. It was intended that Bing should lip synch to his recording of the song, but the applause went on for so long and was so loud that he missed his cue and the recording started while he was still saying thanks for the ovation. Merv Griffin came out, the song stopped and they chatted briefly before Bing started singing again.

No. 239 5th August 1975 (ITN in the UK)

Bing is interviewed at Sunningdale Golf Course.

No. 240 7th August 1975 (AVRD)

Bing interviewed in Holland and sings snatches of the following:

*It’s Tulip Time In Holland

*Zing A Little Zong

*True Love

*Pennies From Heaven

*White Christmas

…At the end of the game he did another interview for Dutch TV and one of the TV men asked him if he would sing something - which he did! Bing walked to the mike and everyone was closing in around him in a circle and joining him. Happily, I was right beside him, joining in as he sang “It’s Tulip Time in Holland”, “Zing a Little Zong”, “True Love”, “Pennies from Heaven”…every time it rains it rains…” then he looked at his watch: “Don’t you know my plane is leaving for Heaven” all to the melody! Wonderful.  And then he was about to go, after he’d sung “White Christmas” on a day when everyone was wiping their forehead it was so hot.

(Noor Van Heel, writing in BING magazine, June 1977 [#46])

No. 241 30th August 1975 - ‘Parkinson’ (BBC1) (a)

Guest appearance. Produced by Richard Drewett and directed by Stanley Appel. With the Pete Moore Orchestra. Interviewed by Michael Parkinson.

*Hello, Dolly! (Parody)

*Breezin’ Along With The Breeze

*Send In The Clowns

*I Love To Dance

*Play A Simple Melody with Harry Crosby

*The Pleasure Of Your Company with Michael Parkinson (Vocal)

*That’s What Life Is All About (b)

Notes:

(a) Recorded 18th July 1975. Edited version repeated 15th October 1977 on BBC1.

(b) A brief extract was used in the Independent TV presentation ‘The South Bank Show’ shown in the UK on 26th December 1999 and in the USA on 24th December 2000 on the Bravo channel as ‘Bravo Profiles Legendary Crooner Bing Crosby’.

“This opening edition, directed by Stanley Appel, produced by Richard Drewett and pegged to Bing Crosby’s half-century in show business, was obviously pre-planned, tailored and manicured, even by chat show standards. Questions had a habit of emerging as cues for songs. Despite all the Hollywood musical brainwashing, with those ‘Let’s Do the Show Right Here’ bits attempting to prove that near-perfection can be attained off the cuff, there was no doubt that Parkinson, Crosby and the team had arranged a pleasant mixture of concert and interview.

Bing sang uncannily well for a man of his years, and was as engaging a talker as ever. (Somebody’s extreme poverty was indicated by ‘He hadn’t change for a match’) And for all the transatlantic colour, he cares about language. Complimenting Fred Astaire on unctuousness; he quickly changed it - after a verbal nudge from Parkinson - to urbanity, realising that it is kinder to accuse a friend of being suave than oily.”

(Shaun Usher, ‘Daily Mail’ 1st September 1975)

No. 242 4th September 1975 - ‘The Mike Douglas Show’

Guest appearance. Interviewed together with Kathryn Crosby, David Brenner, Joe Williams, Jack Nicklaus, Mike Preminger and Frank Gifford.

*Where The Morning Glories Grow

No. 243 14th September 1975 - ‘Stars on Sunday’ (ITV in the UK) (a)

*That’s What Life Is All About

Note:

(a) Recorded July 1975.

“I have mentioned, earlier in this book, how long it can sometimes take between the first approaches being made to an artist and their appearance on the program. The first programme of the winter series on September 14 saw the debut of Bing Crosby in Stars on Sunday. In early August I had heard that Bing Crosby was over here to make a record. I contacted his record producer and it was left that if Mr. Crosby was willing and able to appear on the programme he would give me a ring at the Leeds office.

A few days later I was sitting in the canteen at Leeds when one of the secretaries from the office came in looking slightly flushed and walked across to where I was sitting. ‘I’m sorry to disturb you,’ she said, ‘but I’ve got a fellow on the telephone who won’t leave a message and insists on talking to you personally.’ ‘Who is it?’ I asked. She gave a little disbelieving laugh. ‘Well he says he’s Bing Crosby,’ she replied. With that I leaped to my feet and broke the world record for the 100 yard sprint back to my office. I regained my breath, picked up the phone and said in as calm a voice as I could manage, ‘Good afternoon Mr. Crosby, can I do anything for you?’ The reply was brief but very pleasant to hear ‘Yes, when can we get together and sort out something for this program of yours?’ And that was it.

The recording session was being done in studio 2 and from the moment he came on to the set it was packed with studio personnel who had all found a legitimate excuse for being there. We went through the songs and readings without any problems and finished the session close on 12. We went for a pre-lunch drink in the club bar. While we there I mentioned that he had many fans amongst the members of the canteen staff and that they would love to see him for a few moments. ‘Well let’s go and see them,’ he said. So off we went into the canteen where he shook hands with everyone who came up to him. He went along the serving counter meeting all staff from the manager and head chef down to the most junior washer-up and signed many autographs.”

(From ‘Stars on Sunday’ by Peter Max-Wilson)

No. 244 24th September 1975 - ‘The Vera Lynn Show’ (BBC2) (a)

Guest appearance. With The Young Generation, Trini Lopez and the Alyn Ainsworth Orchestra.

There Is Nothing Like A Dame The Young Generation

The White Cliffs Of Dover Vera Lynn

*Sing  with Vera Lynn

*That’s What Life Is All About

Note:

(a) Recorded 27th July 1975

“. . . he looks a little thinner but his voice has lost none of its charm. He still sings with impeccable timing. He, too, knows more than a bit about sentiment. He sang about ups and downs that he said looking us straight in the eye is what life is all about. I am not keen on entertainers who pretend to be philosophers with a message. But the great ones get away with it - and Bing did. As for their voices, Bing cleverly attempts no more than he knows he can achieve. . .”

(‘Evening News’, unknown date)

…However, it was well into the latter part of the show before the actual introduction and appearance of Bing occurred with these words: “Over the years there have been many singing highlights in my career, but however great the memory of those times nothing can equal the thrill that I now feel in introducing to you someone that we all love and admire so much. Ladies and gentlemen: Bing Crosby!”

And Bing strolled on to cheers and. applause which certainly equalled, if not excelled, that of the Parkinson reception. He wore a lounge suit and joined the beaming Vera—the Alyn Ainsworth orchestra was playing “Where the Blue of the Night” in almost two-step time which, after Vera’s reminder, Bing noted that he remembered “very well”. Vera thanked Bing for coming and he responded by saying how much he had been looking forward to it. It was at this juncture that Vera expressed the fulfillment of her life’s ambition by singing with Bing—it invited the almost inevitable Crosby rejoinder: “Oooh, Vera! You must elevate your goals a little!” But Vera would have none of it and as the music struck up they went into that presumed first-ever duet, “Sing a Song”. The opening lines were backed by piano only and the orchestra and chorus (Young Generation) gradually came in to good effect. Both sang out “good and strong” and gave the likeable Joe Raposo composition the straight and tuneful treatment it deserves. Bing faded a little on a word or two—maybe he leaned back out of mike range—but he carried the melody while Vera harmonised, reversing their roles towards the conclusion. It was delightfully executed and with both renowned for their rich, clear tones and perfect diction that much was to be expected. The disappointment came in that they sang only the one duet. A lost opportunity! With all respect to the other guests one felt that after such a musical amalgam the producer might have at least treated us to more than this. It was not to be. Still, we did have another “live” version of “That’s What Life Is All About” —a pleasant variation from the issued version both in words and music that included a little whistle from Bing. We have quite a collection of these “live” versions now—nearly enough for a complete LP! Bing took a full 40 seconds applause after his solo, and was seeming to just settle in comfortably when it was all over (he had appeared just a bit “wooden” and less buoyant than usual on his entrance).

What a pity they couldn’t have really made a night of it; but at least posterity has one Bing/Vera duet to relish - something of which I had long given up hope.

(Bert Bishop, writing in BING magazine, December 1975 [#40])

No. 245 12th October 1975 - ‘Stars on Sunday’ (ITV in the UK)

*Reading from St. Mark, Chapter 10: Verses 1-16

No. 246 15th October 1975 - ‘The Tonight Show’ (NBC) (a)

Don Rickles, who is deputising for Johnny Carson, is surprised by walk-on appearances by Bing, Bob Hope and John Wayne. The other guests are Pat Boone, Brian Oldfield and Adrienne Barbeau.

Cleveland Snow Adrienne Barbeau

*Road To Morocco (Parody) with Bob Hope

Note: (a) Extracts from this segment were used in a September 1984 'Bob Hope's Unrehearsed Antics of the Stars' NBC-TV special, and subsequently released on a Guthy-Renker/Respond 2 home video of the same.

“Bing, Hope and the Duke were all taping Hope’s ‘25 Years on Television’ TV special (See program No. 248) across the hall at NBC in Burbank from where the ‘Tonight Show’ was being taped. First Hope walked in, unannounced, to thunderous applause. Then Bing ambled on, to even greater applause. Bing & Bob sing a brief parody version of ‘Road to Morocco’ titled ‘Road to Nostalgia’. Finally, John Wayne came in and brought the house down! They all went over to take a seat and have a little chat. Bing had brought a copy of the book ‘The Crosby: Greatest Show in Golf’ to give to host Johnny Carson who, of course, was not present. In the course of the conversation the usually caustic guest host Rickles is prompted to remark, ‘Bing, this is television!’ and asides to the audience, ‘Bing is still waiting for the Kraft Music Hall to come back’. This inspires Hope to quip, in mock disgust, ‘Aren’t we all’, drawing from Bing the dry comment, ‘I thought Mr. Carson would be here, but I’ll have to take what I got!’ A young lady enters, wearing a Texaco T-shirt advertising the upcoming Hope TV special and says "come on fellas, we have to get back to work.” Don Rickles appears very interested in the young lady, saying "come over here my darling, what's your name?" Rickles asks "you came for the three gentlemen?" To which she nods and the stars arise from their seats and head back to leave through the curtain from which they entered, as Rickles announces "Mr. Bob Hope, Duke Wayne and Bing Crosby -  WOW, what a night!” A memorable little segment.”

(Greg Van Beek, in a posting on the Bing Crosby Internet Museum, 29th October 2001)

No. 247 23rd October 1975 – ‘Betty Furness Consumer Affairs Show’ (NBC local TV in NewYork) (a)

Bing and Kathryn Crosby discuss with Betty the problems involved in trying to save the ecology. Bing also plugs the Bob Hope special, which airs the following night. Bing’s appearance is preceded by brief review of his career.

Note:

(a) This may have been part of the ‘Today’ show.

No. 248 24th October 1975 - Texaco Presents ‘A Quarter Century Of Bob Hope On Television’ (NBC) (a)

Guest appearance. A television tribute to Bob Hope’s twenty-five years on television. With Frank Sinatra and John Wayne. Extracts from earlier shows are seen including Bing refereeing a boxing match between Bob and Rocky Marciano (See Programme No. 161) and Bing and Bob together at the Waldorf-Astoria in 1970 (See Programme No. 187).

Notes:

(a) Also known as ‘Thanks For The Memories’.

The show was issued on video by Respond2 Entertainment (#5002) as ‘The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter Volume 2’. The entire show was issued on DVD by bobontv.com in 2010, reference No. 102475. An edited version was included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 10) issued in 2018.

(b) In addition to Bing's newly filmed badinage with Bob and the extracts mentioned above, a rare out-take from the Road to Bali was screened during the special. This showed Bing, Bob, and Dorothy Lamour singing ‘Road to Bali’, with Bing and Bob dressed in top hats and battered tuxedoes with tails bent upward, their trouser legs rolled up, and Dorothy in an almost 'mini-skirt' sarong.

“And the other was the amazing rapport between Hope and Crosby, which provided the special with its best moments, especially in the longest single segment in the show, near closing, with the duo doing each other’s songs at the Waldorf-Astoria amid the friendly badinage they always seem capable of sliding off each other so effortlessly. It was choice stuff when they originally did it, remains choice to this day—and strongly suggest that they should do a two-man special in the future that could conceivably pull the top ratings either has ever logged on the tube.”

(‘Variety’ 29th October 1975)

No. 249 28th October 1975 - ‘The Mike Douglas Show’ - ‘Kathryn and Bing at Home’ (a)

Interviewed by Mike Douglas at the Crosby Home in Hillsborough.

Medley:  accompanied by Bob Moonan (Piano)

It’s Easy To Remember Kathryn Crosby

I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande) Mike Douglas

*Pennies From Heaven

*Sweet Leilani  with Mike Douglas

*Swinging On A Star with Mike Douglas & Kathryn Crosby

Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral Mike Douglas

*The Bells Of St. Mary’s

*Deep In The Heart Of Texas with Kathryn Crosby & Mike Douglas

*Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie  with Kathryn Crosby

Medley: accompanied by Bob Moonan (Piano)

*I’ll Get By with Mike Douglas

*Ac-cent-Tchu-ate The Positive

*Jimmy Valentine

*Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

*Birth Of The Blues with Mike Douglas & Kathryn Crosby

Note:

(a) Recorded 16th October 1975. Bing’s recording of ‘That’s What Life Is All About’ is played over the closing credits.

“Talk about being comfortable with who you are. We did an entire show at Bing Crosby’s magnificent home at Burlingame in Northern California. My first idol, Bing Crosby. If there was a singer, a performer, and a man I aspired to be like, it was Bing Crosby. . . .

I was as nervous as a tenement kid at a debutante ball. It’s no secret that Bing was almost as accomplished an investor as he was a performer. Estimates of his wealth started in the stratosphere and moved up from there. He sang, told stories, treated us like we were next-door neighbors over for a little visit. I’ll tell you how unassuming Bing Crosby was. Bing was a sweater guy, remember? Between the golf and his casual, comfortable attitude, he had gone through a herd of alpacas in his time. He wore a sweater for the show. A few minutes before we started taping, I looked over and noticed this one had a gaping hole in the elbow. I leaned close and whispered, ‘Bing, that sweater has a hole in it.’ How laid-back was Bing? He looked at me and shrugged. ‘They’ll get over it’.”

(From ‘I’ll Be Right Back’ by Mike Douglas)

…The piece de resistance arrives when Bing, Kathryn and Mike gather around a grand piano that Bing says Kathryn “pinched” from the “High Society” set, making her the only piano bandit of my acquaintance.

Bing’s voice has a thrilling timbre again, fully opened and recovered from that long siege, before and after his operation. At home, Bing sings when the roosters crow. He sings away the mornings — but never does he sing in party groups around a piano. Hence, the surprise when he, Kathryn and Mike pour over sheet music, singing old favorites, The Three Rhythm Royals.

Says Mike, once: “I’ll give $5 to hear this.” Replies Bing: “It’s a $10 song.” For the finale, Bing strolls through his grounds, while his voice is heard singing “That’s What Life Is All About,” from his latest album. It’s great, like old times. Vibrant.

(Dwight Newton, The San Francisco Examiner, October 24, 1975)

No. 250 12th November 1975 – ‘Dinah!’ (CBS) (a)

Guest Appearance. With Dinah Shore, Phil Harris, Pat Boone and Doug Kingman.

*True Love with Dinah Shore

*I Love To Dance

Old Dogs, Children & Watermelon Wine Phil Harris with Kelly Green (Organ)

Medley Pat Boone

Where The Blue Of The Night

In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening

Swinging On A Star

Flip Side Medley:

From Monday On (b) Orchestra only

You Are The One (c) Dinah Shore

*Please  (c) with Pat Boone

*The Waltz You Saved For Me (d) with Dinah Shore & Pat Boone

Let’s Start The New Year Right (e) Dinah Shore

*June In January  (e)

*White Christmas  (e) with Dinah Shore, Phil Harris & Pat Boone

*I Kiss Your Hand, Madame with Phil Harris

*Just A Gigolo  with Dinah Shore & Phil Harris

*Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams with Dinah Shore, Phil Harris & Pat Boone

Love Letters In The Sand Pat Boone

*Send In The Clowns

*Well Did You Evah (Parody) with Dinah Shore, Phil Harris & Pat Boone

Notes:

(a) Recorded in October 1975. Dean Martin is featured in a taped message to Bing during the show.

(b) The object of the medley is for Bing to try to recall the flipside of his original record and he correctly says ‘Mississippi Mud’, which leads into an extract from his 1927 recording being played.

(c) Bing does not recall this song at all and has to be shown the original 78, which has ‘Please’ on the reverse. The 1940 version of ‘Please’ is then played and Bing and Pat Boone sing a snatch of the song together.

(d) The flip side was the 1940 recording of ‘Where The Blue Of The Night’ and Bing does not identify this.

(e) Dinah Shore sings the verse only and Bing incorrectly guesses that the song is ‘June In January’ and sings a snatch. He is then informed that the flip side was his biggest selling record and the original version is played with the whole of the panel singing along.

…Eventually, Dinah Shore devoted one of her hour programs to a tribute to Bing, and invited only two guests to join her and the guest of honor - Phil Harris and me. I donned a snap brim hat, carried a 9 iron and a pipe in my hand, and sang a medley of some of his hits. I seem to remember “In the Cool of the Evening”, “Dear Hearts and Gentle People”, and ended with “Where the Blue of the Night ...”. Singing in front of Bing, his songs, made my throat feel like it had turned to plaster of Paris, but I got them out anyway, and Bing smiled and nodded his approval. I wish to goodness I had made sure to get a video tape of that program – it would join my other Crosby mementos. Thanks to his movies and recordings, Bing will always be one of America’s great treasures - and one of mine personally.

(Pat Boone, in a letter to Crosby fan Ron Field, dated February 14, 2012)

No. 251 16th November 1975 - ‘Stars on Sunday’ (ITV)

*Reading from St. Matthew, Chapter 7: Verses 1-12 (‘Judge not’) (a)

Note:

(a) An audio version was issued on Curzons Sound Ltd LP CLS0081 - ‘Stars On Sunday By Request’.

No. 252 3rd December 1975 - ‘Merry Christmas Fred, From The Crosby’s’ (CBS) (a)

Produced by Gary Smith. Directed by Dwight Hemion. Orchestra directed by Ian Fraser. With The Young Americans, Joe Bushkin, Fred Astaire and Kathryn, Mary Frances, Nathaniel and Harry Crosby.

*Top Billing                                                                                        (k)           with Fred Astaire

*The Week Before The Week Before The Holiday                             (k)           with the Crosby family

*We Need A Little Christmas (b) (k)

Putting On The Ritz (c) Fred Astaire

*Swinging On A Star (c)

Oh, Look At Me Now (c) Joe Bushkin

*Sing (j) (k)      with Fred Astaire & Joe Bushkin (piano)

Time For Living The Young Americans

Love Will Keep Us Together The Young Americans

Road Medley:

*Teamwork                                                                                        (k)            with Fred Astaire & Kathryn Crosby

*Road To Morocco                                                                            (k)            with Fred Astaire & Kathryn Crosby

You Don’t Have To Know The Language                                        (k)            Kathryn Crosby

*Apalachicola FLA. (d) (k)      with Fred Astaire, Kathryn Crosby & Bob Hope

*A Couple Of Song And Dance Men                                                 (k)            with Fred Astaire & Joe Bushkin (piano)

Pick Yourself Up (e) Fred Astaire & Mary Frances Crosby

The Continental / Cheek To Cheek (f) The Young Americans

*You’ve Got A Friend with Fred Astaire & Harry Crosby

Christmas Carols Medley:

Christmas Bells Are Ringing The Young Americans

Jingle Bells The Young Americans

*Sleigh Ride (g) with cast

Toyland Fred Astaire

*Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (g) with Kathryn Crosby & Fred Astaire

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Kathryn Crosby

*In The Bleak Midwinter (h) (k)          with cast

*White Christmas (i) (k) with Fred Astaire

Notes:

(a) Recorded 20th/23rd November 1975. An edited version of the show was broadcast on November 29, 2019 on get TV.

(b) Sung contrapuntally with ‘The Week Before The Week Before The Holiday’.

(c) Fragments only

(d) Bob Hope makes a surprise appearance and reprises a chorus with Fred Astaire.

(e) A video version of this item was included in the CBS-TV special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978.

(f) Incidental accompaniment to dance by Mary Frances.

(g) A video version of these items appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

(h) Bing delivers a eulogy about Jesus Christ during this item.

(i) Fred Astaire sings the verse only. An abridged video version appeared in the CBS-TV special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978.

(j) The item was shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204).

(k)   Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 7) issued in 2018.

“The class and grace of Fred Astaire was a most welcome addition to this year’s annual Bing Crosby family Christmas special, helping to maintain the warmth and informality of the holiday mood that has become a Crosby trademark. Astaire’s presence permitted a continuity that had Astaire and pianist Joe Bushkin meeting at Crosby’s house, ostensibly to discuss a future record album, which segued easily into underplayed song-and-dance sequences featuring the stars, The Young Americans singing group and the Crosby children.

High spots along the way were Astaire and Crosby running through the Crosby-Hope ‘Road’ movies songs (with Bob Hope turning up for a walk-on punchline) and an Astaire-Crosby reprise of ‘A Couple Of Song & Dance Men’ with interspersed footage from the ‘Blue Skies’ movie they first did it in - a device that allowed for some Astaire dance footage from the part with steps the old master presumably can no longer risk. The handling of the sequence was typical of the slickness of the Smith & Hemion production gloss throughout the special, which included a sly way of sliding into Crosby’s ‘White Christmas’ finale one more time. Pianist Bushkin, incidentally, was an important part of the proceedings, providing musical support to the two stars, some laugh lines and a running gag that maintained the continuity.”

(‘Variety’ 10th December 1975)

No. 253 14th December 1975 - ‘Stars on Sunday’ (ITV in the UK)

*The Bells Of St. Mary’s

No. 254 25th December 1975 - ‘The Kathryn Crosby Show’

Guest appearance.

No. 255 25th December 1975 - ‘Parkinson’ (BBC) (a)

Bob Hope is the sole guest and there is a short appearance by Bing, recorded in San Francisco.

*The Pleasure Of Your Company (Parody)

Note:

(a) The ‘boxing’ match between Bob Hope and Rocky Marciano, which was refereed by Bing (See Programme No.161) is also shown during the programme.

No. 256 26th December 1975 - ‘Disney Time’ (BBC) (a)

Recorded segment, presenting excerpts from Disney films including: ‘Ichabod’.

Note:

(a) Recorded August 1975

No. 258 27th January 1976 - International Pro-Celebrity Golf (BBC2) (a)

Bing and Tom Weiskopf versus Peter Oosterhuis and Val Doonican

Note:

(a) Recorded August 1975 on the King’s Course, Gleneagles in Scotland

No. 259 5th March 1976 - ‘The Tonight Show’ (NBC)

Guest appearance. With Burt Mustin, Ray Bolger and Marvin Hamlisch. Hosted by Johnny Carson.

*Where The Morning Glories Grow

The Old Soft Shoe Ray Bolger

If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie) Ray Bolger with Marvin Hamlisch (Piano)

*The Only Way To Go with Ray Bolger with Marvin Hamlisch (Piano)

No. 260 18th March 1976 - ABC News

Coverage about his concert the previous day in Los Angeles.

No. 261 26th March 1976 - ‘Bell Telephone Jubilee’ (NBC) (a)

Produced by Dwight Hemion and Gary Smith. Directed by Dwight Hemion. Orchestra directed by Ian Fraser. With Ben Vereen, Joel Grey, Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme, Roy Clark, Marvin Hamlisch and Liza Minnelli.

*The Way We Were (b)  with Liza Minnelli & Marvin Hamlisch (Piano)

Yesterday (c) Liza Minnelli

*The Entertainer with Marvin Hamlisch (Piano)

Cabaret Medley

Wilkommen Joel Grey

Money, Money (Makes The World Go Round) Joel Grey & Liza Minnelli

Cabaret Liza Minnelli

*Now You Has Jazz (b) & (d)  with Ben Vereen

Yesterday, When I Was Young (e)  Roy Clark

Somewhere My Love (Lara’s Theme) Roy Clark (guitar)

*Let Me Sing And I’m Happy (f) with Liza Minnelli

Irving Berlin Medley: Steve Lawrence & Eydie Gorme

Let Me Sing And I’m Happy

Easter Parade

Let’s Face The Music And Dance

Change Partners

Cheek To Cheek (g)

You’re Just In Love

They Say It’s Wonderful

Always

Blue Skies

How Deep Is The Ocean?

You Keep Coming Back Like A Song

Remember

Play A Simple Melody

Alexander’s Ragtime Band

I Love A Piano

This Is The Army, Mister Jones

Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning

It’s A Lovely Day Today

Isn’t This A Lovely Day?

I Got The Sun In the Morning

Anything You Can Do

There’s No Business Like Show Business

God Bless America

If You Could Read My Mind Liza Minnelli & Marvin Hamlisch (Vocal & Piano)

‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Medley  Ben Vereen, Joel Grey & Liza Minnelli

*Well, Did You Evah! (b)  with Liza Minnelli

Notes:

(a) Also known as ‘Tonight with Bing and Liza’, this special celebrated the 100th anniversary of the telephone.

The programme was peppered with video clips from previous Bell Telephone shows introduced, variously by Bing, Liza Minnelli and Roy Clark.

Among some of the many artistes and personalities featured were the following:

Maurice Chevalier (‘Louise’); Harry Belafonte (‘Jamaica Farewell’); Lena Horne (‘Great Day’); Robert Preston (‘Seventy Six Trombones’); Ethel Merman (‘I Got Rhythm’); Fred Astaire (‘They Can’t Take That Away From Me’); Joel Grey (‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’); Burl Ives (‘The Blue Tail Fly’); The Kingston Trio (‘Early In The Morning’); The New Christy Minstrels (‘This Train’); Johnny Cash (‘De Camptown Races’); Les Paul & Mary Ford (‘The World Is Waiting For the Sunrise’); Louis Armstrong (‘Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child’); Julie Andrews (‘The Fireman’s Ride’); Joan Sutherland (Operatic aria) and Mahalia Jackson (‘How Great Thou Art’).

Erroll Garner (‘It’s All Right With Me’); Benny Goodman (‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’); Gene Krupa (Drum solo); Andre Previn (‘I Feel Pretty’) and Andres Segovia (Guitar solo).

(b) Audio versions of these items were issued on Der Bingle BC104 - ‘Bing Crosby: Oslo, Norway Concert August 27th 1977’.

(c) Sung contrapuntally to Bing’s rendition of ‘The Way We Were’

(d) After Bing sang the first chorus, the action segued to Ben Vereen in a white suit dancing to the music and singing a line from ‘Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby’ before Bing (now, also in a white suit) joins the final chorus with Ben Vereen.

(e) First chorus sung in Russian and the remainder in English.

(f) Verse only.

(g) Includes film of a version of the song from an earlier Bell Telephone Hour.

“Jubilee,” tonight, 8:30 p.m., channel 4, is a 90-minute show-stopper—a joyous song-and-dance-enhanced entertainment headlining Bing Crosby and Liza Minnelli.

Bing glows and Liza scintillates and they have more fun than clowns hosting rollicking performances by Joel Grey, Ben Vereen, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme, Roy Clark and Marvin Hamlisch, the Mr. Hot of contemporary tunesmiths.

The show's producers frequently insert little bunches of refreshingly brief and marvelously nostalgic taped vignettes selected from “Bell Telephone Hour” programs, 1959 through 1968.

…. But the main attractions are Bing, Liza and guests. Joel again sings and taps as George M. Cohan. Liza and Joel reprise “Cabaret” numbers, Ben and Bing recreate Cole Porter's “Now You Has Jazz,” Roy is sensational on guitar in a number from his Soviet tour. Steve and Eydie contribute a bang-up extended Irving Berlin medley, Ben explodes in a “Jesus Christ, Superstar” segment (“I’m betting on Jesus…”), and Marvin Hamlisch has a ball with both Bing and Liza.

In the end, Bing and Liza dance (Arthur Murray style), concluding: “What a swell party this was.” Agreed. A jubilant jubilee.

(The San Francisco Examiner, March 26, 1976)

“Jubilee” was designed as a salute to the 100th anni of the telephone, to be celebrated by memorable performances seen on the “Bell Telephone Hour” from 1959-’68 and the “Bell System Family Theatre” since then—augmented by contemporary turns from hosts Bing Crosby and Liza Minnelli and guests Joel Grey, Eydie Gorme & Steve Lawrence, Ben Vereen and Roy Clark....On look-backs of this nature, keeping perspective is really what the viewer has a right to expect—and that was achieved by the 90-minute production...It was all okay for what it was.

(Variety, April 7, 1976)

“I don’t know what kind of rating the show got, but if it wasn’t something rather large, I think the ratings are going to be very suspect, in my thinking.

I was in San Francisco the day after the show, and I never encountered a reaction like this in my whole career. Total strangers came up to me, no matter where I went. Said they liked the show. Liked the way it was done. They liked the people in it. They liked the music. Incredible reaction;

Maybe it’s just San Francisco. I don’t know. But these weren’t friends of mine. These were just people on the street, people in the restaurant where I had lunch, people at the Club. Fantastic.

And I thought it was great. Everybody in our house thought it was great. Really looked classy. Had style. But then that’s your trademark. Thanks a lot -

Always yours,

Bing”

(Extracted from a personal letter of appreciation to the programme’s producers.)

No. 262 5th April 1976 - ‘The Rich Little Show’ (NBC)

Guest appearance. With Bill Cosby and Joe Baker.

*‘Childhood Days’ Sketch with Rich Little

* The Whiffenpoof Song (a)

* Count Your Blessings (Instead Of Sheep) (Parody) (b)

Medley: (c) with Rich Little

*A Couple Of Song And Dance Men

*Gone Fishin’

*True Love

*Well, Did You Evah!

*Road To Morocco

*Going My Way

*Swinging On A Star

*Style

*‘Scotland Yard’ Sketch (d) with Rich Little

Notes:

(a)           A snatch only

(b)           This leads into Rich Little and other members of the cast singing brief parodies of ‘Prisoner of Love’, ‘You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’’, ‘The Way We Were’, ‘Love Letters In The Sand’, ‘Bye, Bye Love’, ‘Don’t Fence Me In’ and ‘A Boy Named Sue’ in imitations of various artists.
(c) The medley mainly involves Rich Little impersonating the original duetists on these items, beginning as follows, Fred Astaire, Louis Armstrong, Gene (gag) Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope. Then for ‘Going My Way’ the impersonation is of Bing and on ‘Swinging On A Star’ Rich uses his own voice. Finally, on ‘Style’ the impression is of Dean Martin.

(d)          Bing makes a brief appearance only.

No. 263 18th April 1976 - ‘The American Sportsman’ (ABC)

Bing and Phil are seen reef fishing in Walter's Cay in The Bahamas.

When Bing Crosby and Phil Harris get together, it’s bound to be a musical experience, even if the purpose of their meeting is to fish the waters of Walkers Cay in the Bahamas. On The American Sportsman, airing Sunday, April 18 (3:30-4:30 p.m., EST) on the ABC Television Network, Crosby and Harris, with Bing’s son Harry, mix singing and fishing aboard the Sea Lion, skippered by Larry Thomas…In the Bahamas, impromptu singing among the Crosbys and Harris gives a festive air to the trip, as they land a couple of kingfish and a wahoo. However, their target, the blue marlin, remains elusive. Although they manage to hook two of them, they are unsuccessful in bringing them on board. Then with Larry Thomas, Harry Crosby takes a break from fishing to explore the waters from the fish’s point of view.  Clad in wet suits, they descend 30 feet to explore the newly found ruins of a sunken ship.
(Press Release, April 7, 1976)

No. 264 21st April 1976 - ‘The Bob Hope Olympic Benefit’ (NBC) (a)

Guest appearance. With Shirley Jones, Lynn Anderson, Rene Simard, Freddie Prinze and Les Brown and his Band of Renown.

It’s A Miracle Rene Simard

I Write The Songs  Rene Simard

He Touched Me Shirley Jones

Medley: Shirley Jones

‘Shirley’ Blues

The Surrey With The Fringe On Top

You’re Gonna Hear From Me

Darn It Baby, That’s Love Bob Hope & Shirley Jones

*Where The Morning Glories Grow

*At My Time Of Life

Sweet Talkin’ Man Lynn Anderson

Feelings Lynn Anderson

Never Can Say Goodbye Lynn Anderson

Small Fry Bob Hope & Freddie Prinze

‘Mounties’ Sketch’ with Bob Hope, Freddie Prinze & Shirley Jones

Stout Hearted Men Lynn Anderson & Shirley Jones

*Holiday For Strings (Parody) with Bob Hope

*Rhythm Cymbals (‘Neither sleet or snow....’) with Bob Hope & Freddie Prinze

*Patty Cake Rhythm with Bob Hope & Freddie Prinze

*We Lost Our Man with Bob Hope

All I Really Need Is A Girl Bob Hope & Shirley Jones

*Where The Blue Of The Night (b)

Medley: with Bob Hope

*Buttons And Bows

Please Bob Hope

*Two Sleepy People

Swinging On A Star Bob Hope

*Thanks For The Memory

White Christmas Bob Hope

*Road To Morocco with Bob Hope

*Put It There Pal with Bob Hope

Notes:

(a) Recorded 12th April 1976 at the Montreal Forum, Canada, before a crowd said to number 19,000, all of whom paid $15 each. The show was a benefit for the United States and Canadian Olympic teams. The entire show was issued on DVD by Bobontv.com, their reference number 042176.

(b) A few bars only as part of the Bob Hope / Shirley Jones duet ‘All I Really Need Is a Girl’.

Hope–Crosby still draw

Montreal (CP) – The Bob Hope–Bing Crosby Olympic benefit television spectacular played to a full house at the Forum Monday night, amply demonstrating the two seasoned performers could still draw audiences. Hope, who will be 72 next month, and Crosby, 73, won lengthy ovations when they exchanged the traditional insults and went through a medley of Road–movies songs, much to the delight of the largely middle-aged audience.
(Brandon Sun, April 14, 1976)

No. 265 4th May 1976 - ‘Tonight’ (BBC1)

Interviewed. (No confirmation of this interview can be found.)

No. 266 12th June 1976 - ‘Entertainment Hall of Fame’ (NBC) (a)

With Sammy Cahn, Tony Bennett and Bob Hope.

Tribute programme.

The Second Time Around (fragment only) Sammy Cahn

Medley Tony Bennett

Where The Blue Of The Night

Swinging On A Star

Please

But Beautiful

In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening

Pennies From Heaven

Note:

(a) Bing makes a short ‘Thank you’ speech at the close. This has been filmed in advance.

No. 267 16th June 1976 - Royal Ascot (BBC1)

Interviewed at races. (a)

Note:

(a) A brief extract was seen in the BBC2-TV programme ‘Living Famously – Bing Crosby’ shown in the UK on 23rd January 2003.

No. 268 2nd July 1976 - ‘Tribute to Johnny Mercer’ (BBC) (a)

Narrates short introduction.

Note:

(a) Recorded 26th June 1976 in Bing’s dressing room at the London Palladium.

No. 269 ?/?/76 - ‘Golf Through The Ages’ (a)

Documentary charting the early days of golf.

On screen briefly at the beginning and then narrates the entire programme.

Note:

(a) Recorded 24th July 1975. Made by Cygnet Films Ltd, Bushey, Hertfordshire in the UK. Possibly shown by a Scottish TV company? No further details.

No. 270 26th August 1976 (Fife Educational TV Service)

Interviewed by a Scottish schoolgirl, Judy Allan, at Gleneagles. The interview is made available to all schools in the Fife educational area.

No. 270a ?? August 1976 "Bing's Britain" (a)

Interviewed as part of a documentary for the British Tourist Authority

Note:

(a)   Included in the Infinity Entertainment 2-DVD set “Bing Crosby: The Television Specials – Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials” and in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 5) issued in 2018.

No. 271 1st December 1976 - ‘Bing Crosby’s White Christmas’ Special (CBS) (a)

Produced and directed by Norman Campbell. Orchestra directed by Peter Knight. With Jackie Gleason, Bernadette Peters and Kathryn, Mary Frances, Nathaniel and Harry Crosby.

*White Christmas  (b) (g)

*Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow (c) (g)

*I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm                                           (g)            with Kathryn Crosby & Bernadette Peters

Sleigh Ride (c) Nathaniel & Harry Crosby

*It’s Beginning To Look Like Christmas                                        (g)             with cast

*Happy Holiday                                               (g)             with cast

I Feel Pretty Kathryn Crosby & Bernadette Peters

One Singular Sensation Bernadette Peters

*A Pair Of Loafers (d) (g) with Jackie Gleason

*Busy Doing Nothing  (d) (g)         with Jackie Gleason

Jingle Bells                                                                                     (g)            Harry, Nathaniel & Mary Frances Crosby

*I Love To Dance with Kathryn Crosby

*Style                                                                                                 (g)           with Jackie Gleason & Bernadette Peters

*Swinging On A Star                                                                         (g)            with Schoolboy Choir

Johnny Mercer Medley:

*Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive with Bernadette Peters & the Crosby family

Jeepers Creepers Harry Crosby

Hooray For Hollywood Bernadette Peters & Mary Frances Crosby

*On The Atcheson, Topeka & The Santa Fe with Bernadette Peters & the Crosby family

*Lazy Bones

*I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande) with Bernadette Peters & the Crosby family

Moon River Kathryn Crosby

That Old Black Magic Mary Frances Crosby

*Too Marvellous For Words with Bernadette Peters

*In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening with Bernadette Peters & the Crosby family

*Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive (Reprise) with Bernadette Peters & the Crosby family

*Put It There Pal (e) with Jackie Gleason

*(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays (d) with the family

*Children  (d)

Medley:                                                           (g)

Here We Come A-Carolling Children’s Choir

*Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (d) with Harry & Nathaniel Crosby

Beautiful Is The Child Bernadette Peters, Kathryn & Mary Frances Crosby

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Jackie Gleason

What Child Is This? Bernadette Peters

*I Saw Three Ships with cast

*Silent Night (d)

*Joy To The World (d) with cast

*White Christmas (f)

Notes:

(a) Recorded July 1976. A script was drafted on 2nd June 1976 by Herbert Baker.

A further medley by Bing and Bernadette Peters was planned, but not used, probably due to the death of Johnny Mercer, which resulted in a tribute to him. Songs to have been performed by them included: ‘Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree’; ‘Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover’; ‘Love Will Keep Us Together’; ‘Ease On Down The Road’.

An edited version of the show was broadcast on November 29, 2019 on get TV.

(b) Verse only.

(c) Fragment only.

(d) A video version of this item appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title. A brief extract was also seen in the Channel 4 TV presentation ‘Top Ten Christmas’ shown in the UK on 24th December 1999.

(e) A video version of this item was included in the CBS special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978.

(f) An abridged video version appeared in the CBS-TV special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978.

(g)    Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 7) issued in 2018.

No. 272 3rd December 1976 - ‘Joe Franklin’s TV Show’ (WOR-TV NYC) (a)

Guest appearance. With Joe Franklin, Arthur Tracy, Steve Mason and Kathryn Crosby.

*Ramona

*If I Had You

*Call Me Darling

*Out Of Nowhere

*April Showers

*Ballin’ The Jack

*Where The Blue Of The Night

*A Good Man Is Hard To Find

*Just One More Chance

*I Found A Million Dollar Baby (In A Five & Ten Cent Store)

*You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love)

*I Don’t Know Why with Kathryn Crosby

*You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love) with Steve Mason & Joe Franklin

Mr. Gallagher & Mr. Shean Steve Mason

I Surrender Dear Steve Mason

*Marta (Rambling Rose Of The Wildwood) (b)

Here Lies Love Arthur Tracy

Notes:

(a) Steve Mason, a Crosby sing-alike is in the audience and Bing is shown a copy of this latest album inspiring Bing to sing impromptu snatches of the list of songs shown. Steve Mason then sings snatches of several songs from the audience.

(b) Arthur Tracy (the Street Singer) is introduced from the audience leading Bing to sing a few words of this item. Later, Arthur Tracy sings a few words of ‘Here Lies Love’ from the audience.

“James Reston once wrote about a certain good man that ‘he brings integrity into every room he enters.’ He was referring at the time to Gene McCarthy, at the height of his political career. But that description applied just as well to another off-the-cuff straight shooter, Bing Crosby.

In December 1976, Bing came to Broadway for the only thing that got him out of the house on the San Francisco peninsula—to help somebody. This time it was a three-week engagement for charity at the Uris Theatre. He was due to give us a ten-minute plug, smile, and say how great it was to be back on Broadway for the first time in forty-one years. He ended up singing to the cameramen, joshing his wife about their courtship, and talking a small book about his life and times. The more Harry Lillis Crosby tried to submerge himself in others, the more he shone like the noonday sun.

‘Everybody who hears me knows he can sing as well as I do’ Bing began, ‘and that’s my appeal.’ In 1932, when his ‘B-B-B-Boo’ was wafting across the land, he said a college somewhere in the South got the crazy idea of staging a ‘Singalike.’ All contestants, Crosby included, tried to imitate the crooner. Bing came in third, which, he said, ‘Ain’t that bad.’

My favorite record happens to be ‘White Christmas.’ That’s corny, but there must be a lot of people out there like me, because Bing knew that’s the Irving Berlin song that put him in the stratosphere. Between you and me, Bing sang better than most people. I once handed him an album called ‘Steve Mason sings Bing Crosby,’ and he casually did a lyric from each song on the cover, pitch perfect, recordable. But he talked just as well as he sang. And seldom a word was wasted. Just witness—

On Hope: ‘Ample in the waist—the only pot that doesn’t have a rainbow.’

On scriptwriters for Hope and Bing: ‘If you hear a line that’s yours, holler bingo.’

On trouble: ‘Go fishin’. The seriousness will abate.’

On aging: ‘Can’t chase the chicks anymore.’

On Bob Burns and his bazooka (or don’t you remember where the GI’s got the name for the antitank contraption): ‘He’s better than Hope.’

On marital problems: ‘Usually, you kid or you hug.’

On golf: ‘The only way to play well is to forget everything else. Then you’ll never be tired at eighteen.’

On breaking a romance: ‘When you find he’s a fink you haul your freight.’

On the Joe Franklin hour: ‘You’ve pumped me up immeasurably.’

It doesn’t matter that we’ve heard all the words before. Like little kids, we say, ‘Do it again. Dad!’ The old lines don’t die; they just come from somebody else’s heart. At least once a month I hear the old Hollywood line, ‘Things are great but they should pick up,’ and it still tickles me. And I use the same old saws over and over, too. It isn’t the words that make the thought.

So my message is, be like Bing and don’t be on. Hug the happy side of the road.”

(From ‘Joe Franklin - A Gift for People’ by Joe Franklin.)

No. 273 3rd December 1976 - ‘Bing with Pat - A Look At A Legend’ (WCBS-TV, NYC)

Interviewed by Pat Collins.

*At My Time Of Life (a)

*On A Slow Boat To China  (a) with Rosemary Clooney

*Now You Has Jazz (a)

Note:

(a) Video clips of songs from earlier shows.

No. 274 5th December 1976 - ‘Sunday’ (WNBC-TV, NYC)

Bing and Rise Stevens are interviewed.

No. 275 6th December 1976 - ‘Today’ (NBC)

Interviewed by Gene Shalit. Short extracts of Bing talking were included in the A. & E. Biography Channel programme ‘Bing Crosby: America’s Crooner’ which was first televised on 14th December 1993 and has been repeated on several occasions since then and issued on video.

No. 276 6th December 1976 - ‘An Hour with Bing & Kathryn Crosby - AM New York’ (WABC-TV, NYC) (a)

Bing and Kathryn are interviewed by Stanley Siegel.

*Jimmy Valentine (b)

*White Christmas (with verse) (c)

*Sometimes I’m Happy with Kathryn Crosby

Notes:

(a) Recorded 3rd December 1976.

(b) A snatch only.

(c) Including verse.

No. 277 8th December, 1976 - ‘AM New York’ (WABC-TV, NYC)

Bing and Kathryn again guest on this show.

No. 278 10th December 1976 - ‘Good Morning America’ (ABC)

Bing and Kathryn are interviewed.

No. 279 10th December 1976 - ‘Midday’ (WNEW-TV, NYC)

Bing and Kathryn are interviewed by Bill Boggs. With Rise Stevens, Mabel Mercer and Melba Moore.

*The Best Things In Life Are Free

No. 280 10th December 1976 - ‘The Tonight Show’ (NBC)

Bob Hope is Johnny Carson’s guest and it is believed that Bing made a contribution to the show.

No. 281 15th December 1976 - City Hall Christmas Tree lighting ceremony (local TV in New York)

*White Christmas (a)

Note:

(a) Bing sings this briefly at the City Hall Christmas Tree lighting ceremony in New York and it is believed that this was captured by a local TV station.

No. 282 17th December 1976 - ‘Good Morning America’ (ABC)

Thought to have been interviewed.

No. 283 25th December 1976 - ‘New York, New York’ (NDR)

Interviewed in his suite at the New York Waldorf-Astoria by Werner Baecker for the West German network, Norddeutscher Rundfunk.

*Basin Street Blues

*White Christmas

*Silent Night (a) with Kathryn Crosby

Note:

(a) Sung in German.

No. 284 12th January 1977 - International Pro-Celebrity Golf  (BBC2) (a)

USA versus UK for the Bing Crosby Cup.

Bing is the USA captain and in the first match, he and Johnny Miller play against Sean Connery and Tony Jacklin. Bing also makes brief appearances in other programmes in the series.

Note:

(a) Recorded August 1976

No. 285 20th March 1977 - ‘Bing - A 50th Anniversary Gala’ (CBS) (a)

Produced and directed by Marty Pasetta. Orchestra directed by Nick Perito. With Debbie Reynolds, Sandy Duncan, Anson Williams, Bob Hope, Donald O’Connor, Martha Raye, Joe Bushkin, The Mills Brothers, Pearl Bailey, Rosemary Clooney, Bette Midler, Paul Anka and Kathryn, Mary Frances, Nathaniel and Harry Crosby.

Of Bing We Sing                                                                              (h)             Bob Hope

*Feels Good, Feels Right                                                                   (h)

*Mary Lou (b)

*She’s A Lady with Paul Anka

Anytime Paul Anka

*Now You Has Jazz with Joe Bushkin & his Jazz Quartet

Instrumental Joe Bushkin & his Jazz Quartet

*Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive                                                        (h)             with Bette Midler

The Glow Worm                                                                              (h)             Bette Midler & the Mills Brothers

*Dinah                                                                                               (h)             with the Mills Brothers

*Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home (c) (h)

*Gone Fishin’ (d) (h)         with Pearl Bailey

Medley: with Kathryn Crosby

*Everything Old Is New Again

*Baby Face

*Toot-Toot-Tootsie

*I’m Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover

*Everything Old Is New Again (Reprise)

*Comedy dialogue (e) with Bob Hope

*On The 10-10 From Ten-Ten-Tennessee with Harry Crosby

Tenderly                                                                                          (h)            Rosemary Clooney

*Moonlight Becomes You (d) with Mary Frances Crosby

The Crosby Medley: with Joe Bushkin & his Jazz Quartet

*I Surrender Dear

*Swinging On A Star (f)

*True Love                                                                                       (h)             with Mary Frances Crosby

*Don’t Fence Me In                                                                          (h)  

*Pennies From Heaven (f)

*Blue Hawaii                                                                                   (h)

*Sweet Leilani                                                                                 (h)

*Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral

*Just One More Chance                                                                    (h)

*Them There Eyes

*Basin Street Blues (g)

*Please                                                                                             (h)

*South Of The Border

*San Fernando Valley                                                                      (h)

*I Found A Million Dollar Baby

(In A Five And Ten Cent Store) (f)

*San Antonio Rose

* I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande)

*In A Little Spanish Town

*Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie with Kathryn Crosby

*It’s Easy To Remember                                                                  (h)

*It’s Been A Long, Long Time (f)

*White Christmas

*Ol’ Man River                                                                                (h)

Notes:

(a) Recorded 3rd March 1977. (This was a recording of the Pasadena concert when Bing suffered a bad fall from the stage at the end of the show).

(b) As Bing sang this song, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor, Anson Williams (from TVs ‘Happy Days’), Sandy Duncan and Martha Raye were heard singing about Bing. Each artist was paid $500 for their services.

(c) Snatch only prior to interruption by Pearl Bailey.

(d) This was linked with part of the film version of the song from ‘Road to Morocco’, which was shown on the screen. An abridged video version of this item was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978.

(e) Bob Hope presents Bing with the ‘Crummy’ Award!

(f) These songs were recorded but not used during this transmission. They were later reinstated in an edited memorial re-broadcast of the show shortly after Bing’s death.

(g) Bob Hope and Bing’s children (from his second marriage) trade barbs whilst Bing sings this number.

(h)     Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 8) issued in 2018.

“There is probably no one more deserving of having his 50th showbiz anni celebrated on TV than Bing Crosby. He was a staple during the golden age of radio and a regular ‘special’ performer through most of the TV years. He is the last word in household words. The pity is that CBS, for which most of his work was done over the years, couldn’t have come up with a better show to cap his half-century. The problem wasn’t with the guests, nor with the production (staged before an appreciative ‘invited black-tie’ audience) The trouble started after a glib but polished intro by Crosby’s old ‘Road’ mate Bob Hope and an ‘Of Bing We Sing’ rouser with Hope, Sandy Duncan, Martha Raye, Anson Williams, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor. The producers felt it necessary to intro Bette Midler as a singing usherette. She came up to spread coyness and clumsy cavorting on stage with Crosby and the Mills Brothers. Her singing was fine, but her antics hit a sour note in the proceedings. It was difficult to find a reason for her presence. With few TV credits in her past, she can hardly be well enough known (outside of New York and Los Angeles) to bag much of a general audience. Certainly, she doesn’t have the major star credentials to justify the on-stage treatment she got on the show. Pearl Bailey, too, was introed from the audience and much time was consumed in banter that wasn’t particularly funny before she got on stage for her Crosby duet. Far better was the more normal intros for the Mills Brothers and Joe Bushkin, who performed up to their high standards.

But the occasion was Crosby, and the audience got what it tuned in for in most numbers. If the singer has lost a little off his fast ball in repartee, and if he seemed to limit his singing throughout, the deft touch with a tune and a lyric remained. No one has ever had a surer grasp of popular music than Crosby and, in a second bit with Paul Anka, he showed that he could handle today’s musical idiom if he’d a mind to.

He did one number with wife Kathryn that went well. But he might be better advised to leave the kids home next time or let them watch from the audience.”

(‘Variety’ 23rd March 1977)

No. 286 26th March 1977 - ‘All You Need Is Love’ (ITV in the UK)

Interviewed regarding his early career as part of a documentary about popular music.

No. 287 25th April 1977 - ‘Paul Anka - Music My Way’ (ABC-TV)

Bing sings a few lines from ‘My Way’ as part of a procession of guest stars.

No. 288 31st May 1977 - ‘Barbara Walters Special’ (ABC) (a)

Interviews with Bing, Bob Hope & Redd Foxx at their respective homes.

Sings a parodied snatch of ‘Singin’ In The Rain’ whilst walking around his garden and later a few lines of ‘South Of The Border’ during the interview.

Note:

(a) Short extracts of Bing talking were included in a tribute to Bing by Barbara Walters on ABC-TV on October 14, 1977 and in the A. & E. Biography Channel programme ‘Bing Crosby: America’s Crooner’ which was first televised on 14th December 1993 and has been repeated on several occasions since then and issued on video.

“And, recently on her ABC special, Walters conducted interviews in their respective homes with Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Redd Foxx. And with Bing, looking well but still recuperating from that terrible spill he took last March, the questions gnawed close to the bone.

After a discussion of Bing’s first marriage and how his first four sons were reared (‘I must have left something undone’), Barbara said: ‘You’ve got a young family, teenagers. There’s a lot of difference in the morals today. How do you feel about young people living together?’

‘Without being married?’ Bing said.

‘Yes.’

‘I think it’s wrong.’

‘Well,’ Barbara said, ‘suppose one of your sons came home and said, ‘Dad, I’ve got this girl. We’ve been staying together or living together. Would you mind if we shared a room in the house?’’

Bing was incredulous. ‘In OUR house?’ he said. Then he emitted a wry chuckle. ‘No chance.’

‘But,’ she persisted, ‘it happens in other families.’

‘Well, it wouldn’t happen in my family,’ Bing said, ‘I mean, if one of them did that, I wouldn’t speak to them ever again.’

Now it was Walters’ turn to be incredulous.”

(Don Freeman, writing in an article headed ‘To Tell The Truth: Can Candor Make It On The Tube?’ in an unidentified newspaper)

No. 289 27th August 1977 - Bing in Norway (a)

With the Joe Bushkin Group (b) and Harry Crosby.

*Feels Good, Feels Right

*Now You Has Jazz

Hallelujah! Joe Bushkin (Piano)

The Crosby Medley:

*I Surrender Dear

*Swinging On A Star

*Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams

*Dear Hearts And Gentle People

*True Love

*Don’t Fence Me In

*Pennies From Heaven

*Blue Hawaii

*Sweet Leilani

*Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral

*Just One More Chance

*Them There Eyes

*Moonlight Becomes You

*You Are My Sunshine

*I’ll Be Seeing You

*Basin Street Blues

*Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive

*Please

*Baby Face

*South Of The Border

*Galway Bay

*Play A Simple Melody with Harry Crosby

*Gone Fishin’ with Harry Crosby

*San Fernando Valley

*I Found A Million Dollar Baby (In A Five & Ten Cent Store)

*San Antonio Rose

*I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande)

*In A Little Spanish Town

*Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie with Harry Crosby

*It’s Easy To Remember

*It’s Been A Long, Long Time

*Blue Skies

*White Christmas

*Ol’ Man River

*Sail Away From Norway

*Pere Spellman (c) with cast

*The Way We Were (d)

*Cuando Caliente El Sol (Love Me With All Your Heart) (d)

*Dinah (d)

Notes:

(a) Recorded 27th August 1977. Shown only in Europe and not in the UK.

A live open-air concert in Mysen, Norway as part of celebrations to commemorate 100 years of recorded sound. Bing commiserated with the audience who braved a steady downpour throughout the performance.

An audio version of the programme was issued on the CDs Der Bingle BC104 - ‘Bing Crosby: Oslo, Norway Concert August 27th 1977’ and on HLYCD-003 ‘Harry Lillis - On Stage’.

(b) The group consisted of Joe Bushkin (Piano), Jake Hanna (Drums), George Duvivier (Bass) and Johnny Smith (Guitar).

(c) A Norwegian folk song.

(d) After television transmission had ended, Bing sang these three songs in an effort to leave the stage as various presentations were made to him.

No. 290 21st September 1977 - ‘Newsnight’ (BBC2)

Interviewed by Vincent Hanna in the bar of the London Palladium.

No. 291 29th September 1977 - ‘Nationwide’ (BBC1) (a)

Interviewed in his dressing room at the London Palladium by Frank Bough.

Note:

(a) Recorded 28th September 1977.

No. 292 30th October 1977 - ‘60 Minutes USA’ (CBS) (a)

Interviewed at London Palladium regarding Jack Harris, a singer who cannot obtain work because he sounds like Bing.

Note:

(a) Recorded 8th October 1977.

No. 293 30th November 1977 - ‘Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas’ (CBS) (a)

Produced by Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion. Directed by Dwight Hemion. Orchestra directed by Ian Fraser. With Twiggy, Ron Moody, Stanley Baxter, David Bowie, the Trinity Boys Choir and Kathryn, Mary Frances, Nathaniel and Harry Crosby.

*Where The Blue Of The Night (b) (g)

*Genealogy (c) (g)     with the family

*Little Drummer Boy/Peace On Earth (d) (g)     with David Bowie

I’m Ebenezer Scrooge                                                                       (g)         Ron Moody & Twiggy

Where Would You Be Without Me? Ron Moody & Twiggy

*Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas (e) (g)      with Twiggy

*Side By-Side-By Side                                                                       (g)         with Kathryn Crosby, Ron Moody & Stanley Baxter

Heroes David Bowie

Christmas Carols Medley:                                                                (g)                                              

Ding Dong! Merrily On High The Trinity Boys Choir

*Jingle Bells with the family

Sleigh Ride Twiggy & the Crosby children

*Winter Wonderland (f) with Kathryn Crosby

Jingle Bell Rock Twiggy, Harry & Nathaniel Crosby

*Silver Bells with Ron Moody & Stanley Baxter

*I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day with Harry Crosby (guitar)

*Carol Of The Bells with Cast

*I Saw Three Ships with Cast

*White Christmas (e) (g)

Notes:

(a) Recorded 6th - 9th September 1977. Shown on the British ITV network 24th December 1977.

The entire show was included in the Infinity Entertainment 2-DVD set “Bing Crosby: The Television Specials – Volume 2 – The Christmas Specials” released in November 2010.

A video version was issued on ITC Entertainment ITC4401 - ‘Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas’

An edited version of the show was broadcast on November 29, 2019 on get TV.

(b) A fragment only.

(c) A brief extract was seen in the BBC2-TV programme ‘Living Famously – Bing Crosby’ shown in the UK on 23rd January 2003.

(d) Innumerable versions of this item have been issued, commercially on single, LP, tape and CD. A video version of this item was included in the CBS special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978.

Video versions also appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

An abridged version was seen in ‘Bing! His Legendary Years, 1931 - 1957’ first shown on the Disney Channel on 21st November 1993 and subsequently issued on an MCA video MCAV-10846.

A brief extract was also seen in the Channel 4 TV presentation ‘Top Ten Christmas’ shown in the UK on 24th December 1999. The item was also shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204).

(e) An abridged video version of this item was included in the ABC-TV programme ‘Bing Crosby: His Life and Legend’ which was shown on 25th May 1978.

Abridged video versions also appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title. A clip from this item was shown as part of the PBS presentation “The Legendary Bing Crosby” made available to PBS stations in 2010 and subsequently issued on DVD by Infinity Entertainment Group (No.IEG2204).

(f) An abridged video version appeared in the CBS-TV special ‘Bing Crosby: The Christmas Years’ which was shown on 2nd December 1978.

Abridged video versions also appeared on VCI video VC4137 ‘A Bing Crosby Christmas’ and on Questar DVD QD3175 with the same title.

(g)    Included in the Time Life DVD set "The Best of the Bing Crosby Specials" (Disc 7) issued in 2018.

“Legendary is a word we toss about quite frequently in this trade. Scarcely does a slew-footed third baseman who played briefly with the St. Louis Browns pass away but some sportswriter will refer to him as the legendary so-and-so, though the only legends ever told about him never got outside a locker room. Nor are entertainment writers any less guilty of referring to some dim-witted blonde whose only talent was getting hit in the face with custard pies, as the legendary star of yesteryear, though the legends about her would curl your hair.

Strictly speaking, legends are accounts of the saints and a legendary figure would be a saint. Bing Crosby was no saint, nor was he the subject of legends, in the sense of heroic tales. He just wanted to be known as a guy who could carry a tune. But Bing’s career, stretching back as it did, to the early days of radio and records is probably the stuff of which legends will be told. His final show is on the air tonight. ‘Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas’, taped in England, five weeks before his death on a Spanish golf course, October 14th. For the last time he sings ‘White Christmas’.

It’s a sleek little show on Channel 2 at 9 p.m., a polished Gary Smith/Dwight Hemion production, better than most variety specials in that there’s a bit of a story line, a reason for being. Again, it has Bing’s widow, Kathryn Crosby and their children performing.

Also aboard are some marvellous British performers - Twiggy, looking not at all twiggy but quite shapely, a singing a dancing delight. Ron Moody doing Dickens and a trio of Dickens’ villains, Quilp, Scrooge and his masterful Fagin and a superb impressionist, Stanley Baxter who plays Hudson, the butler of a British manor house and also Mrs. Bridges, the cook, Rose, the parlour maid and a ghost named Leslie Townes Hope in the best Hope impersonation I can recall. Twiggy not only sings with Bing and his children but plays the Artful Dodger, Tiny Tim and Little Nell to Moody’s villains in a rousing production number to the Newley/Bricusse song, ‘Where Would You Be Without Me’.

There’s a strange jarring note in the midst of this Christmas pudding - David Bowie doing a David Bowie number called ‘Heroes’, all multiple images and jangling sound, as incongruous as a hangman’s noose dangling from a Christmas tree. I’m not knocking Bowie - he does a sweet duet of ‘Little Drummer Boy’ with Bing earlier but the number is ill-advised in this setting.

The story line, if you care, takes Crosby and his family to England to spend Christmas with a distant relative, Sir Percival Crosby, who also turns out to be Ron Moody. The show is a bit stage-bound - I hoped for more actual British Christmas flavour - but perhaps for a 76 year-old crooner in his final bow that was asking too much. Kathryn Crosby introduces this final Crosby outing.”

(‘Los Angeles Times’ 30th November 1977)

“If there was a dry eye in the house when Bing Crosby sang ‘White Christmas’ in this Yule special - his last - it would have had to be that of a hardhearted viewer. It is fortunate for posterity that Crosby’s final seasonal spec was his best one, and will undoubtedly have an annual reprise. Producers Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion and scripter Buz Kohan deserve full credit for providing a video send-off in which Crosby himself would have liked to be remembered.

The special Crosby mixture of warmth and dignity was well served in the show. The storyline had to do with a trip to England with his wife, Kathryn and their three children, Harry, Mary Frances and Nathaniel. It was a premise that could have easily turned maudlin. But that is not the style of either Crosby or his wife, and the producers reflected the solid family relationship without getting sticky.

Everyone in the show appeared to be having a good time. Ron Moody was all over the place in his quicksilver impressions of the fictive ‘Sir Percival Crosby’ and as a crusty Charles Dickens. This latter role led into a charming musical segment in which Moody and Twiggy joined in song and dance portrayals of Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Fagin, the Artful Dodger, Quilp and Little Nell - all Dickens creations. It was a stunning sequence set handsomely among the narrow streets of an old English village.

Stanley Baxter also popped in and out with ‘Upstairs, Downstairs impressions of Sir Percival’s household - the butler, Hudson, house keeper, Mrs. Bridges and maid, Rose. The only odd choice on the show was that of English rock star David Bowie who, despite his reference to his wife and family, retains and courts an androgynous appearance that clashed with the traditional family tone of the show. Twiggy, looking like a little girl in grown-up clothes and eyeliner, was a perfect foil for Crosby and a charming partner for Ron Moody in the musical centrepiece.

The program was a consummate tribute to a man of goodwill in a season of goodwill. The closing medley with Crosby, his family, the guest stars and the Trinity Boys Choir joining in ‘Jingle Bells’, ‘Winter Wonderland’ and ‘I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day’ was a segment to be remembered and treasured. Although a cavil may be cavalier, it might have been nice of CBS to schedule the show closer to Christmas and not on the last day of November, along with two other Yule specs.”

(‘Variety’ 7th December 1977)

'Tis the season of specials, and CBS is especially busy this week. Among the mixed lot of offerings, tonight's "The Ted Knight Musical Comedy Variety Special Special" attempts something a little different. Tomorrow's "Bing Crosby's White Christmas Special" sticks to the traditional inclusion of the entire Crosby family. Both fail.

...Mr. Crosby is in exceptionally fine voice. Bernadette Peters is fine within the limitations imposed on her. Isolating the key problem, however, tends to place the critic in the unenviable role of Scrooge for the holiday. It is nothing less than the Crosby family...To keep foisting them and Kathryn Crosby, Bing’s wife, on audiences year after year amounts to foolishness bordering on arrogance.

As a singer, Mr. Crosby happens to be a personal favorite of mine. He still can put a lyric through the marvellous gyrations of inimitable crooning.

(John J. O’Connor, New York Times, 30th November 1977)

“This bizarre collaboration took place in London, where Crosby’s twenty-first (and, as it turned out, final) Christmas special was filmed that September. The two men, separated by forty-five years but both short-haired and wearing identical Yuletide blazers (sic), looked distressingly alike. Not only that: Bowie’s mannered phrasing and husky, nicotine voice joined with the Groaner’s, still full-bodied and with all its natural insouciance, in an eerie match of laid-back vocal styles. Crosby, who paid Bowie the compliment of asking his home phone number, died less than a month later. The special was shown on schedule. A single of ‘Peace on Earth’ backed by ‘Little Drummer Boy’ released by RCA in November 1982 (by which time Bowie had left the label) was a Christmas hit five years after the event.” (From ‘Bowie - Loving The Alien’)

No.  294  8th January 1978 - ‘Das Sonntagskonzert’ (ZDF)

with The Medicine Ball Band. Thought to have been taped in August 1977.

*Dear Hearts And Gentle People

INDEX 1

Lists, alphabetically, the songs or musical items in which Bing Crosby participated

1432 Franklin Pike Circle Hero 169

59th Street Bridge Song, The 172

Aba Daba Honeymoon, The 45, 164

Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive 10, 31, 145, 207, 249, 271, 285, 289

Across The Wide Missouri 69

After You’ve Gone 13

Ain’t Got A Dime To My Name 154

Alabamy Bound 82, 152

Alexander’s Ragtime Band 142, 146, 152, 165

All Alone 146

All Of You 52, 172

All Together In The Fall 150

Alouette 49

America 62

And I Love Her 167, 178

Animal Crackers 45

Annie Laurie 80

Any Old Iron 58, 176

Apalachicola FLA 136, 214, 252

April Showers 152, 272

Aquarius 181

Aren’t You Glad You’re You? 45, 47

Argyll, The Christmas Stocking 93

As Time Goes By 151

A-Tisket, A-Tasket 24, 142

At My Time Of Life 264, 273

At Sundown 45

At The Manger 221

Auld Lang Syne 108, 138, 197

Avalon 44, 82, 152

Away In A Manger 32

Baby Face 103, 285, 289

Baby, It’s Cold Outside 126

Back In The Old Routine 41

Back In Your Own Backyard 152

Ballad Of Davy Crockett, The 69

Ballad Of The Christmas Star, The 224

Ballin’ The Jack 207, 272

Band Played On, The 151

Basin Street Blues 42, 49, 283, 285, 289

Batman Theme 138

Beautiful Brown Eyes 207

Beautiful Morning, A 172

Beautiful Things 158

Beer Barrel Polka, The 77

Bei Mir Bist Du Schön 69

Believe Me When I Say You're Looking Great 167

Bells Of St. Mary’s, The 211, 249, 253

Ben Bolt 222

Best Things In Life Are Free, The 279

Bidin’ My Time 189

Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home 43, 49, 146, 285

Birth Of The Blues, The 91, 249

Blueberry Hill 200

Blue Hawaii 47, 227, 285, 289

Blue Room, The 197

Blue Skies 129, 289

Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight) 44

Both Sides Now 176

Breezin’ Along With The Breeze 189, 241

Bridge Over Troubled Water 199

Brother, Can You Spare A Dime? 154

Busy Doing Nothing 271

But Beautiful 52, 62, 136, 145, 207, 216

Buttons And Bows 161, 180, 186, 26

B-U-Ug 126

Bye, Bye, Blackbird 103

Bye Bye Blues 199

By The Time I Get To Phoenix 167

Cabaret 138

Call Me Darling 272

Call Me Irresponsible 180

Call Me Up Some Rainy Afternoon 165

Camaraderie 229

Campbell’s Are Coming, The 80

Camp Karefree 62

Candy 49

Can’t Buy Me Love 178

Can’t We Talk It Over? 84

Carol Of The Bells 293

Carolina In The Morning 4, 152, 175, 199

Changing Partners 9

Chattanooga Choo Choo 130

Cheek To Cheek 43, 66

Cheesecake (My Girl Loves) 144

Chicago (That Toddlin’ Town) 44

Children 271

Chinatown, My Chinatown 82

Chiquita Banana, (I’m) 49

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 176

Chloe 156

Christmas Alphabet 211

Christmas Bells Are Ringing 169

Christmas Candles 93

Christmas In Sun Valley 224

Christmas Is A-Comin’ 169

Christmas Is For Children 196

Christmas Is Here To Stay 196

Christmas Island 211

Christmas Song, The 32, 211

Christmas Waltz, The 137

Climb Ev’ry Mountain 74

Cock-Eyed Optimist, A 146

Collegiate 31, 45

Columbia, The Gem Of The Ocean (aka ‘The Red, White And Blue’) 31

Come A’ Running 68

Come Back To Erin 143

Come To Tanzania 160

C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-I-N-O-P-L-E 45

Cooling It 189

Cop And The Anthem, The 211

Count Your Blessings (Instead Of Sheep) 16, 49, 119, 262

Couple Of Song And Dance Men, A 44, 119, 252, 262

Crawdad Song, The 75

Crazy Words-Crazy Tune (Vo-Do-De-O) 45

Cuando Caliente El Sol (Love Me With All Your Heart) 289

Cuanto Le Gusta 97

Cup Of Coffee, A Sandwich And You, A 58

Cutie, Who Ties Your Tie? 87

Danke Schöen 69

Dardanella 117

Darling Je Vous Aime Beaucoup 146

Daughter Of Molly Malone, The 125

Dear Hearts And Gentle People 13, 156, 289, 294                             

Dear Old Donegal 45

De Camptown Races 109

Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly 32

Deep In The Heart Of Texas 249

Desiderata (You Are A Child Of The Universe) 214

Dig You Later (A Hubba, Hubba, Hubba!) 179

Diga Diga Doo 130

Dinah 285, 289

Doggy In The Window? (How Much Is That) 164

Do I Hear A Waltz? 159

Doing The Bing 66

Donkey Serenade, The 164

Don’t Fence Me In 75, 134, 156, 197, 285, 289

Doodle Doo Doo 4

Doodlin' Song, A 69, 159

Down By The Old Mill Stream 43

Down In The Valley 75

Down The Old Ox Road 43, 170, 183, 227

Downtown 175

Do You Hear What I Hear? 71, 93, 120, 137, 169, 196

Do You Know The Way To San Jose? 167

Dream (When You're Feeling Blue) 75, 95

Dream Along With Me (I’m On My Way To A Star) 45

D’Ye Ken John Peel 89

Early American 10

Easter Parade 127

Eleanor Rigby 167

Empty Saddles 145

Engine, Engine, Number Nine 154

English Country Garden 126

Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think) 189

Entertainer, The 261

Evelina 49

Everybody Loves My Baby 42

Everything Old Is New Again 285

Exactly Like You 102, 152

Fancy Meeting You Here 40, 51, 116

Far Away Places 37

Feast Of Fools, The 196

Feelin' Good 172

Feelin’ Groovy 172

Feels Good, Feels Right 227, 285, 289

Feudin’ And Fightin’ 47

Fings Ain’t Wot They Used T’Be 58

First Nowell, The 211

Flattery (Can Charge Your Battery) 49

Flattery (Will Get You Somewhere) 180

Fool On The Hill, The 167

For Me And My Gal 211

For My Good Fortune 37

Frances 156

Frere Jacques 142, 146

Friends 67

From Monday On 130

From The Top Of Your Head (To The Tip Of Your Toes) 227

Fugue For Tinhorns 174

Funny Face 167

Galway Bay 37, 143, 289

Gaudeamus Igitur 85

Gee! It’s Good To See You 159

Genealogy 293

Gentle On My Mind 166, 167

Get Happy 44, 208a

Getting To Know You 44

Gigi 44, 49

Girl From Ipanema, The 156, 181

Girl Talk 150

Girl That I Marry, The 186

Girls, Girls, Girls 156

Give Me The Simple Life 152, 189

Give Us The Good Old Songs 43

Glow Worm, The 121

God Bless America 134, 194

God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 32, 93, 221, 224

Go, Go, Gonzaga 159

Going My Way 227, 262

Gone Fishin’ 44, 189, 262, 285, 289

Good Man Is Hard To Find, A 272

Goodnight Sweetheart 203

Good Old Days, The 142

Goody Goody 31

Got A Date With An Angel 179

Go Tell It On The Mountain 121

Great Day! 58

Greensleeves 126

Grizzly Bear 142

Groovin’ 172

Gypsy In My Soul, The 12, 26

Hallelujah, I Love Her So 86

Happiness Is 117

Happy Birthday To You 46, 95, 140, 170

Happy Holiday 32, 137, 271

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 32, 271

Has Anybody Here Seen Kelly? 142

Have You Made Your Resolutions? 122

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 181, 196, 293

Hear That Band 125

Hello, Dolly! 199, 241

Hello, Frisco, Hello 142, 146

Here Comes The Sun 45

Here We Come A-Carolling 221

Here We Go Again 178

Here’s To Us (Forever And Always) 181

Hey, Jude 167, 174         

Hi, Neighbour 179

High Hopes 43, 52, 122

Hindustan 40, 116

Hit The Road To Dreamland 44

Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas 196

Hold Me Tight 166, 167

Holiday For Strings 164, 264

Home For The Holidays (There’s No Place Like) 211, 221, 271

Home On The Range 134

Home, Sweet, Home 110

Honey I Will Long For You 12

Hoop-De-Doo 44

Hooray For Love 40

Hound Dog 31

How About You? 67

How Could You Believe When I Said I Loved You 199

How Deep Is The Ocean? 86

How Would You Like To Go, Kid? 229

Huckleberry Finn 194, 216

Hug Up Close To Your Baby 142

Human Race, The 188

I Believe In You 75

I Can Sing A Rainbow 159

I Can’t Begin To Tell You 65, 201

I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me 63

I Can’t Get Started 40

I Can’t Give You Anything But Love 47

Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider 44, 49

I’d Climb The Highest Mountain 31

I’d Do Anything 67

Identical 119

I Don’t Know Why 272

I Don’t Want To Sing That Song 199

I Enjoy Being A Girl 128

If I Had My Druthers 47

If I Had You 272

If My Friends Could See Me Now 181

I Found A Million-Dollar Baby (In A Five & Ten Cent Store) 4, 44, 47, 272, 285, 289

If You Knew Susie 49

If You Wanna Learn Your History 126

If You’re Irish Come Into The Parlour 58

If You’re Looking For A Man 166

I Get A Kick Out Of You 47, 152

I Got Rhythm 66

I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues 89

I Guess I’ll Get The Papers (And Go Home) 37

I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan 44

I Hear Music 45, 66

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day 293

I Kiss Your Hand, Madame 250

I Left My Heart In San Francisco 66, 75

I Like Music 66

I Like The Likes Of You 66

I’ll Be Seeing You 289

I’ll Get By 249

I’ll String Along With You 164

I Love A Piano 42

I Love Paris 9, 31

I Love To Dance 241, 250, 271

I Love To Whistle 66

I Love You Samantha 170

I’m A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas 179

Ice Cream (I Scream -You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream) 45

Imagination 182

I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande) 31, 47, 75, 134, 145, 197, 207, 271, 285, 289

I’m Confessin’ 82

I’m Glad I’m Not Young Anymore 42, 49

I’m Henery The Eighth, I Am 176

I’m Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover 285

I’m On My Way 167

I’m The Ghost Of Christmas Past 221

In A Little Spanish Town 37, 67, 119, 134, 285, 289

In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town 100

Indian Love Call 126

Inka Dinka Doo 43, 140

In My Merry Oldsmobile 37

In My Own Lifetime 214

International Rag, The 165

In The Bleak Midwinter 252

In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening 45, 49, 134, 135, 145, 170, 180, 207, 227, 271

In The Summertime 69, 199

I Saw Three Ships 271, 293

Is It True What They Say About Dixie? 152

Isle Of Innisfree, The 143

I Still See Elisa 167

I Surrender Dear 197, 227, 285, 289

It Ain’t Gonna Rain No Mo’ 45

I Talk To The Trees 167

It All Adds Up 78

It Had To Be You 9, 78

It Happened In Monterey 40, 116

It’s A Good Day 49

It’s A Lovely Day, Today 45

It’s A Small World 154

It’s Been A Long, Long Time 31, 285, 289

It’s Beginning To Look Like Christmas 271

It’s Christmas Time Again 121

It’s Easy To Remember 38, 40, 285, 289

It’s Tulip Time In Holland 240

It’s Your Delivery 227

I’ve Got A Lovely Bunch Of Coconuts 176

I’ve Got A Pocketful Of Dreams 129, 145, 207

I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm 271

I’ve Got The World On A String 164

I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face 181

I Want To Be Happy 47, 152

I Wish I Were In Love Again 49

I Wonder What’s Become Of Sally? 156

Japanese Sandman, The 98

Jealous 31

Jimmy Valentine 249, 276

Jingle Bells 32, 137, 181, 191, 211, 221, 293

Jingle, Jangle, Jingle (I’ve Got Spurs) 197, 211

John Barleycorn 22

Jones Boy, The 40

Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho 44

Joy To The World 196, 211, 221, 224, 229, 271

Judge Not 251

Juggler Of Notre Dame, The 221

June In January 47, 250

Just A Gigolo 250

Just One More Chance 272, 285, 289

Just The Way You Are 67, 125

Kansas City 96

Karoline 80

King Of The Road 154

K-K-K-Katie 142, 156

Knees Up Mother Brown 58

L'Amour, Toujours, L'Amour (Love Everlasting)   80

Land Of The Midnight Sun, The 185

Language Of Love, The 69

La Borrachita 191

La Pinãta 93

Lay Some Happiness On Me 207

Lazy 44

Lazy Afternoon 44

Lazy Bones 42, 47, 94, 271

Lazy Day 189

Lazy River 130, 175, 189, 209

Learn To Croon 38, 47, 58, 145, 183, 207

Leisure Time 189

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow 252, 271

Let Me Dream Again 151

Let Me Sing And I’m Happy 179, 261

Let’s All Go Down The Strand 176

Let’s Be Buddies 67

Let’s Get Away From It All 45

Let’s Not Be Sensible 62

Let’s Put Out The Lights And Go To Sleep 45

Let’s Sing Like A Dixieland Band 144

Let’s Take An Old Fashioned Walk 31, 47

Let The Rest Of The World Go By 67

Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries 37, 151, 152

Lily Of Laguna 58

Little Drummer Boy 66, 293

Little Green Apples 166, 170, 181

Little Love, A Little While, A 22

Little Match Girl, The 158

Little Old Lady 179

Little Things In Life, The 105

Living One Day At A Time 22

Lo, How Our Rose Is Blooming 221

Lollipops And Roses 154

London Bridge Is Falling Down 119, 142

Looking At The World Through Rose-Coloured Glasses 42

Louise 49

Love In Bloom 38

Love Is Just Around The Corner 38, 129, 145, 170, 183, 207, 227

Love Makes The World Go Round 75

Love Me Or Leave Me 130

Love Me With All Your Heart (See Cuando Caliente El Sol)

Love Nest, The 47

Love’s Been Good To Me 178, 186

Love Thy Neighbour 38, 145, 207, 208a

Love Won’t Let You Get Away 40

Lullaby Of Broadway 47

Ma Blushin’ Rosie 31, 44, 45, 49

Mack The Knife 199

MacNamara’s Band 45, 143

Mademoiselle De Paris 69

Mairzy Doats 164

Make Believe (You’re Glad When You’re Sorry) 201

Make Believe Song 158

Making Movies 167

Mama Don’t Allow It 167

Mame 136, 138, 186

Man And A Woman, A 138

Manãna 130

Manhattan 130

Margie 130

Marie 156

Marie From Sunny Italy 165

Marta (Rambling Rose Of The Wildwood) 272

Mary Lou 285

Me And My Shadow 119

Men In My Little Girl’s Life, The 126, 127

Mexicali Rose 31, 49

Mimi 44

Miss America 130, 156

Mississippi Moon 37

Mississippi Mud 24, 46, 47, 179, 199, 227

Molly Malone (In Dublin’s Fair City) 143

Mona Lisa 156

Moonlight Bay 45, 151

Moonlight Becomes You 52, 62, 136, 285, 289

Moon River 180, 181, 199

M-O-T-H-E-R (A Word That Means The World To Me) 12

Mountain Greenery 45, 94, 197

Mr. Gallagher & Mr. Shean 45, 47, 160, 223, 226

Mr. Meadowlark 47

Muskrat Ramble 144

Mutual Admiration Society 154

My Blue Heaven 31, 110, 117

My Cup Runneth Over 154, 161

My Fate Is In Your Hands 58

My Favourite Things 154

My Gal Sal 156

My Girl 174

My Heart Belongs To Daddy 110

My Heart Is A Hobo 154

My Little Buckaroo 37

My Little Grass Shack In Kealakekua, Hawaii 122

My Melancholy Baby 58

My Old Flame 43

My Way 287

My Wild Days Are Over 87

My Wild Irish Rose 37

Nashville Cats 166, 181

Nature Boy 31

Never Be Afraid 82

Never On Sunday 69, 181

New Vienna Woods 125

New York, New York130

Night And Day 79

Night Is Young And You’re So Beautiful, The 197

Night They Invented Champagne, The 130

No Strings 164

No Time At All 227

Nothing In Common 34

Now You Has Jazz 31, 38, 42, 261, 273, 285, 289

Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da 174, 178

O Come All Ye Faithful 32, 211, 221

Oh! By Jingo! Oh! By Gee! 144

O Holy Night 196

Okolona River Bottom Band 170

Old Devil Moon 119

Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game In New York, The 75

O Little Town Of Bethlehem 32

Ol’ Man River 40, 43, 285, 289

Ol’ Rockin’ Chair 209

On ABC This Coming Year 77

On A Slow Boat To China 40, 116, 273

On Behalf Of The Visiting Firemen 45, 47

Once-A-Year Day! 170

Once In Love With Amy 49, 186

Once Upon A Long Ago 22

One Fleeting Hour 200, 222

One Little Candle 10

One Little Word - Married 181

One Step Further Down You Can Go 181

One, Two Three, Waltz 207

Only Forever 66

Only Way To Go, The 259

On The Atcheson, Topeka & The Santa Fe 271

On The Hollywood Palace This Coming Year 116

On The Street Where You Live 47

On The Sunny Side Of The Street 31

On The 10-10 From Ten-Ten-Tennessee 285

On Top Of Old Smokey 75

Out Of Nowhere 272

Pair Of Loafers, A 271

Paper Doll 138, 140

Paris In The Spring 31

Patty Cake Rhythm 264

Peace On Earth 293

Pennies From Heaven 47, 75, 129, 135, 145, 183, 191, 227, 240, 249, 285, 289

Pere Spellman 289

Perfect Day, A 216

Personality 62, 145, 207, 216

Pessimistic Character, The (With The Crab-Apple Face) 212

Pickin’ And Grinnin’ 181

Pigalle 49

Play A Simple Melody 47, 62, 77, 176, 241, 289

Please 31, 38, 47, 145, 170, 183, 250, 285, 289

Pleasure Of Your Company, The 229, 230, 241, 255

Pollution 183

Poor People Of Paris 125

Popeye The Sailor Man 47

Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody, A 135

Prisoner Of Love 119  

Prisoner’s Song, The 103   

Put A Little Love In Your Heart 178, 208a, 221

Put It There Pal 65, 161, 186, 214, 264, 271

Put On A Happy Face 140

Put Your Arms Around Me, Honey 199

Put Your Hand In The Hand 207

Quando, Quando, Quando 69

Quartet from ‘Rigoletto’ 126

Quizas, Quizas, Quizas 67, 69

Ragtime Cowboy Joe 197

Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head 189, 191

Ramona 156, 272

Reading from St. Mark, Chapter 10: Verses 1-16 245

Reading from St. Matthew, Chapter 7: Verses 1-12 251

Red Sails In The Sunset 119

Red, White And Blue, The (See ‘Columbia Gem Of The Ocean’)

Remember 181

Rhythm Cymbals 264

Ridin’ High 49

Road To Lebanon, The 128

Road To Morocco 4, 31, 62, 136, 161, 186, 214, 246, 252, 262, 264

Rover 216, 222

Row, Row, Row Your Boat 142, 174

Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer 32

Russian Lullaby 130

Sail Away From Norway 289

Sally, Let Your Bangs Hang Down 83

Sam’s Song 176

San Antonio Rose 75, 285, 289

San Fernando Valley 156, 285, 289

Saturday Morning Confusion 214

Saturday Night 81

Save Your Sorrow For Tomorrow 201

Scarf, A Stool, A Song And Imagination, A 75

Second Hand Rose 154

Second Time Around, The 49, 135, 145, 207

Secret Love 13

Send In The Clowns 241, 250

September Song 31

She Can Carry A Gun 95

Sheikh Of Araby, The 58

She’ll Be Comin’ Round The Mountain 75

Shenandoah (Across The Wide Missouri) 69

She’s A Lady 285

Shine On Your Shoes, A 130

Shoo-Fly Pie And Apple Pan Dowdy 130

Shortnin’ Bread 199

Shuffle Off To Buffalo 85

Side By Side 31

Side By-Side By-Side 214, 293

Silent Night 2, 169, 271, 283

Silver Bells 137, 293

Simon Says 164

Sing 208a, 244, 252

Singin’ In The Rain 66, 288

Sing, Sing, Sing 44, 45

Sing Soft, Sing Sweet, Sing Gentle 140

Skillet Good And Greasy 83

Sleigh Ride 137, 196, 211, 252

Smack Dab In The Middle 106

Small Fry 31, 227

Smile Looks Good On Any Face, A 107

Smiles 172

Solamente Una Vez 191

So Long! Oo-long (How Long You Gonna Be Gone?) 58

Some Children See Him 66, 221

Something’s Gotta Give 130

Something Stupid 159

Something To Do 75

Sometimes I’m Happy 99, 191, 276

Somewhere My Love (Lara’s Theme) 138

Song Is Ended, The 66

Soon 38

So The Bluebirds And The Blackbirds Got Together 203

South Of The Border 31, 97, 285, 288, 289

South Rampart Street Parade 67, 117

State Versus Santa Claus, The 229

Stay As Sweet As You Are 47

Step To The Rear 159

Straight Down The Middle 33

Straight Life, The 170, 179

Strangers In The Night 138

Strike Up The Band 133

Style 77, 145, 224, 262, 271

Sukiyaki 69

Sunday, Monday Or Always 31, 136

Sunrise, Sunset 136, 181

Sunshine Cake 227

Swanee 37, 47, 152

Sweet Georgia Brown 84

Sweet Leilani 31, 47, 156, 227, 249, 285, 289

Swinging On A Star 31, 37, 127, 129, 134, 145, 150, 180, 183, 207, 216, 227, 230, 249, 252, 262, 271, 285, 289

‘S Wonderful 67

Take A Longer Look 188

Take Me Out To The Ball Game 130

Talk To The Animals 158, 164

Tangerine 156

Tea For Two 47, 58

Teamwork 61, 62, 67, 74, 252

Tell Me Pretty Maiden 126

Temptation 30

Thank Heaven For Little Girls 44, 49

Thanks 38, 145

Thanks A Million 156

Thanks For The Memory 161, 180, 186, 264

That Face 167

That Old Black Magic 47

That’s Amore 154

That’s Life 138

That’s What Life Is All About 236, 241, 243, 244, 257

That’s Where My Money Goes 150

Them There Eyes 106, 119, 285, 289

Then I’ll Be Happy 179

There Are All Kinds Of Strings 164

There’s A Long, Long Trail 31

There’s A New World Coming 189

There’s More To Life Than Just Living 78, 95

There’s No Business Like Show Business 150

There’s Nothing That I Haven’t Sung About 177, 203

There Will Never Be Another You 47, 152

They All Laughed 197

They Call The Wind ‘Maria’ 167

They Can’t Take That Away From Me 152

They Had To Carry Carrie To The Ferry 151

This Could Be The Start Of Something Big 122

This Is A Grand Occasion 66

This Is A Great Country 140

This Is A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening 66

This Is One Of Those Songs 130

This Is That Time Of The Year 169

This Is The Life 144, 183

This Land Is Your Land 134

This Ole House 16

Those Were The Days 167

Three Blind Mice 142, 174

Three Little Fishes 31, 164, 172

Three Little Words 130

Three O’Clock In The Morning 130

Thrill Is Gone, The 112

Time To Be Jolly, A 211

‘Tis The Week Before Christmas 229

To Be A Performer 150

Together 152

Together Again 181

Together Wherever We Go 43, 128

Tomorrow’s My Lucky Day 33

Too Marvellous For Words 49, 271

Too Neat To Be A Beatnik 42

Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral 37, 45, 153, 285, 289

Toot, Toot, Tootsie 152, 285

Top Banana 95

Top Billing 252

True Love 27, 29, 31, 37, 145, 170, 207, 240, 250, 262, 285, 289

Try A Little Kindness 181

Try To Remember 181

Tumbling Tumbleweeds 47, 197

Turn Around 189

Twang, Twang, Twang 37

Twelve Days Of Christmas, The 137, 224

Twilight On The Trail 40

Two Sleepy People 44, 161, 186, 264

Typically English 126, 135

Underneath The Arches 176

Until You’ve Played The Palace 184

Up On The Housetop 221

Up, Up And Away 181

Valentine 44, 156

Violin Song, The 158

Volare 38

Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie 66, 129, 249, 285, 289

Waiter And The Porter And The Upstairs Maid, The 183

Waiting For The Robert E. Lee 152

Waltz You Saved For Me, The 250

Way To Get Ready For Winter, The 137

Way We Were, The 261, 289 

Way You Look Tonight, The 172

We’d Like To Borrow Your Kids 229

Week Before The Week Before The Holiday, The 252

We Like Working With Each Other 173

Well, Did You Evah! 37, 250, 261, 262

We Lost Our Man 264

We Need A Little Christmas 252

We’re Funny Men 180

(We're Gonna Be In) High Society 42

We Three Kings Of Orient Are 224, 229

We Wish You A Merry Christmas 169, 196

We Wish You The Merriest 93, 121

What A Christmas Day 229

What A Difference A Day Made 130

What Do You Want For Christmas? 137

What’s New 66

What The World Needs Now Is Love 167

What Would We Do Without You? 214

When A Girl Comes To Hollywood 167

When I Take My Sugar To Tea 45, 58, 82

When I Was A Lad (from ‘HMS Pinafore’) 108

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling 143

When The Kids Get Married 169

When The Red, Red, Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin’ Along 44, 126, 127, 173

When The Saints Go Marching In 37

When You And I Were Young Maggie Blues 134, 151, 176

When You’re Living With Santa Claus (That’s How It Is) 221

Where The Blue Of The Night 38, 42, 45, 47, 48, 75, 134, 159, 191, 214, 227, 264, 272, 293

Where The Morning Glories Grow 238, 242, 257, 259, 264

Where The Rainbow Ends 164

Whiffenpoof Song, The 31, 121, 262

White Christmas 14, 15, 32, 39, 58, 66, 93, 121, 128, 135, 137, 158, 165, 169, 181, 191, 196, 211, 221, 222, 224, 227, 229, 230, 240, 250, 252, 271, 276, 281, 283, 285, 289, 293

White World Of Winter, The 121

Why Don’t We Do This More Often? 152

Winchester Cathedral 138

Winter Wonderland 130, 137, 293

Witchcraft 130

With A Little Bit Of Luck 176

Without A Song 49

World Is Waiting For The Sunrise, The 199

Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams 44, 69, 152, 227, 249, 250, 289

Wreck Of The Hesperus, The (Longfellow) 28

Y’All Come 9

Yankee Doodle Dandy 134

Yellow Bird 159

Yellow Submarine 178

Yesterdays 49

Yes! We Have No Bananas 45, 130

You Are My Lucky Star 69

You Are My Sunshine 75, 289

You Brought Us The Phone 146

You Call It Madness (But I Call It Love) 272

You Came A Long Way From St. Louis 40

You Can Dramatise The Feeling With A Hat 119

You Can’t Get Along With ‘Em Or Without ‘Em 87

You Couldn’t Be Cuter 172

You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To 88

You Don’t Have To Know The Language 136

You Go To My Head 31, 119

You Gotta Be A Football Hero (To Get Along With The Beautiful Girls) 47

You Gotta Be You 177

You Gotta Start Off Each Day With A Song 43

You’ll Never Get Away 67

You’ll Never Get Away From Me 227

You Lucky People You 62

You Make Me Feel So Young 130, 154

Young At Heart 13, 130

You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me 101

You’re Just In Love 90

You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You 133

You’re The Top 186

You’ve Got A Friend 252

You’ve Got Good Friends 214

Zing A Little Zong 44, 62, 240

Zing! Went The Strings Of My Heart 164

INDEX 2

Details, alphabetically, the people and places concerned in the programmes

‘27th Academy Awards Ceremony’ 19

‘29th Academy Awards Ceremony’ 29

‘60 Minutes USA’ 292

Abbott, Bud 4

Abbott, Norman 66

ABC 32, 37, 40, 42, 43, 44, 47, 49, 58, 62, 66, 74, 77, 78 to 81, 83 to 91, 93 to 108, 110, 116, 117, 119, 121, 122, 124, 125, 126, 130, 133, 136, 137, 138, 140 to 142, 144, 146, 150, 154, 155, 158, 159, 160, 164, 166, 168 to 170, 172, 174 to 176, 178, 183 to 185, 190, 198, 199, 204, 213, 218, 219, 223, 225, 226, 231, 263, 278, 282, 288

ABC News 260

ABC-TV 8

ABC-UK 112, 147

‘ABC’s Wide World of Entertainment’ 77

Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, The 70

‘Across The Seven Seas’ 132

Adams, Don 166

Adams, Edie 62, 140

Agostini, Lucio 127

Ainsworth, Alyn 244

Alan Copeland Singers, The 211

Alberghetti, Anna Maria 39

Allan Davies Singers, The 199

Allan, Judy 270

Allen, Gracie 4

Allen, Steve 59, 63

Allison, Richard 111

‘All You Need Is Love’ 286

Allyson, June 39

Ambassador Hotel 171

Ameche, Don 146

American Red Cross Fund Campaign 3

‘American Sportsman, The’ 124, 141, 160, 175, 185, 190, 204, 213, 218, 223, 225, 226, 231

Amsterdam, Morey 167A

‘AM New York’ 276, 277

Anderson, Eddie ‘Rochester’ 10, 12

Anderson, Lynn 264

Andrews, Julie 22, 24, 27, 179

‘Andy Williams Show, The’ 134

Angelos, Bill, 196, 199, 221, 224, 229

‘An Hour with Bing & Kathryn Crosby’ 276

Anka, Paul 285, 287

Ann-Margret 194

Appel, Stanley 241

Arlen, Harold 54

Armstrong, Louis 24, 25, 27, 31, 39, 42, 117, 144, 199, 200

Art Hallman Singers, The 127

‘Art Linkletter’ 115

Association, The 150

Astaire, Fred 20, 252

ATV 51, 52, 53

Auger, Claudine 128

Austin, Pam 97

Autry, Gene 6

Avalon, Frankie 101

AVRD 240

Ayres, Mitchell 45, 95, 116, 117, 119, 121, 122, 133, 137, 138, 140, 142, 144, 150, 154, 158, 159, 164, 166, 167, 169, 170, 174, 176

Aznavour, Charles 138

Bach-Yen (Miss Vietnam) 135

Backus, Jim 7

Baecker, Werner 283

Bailey, Pearl 66a, 161, 199, 214, 227, 285

Baker, Joe 262

Baker, La Vern 54

Bakewell, Joan 114

Ball, Lucille 1, 63, 65, 109, 129, 194

Ballantine, Carl 117

Band Of The USA, The 39

Banner, John 121

‘Barbara Walters Special’ 288

Barbeau, Adrienne 246

Barry, Gene 77, 95, 168

Bartok-Hunt Circus, The 155

Barton, Eileen 6, 20

Basehart, Richard 77

Bassey, Shirley 58

Baxter, Stanley 293

Baylos, Gene 164

BBC 48, 50, 61, 111, 113, 114, 148, 193, 206, 217, 222, 233, 234, 236, 241, 244, 255, 256, 258, 265, 267, 268, 284, 290, 291

Beach Boys, The 92

Bee, Molly 6

Bellson, Louis 199

‘Bell System Family Theatre’ 196

‘Bell Telephone Hour, The’ 82

‘Bell Telephone Jubilee’ 261

Bennett, Tony 266

Benny, Jack 9, 10, 12, 39, 63, 71, 120, 192, 194

Bergen, Edgar 125

Bergen, Polly 30, 39, 145

Berle, Milton 39, 150, 159, 166

Berlin, Irving 15, 165

Berman, Shelley 130, 168, 176

Berns, Seymour 25, 31, 33

Bertha & Tina 116

Besser, Joe 196

‘Betty Furness Consumer Affairs Show’ 247

‘Big Night Out With Peggy Lee, A’ 52

‘Bing - A 50th Anniversary Gala’ 285

‘Bing & Carol -Together Again For The First Time’ 181

‘Bing Crosby - Cooling It’ 189

‘Bing Crosby And Friends’ 214

‘Bing Crosby And His Friends’ 33, 227

‘Bing Crosby And The Sounds Of Christmas’ 211

‘Bing Crosby At Gonzaga’ 162

Bing Crosby Cup, The 284

‘Bing Crosby Pro-Am Golf Tournament, The’ 33

‘Bing Crosby Show for Clairol, The’ 66

‘Bing Crosby Show for General Electric, The’ 9, 13

‘Bing Crosby Show for Lever Brothers, The’ 75

‘Bing Crosby Show for Oldsmobile, The’ 37, 40, 42, 44, 47, 49

‘Bing Crosby Show, The’ 58, 62, 69, 78 to 81, 83 to 91, 93, 94, 96 to 103, 105 to 108, 110

‘Bing Crosby Special, The’ 167, 181

‘Bing Crosby’s Christmas Show’ 196

‘Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas’ 293

‘Bing Crosby’s Sun Valley Christmas Show’ 224

‘Bing Crosby’s Washington State’ 163

‘Bing Crosby’s White Christmas’ 271

‘Bing in Norway’ 289

‘Bing with Pat -A Look At A Legend’ 273

‘Biography of a Movie’ 64

Black, Cilla 112

Black Theatre of Prague, The 116, 144

Blocker, Dan 194

Blue, Ben 122

Blyth, Ann 10

‘Bob Hope Chrysler Comedy Special, The’ 135

‘Bob Hope Chrysler Special, The’ 186

‘Bob Hope Comedy Hour, The’ 71

‘Bob Hope Comedy Special, The’ 120

‘Bob Hope Olympic Benefit, The’ 264

‘Bob Hope Show, The’ 21, 34, 59, 65, 92

‘Bob Hope Special, The’ 173, 182, 201

‘Bob Hope Sunday Spectacular, The’ 23

Bob Mitchell Boys’ Choir, The 2, 107

Boggs, Bill, 279

Bolger, Ray 39, 186, 259

Boone, Pat 246, 250

Borge, Victor 154, 174

Botkin, Perry 9, 10

Bough, Frank 233, 291

Bowie, David 293

Boyd, Bud 185

Boyd, Jimmy 6, 83

Braden, Bernard 57

Brasil ‘66, 209

Breaux, Marc 69, 167, 178, 188

Bregman, Buddy 143

Brenner, David 242

Brewer, Teresa 63

Brooks, Joe 124, 141

Brown, Les 23, 34, 65, 71, 74, 135, 145, 152, 161, 179, 182, 186, 201, 207, 264

Brown, Roscoe Lee 194

Bubbles, John W. 119

Buchanan, Jack 5

Bud & Travis 67

Buenos Aires TV 191

Bunraku 164

Burnett, Carol 180, 181, 208a, 214

Burns and Schreiber 116, 138

Burns, George 4, 12, 39, 95, 133, 173

Bushkin, Joe 42, 164, 252, 285, 289

Butler, David 212

Butterworth, Donna 122

Buttons, Red 63, 144

Buttram, Pat 167A

Byner, John 169, 224

Caesar, Sid 133, 136, 164, 166, 168

Cahn, Sammy 43, 52, 266

Camarata, Toots 31

Campbell, Glen 169, 194, 206a

Campbell, Norman 271

Campbell, Patrick 112

Canada 123, 127, 264

Cantor, Eddie 1

Cantrell, Larry 168

Carey, MacDonald 85

Carl, George 168, 176

Carmichael, Hoagy 209

Carne, Judy 170

Carney, Art, 177

‘Carol Burnett Show, The’ 180, 208a

Caron, Leslie 20

Carr, Vikki 101, 136

Carroll, Alma 143

Carroll, Diahann 119, 150

Carson, Johnny 63, 186, 246, 259, 280

Carter, Jack 63

Cash, Johnny 186, 194

Cass County Boys, The 9

Cassini, Oleg 186

Castellano, Richard 207

Cavett, Dick 219

CBC-Canada 123

CBS 3, 4, 6, 9, 12, 13, 15 to 18, 20, 22, 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31, 33, 46, 55, 63, 68, 69, 75, 109, 115, 118, 129, 156, 165, 177, 205, 208a, 227, 238, 250, 252, 257, 271, 285, 292, 293

Chakiris, George 25

Chambers, Ernest 203

Champion, Marge & Gower 39

Charisse, Cyd 39, 95, 137

Charles, Ray 167

Chenoweth, Jim 208

Cherry, Don 5, 145

Chevalier, Maurice 49

Chiles, Linden 68

‘Christmas Carol, A’ 2

‘Christmas With The Bing Crosby’s’ 221, 229

‘Christophers, The’ 10

Chrysler 69a, 135, 173, 182, 186, 201

‘City Hall Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony’ 281

Claire & McMahon 207

Clairol 66

Clark, Petula 201

Clark, Roy 181, 194, 261

Clary, Robert 121

Cliben, Van 39

Clooney, Rosemary 31, 47, 51, 75, 125, 273, 285

Coca, Imogene 168

Cockermouth 141

Colbert, Claudette 20

Cole, Buddy 4, 9, 13, 31, 33, 37, 82

‘Colgate Comedy Hour, The’ 5, 11

Colleran, Bill 37, 40, 42, 43

Collins, Dorothy 121, 138

Collins, Joan 59, 151

Collins, Pat 273

Colonna, Jerry 201

‘Come A’ Running’ 68

Como, Perry 44, 45

Connery, Sean 284

Conried, Hans 22

‘Conversations 1967-1968’ 149

Converse, Frank 198

Conway, Tim 116, 140, 216

Cooper, Gary 1

Corbett, Harry H. 112

Corrigan, Lloyd 22

Cosby, Bill 262

Costa, Mary 183, 211

Costello, Lou 4

Cotton, Joseph 72

‘Country Girl, The’ 18

Crain, Jeanne 20

Crane, Bob 121

Crawford, Joan 1, 20

Croft, Peter 58

Crosby, Bob 33

Crosby, Dennis 40, 44, 47

Crosby, Gary 62, 74, 79, 86, 125, 174

Crosby, Harry 121, 137, 158, 169, 196, 211, 221, 224, 229, 252, 263, 271, 285, 289, 293

Crosby, Kathryn 33, 69a, 75, 92, 100, 104, 127, 137, 143, 153, 158, 169, 172, 188, 191, 196, 211, 221, 224, 228, 229, 230, 242, 247, 249, 252, 271, 272, 276, 277, 278, 279, 283, 285, 293

Crosby, Lindsay 31, 44, 47

Crosby, Mary Frances 137, 151, 158, 169, 188, 196, 211, 221, 224, 229, 252, 271, 285, 293

Crosby, Nathaniel 137, 158, 169, 188, 196, 211, 221, 224, 229, 252, 271, 285, 293

Crosby, Phillip 40, 44, 47, 176

Cummings, Robert 20

Cuoco, Joyce 158

Curfew Kids, The 41

Curtis & Tracey 167A

‘Daddy Long Legs’ 20

D’Amboise, Jacques 95

Dagestan Tightrope Dancers, The 176

Daley, Jan 167A

Daly, John 33

Daly, Pat 130

Damone, Vic 54

Dana, Bill 136

Dandridge, Dorothy 25

Danner, Blythe 198

‘Danny Thomas Hour, The’ 151

‘David Frost Show, The’ 200

Davis, Belva 205

Davis, Joan 7

Davis Jr, Sammy 178, 202

Davis, Mac 229

Dawson, Richard 121

Day, Dennis 10, 102

Day, Jim 131, 149

‘Day War Broke Out, The’ 235

Dean, Jimmy 77

‘Dean Martin Show for Timex, The’ 38

‘Dean Martin Show, The’ 41, 145, 152, 179, 207

Debenedictis, Dick 189, 196

De Cordova. Fred 9 

DeLuise, Dom 142, 152, 179

Demaret, Jimmy, 11a

‘Demon Under The Bed, The’ 151

‘Derby Grandstand’ 148

Desmond & Marx 119

De Wolfe, Billy 203

‘Dick Cavett Show, The’ 219

Diller, Phyllis 195

‘Dinah!’ 250

‘Dinah Shore Show, The’ 67

Ding-A-Lings, The 207

Dirksen, Senator Everett 140

‘Disney Time’ 256

Disney, Walt 18

Dixon, Ivan 121

‘Doctor Cook’s Garden’ 198

Don Crichton Dancers, The 25

Donohue, Jack 38, 41

Doodletown Pipers, The 194, 196

Doonican, Val 258

Dornan, Robert K. 192A

Douglas, Mike 242, 249

Douglas, Paul 4, 10

Downs, Hugh 128, 157

Draper, Rusty 30

Drewett, Richard 241

Dubin, Charles 104

Duncan, Sandy 227, 285

Dunne, Elaine 44

Dunne, Irene 10

‘DuPont Show, The’ 54,

Durante, Jimmy 26, 43, 140, 150, 159

Dussault, Nancy 55

Duvivier, George 289

‘Eamonn Andrews Show, The’112, 147

‘Easter Seal Show, The’ 127

Ebsen, Buddy 69, 95

‘Eddie Fisher Show, The’ 36

Eden, Barbara 161

‘Edsel Show, The’ 31

‘Ed Sullivan Show, The’ 24, 27, 30, 55, 63, 165

Educational Channel 13 149

Ekberg, Anita 34

Electrovision 206

Elliott, Bob 192

‘Emperor Waltz, The’ 1

‘Entertainment Hall of Fame’ 266

Ernest Flatt Dancers, The 208a

Establishment, The 183

Evans, Dale, 178

Every Mother’s Son 164

Excess Baggage 137

Fabray, Nanette 126, 144

‘Faith, Hope and Hogan’ 10

Falana, Lola 133

Farrell, Glenda 88

Father Peyton’s Family Theater Group 73

Faye, Alice 142

Faylen, Carol 78, 81, 89, 93, 97, 102, 105

Fearsome Foursome, The 159

‘Feelin’ Groovy at Marine World’ 172

Feliciano, Jose 167

Ferguson, Allyn 134, 221

Fife Educational TV Service 270

Fiji Island Band, The 125

‘Films Of Faith’ 10

Finkel, Bob 211, 214, 227, 229

Finn, Fred & Mickie 154

Fischer, George 1

Fisher, Art 224

Fisher, Eddie 20, 36

Fitzell, Roy 137

Fitzgerald, Ella 142, 180

Fleming, Rhonda 39

‘Flip Wilson Show, The’ 197, 216

Flynn, Joe 203

Fontaine, Joan 102

‘Ford Automobile 50th Anniversary Celebration’ 14

‘Ford Star Jubilee’ 22, 25

Ford, Tennessee Ernie 134

Forrest, Sally 25

Forsyth, Bruce 53

Forsyth, Rosemary 187

Foster, Bill 203

Fountain, Pete 62

Four Preps, The 31

Four Robertis, The 166

Four Tops, The 176

Fox, Sonny 187

Foxx, Redd 288

Franchi, Sergio 183

Franciosa, Tony 77

Franklin, Joe 272

‘Frank Sinatra Timex Show, The’ 43

Franz, Arthur 99

Fraser, Elizabeth 87

Fraser, Ian 252, 261, 293

Fred Waring and his Pennsylvanians 121

Fred Waring Glee Club, The 165

Freeman, Mona 1

Frost, David 126, 200

Furness, Betty 247

Gable, Clark 1

Gabor, Eva 179

Gardiner, Llew 237

Garland, Beverly 78, 79, 85, 88, 89, 90, 93, 95, 101, 102, 108, 110

Garland, Judy 3

Garner, James 40, 92

Garrison, Greg 145, 152, 207

Gaynor, Mitzi 43

General Electric 9, 13

Genevieve 45

Gennaro, Peter 45, 75, 165

Gentry, Bobbie 170, 178

‘George Jessel Show, The’ 35

Ghezzi Brothers, The 144

Gibson, Bob 166

Gifford, Frank 242

Gilbert, Joanne 13

Gilford, Jack 179

Gilliam, Stu 170

Gimma Brothers, The 136

Gleason, Jackie 156, 177, 271

Gleneagles 258, 270

Glenn, Colonel John 104

Glenn, Tyree 200

Glenville, Sean 58

Gobel, George 63, 100

Godfrey, Arthur 129

Golddiggers, The 152

Golden Gate Boys’ Choir, The 230

‘Goldilocks’ 188

Goldsboro, Bobby 166

‘Golf Through The Ages’ 269

Gomez, Thomas 89

Goodman, Benny 39

‘Good Morning America’ 278, 282

Good Time Washboard Three, The 144

Goodwin, Doug 188

Goodwins, Les 13

Gorin, Igor 10

Gorme, Eydie 39, 178, 261

Goulding, Ray 192

Goulet, Robert 165, 211

Gowdy, Curt, 231

Grable, Betty 1, 20, 23

Grammy Awards, The 70

‘Grand Award Of Sports, The 104’

‘Grandstand’ 233

Graves, Teresa 201

Gray, Dolores 25

Greco & Willard 168

Green, Kelly 250

Green, Lorne 194

Greevy, Bernadette 143

Grey, Joel 261

Grier, Roosevelt 159

Griffin, Merv 212, 232, 238

Grimes, Tammy 126

Guinness Choir, The 143

Hamlisch, Marvin 259, 261

Hampton, Lionel 66a, 192

Handley, Alan 128

Hanna, Jake 289

Hanna, Vincent 290

Hanson, Tom 37, 40

‘Happy Days’ 192

‘Happy Holidays with Bing & Frank’ 32

Happy Wanderers, The 58

‘Happy With The Blues’ 54

Harbach, William O. 47, 49, 95, 116, 133, 137, 138, 140, 142, 144, 150, 154, 158, 159, 166, 169, 178, 181

Harmon, Tommy 33

Harrington Jr., Pat 100

Harris Nelson Family, The 126

Harris, Jack 292

Harris, Phil 4, 10, 33, 38, 95, 103, 117, 142, 159, 160, 167A, 213, 223, 226, 228, 231, 250, 263

Harris, Stan 62

Harrison, Rex 1

Harry Stoneham Five, The 222

Hart, Derek 48

Hartman, David 221

Hartman, Don 21

Hassan, Lorne 160

Hawaii 64

Hayes, Bill 37, 40, 42

Hayes, Peter Lind 25

Healy, Mary 25

Hearne, Richard 20

Heatherton, Joey 150

Hedison, David 77

Heinkel, Susan 30

Hemion, Dwight 77, 252, 261, 293

Henderson, Florence 37, 40, 42, 164

Henderson, Skitch 138

Hendra and Ullett 142

‘Here Come The Stars’ 171

Herman, Woody 155

‘High Society’ 24

‘High Tor’ 22

Hill, Ben 129

Hillsborough 217, 249

Hirt, Al 67

Hitchcock, Alfred 18

Hogan, Ben 10

‘Hogan’s Heroes’ 121

Holden, William 1, 10

Holland 240

Holloway, Joan 24

Hollywood 1, 16, 20

‘Hollywood and The Stars -The One And Only Bing’ 72

‘Hollywood Palace, The’ 74, 95, 116, 117, 119, 121, 122, 125, 126, 130, 133, 136, 137, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 150, 154, 158, 159, 164, 166, 168, 169, 170, 174, 176, 178, 183, 184

Hollywood Paramount 1

‘Honeymooners In Hollywood, The’ 177

Hope, Bob 1, 3, 4, 5, 10, 12, 19, 21, 23, 26, 31, 33, 34, 39, 53, 55, 55a, 56, 58, 59, 61, 62, 65, 69a, 71, 75, 92, 119, 120, 128, 135, 140, 147, 157, 161, 165, 167, 170, 173, 181, 182, 186, 193, 194, 201, 212, 214, 219, 227, 246, 247, 248, 252, 255, 264, 266, 280, 285, 288

Hopkins, Miriam 17

Horne, Lena 39, 152

Hovis, Larry 121

Howes, Sally Ann 176

Hugh Lambert Dancers, The 125

Hughes, Barnard 198

Humperdinck, Engelbert 178

Hussey, Ruth 68

Hutton, Betty 39

Iceland 185

‘Ichabod’ 256

Ilson, Paul 203

‘I Married Joan’ 7

International Pro-Celebrity Golf 258, 284

Iowa 223

Ireland 139, 143

Iriston Horsemen, The 166

ITN-UK 239

ITV-UK 243, 245, 251, 253, 286

Ives, Burl 82

‘Jack Benny Show’, The 12

‘Jackie Gleason Show, The’ 156, 177

Jacklin, Tony 284

Jackson, Mahalia 37

Jackson, Sammy 77

Jacobi, Lou 207

Jacobsson, Ulla 80

James, Harry 20, 165

Jameson, Joyce 133

Janssen, David 77

Jessel, George 35, 167A

‘Joe Franklin’s TV Show’272

‘Joey Bishop Show, The’ 153

Johannesen, Grant 82

Johnson, Arte 203

Johnson, Van 1

‘John Wayne TV Special, The’ 194

Jones, Anissa (‘Buffy’) 172

Jones, Jennifer 20

Jones, Shirley 25, 264

Jones, Tom, 178

Jordan, Will 63

Juliette 127

‘Kaleidoscope’ 131

 Karlin, Miriam 58

‘Kathryn and Bing at Home’ 249

‘Kathryn Crosby Show, The’ 228, 230, 254

Kaye, Danny 39

Keaton, Buster 46

Keller, Father 10

Kessler Twins, The 119

Kiley, Tim 216

King, Alan 156

King, Dave 51, 58

King Cousins 130

King Family, The 95, 96a, 130, 146, 158

King Sisters, The 130, 164

Kingman, Doug 250

Kirsten, Dorothy 167A

Klemperer, Werner 121

Knight, Peter 58, 271

Kohan, Buz, 196, 199, 221, 224, 229

Korman, Harvey 208a

Kossoff, David 52

KPIX/SF 187

KQED 131

KREM-TV 162

KTLA-TV 1

Kuban Cossacks, The 137, 183

Kulp, Nancy 203

Ladd, Alan 1

Laine, Frankie 39

Lamarr, Hedy 1

Lambert, Hugh 49

L’Amouret, Robert 20

Lamour, Dorothy 4, 23, 136, 153, 167, 167A, 212

Landon, Michael 194, 200, 224

Landon's Midgets and Blinko the Clown 121

Lane, Ken 207

Lane, Robbie and the Disciples 127

Lang, Harold 24

Langford, Frances 146

La Norma 117

Las Cruces 132

‘Late Late Show’, The 139

‘Late Night Line-Up’ 114

Lawford, Peter 26, 202

Lawrence, Carol 47, 49

Lawrence, Steve 178, 261

Lawrence, Vicki 208a

Laxa River 185

Lee, Peggy 42, 46, 52, 54, 159

‘Lee Trevino Show, The’ 220

Leigh, Janet 120, 210

Lemmon, Jack 18

Lennon Sisters, The 169

Leonard, Sheldon 128, 129

Leonardo 95

Leslie, Bethel 198

Lester, Buddy 33

Lever Brothers 75

Levin, Ira 198

Lewis, Abby 198

Lewis, Jerry 4, 8, 36, 63

Liberace 4, 15, 95, 156

Lilley, Joseph 22, 62, 66

Lincoln, Abbey 166

Linkletter, Art 115

Lipman, Joe 181

‘Little Bit Of Irish, A’ 143

Little Dublin Singers, The 143

Little, Rich 167A, 195, 238, 262

Lockwood, Grey 116, 133, 137, 150, 154, 166, 169, 181

Logan, Barbara 9

London Palladium 53, 290, 291, 292

‘Look’ 18

Lopez, Trini 244

Los Angeles 171

‘Los Expertos Contestan’ 76

Luboff, Norman 58

‘Lucy Show, The’ 109

Ludlows, The 143

‘Lux Video Theatre, The’ 17

Lynde, Paul 154, 208a

Lynn, Vera 244

Mack, Ted 63

MacKay, Harper 128

MacKenzie, Gisele 41

MacMurray, Fred 33

MacRae, Gordon 25

‘Magic Of Broadcasting, The’ 129

Maharis, George 151

Malleson, Miles 58

Mamas & The Papas, The 133

Manna, Charlie 119

Marceau, Marcel 27

Marciano, Rocky 161, 248, 255

Mariners, The 20

Markle, Fletcher 123

Marks, Guy 174

Marquis Chimps 158

Marsh, Jane 133

Marshall, Peter 203

Martin, Dean 4, 8, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43, 66a, 75, 145, 152, 179, 189, 194, 207

Martin, Dick 145, 180, 180a, 183a, 194, 195, 210

Martin, Gail 154

Martin, Mary 66

Martin, Ross 194

Martin, Tony 39, 95

Marx, Groucho 26

Mason, Jackie 126

Mason, Steve 272

‘Maternidad Pardo Ostetrich’ 191

Mathis, Johnny 30

Mature, Victor 20

Matz, Peter 208a, 224, 229

Maxwell, Marilyn 5, 23

Maye, Marilyn 122

Mays, Willie 119

Mazzo, Catherine 95

McCarey Leo 10

McCloud, Donny 234

McDonough, Dick 173, 201

McGuire Sisters, The 55, 82

McHugh, Frank 78, 89, 95, 102

McKay, Jim 104

McKenna, Siobhan 143

McLane, Kerry 129

McMahon, Ed 194

McNair, Barbara 146

McNally, John 143

Mecners, The 130

Medford, Kay 207

Medicine Ball Band 294

Medini Brothers, The 142

Mendes, Sergio 209

Mercer, Johnny 47, 130, 268

Mercer, Mabel 279

Merman, Ethel 165

Merrick, Mahlon 12

‘Merry Christmas Fred, From The Crosby’s’ 252

‘Merv Griffin Show, The’ 212, 232, 238, 257

Mexico 124, 132, 213

Michael The Waiter 119

‘Midday’ 279

Midler, Bette 285

‘Mike Douglas Show, The’ 242, 249

Miller, Johnny 284

Miller, Lisa 173

Miller, Roger 154

Milligan, Spike 112

Mills Brothers, The 138, 285

Minnelli, Liza 261

‘Minute Maid’ 60

‘Miss Vietnam’ 135

Mitchell Singing Boys Choir, The 211

Monaco, Aldo 49

Monica, Corbett 95

Monro, Matt 153

Monroe, Marilyn 8

‘Monsanto Presents Mancini’ 209

Montevecchi, Liliane 136

Montreal Forum 264

Moody, Ron 58, 293

Moonan, Bob 230, 249

Moore, Melba 196, 216, 279

Moore, Pete 241

Morecambe And Wise 165

Morris, Greg 194

Morrow, Bill 9, 13, 31, 32, 37, 40, 44, 69

‘Movie Game, The’ 187

‘Movie Of The Week’ 198

Mr. Conn & Mr. Mann 31

Murillo 137

Murray, Arthur & Katherine 63

Murray, Ken 97

Murrow, Edward R. 16

Muscular Dystrophy Foundation 8

Mustin, Burt 259

Mysen 289

National Pro-Am Golf Tournament 11

‘Nationwide’ 291

NBC 2, 4, 5, 7, 11, 19, 21, 22, 34, 38, 45, 54, 56, 59, 64, 65, 67, 70, 71, 72, 82, 92, 120, 128, 134, 135, 145, 151, 152, 157, 161, 167, 173, 179, 181, 182, 186, 188, 189, 194, 195, 196, 201, 202, 203, 207, 210, 211, 214, 216, 221, 224, 229, 246, 247, 248, 259, 261, 262, 264, 275, 280,

NDR 283

Neilsen, James 22

Nelson, David and the Flying Artons 122

Nero, Peter 55

Newhart, Bob 74, 122, 137

Newley, Anthony 182

New Madison Square Garden 161

‘Newsnight’ 290

New York 16, 149, 247, 273, 274, 276, 277, 279, 281, 283

‘New York, New York’ 283

Nichols, Red 4

Nicklaus, Jack 242

‘Night Of The Century, The’ 161

Nitwits, The 116, 142

Niven, David 39

Nolan, Kathy 77

Nolan, Lloyd 107

North, Sheree 9

Novak, Kim 39

Novello, Jay 12

Nye, Louis 146, 158, 192

O’Brian, Hugh 194

O’Brien, Dermot and his Clubmen 143

O’Brien, Edmond 18

O’Brien, Margaret 187

O’Brien, Pat 1

O’Connor, Carroll 210

O’Connor, Donald 41, 285

O’Donovan, Fred 143

O’Hara, Maureen 20

Oldfield, Brian 246

Oldsmobile 37, 40, 42, 44, 47, 49

Olkovikov, Nicolai 169, 174

Olsen, Nancy 22

Olympic Fund Telethon 4

‘One And Only Bing, The’ 72

‘One Night Stands’ 155

Oosterhuis Peter 258

‘Opera, The’ 7

O’Reilly, George 143

O’Shea, Milo 143

Paar, Jack 59

Page & Bray 30

Page, Patti 37

Palmer, Leland 183

‘Parkinson’ 241, 255

‘Parkinson Show, The’ 222

Parkinson, Michael 222, 241, 255

Parks, Larry 1

Parnell, Jack 53

Pasetta, Marty 189, 196, 211, 214, 221, 227, 229, 285

Pat & Cash 167A

Patchett & Tarses 183

‘Paul Anka - Music My Way’ 287

‘Pearl Bailey Show, The’ 199

Pebble Beach 11, 25

‘Pebble Mill At One’ 234

Peck, Gregory 39

Penny, Don 90

Perito, Nick 178, 181, 183, 211, 214, 221, 285

‘Perry Como’s Kraft Music Hall’ 45

Perry, Gaylord 175

‘Person To Person’ 16

Peters, Bernadette 189, 271

Peters, Roberta 6

Petkevitch, Jan Mischa 224

‘Philco Playhouse’ 2

‘Phil Silvers Show, The’ 28

Philips, Hazel 146a

‘Picture Parade’ 61

Pidgeon, Walter 39

Pinehurst, N.C. 175

Pinza, Ezio 4

Polack Brothers Elephants 146

Porter, Cole 25

Post, Ted 198

Powell, Dick 39

Powell, Jane 39

Preminger, Mike 242

President Eisenhower 39

Previn, Andre 66, 66a, 69

Prinze, Freddie 264

‘Promise, The’ 73

Prowse, Juliet 65, 66a, 71, 181

Puleo, Johnny & Harmonica Gang 138

‘Quarter Century Of Bob Hope On Television, A’ 248

Radio Eireann Light Orchestra, The 143

Raitt, John 30

Rascals, The 172

Ray Charles Mixed Group, The 45

Ray, Roger 125

Raye, Martha 39, 92, 173, 285

Readon, John 55

‘Red Skelton Show, The’ 18

Rene and his Puppets 137

‘Revlon Revue’ 46

Reynolds, Debbie 195, 285

Rhodins, The 133

Rhythmaires, The 9

‘Rich Little Show, The’ 262

Richards, Cully 126

Rickles, Don 246

Riddle, Nelson 32, 40, 43, 47, 49

Riley, Jeannie C. 166

River Derwent 141

Rivers, Johnny 155

Rizzo, Jilly 195

Road Runner Golf & Country Club 208

‘Road To Hong Kong, The’ 55, 61

‘Road To Lebanon, The’ 128

Robert Sidney Dancers, The 199

Robertson, Dale 208

Robins, John 143

Robinson, Edward G. 1

Robinson, Honeychile 6

Robinson, Robert 61

Roby, Fred 117

Rodgers, Jimmie 39

Rodrigues Brothers, The 178

Rogers, Roy, 178

Roman, Ruth 110

Ronay, Mac 130, 133, 183

Rondo, Don 30

Rooney, Mickey 1, 74, 77

Rory O’Connor Dancers, The 143

Rose, David 4, 25, 38, 41, 59, 62

‘Rosemary Clooney Show, The’ 51

Ross, Diana 165, 167, 173

Ross, Joe 196

‘Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In’ 183a, 195,  210

Rowan & Martin 145, 183a, 195, 210

Rowan, Dan 145, 180, 183a, 194, 195,  210

Roy, Marvin 144

‘Royal Ascot’ 267

RTE-Eire 139

Russell, Jane 20, 21, 23, 39

Ryan, Marion 58

‘Salute To Paul Whiteman, A’ 46

‘Salute To The USO, A’ 161

Salvadori, Les 74

San Francisco 131, 228, 255

Sanders, George 23, 25

Schenkel, Chris 104

Schoen, Vic 44

Schreiber, Avery 188

Scottsdale 208

‘See You At The Polls’ 26

Serling, Rod 129

‘Sgt. Bilko Presents Bing Crosby’ 28

Shalit, Gene 275

Shankar, Ravi 150

Sharples, Bob 52

Shatner, William 194

Shawn, Dick 39, 178

Shea, Jack 59, 65

Shearing, George 42

Sheldon, James 78

‘Shell’ Advertisement 60

Sherry, Diane 78, 87, 93, 99, 102, 129

Shigeta, James 98

Shore, Dinah 39, 67, 250

Siegel, Stanley 276

Silvan 74

Silvers, Phil 27, 28, 55, 63

Simard, Rene 264

Sims’ Performing Ponies117

Sinatra Jr., Frank 174

Sinatra, Frank 4, 31, 32, 42, 70, 75, 118, 248

Skelton, Red 18, 33, 194

Sloane, Everett 22

Smith, Gary 252, 261, 293

Smith, Johnny 289

Smith, Kate 27, 63, 134, 137

Smith, Paul 42

Smothers Brothers, The 62

Smothers, Tommy 194

Solokhins, The 159

Sommer, Elke 182, 203

Sommers, Joanie 54, 59

Sonny & Cher 122

Southern Alberta 226

Spear, Sammy 156, 177

St. Jacques, Raymond 187

St. John, Jill 69a

Stafford, Jo 40

‘Stagecoach’115

Standells, The 96

‘Stars on Sunday’ 243, 245, 251, 253

Steinberg, David 197

Stevens, Connie 66a, 77, 224

Stevens, Inger 30, 77

Stevens, Rise 274, 279

Stevens, Stella 167

Stewart, James 39

Stewart, Sandy 44

Stordahl, Axel 42

Storm, Gale 39

Strauss, Robert 54

Struthers, Sally 221

Sullivan, Ed 3, 15, 20, 24, 27, 30, 55, 63, 161, 165, 207

‘Sunday’ 274

‘Sunday Night At The London Palladium’ 53

Sunningdale Golf Course 48, 239

‘Sunset Boulevard’ 17

Supremes, The 165, 167, 173, 197

Sweetwater 178

‘Swing Out, Sweet Land’ 194

‘Swinging With The Stars’ 208

Swordsmen of the Lido 140

Szony & Claire 138

Tadlock, Tad 37, 40

Tagora 136

Tahon, Andre 74

Tahon Puppets, The 74

Tanzania 160

Taylor, Rip 207

Teagarden, Jack 46

‘Telescope’ 123

Temple, Shirley 1

Temptations, The 174

Terry-Thomas 58

Tewkesbury, Peter 151

Texaco 248

Thames TV 235, 237

‘Thanks For The Memories’ 248

‘This Is Your Life’ 193, 217

Thomas, Carla 209

Thomas, Danny 8, 39, 71, 122, 128

Thomas, John Charles 10

Three Rebertes, The 95

Tibor Rudas Dancers, The 116

Tierney, Gene 1

Tiller Girls, The 53

‘Time, The Place And The Camera, The’ 57

Timex 38, 43

‘Timmy’s Easter Parade Of Stars’ 127

Tiny Tim 170

‘Toast Of The Town’ 6, 15, 20

‘Today’ (UK) 206, 237

‘Today’ (USA) 157, 247, 275

‘Tonight Show, The’ 246, 259, 280

‘Tonight’ (UK) 48, 50, 265, 280

‘Tonight with Bing and Liza’ 261

‘Top Of The Pops’ 236

Toppers, The 25

Tormé, Mel 106

Tracy, Arthur 272

Treniers, The 38

Trevino, Lee 220

‘Tribute to Irving Berlin, A’ 165

‘Tribute to Johnny Mercer’ 268

Trinity Boys Choir, The 293

Trotter, John Scott 4, 9, 13, 31, 75, 93, 129, 181

Tunney, Gene 161

Turner, Jayne 42

Twiggy 293

Uggams, Leslie 130, 194

Umecki, Miyoshi 39

‘Uncle Bing’ 233

United Nations Children’s Choir, The 66, 154

Urie, John 172

USO Christmas Show 39

Valente, Caterina 69, 116

Valentine, Karen 229

Vallee, Rudy 14

Van Heusen, Jimmy 43, 52

Van, Bobby 74

Vanoff, Nick 44, 69, 75, 181

‘Vera Lynn Show, The’ 244

Verdon, Gwen 178

Vereen, Ben 261

‘Ver-r-r-ry Interesting’ 203

Victor Feldman Quartet, The 52

Villella, Edward 221

Volentes, The 138

Voorhees, Donald 82

WABC-TV NYC 276, 277

Waggoner, Lyle 208a

Wagner, Robert 34

Waldorf-Astoria 248, 283

Wallace, Mike 46

Walters, Barbara 288

Waring, Fred 165

Washington State 163

Wayne, Bill 130

Wayne, David 91, 208

Wayne, John 194, 246, 248

WCBS-TV NYC 273

Webb, Clifton 20

Weiskopf, Tom 258

Welch, Raquel 186

Welk, Lawrence 77, 159

Wellingtons, The 81, 93, 105

Wesson & Polk 24

West, Adam 158

West Point Cadet Glee Club, The 161, 186

Weston, Paul 54

Whiteman, Paul 46

Whitmore, Dean 67, 199

Wiere Brothers, The 13

Wild, Jack 196

Wilk, Max, 69

Williams, Andy 134, 182, 199

Williams, Anson 285

Williams, Bob & Louie 121

Williams, Esther 1

Williams, Joe 242

Wilson, Don 12

Wilson, Earl 170

Wilson, Flip 178, 189, 197, 216

Wilson, Nancy 74, 92, 120

Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships 113, 114

Winchell, Paul 188

WNBC-TV NYC 274

WNEW-TV NYC 279

Wonder Boy John 20

Wood, Dee Dee, 69

Wood, Micky 217

Wood, Natalie 34

Woodell, Pat 117

‘World Of Bob Hope, The’ 56

Worley, Jo Anne 201

WOR-TV 10, 272

WPIX-TV 10

Wyle, George 197, 216

Wyman, Jane 8

Wynn, Ed 95

Yagamuchi, Shirley 24

Yana 53

Yonely 146

‘You Can Change The World’ 10

Young Americans, The 69, 74, 117, 134, 252

Young Generation, The 143

Young, Loretta 10

Young, Victor 4

Youngman, Henny 125

‘You’re The Top’ 25

Zimmerman, Harry 67, 180

INDEX 3

Lists, alphabetically, the songs or musical items performed solely by or for other guests during the programmes

Ac-cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive 105

Africa 166

After You’ve Gone 227

Ain’t We Got Fun 173

Alexander’s Ragtime Band 261

Alfie 181

All Alone 38

All By Myself 38, 164, 165

All I Really Need Is A Girl 264

All Of You 136

All The Way 31, 52

Always 165, 261

Always True To You In My Fashion 25

American Beauty Rose 203

American Patrol 126

Anchors Aweigh 161

And The Angels Sing 130

Anema e Core (How Wonderful To Know) 49

An Evening In Roma 207

Angel Eyes 43

Ann 169

Anniversary Waltz 63

Another Op'nin, Another Show 25

Any Place I Hang My Hat Is Home 40

Anything Goes 25

Anything You Can Do 165, 261

Anytime 285

Applause 199

Aquarius 183

Army Air Corps Song, The 161

Around The World 39

As I Love You 58

At The Codfish Ball 69

Autumn Leaves 130

Avalon 39

Away In A Manger 196, 229

Baby Elephant Walk 209

Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home 31

Back In The Old Routine 41

Back In Your Own Backyard 45, 134

Balling The Jack 224

Barney Google 45

Basin Street Blues 24, 46

Baubles, Bangles And Beads 42

Be Our Santa Claus 158

Beautiful Is The Child 271

Before I Leave This Town 44

Begin The Beguine 25

Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms 143

Big Noise From Winnetka 49

Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home 199

Birth Of The Blues, The 31

Blow, Gabriel, Blow 25

Blowing In The Wind 181

Blueberry Hill 199

Blue Skies 45, 261

Blues In The Night 31, 130

Bold Fenian Men, The 143

Boola Boola 31

Boy From New Orleans, The 200

Boys Of Wexford, The 143

Breezin’ Along With The Breeze 45

Broadway Rhythm 69

Bumming Around 152

But Beautiful 227, 266

But Not For Me 66

Bye, Bye, Blackbird 44, 136

Bye, Bye, Blues 58

By The Time I Get To Phoenix 209

Cabaret 145, 261

Caissons Go Rolling Along, The (See US Field Artillery March)

California Dreamin’ 167

Call Me 146

Can’t Take My Eyes Off You 172

Carolina In The Morning 134

Carol Of The Bells 211

Catch A Falling Star 44

C'est Magnifique 25

Change Partners 261

Charade 209

Charmaine 49

Cheek To Cheek 252, 261

Chicago 134, 199

Chicken Fat 62

Children’s Marching Song, The 158

Chocolate 62

Chop Suey 67

Christian Irish Boy, A 143

Christmas Bells Are Ringing 252

Christmas By Injunction 229

Christmas Eve 169

Christmas Eve In My Home Town 137

Christmas Is A Birthday 169

Christmas Night In Harlem 46

Christmas Song, The 169

Christmas Waltz, The 169

Circus Is Coming To Town, The 161

Clementine 194

Cleveland Snow 246

Climb Every Mountain 63

Code Of The West, The 154

Come Along With Me To New York 44

Come Rain Or Come Shine 39, 130

Come To The Ball 170

Come To The Bower 143

Come What May 79

Consider Yourself 158

Continental, The 252

Cool Water 128

Cornet Man 173

Cottonfields 69

Crawdad Song, The 69

Cuando Caliente El Sol 136

Daddy 47

Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy (Tchaikovsky) 211

Dancing Bear 133

Dancing In The Streets 133

Darn It Baby, That’s Love 264

Day In, Day Out 43, 130

Days Of Wine And Roses 130, 181

Dearie 181

Deck The Halls 121, 211, 229

Declaration, The 194

Devil’s Own, The 143

Didn’t We? 199, 209

Dinah 44

Ding Dong! Merrily On High 293

Dixie 134

Do You Hear What I Hear? 211

Dominique 74

Don’t Blame Me 138       

Don't Fence Me In 25

Don’t Give Up 167

Don’t Settle For Less (Than The Best) 188

Down Yonder 154

Downtown 181

Dr. Dolittle 164

Dream 130

Dream Along With Me (I’m On My Way To A Star) 44, 45

Drink, Drink, Drink (The Drinking Song) 25

Eagle Rock, The 140

Easter Parade 261

Easy To Love 67, 69

Eleanor Rigby 176

Everybody Loves Somebody 145, 152, 179

Everybody’s Talking 182

Exactly Like You 102, 199

Faithful Hussar, The 24

Falling And Fooling For You 119

Feelin' Good 126

Feelings 264

Fellow Needs A Girl, A 152

Fever 52

First Nowell, The 221

Five Foot Two, Eyes Of Blue 134

Fly Me To The Moon 52

Foggy Day, A 47

Fool On The Hill, The 178

Fool, The 143

Fools Rush In 130

For Once In My Life 176

Free Again 176

French Carol 121

From Monday On 250

Gaelic Lament 143

‘Gallant Men, The’ 140

Gee, I Wish I Had A Girl Like Mother 173

Gentle On My Mind 174

Georgia On My Mind 46

Get Me To The Church On Time 119

Give Me The Simple Life 199

Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor 165

Glow Worm, The 285

God Bless America 27, 165, 261

God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman 66, 93, 211, 271

Going Out Of My Head 119

Gone Forever 209

Goody Goody 116, 130

Got To Keep Moving Blues 119

Grace 37

Granada 49

Great Balls O Fire 170

Great Day! 47

Green, Green 74

Guys And Dolls 38

Gypsy In My Soul, The 46

Hallelujah! 289

Happy Feet 170, 183

Hard Day’s Night, A 181

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 211, 221, 224

Harper Valley PTA 166, 167

Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas 252

Heat Wave 165

Here Lies Love 272

Heroes 293

Here’s That Rainy Day 214

Here’s To My Lady 37

Here We Come A-Carolling 271

He Touched Me 264

Hicktown 145

High Hopes 43

High Noon (Do Not Forsake Me) 167

Hi-Heel Sneakers 167

Hold On 46

Home In The Meadow 134

Home Sweet Home 134, 229

Honey 166

Hooray For Hollywood 130, 271

Hot Diggity 44

How About You? 47, 207

How Deep Is The Ocean? 261

How Long Has This Been Going On? 142

How Wonderful To Know (See Anema e Core)

How Ya Gonna Keep ‘Em Down On The Farm? 44

Hurricane Mitzi 43

I (Who Have Nothing) 199

I Believe 182

I Believe In You 173

I Can’t Give You Anything But Love 31

I Concentrate On You 152

I Could Have Danced All Night 24, 178

I Could Write A Book 44, 173

I’d Do Anything 39

I Don’t Know Enough About You 207

I Don’t Know Why 173

I Don’t Want To Set The World On Fire 119

I Enjoy Being A Girl 171

I Feel Pretty 173, 271

I Fell In Love 134

If I Could Be With You 42

If I Had A Hammer 74

If I Had My Druthers 47

If I Had You 164

If I Ruled The World 119

If I Were A Bell 211

If You Could Read My Mind 261

If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie) 259

I Get A Kick Out Of You 25, 31

I Got Lost In His Arms 165

I Got Rhythm 31, 62

I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues 125

I Got The Sun In the Morning 261

I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan 31

I Hate Men 25

I Hate People 221

I Heard a Love Song in Paris (La Seine) 37

I Know A Place 134

I Left My Heart In San Francisco 134

I Like The Likes Of You 47

I’ll Be Seeing You 40, 207

I’ll Follow My Secret Heart 27

I’ll Never Fall In Love Again 180

I’ll Only Miss Him When I Think Of Him 120

I’ll Walk Alone 31

I Love A Parade 150

I Love A Piano 261

I Love Being Here With You 52

I Love You 25

I’m A Better Man 178

I’m A Brass Band 227

Imagination 75

I’m Almost In Your Arms 74

I’m Always Chasing Rainbows 31

I’m An Old Cowhand (From The Rio Grande) 249

I’m A Secret, Secret Man 203

I’m Ebenezer Scrooge 293

I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter 38

I’m In Love With Vienna 183

I’m Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover 179

I’m Old Fashioned 95, 130

Impossible Dream, The 134, 171

I’m Shooting High 58

I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together 208a, 214

I’m The First Girl In The Second Row 144

I’m Walking Behind You 31

Indiana (Back Home Again In) 134

I Need Some Night Life 62

Inka-Dinka-Doo 130

In My Merry Oldsmobile 49

In The Cool, Cool, Cool Of The Evening 130, 209, 250, 266

In The Middle Of An Island 31

In The Shade Of The Old Apple Tree 43

In The Still Of The Night 25, 176

I Only Have Eyes For You 37

I Only Miss Him When I Think Of Him 150

Irish Dance Set 143

I Say A Little Prayer 167

Isn’t This A Lovely Day? 261

I Surrender Dear 38, 272

It All Depends On You 31

It Came Upon A Midnight Clear 32, 224

It Just Don’t Feel Like Christmas 229

It Might As Well Be Spring 39, 117, 121, 179

It’s A Grand Night For Singing 31

It’s A Great Day For The Irish 45

It’s A Lovely Day Today 165, 261

It’s A Miracle 264

It’s A Most Unusual Day 39, 207

It’s A New Dawn, It’s A New Day 138

It’s Beginning To Look Like Christmas 158

It’s Easy To Remember 145, 249

It’s Love 59

It’s So Nice To Have A Man Around The House 179

It’s So Peaceful In The Country 46

It’s The Talk Of The Town 179

It's Time To Break Down 197

It Was A Very Good Year 142

I Used To Play It By Ear 165

I’ve Been Breakin’ Rocks On A Chain Gang 134

I’ve Been Ramblin’ 69

I’ve Got A Feelin’ You’re Foolin’ 31

I’ve Got Rings On My Fingers 145

I’ve Got The World On A String 39

I’ve Got You Under My Skin 31, 69, 134

Ivory Tower 39

I Wanna Be Free 154

I Wanna Be Loved By You 134, 136

I Want To Be Happy 31, 75

I Whistle A Happy Tune 44

I Won’t Dance 47

I Write The Songs 264

Jamaica Farewell 69

Java Jive 58

Jeepers Creepers 46, 271

‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ Medley 261

Jingle Bell Rock 293

Jingle Bells 196, 252, 271

John Henry 38

Joshua Fit De Battle Of Jericho 74

June In January 38, 170, 183

June Night 31

Just In Time 38

Just One More Chance 38

Just One Of Those Things 25, 31, 43, 176

King Of The Road 117

Krisimasi 125

La Bamba 67

Lady Godiva 140

Lady Is A Tramp, The 43

Lara’s Theme 261

La Seine 37

Laura 130

Lavender Blue 79

Lazy Bones 130

Lazy River 42, 46

Le Temps 138

Learn To Croon 170

Legend Of Pierrot And Pierrette, The 137

Let Me Sing And I’m Happy 261

Let’s Do It, Let’s Fall In Love 25, 145

Let’s Face The Music And Dance 261

Let’s Fall In Love 145

Let’s Get Away From It All 145

Let’s Have Another Cup O’Coffee 145

Let’s Start The New Year Right 250

Let The Sunshine In 183

Let There Be Peace On Earth 66

Life Is For Livin’ 52

Life Is Just a Bowl of Cherries 49

Limehouse Blues 47

Linda 49

Little Drummer Boy 137, 158

Little Green Apples 167

Little Orphan Annie 183

Little Things We Do Together, The 214

Loads of Love 62

Lollipops And Roses 95

Long Ago And Far Away 47

Look Of Love, The 172

Lot Of Livin To Do, A 95

Louise 44

Love And Marriage 31, 52

Love In Bloom 183

Love In The Large Size 196

Love Is Blue 167

Love Is Sweeping The Country 47

Love Is The Sweetest Thing 31

Love Letters In The Sand 250

Love Thy Neighbour 31

Love Was Here Before The Stars 174

Love Will Keep Us Together 252

Lovely Way To Spend An Evening, A 152

Lover 138

Lowest Of The Low, The 196

Lucky Day (This Is My) 58

Lullaby Of Birdland 42

Lullaby Of Broadway 39

Mack The Knife 42

Mad About The Boy 66, 173

Mademoiselle De Paris 31

Make Me Smile 201

Make Yourself At Home 58

Makin’ Whoopee 38, 179

Malaguena 181

Mama, A Rainbow 199

Mame 142

Man And Woman, A 161

Man On The Flying Trapeze, The 47

Manhattan 44

March Of The Gladiators, The 47

Margie 49

Marie 165

Marines’ Hymn, The 161

Married I Can Always Get 119

Mary Ellen 52

May Each Day 134

May I? 38

May The Bird Of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose 134

Meditation 116

Merry Ploughboy, The 143

Michael, Row The Boat 69

Michelle 138

M.I.C.K.E.Y. M.O.U.S.E 119

Mimi 49

Mimi’s Aria (Puccini) 133

Mistletoe And Holly 32

Misty 122

Moments Like This 52

Mona Lisa 152

Money, Money (Makes The World Go Round) 261

Mood Indigo 125

Moonlight Becomes You 216, 227

Moon Of Manakoora, The 136

Moon River 130, 134, 271

More 127

Mornin’ Glory 170

Mother, The 143

Movin’ The Mail 196

Mr. Gallagher & Mr. Shean 272

Mr. Meadowlark 44

Mr. Wonderful 173

Muskrat Ramble 24

My Blue Heaven 45

My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time 170

My Heart Belongs To Daddy 25

My Honey, I Will Pine For You 39

My Kind Of Town 154

My Man 173

My Old Flame 154

My Ship 75

Natural Man (I’m A) 134

Never Can Say Goodbye 216, 264

Never My Love 150

Never Never Land 137

Never Will I Marry 69

Nice Cup Of Tea, A 58

Night And Day 25

No Other Love 31

Nobody Wants My Money 140

Noodlin’ Rag 154

Now Generation, The 166

Nutcracker Suite, The (Tchaikovsky) 121

O Come All Ye Faithful 224

O Come Little Children (Humperdinck) 121, 137, 169

Of Bing We Sing 285

Off To Philadelphia In The Morning 143

O Holy Night 211

Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning 45, 261

Oh, Look At Me Now 252

Oh, Marie 37

Oh, Moon 128

Oh! Susannah 194

Old Buttermilk Sky 209

Old Devil Moon 43, 47

Oh-Oh, I’m Falling In Love Again 39

Old Dogs, Children & Watermelon Wine 250

Old Grey Mare, The 43

Old Soft Shoe, The 259

O Little Town Of Bethlehem 196, 211, 221, 224, 229

Ol’ Man River 112

Ol’ Rockin’ Chair 43

On A Slow Boat To China 152

Once Upon A Long Ago 22

Once Upon A Time 134

Once Upon A Time (It Happened) 37

One For My Baby 130

One I Love Belongs To Somebody Else, The 42

One Of Those Songs 161

One Singular Sensation 271

On The Atcheson, Topeka & The Santa Fe 31, 47, 130

On The Street Where You Live 181

Ordinary People 173

O Sole Mio (see There’s No Tomorrow)

Our Love Affair 207

Out Of This World 227

Over The Rainbow 47

Papa Loves Mambo 44

Pennies From Heaven 44, 266

Peter Gunn Theme 209

Phonetic Punctuation 154      

Pick Yourself Up 252

Play A Simple Melody 44, 261

Please 161, 186, 264, 266

Pretty Little Dolly, The 181

Promise Me Anything 133

Psychedelic Stomp 178

Put Your Mind At Ease 164

Puttin’ On The Ritz 165, 252

Raga Mishra Piloo 150

Raspberries 67

Red River Valley 130

Remember 261

Remember, Life Is Never As It Seems 224

Rhapsody In Blue 46

Ribbon Of Steel 194

Right Here In The USA 134

Ring-A-Round-Rosy Rag 170

Rings On My Fingers 211

Road To Morocco 227

R.O.C.K. 38

Rockin’ Chair 46

Rose, Don’t Have A Second Hand Heart 145

Runaway Child, Running Wild 174

Sad Is The Life Of A Sailor’s Wife 22

Sam, You Made The Pants Too Long 144, 173

Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town 32

Saturday Night 74

Say It Isn’t So 165

Say It With Music 165

Scarlet Ribbons 44

Second Time Around, The 52, 266

Seems Like Old Times 159

Self-Improvement 189

Senikau-ni Bula 125

September Song 49

Serenade In Blue 67

Seventy-Six Trombones 134

Shadow Of Your Smile, The 138

Sheikh of Araby, The 152

Shirley Blues 264

Show Me 24

Show Me The Way To Go Home 44

‘Signs’ Song 66

Silent Night 39, 121, 137, 229

Silver Bells 196

Singin’ In The Rain 13

Single Minute Waltz 134

Sixteen Tons 134

Skater’s Waltz, The 161

Sleepy Time Down South 42

Sleigh Ride 271, 293

Small Fry 41, 264

Smile Medley 63

Smiles 39

So Danco Samba 142

So In Love 25

So I Ups To Him 150

Softly, As I Leave You 152

Somebody Loves Me 31

Somebody Stole My Gal 179

Some Of These Days 42

Someone To Watch Over Me 27

Something Wonderful 145

Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child 37, 178

Somewhere My Love 261

Song Is Ended, The 165

Song Is You, The 66

Song Of Glen Dún, The 143

Song Of India 46

Song Of My Life, The 201

South American Way 47

South Of The Border 31

Spanish Flea 138

Spanish Harlem 159

Spoonful Of Sugar, A 134

Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year 67

Stardust 40, 209

Stars And Stripes Forever!, The 150

Stay 183

Stille Nacht (Silent Night) 121

Stillness 209

Stompin' At The Savoy 24

Stoned Love 197

Story Of My Life, The 145

Stout Hearted Men 264

Straight Life, The 166

Stranger In Paradise 75, 119

Strangers In The Night 181

Summertime 37

Sunny 154

Sunshine 165

Surrey With The Fringe On Top, The 152, 264

Swanee 117, 122

Sweetheart Of Sigma Chi, The 31

Sweet Talkin’ Man 264

Sweet Violets 154

Swinging On A Star 44, 52, 161, 186, 238, 250, 257, 264, 266

‘S Wonderful 31, 67

Taking A Chance On Love 39

Talk To Me 43

Tangerine 130

Taste Of Honey, A 138

Tea For Two 31, 201

Tears In My Ears 37

Temptation 183

Tenderly 285

Thank You So Much, Mrs. Lowsborough-Goodby 25

Thanks For The Memory 214, 227

That Kind Of Woman 167

That Old Black Magic 130, 271

That Old Feeling 43

That’s Amoré 58

That’s Life 161

That’s My Desire 39, 200

That’s My Weakness Now 199

Them There Eyes 42, 46

(Theme From) The Valley Of The Dolls 164

There Go Those Two American Artists 229

There Is Nothing Like A Dame 31, 95, 244

There’s A Fire In The Corner Slowly Dying 224

There’s No Business Like Show Business 261

There’s No Such Thing As Love 182

There’s No Tomorrow (O Sole Mio) 39

There Will Never Be Another You 47

These Boots Are Made For Walking 138

They Can’t Take That Away From Me 39

They Didn’t Believe Me 38

They Say It’s Wonderful 165, 261

This Can’t Be Love 207

This Dream 120

This Guy’s In Love With You 167

This Is A Great Country 194

This Is The Army, Mister Jones 261

This Land Is Your Land 69, 134

This Old Man 158

Three Coins In The Fountain 31, 52

Three Little Words 31

Three O’clock In The Morning 31

Tiger Rag 46

Till There Was You 52

Time For Living 252

Time To Be Jolly, A 211

Tip Toe Through The Tulips With Me 181

Tired 214

To Give (The Reason I Live) 183

Too Marvellous For Words 130

Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral 249

Too Young 95

Topsy-Turvy Time 196

Torna A Surriento 37

Toyland 252

Tradition 146

True Love 183

Try To Remember 158

Turkey Trot 65

Twelve Days Of Christmas 121

Two For the Road 209

Two Ladies In De Shade Of De Banana Tree 75

Two Sleepy People 34

Under The Boardwalk 159

Up, Up And Away 179

US Field Artillery March, The 161

Waiting For The Robert E. Lee 117, 122

Waltz of the Flowers (Tchaikovsky) 137

Watch What Happens 146

‘Way Back Home 134

Way Down Yonder in New Orleans 40, 117

We Are Little Wayside Flowers 176

We Are The Men Of Texaco 150

We Can Work It Out 207

We Have Nothing In Common 181

We’ll Be Together Again 174

We’ve Only Just Begun 197

Well, Did You Evah! 25, 37

We Need A Little Christmas 224

We Three Kings of Orient Are 211

What Child Is This? 196, 271

What Did I Have That I Don't Have? 130

What Is A Woman? 159

What Is Love? 209

What’ll I Do? 38

What Now My Love 122

What The World Needs Now 130

When Day Is Done 46

When Dean Sings 207

When He Makes Music 159

When I Look Into Your Eyes 164

When I Was Very Young 47

When My Baby Smiles At Me 119

When My Sugar Walks Down The Street 45

When The Moon Comes Over The Mountain 134

When The Saints Go Marching In 39

When You’re At The Dog Show 161

When You’re In Love 22

When Your Lover Has Gone 39

Where Did You Get That Hat? 58

(Where Do I Begin) Love Story 209

Where Do I Go? 183

Where Is Love? 158

Where Or When 181

Where The Blue Of The Night 31, 44, 142, 170, 199, 250, 266

Where Would You Be Without Me? 293

Whispering 145

White Christmas 93, 161, 186, 264

White Cliffs Of Dover, The 244

Who Can I Turn To? 125, 13

Who Threw The Overalls In Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder? 45

Who Will Be With You When I’m Far Away? 43

Whole Lot Of Lovin’, A 207

Why Can’t You Behave? 25

Why Don’t We Do This More Often? 31

Why, Oh Why? 38

Wichita Lineman 169

Wiggle Ball, The 97

Wilkommen 261

Willow Weep For Me 42

With a Little Help From My Friends 178

With Every Breath I Take 227

Wonderful Boy 67

Wonderful Guy, A 66

Wonderful You 173

Wood, Wood 150

Wouldn’t It Be Luverly 27

Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams 43

Wunderbar 25

Yankee Doodle Dandy 69

Yesterday 130, 178, 261

Yesterday, When I Was Young 138, 261

You Are Love 171

You Are My Lucky Star 47

You Are The One 250

You Can’t Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd 154

You’d Better Love Me 152

You Do Something To Me 25, 152

You Don’t Have To Know The Language 252

You Don’t Know About Misery 125

You Go To My Head 119, 171

You Keep Coming Back Like A Song 227, 261

You’ll Have To Swing It (If You Can’t Sing It) 173

You’ll Never Have To Go To Bed At All 133

Your Cheatin’ Heart 134

You’re An Old Smoothie 43, 88

You’re Driving Me Crazy 46

You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me   101

You’re Gonna Hear From Me 146, 264

You’re Just In Love 261

You’re Nobody Till Somebody Loves You 164

You’re The Top 25

You've Made Me So Very Happy 178

Young At Heart 49

Younger Than Springtime 173

Zing A Little Zong 44

Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah 69