Crosby largely retired from acting after her marriage, but did have featured roles as Princess Parisa in The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), and in the courtroom drama Anatomy of a Murder (1959). All the jokes, all the remarks to each other. He led his radio show for Woodbury Soap for two seasons while his live appearances dwindled. Oct. Television production was mostly live television in its early years, but Crosby wanted the same ability to record that he had achieved in radio. But since Dolores car broke down in front, we were able to go in and look around. I stopped and smiled in grateful acknowledgment. Dec. Bells of St. Marys is released, a film in which Bing reprises his role as Father OMalley alongside Ingrid Bergman and becomes top box office attraction for 1946. Kathryn Crosby: Nobody knows about that really because Bing never talked to me about that, and all he ever said about Dixie was that she was a wonderful mother and that she was an angel. Jack Mullin: The man and his Machines. Melissa Parker (Smashing Interviews Magazine): Did you ever have to worry about Bing and his female co-stars becoming more than friends? [122] His first performance after the accident was his last American concert, on August 16, 1977, the day Elvis Presley died, at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, California. Crosby died in 1977 following a British tour but May 3 would have been his 110th birthday, an anniversary celebrated by the release of 11 albums, including some material which has never previously been heard. Bing wins Best Actor for Going My Way at the Academy Awards. Crosby also ensured behind the scenes that Armstrong received equal billing with his white co-stars. Again I didnt know that hed built Del Mar racetrack in California.There was so much of his life that I didnt know about. Bing Crosby with first wife Dixie Lee and three of their four sons: Phillip, Dennis and Lindsay. I became aware of someone behind me and he touched his chair to the back of my knee so I flopped down unceremoniously, she says, recalling an unlikely start to a relationship that was to last almost a quarter of a century and touch her for the rest of her days.What made it even more unlikely was that under the warmth of the California sun and after their meeting Crosby, king of stage and screen, ambled back on set to continue filming White Christmas, one of Hollywoods best-loved movies of all time. Melissa Parker (Smashing Interviews Magazine): A few years earlier, you appeared in Hitchcocks Rear Window (1954). It was from my gynecologist, and it said, She will be able to work for five months. I asked Otto Preminger, Is this a problem? Otto said, No. I asked him if he liked baseball. The series of 26-minute shows was filmed at Hal Roach Studios rather than performed live on the air. At his death in 1977 at age 73, he left his money in a blind trust, which none of the sons-whose youthful escapades were well documented by the news media-could touch until age 65. He received critical acclaim for his performance as an alcoholic entertainer in The Country Girl and received his third Academy Award nomination.[49]. Dec. Bing signs new contract with Paramount for nine films in three years for around $175,000 per film. President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivers the first of his evening fireside chats to the public over radio. Bing and Kathy said the magic words on Oct. 24, 1957. So was it a case of abandoning her career in favour of family life? I went into his office, and my agents were there, and his lawyers were there, and I said, How do you do? I took a letter from my purpose. I came back to Austin and finished up my degree and took my Inquiry classes for six weeks. Come on home. So Lindsay left Brown University, which was too bad. When the electric power failed during his performance, he continued singing without amplification. How many times has Bing Crosby been married? Mar. Crosby graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1955 and two years later became the second wife of the legendary bass-baritone crooner Bing Crosby, being about thirty years his junior. During World War II, Crosby made live appearances before American troops who had been fighting in the European Theater. 87 years (November 25, 1933) Kathryn Crosby/Age In that way, we could take out jokes, gags, or situations that didn't play well and finish with only the prime meat of the show; the solid stuff that played big. I was a lot younger than he was. [86] From 1946 until his death, he owned a 25% share of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Records which he made ten years ago are selling better than ever before. Jan. (24 October 1957 - 14 October 1977) (his death) (3 children) [51] He was, by his own definition, a "phraser", a singer who placed equal emphasis on both the lyrics and the music. Shortly before Gary's book was actually published, Lindsay said, "I'm glad [Gary] did it. Dispute arose between the two families and was settled in 1999. They exchanged jokes always.". In 1906, his family moved to Spokane in Eastern Washington state, where he was raised. Crosby influenced the development of the post World War II recording industry. Bing and Al Rinker are now a vocal duo. We just sat and drank tea. There was something magical for listeners in the fact that what they were hearing was being performed and heard live everywhere, at that precise instant. In 1996, Dixie's trust sued HLC and Kathryn for declaratory relief as to the trust's entitlement to interest, dividends, royalties, and other income derived from the community property of Crosby and Dixie. [85] The Bing Crosby Breeders' Cup Handicap at Del Mar Racetrack is named in his honor. When Dixie died in 1952, her will provided that her share of the community property be distributed in trust to her sons. After Crosby's death in 1977, he left the residue of his estate to a marital trust for the benefit of his widow, Kathryn, and HLC Properties, Ltd., was formed for the purpose of managing his interests, including his right of publicity. Ten of the top 50 songs of 1931 included Crosby with others or as a solo act. They went to Ohio for the national convention of baseball owners. Fred Allen, Jack Benny, Phil Harris, and also Crosby were masters at this, and the networks weren't about to give it up easily. From 1931 to 1954, the star dominated record sales, radio ratings, and motion picture grosses. . She was born in Houston, Texas in 1933 and appeared on stage from age 3. In 2006, Crosby's niece through his sister Mary Rose, Carolyn Schneider, published the laudatory book Me and Uncle Bing. "Marketing Iron Pigs, Patriotism, and Peace: Bing Crosby and World War IIA Discourse. I dont know what Garys problems were, but hed had them from the time he was a little boy. Formerly known as Kathryn Grant and formerly known as Olive Kathryn Grandstaff, the brunette beauty who goes by the name Kathryn Crosby in public is perky, vivacious, and absolutely stunning. We were in the same boat in more ways than one, but I could not tell her so. Widow Kathryn Crosby dabbled in local theater productions intermittently and appeared in television tributes to her late husband. He gave one of the first Ampex Model 300 recorders to his friend, guitarist Les Paul, which led to Paul's invention of multitrack recording. Kathryn Crosby: I suppose that happened, but I didnt hear it. Oct. Nathaniel Patrick Crosby, Bings last son and third child with Kathryn, is born. [30] Gonzaga University houses a large collection of photographs, correspondence, and other material related to Crosby.[31]. [2], Born Olive Kathryn Grandstaff in West Columbia, Texas, she graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1955. Out of Nowhere becomes Bings first solo Number 1hit. The weather is so good, and were starting to decorate just about now. Its not heavy. He took one more step and then fell dead. He loved to play. The film explores the life and legend of this iconic performer, revealing a man far more complex than his public persona. [92] After his wife died, Crosby had relationships with model Pat Sheehan (who married his son Dennis in 1958) and actresses Inger Stevens and Grace Kelly before marrying actress Kathryn Grant, who converted to Catholicism, in 1957. Despite being a Catholic, Crosby was seriously considering divorce in order to marry Caulfield. "Well, Bob Hope worked all the time. [60] Sources differ regarding the number of copies he sold: 300 million[61] or even 500 million. Narrated by Stanley Tucci, the film features new interviews with all surviving members of Crosbys immediate family: wife Kathryn, daughter Mary and sons Harry and Nathaniel. I like horses. I didnt know he had built Del Mar racetrack (laughs). He recorded nearly 2,000 songs during the course of his career but Kathryn says there are many more to be heard.The basements full of them! she laughs. Prigozy, Ruth, and Walter Raubicheck, eds. The additional voice meant they could be heard more easily in large New York theaters. He felt that way about her. His composition "At Your Command" was number 1 for three weeks on the U.S. pop singles chart beginning on August 8, 1931. IHeartHollywood.com is an online magazine about all thing "Hollywood." Cohn gave in; Armstrong's musical scenes and comic dialogue extended his influence to the silver screen, creating more opportunities for him and other African Americans to appear in future films. I didnt know that he owned the Pittsburgh Pirates, a big baseball team. It was much more complicated then. I went to Europe and went to the Christmas Day Mass at Sacre-Coeur, and it was so beautiful. Billboard magazine used different methodologies during his career. Gary got drunk there and had to be sent home, which was so bad. He signed a contract with Jack Kapp's new record company, Decca, in late 1934. "[70] His popularity in India led many Hindu singers to imitate and emulate him, notably Kishore Kumar, considered the "Bing Crosby of India". Hes the fourth of seven children. Dec. Bing performs with Bob Hope at the Capitol Theatre in New York City. ABC was formed from the sale of the NBC Blue Network in 1943 after a federal antitrust suit and was willing to join Mutual in breaking the tradition. His first wife was actress and nightclub singer Dixie Lee, to whom he was married from 1930 until her death from ovarian cancer in 1952. Its rumored Bings White Christmas is played over the American Forces radios as a signal that evacuation should begin. Aug. Harry Lillis Crosby III, Bings first child with Kathryn, is born. Bing's name and his artistry saved the recording industry. [91], Crosby was married twice. Nathaniel Patrick Crosby (29 October 1961 Los Angeles County, California, USA) Oct. The nation's appetite for Crosby's voice and personality appears insatiable. In 2007, he was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame and in 2008 the Western Music Hall of Fame. My mother got to go to one of the World Series games, and it was very exciting. Later on, Bing asked me, Would you like to do this show with me in Las Vegas? Hed never done a show in Las Vegas. He took Bob salmon fishing up in Canada once, and they had just pulled off to sea when Bob said, I have to go back in. Bing asked, Why? Bob Said, Fish dont applaud. Bob and Bing spent an hour a day on the phone. Nov. Bing starts work in his first film, King of Jazz, a musical revue starring Paul Whiteman. He became the first performer to prerecord his radio shows and master his commercial recordings onto magnetic tape. Copyright document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) He was also married twice and fathered seven children. We left Mary Frances at home, but I was expecting Nathaniel at the time. Her best known role, however, was as the princess-in-distress in the special effects-laden epic fantasy The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), which has since reached semi-cult status.