Well, it’s been a strange, challenging and worrying time since our last issue, due to Covid-19. I do hope that you have all come through safely and one advantage of our extended stay in our homes was that we had plenty of time to listen to Bing and watch his movies. It was wonderful escapism from the day-to-day pressures. A Crosby song can always lift me out my “sloughs of despond” as Bing once described it.

There has also been the opportunity to read more too and I’ve enjoyed re-reading Gary Giddins’ superb “Swinging on a Star” and at last I got round to working through the massive “As Thousands Cheer – The Life of Irving Berlin” by Laurence Bergreen. I’ve read a number of other show business biographies too and the more of these I read, the more I realise how balanced and reasonable an individual Bing was compared to some of the others. Perhaps it was his many interests outside the entertainment world that contributed to this.

A contributor to Crosby Fan World alerted me to “DeOldify”, a software program which enables one to colorize black and white photographs. The cover of this magazine is an example and it shows Bing being made a member of the Western Shoshone-Paiute tribe on the Owyhee reservation, near Elko on July 25, 1950. You may spot a few more photos in this issue which have been converted to colour. How do you feel about this? Should I stick to the originals?

It was a great relief to me when our printer went back to work as I was becoming concerned that this edition of the magazine would have to be delayed. This time we have the customary wide selection of articles about Mr. Crosby with our usual regulars in place plus contributions from Ron McBride, Mark Scrimger, Frans van der Kolff and John Bassett. There is even news of a hitherto unknown Bing film appearance. Hopefully, there’s something for everyone. Happy reading!

Malcolm Macfarlane - Editor

This glossy magazine continues to be essential reading for the serious Crosby supporter and order your copy of the magazine now by calling Perry Huntoon on (630) 357-5374 or by e-mailing the Editor.

To see details of earlier issues, click here.

CONTENTS OF THE SUMMER ISSUE

Editorial
Secretary / Treasurer's report
Arne Fogel in lockdown                         

Rockwell Paints Bing

Bing in Los Altos

Going My Way in Warrington, UK

A Rainy Day in New York

Dixie Lee Crosby

Golfing and Horsing Around in Aiken

Bing in lyrics

“Uncle John”

Trading Post

Bing’s first record

Poetry Readings Found in Original Format

The Ariel Susianna

A Christmas Sing with Bing
Celluloid Crosby

Tobaccoland on Parade

The Bells of St. Mary’s Review

If Only…If Only

One Sweet Letter from You

Bing ‘n’ Connie
Ken Crossland’s Crosbyana

A Note from Australia

Bing on the Box
Once in a While
The Way We Were
Keeping Track