1931 – 1939 THE MAKING OF THE LEGEND

In the early months of 1931, a solo recording contract came Bing’s way, Mack Sennett signed him to make film shorts and a break with the Rhythm Boys became almost inevitable. Bing had married Dixie Lee in September 1930 and after a threatened divorce in March 1931, he started to apply himself seriously to his career. His gramophone records in 1931 broke new ground as his powerful and emotional singing started to change the face of popular music forever. Their low salaries at the Cocoanut Grove of the Ambassador Hotel led the Rhythm Boys to walk out, causing union problems for Bing. Everett Crosby interested Bill Paley of CBS in his brother and Paley beckoned Bing to come to New York. A settlement was reached with the Ambassador Hotel and Bing made his first solo national radio broadcast in September 1931 and then went on to star at the New York Paramount Theatre. His first commercial sponsor on radio was Cremo Cigars and increasingly his fame spread nation-wide. After a long run in New York, Bing went back to Hollywood to film The Big Broadcast and his personal appearances, his records and his radio appearances substantially increased his impact.

The success of his first full length film brought him a contract with Paramount and he began a regular pattern of making three films a year. By 1935, he was one of the top ten box office film stars and his screen persona was further cemented by films such as Pennies from Heaven and Sing You Sinners as he revealed greater depth in his acting performances. He was regularly having number one record hits and after changing radio sponsors a couple of times, he took over the Kraft Music Hall from Paul Whiteman. For ten years, the Kraft show became one of the top rated radio programmes under Bing’s leadership. As the decade closed, Bing was far and away the most successful recording star, as his voice deepened
into an easier and richer style after the powerful, more aggressive approach of the early thirties. He was carefully guided by Jack Kapp into singing a wide variety of material for Decca Records and this policy also helped to increase his appeal.

Bing’s family life appeared to be happy and he and Dixie had four sons. His father and several of his brothers came to California to work for him and the image of the carefree and relaxed family man who enjoyed his sports activities began to develop. Bing invested heavily in the Del Mar race track and also set up his own horse breeding farm. The Bing Crosby Pro-Am golf tournament began in 1937 and this was to raise a fortune for youth charities over the years. Bing seemed to enjoy his show business life and he participated frequently in the Hollywood social scene. This period may well have been the happiest and most artistically satisfying period of his life and he was building himself into a legend. He and Bob
Hope made a film called Road to Singapore and history was in the making.

In 1933, $100 was equivalent to $950 in 1990 terms.

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1932 1936

1933 1937

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1935 1939

1931

Jan 1 Bing arrives at the home of journalist James Fidler at midnight and plays blackjack until dawn.

Jan 19 Records ‘I Surrender, Dear’ for Victor for his first hit as a solo artist.

George Gershwin makes demonstration records of songs from a proposed new Fox film Delicious using Bing as the singer with his piano. Bing is paid $50. Most of the songs are dropped from the picture.

Mar 2 Bing records four tracks with Gus Arnheim.

Mar 4 Dixie announces that she and Bing are separating. She threatens to sue him for divorce, charging ‘mental cruelty’.

Mar 15 Bing speaks to Dixie, who is in Agua Caliente, Mexico, by phone and then he flies there and they reconcile. He stops drinking for months, and never again does the bottle gain the upper hand with him.

After a chance meeting at Lakeside Golf Club, Mack Sennett sees Bing at the Cocoanut Grove and signs him for a series of two-reel comedies, four of which are filmed in 1931 and two in 1932.

Bing hires Roger Marchetti as his attorney.

Mack Sennett films Bing in I Surrender, Dear, Bing’s first two-reel musical comedy.

Mar 30 Bing begins his first solo recording contract, singing on the Brunswick label Out of Nowhere and ‘If You Should Ever Need Me’. The session takes place between 10:30 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.

Mar 31 Knute Rockne, the inspirational and famous football coach at the University of Notre Dame is killed in a plane crash at Bazaar, Kansas. The tragedy makes an impact on Bing and he does not travel by plane again until 1944.

April Bing sings ‘Out of Nowhere’ and the Rhythm Boys sing ‘Ya Got Love’ in Paramount’s Confessions of a Co-ed. Bing is paid $500 for his part. The film stars Phillips Holmes and Sylvia Sidney.

May 1 Final recording session with Gus Arnheim.

May 4 Records ‘Just One More Chance’ for Brunswick Records, another solo No. 1 hit, at a session between 11:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.

May 16 ‘Out of Nowhere’ is the No. 1 record.

May 16 Bing, Al, and Harry Barris do not turn up for their scheduled appearance at the Cocoanut Grove and it becomes clear that they have walked out on their contract. They state that their six month contract has expired but they did not know or had forgotten that a nine month option existed. Apparently a more lucrative contract was in prospect at the Roosevelt Hotel.

May 20 (4:30 - 5:00 p.m.) Bing appears on the Sunkist Musical Cocktails program which is broadcast nationally on CBS from station KHJ and introduces ‘Just One More Chance’ for its first rendering on air. Marlene Dietrich plus Raymond Paige and his Orchestra are also on the show.

Jun 1 Press comment indicates that the Musician’s Union has given the Rhythm Boys until the night of June 2 to return to their Cocoanut Grove contract otherwise they will never be able to sing with a union orchestra.

Bill Paley of the Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) hears Bing’s recording of ‘I Surrender Dear’ while sailing to Europe on S.S. Europa. Paley instructs his office by radiogram to sign Crosby but nothing happens as Paley’s staff is uncertain about Bing’s reputation.

Jun 5-11 The Rhythm Boys are featured in a one-reel RKO Radio Humanette short showing at the Orpheum in Los Angeles. The film is built around puppets and it is not known whether the Rhythm Boys were shown live or whether they simply provided the sound track for the puppets. It is advertised as featuring “Bing Crosby and His Rhythm Boys” and is understood to have been filmed prior to April 1931 when it is said to have been released.

Jun 12 Bing records for Brunswick in Los Angeles with a studio orchestra. The session has a 3 p.m. start. Two of the records are later issued under the name of ‘Owen Cornell’ and ‘Arthur Beaumont’ in Australia.

Jun 19 Confessions of a Co-Ed is released.

Mack Sennett releases his I Surrender Dear two reeler in Los Angeles.

Jun 24 (10:45 to 11:50 a.m.) Bing records ‘At Your Command’ with Harry Barris on piano for Brunswick Records.

Jun 27 ‘Just One More Chance’ reaches No. 1 in the charts.

Bing goes fishing off the San Clemente Islands on Mack Sennett’s boat with Dixie and Maybeth Carpenter.

Bing films three more two-reelers for Sennett: One More Chance, Dream House and Billboard Girl and is paid $750 per film; he hires his brother Everett as his manager.

Jul 21 Variety magazine states that a split is looming for the Rhythm Boys. Bing is said to be flirting with a $1000 to $5000 a week contract with Mack Sennett running from one to five years.

Jul 27 Jimmy Gillespie (Whiteman’s manager) fails to sign the Rhythm Boys as an act and Barris decides to return to the Cocoanut Grove where he forms a new trio. The Union blacklisting of Bing in the Los Angeles area is still holding and Bing is barred from performing with union accompaniment there. Rinker is said to be ‘indeterminate’ about his future. It is revealed that Rinker has been salaried to Bing Crosby Ltd which is owned by Crosby, Barris and Roger Marchetti.

Jul 29 Dixie Lee opens at the new Embassy club with Hal Grayson’s Orchestra.

Aug 6 Bix Beiderbecke dies in New York.

Aug 8 ‘At Your Command’ is the No. 1 record.

Aug 11 Bing leaves Los Angeles for New York.

Aug 19 Bing records ‘Dancing in the Dark’ and ‘Stardust’ in New York (11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) with backing from Victor Young for the first time.

Bing and Roger Marchetti call at Brunswick headquarters to discuss new terms in the belief that Bing’s contract is due to expire but learn that Brunswick have an option on his services.

Aug 25 It is announced that Bing will join CBS to do a sustaining radio program for $1,500 per week pending a sponsor.

Aug 31 Bing is unable to sing at 11 p.m. for CBS in New York for an unsponsored radio show because of laryngitis. He is said to consult Dr. Simon Ruskin, a throat specialist.

Sep 2 After a second postponement, Bing completes his first solo radio show with Eddie Lang playing guitar and with the orchestra under Victor Young. The shows continue daily (except Sundays). The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) soon hires Russ Columbo as a rival in a purported “Battle of the Baritones.”

Sep 6 Bing signs a contract with the CBS radio network.

Sep 8 Bing broadcasts at 8:45 p.m. as well as 11 p.m. and repeats this on subsequent Tuesdays making seven radio shows a week.

Sep 13 The Mack Sennett short I Surrender Dear is released in New York.

Sep 14 Bing records ‘Sweet and Lovely’ in New York with Victor Young and his Orchestra.

Oct Injunction laid against Bing and CBS by the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles (home of the Cocoanut Grove). It is later reported that Bing pays $7,500 to break the contract with the Hotel (more than he had received in total whilst working there for ten months).

Oct 6/8/25 Bing records in New York, including ‘Goodnight, Sweetheart’.

Nov 3 Bing becomes ‘The Cremo Singer’ (sponsored by the American Tobacco Company) broadcast from CBS Station WABC twice nightly at 7 p.m. and 11 p.m., six nights a week (not Sundays) to February 27. A 15 minute show with David Ross as announcer and Carl Fenton conducting the orchestra. The show has a rating of 6.9 compared with Rudy Vallee (24.7) and Paul Whiteman (19.1). The ratings represent the percentage of American radio listeners who are tuned in to the show. ‘Where The Blue of the Night’ is chosen as Bing’s radio theme song.

Nov 6-12 Bing begins a cine-variety type engagement at the Paramount Theatre, New York which continues until February 11, 1932. He is said to be paid $2,500 per week for four appearances a day.

Nov 13-19 Mills Brothers join Bing on the bill at the Paramount.

Nov 15 Sennett releases One More Chance.

Nov 15 (10:45 p.m.) Bing takes part in a nation-wide radio program ‘Parade of Stars’ over NBC and CBS. The programme is to aid the Unemployment Relief Program and various stars contribute from Los Angeles, Chicago and New York. Others in New York with Bing are Douglas Fairbanks, Morton Downey and Eddie Cantor.

Nov 20-26 Bing and Mills Brothers again top the bill at the Paramount.

Nov 23 Records ‘Where the Blue of the Night’ for the first time at a session between 4 and 5 p.m. in New York City.

Nov 26 Russ Columbo opens at the Paramount Theatre in Brooklyn.

Nov 27 - Dec 3 Bing and the Mills Brothers are joined by Kate Smith at Paramount, New York for week.

Dec 3/16/21 Records in New York (including ‘Dinah’ with Mills Brothers).

Dec 4-10 Bing’s support at the Paramount is the act of Jans and Whalen.

Dec 11-17 Another week at the Paramount and the presentation is called ‘Romantic Rhythm’. Support is Veloz and Yolando plus Eleanor Powell.

Dec 18-24 Bing is joined by Lillian Roth on the Paramount bill.

Dec 27-31 Cab Calloway shares top billing at the Paramount with Bing.

1932

Jan 1-7 Boswell Sisters join Bing on the bill at the Paramount, New York.

Jan 8-14 Bing again tops the bill at the Paramount. His pay rises to $4,000 per week and he is contracted by the Paramount for another ten weeks.

Jan 9 Dream House, another Sennett two reeler, is released.

Jan 15-21 Burns and Allen join Bing and the Boswell Sisters at the Paramount for one week.

Jan 15 A suit in Federal Court is filed against Bing and others alleging that the song ‘At Your Command’ is identical to the song ‘Jealous’ copyrighted eight years earlier. The suit is unsuccessful.

Jan 21 Bing records ‘Snuggled on Your Shoulder’ in New York with an orchestra directed by Benny Krueger.

Jan 22-28 Bing and Boswell Sisters continue at Paramount.

Jan 29 - Feb 4 Lilyan Tashman joins Bing at the Paramount.

Jan 30 ‘Dinah’ is the No. 1 record.

Feb 5-11 Bing closes at the Paramount, New York after 14 weeks. Lilyan Tashman and Sid Silvers are on the bill.

Feb 6 Bing appears at the Newark Armory in Newark, New Jersey on a bill with the Boswell Sisters, Nick Lucas and the Mills Brothers accompanied by Benny Krueger and the Brunswick Recording Orchestra.

Feb 11 (late evening) Records ‘St. Louis Blues’ with Duke Ellington. The session finishes at 1:20 a.m. on February 12.

Feb 12-18 Bing opens at the Paramount, Brooklyn with Lilyan Tashman.

Feb 16/23/29 Records in New York, including ‘Shine’ with the Mills Brothers.

Feb 19-25 Bing has second week at Brooklyn Paramount.

Feb 20 Is the guest of honour of the Friars at a midnight dinner in New York where George M. Cohan presents him with a solid gold life membership card.

Feb 26 - Mar 3 Bing is billed to appear at Brooklyn Paramount, but confirmation of his appearance cannot be found in Variety magazine. It seems that Ted Lewis actually appeared at the venue instead.

Feb 27 Last appearance as Cremo Singer on radio and although he is billed to appear the following week it seems that the shows do not take place.

Bing is said to have strained his vocal cords so that he seeks medical attention from Dr. Simon Ruskin again. Bing is offered the opportunity to see Chevalier Jackson for possible surgery but instead he decides to rest his voice completely for a period.

Mar 2 The 20-month-old son of Charles Lindbergh is kidnapped and later found dead.

Mar 4 It is rumoured that Bing has signed to make a film for Paramount called Wild Waves. The title is later changed to The Big Broadcast.

Mar 4-10 Again Bing is billed to appear at the Brooklyn Paramount but Variety does not confirm that it actually took place.

Mar 8 Commences evening radio shows on three nights a week at 6:30 p.m. for CBS on Station WABC, presumably on a sustaining basis. The first week the shows air on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday before switching to a Monday, Wednesday and Friday format.

Mar 8/15 Records in New York including ‘Paradise’.

Mar 11-17 Newspaper ads show Bing at Paramount Theatre, Brooklyn.

Mar 18-24 Thought to have ended his appearances at Brooklyn Paramount.

Mar 20 Another Sennett short, Billboard Girl, is released.

Mar 22 Variety carries an item stating that Bing is attempting to buy himself out of his contract with Roger Marchetti. He is frustrated because Marchetti is based on the West Coast and cannot help Bing in New York although he is taking 20% of his income. It is later understood that Bing has to pay $40,000 to secure his release from the contract.

Mar 25-31 Bing opens at Paramount in New York in George Jessel’s show ‘Joy Jamboree’. Burns and Allen also on bill.

Mar 27 A Merrie Melodies cartoon called Crosby, Columbo and Vallee is released to theaters.

Mar 27 Mack Sennett’s Educational Pictures announces an exploitation tie-up between them and Bing with Lion Brand Shirts (who have named one of their best sellers “The Bing Crosby Harmony Chord Shirt”) and the Washington Hat Company (who are selling “The Bing Crosby Three Hat Ensemble”).

Apr 1-7 Bing, Anna May Wong and Walter O’Keefe star at Paramount, New York.

Apr 3 Bing performs at a testimonial dinner for Eddie Jackson at the Hotel Commodore with other stars including Cab Calloway.

Apr 8-14 Completes run at Paramount, New York in the company of George Jessel, Burns and Allen and Lilian Roth.

Apr 13 Records ‘Lawd, You Made the Night Too Long’ with the Boswell Sisters in New York.

Departs for personal appearances tour accompanied by Dixie. Continues to do his 15 minute radio show from each location on the tour but only on Mondays and Wednesdays. The show now airs at 6:45 p.m. EST.

Apr 15-21 Stars at Detroit for week.

Apr 22-28 Has week’s engagement at Oriental Theatre in Chicago.

Apr 23/24 Records in Chicago, including ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’.

Apr 29 - May 5 Appears in Buffalo for week.

May 6-12 Bing’s personal appearances tour brings him to the Metropolitan, Boston for a week. Later says that he entered a Crooners Contest in Boston and was not placed.

May 8 Appears in ‘Friars Frolic’ at Metropolitan Opera House with George M. Cohan and Jack Benny amongst many others. An old fashioned minstrel act is re-created.

May 13-19 Undertakes a week’s engagement at Paramount, New Haven.

May 20-26 Returns to Oriental in Chicago for another week.

May 25/26 Records in Chicago, including ‘Some of These Days’.

May 27 - Jun 2 Stars at Minnesota Theatre in Minneapolis for week. Bing’s radio show now airs at 7:45 p.m. EST.

Jun 2 Agent Edward Small files suit against Bing for $20,000 claiming that the amount is due under a contract signed in June 1930 giving him 10% of Bing’s earnings. Bing is in Minneapolis and expresses surprise at the developments, as he understood that Small had released him verbally from the contract and had agreed to await Bing’s arrival in California, when a settlement was to be reached.

Jun 3-9 Bing appears at Ambassador, St. Louis for the week. His radio show is still being broadcast on Mondays and Wednesdays over CBS.

Jun 12 Bing and Dixie (plus their wire-haired terrier, ‘Cremo’) arrive back in Los Angeles and Bing is welcomed at Union Station by Charles Kaley and his Band from the Biltmore Hotel as part of a Paramount publicity stunt. His radio show continues to be broadcast over the CBS network on Monday and Wednesday afternoons from 3:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pacific time. Bing uses the studios at station KNX which are located on the fringe of the Paramount lot.

Jun 17 Commences filming the two final shorts under his contract with Sennett. The first is Sing, Bing, Sing and this is followed by Blue of the Night.

Films a Paramount short Hollywood on Parade No. 2 (1932) which is rushed out to help promote The Big Broadcast.

Jun 28 Bing is interviewed by Lorna Ladd on station KHJ at 6:15 p.m.

Jul 2 (8:30 p.m.) Bing appears on the California Melodies radio program on CBS and sings ‘It Must Be True’.

Jul 5 Begins filming The Big Broadcast for Paramount-Publix for five weeks and is said to receive $35,000 for his services. The film features Burns and Allen, Kate Smith, Mills Brothers, Boswell Sisters, Arthur Tracy, Stuart Erwin, Leila Hyams and others. Many of the stars film their contributions on the East Coast.

Bing rents a house on Cromwell Street in Hollywood and hires brother Larry to project a new serious image.

Jul 25 Bing and CBS cannot agree on a new contract. Previous contract expired July 15 and Bing was scheduled to perform on his radio program on July 18, but pulled out an hour before it was due to go on the air, as telegrams were exchanged with New York.

Hollywood On Parade shown at Rivoli in New York.

Jul 30 Bing appears free on ‘California Melodies’ programme at 8:30 p.m. on KHJ (a CBS outlet) apparently in an attempt to show that CBS cannot manage without him.

Jul 30 - Aug 14 The Olympic Games take place in Los Angeles.

Aug 1 A suit is on file in the Superior Court claiming $105,000 from Bing in respect of his contract with Edward Small. It is stated that in the two years to June 26, 1932 Bing earned $250,000. Bing is said to owe 10% of these earnings to Small and in addition $80,000 is claimed in respect of Bing’s current contracts. The sheriff has attached $3,000 due to Bing from Paramount.

Aug 6 Again appears without charge on ‘California Melodies’ program singing two songs.

Aug 7 Records a Paramount Publicity disc at Victor to publicise The Big Broadcast and sings Please and ‘Here Lies Love’.

Aug 12 Finishes work on The Big Broadcast and leaves on vacation.

Aug 13-30 Cruises south along the Mexican coast on M.V. Kamika, deep sea fishing with Lew Ayres, Nick Stuart, Lennie Hayton and Eddie Lang. Bing returns sporting a moustache.

Sep 9-15 Stars at Fox Theatre, San Francisco, in cine-variety bill. The takings for the week are $40,000, a record for the venue, beating the previous figure achieved by Al Jolson by $6,000. During his Saturday night performance, Bing has to take four encores. Musical support is by Eddie Lang and Lennie Hayton.

Bing rejects an offer to do a ‘sustaining’ radio show for $250 per week while a permanent sponsor is sought.

Sep 16 Records ‘Please’ in San Francisco with Anson Weeks and his Orchestra.

Sep 16-21 Stars at Fox Theatre, Oakland.

Sep 22-28 Heads the bill at Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles and receives a fee of $4,500. Helps produce ‘very big’ gross of $23,000 for the week.

Sep 30 Plays two shows at the Fox house in Glendale.

Oct 1 Gives two shows at Pasadena.

Oct 2 Gives two shows at the Fox, Riverside.

Oct 3 Two more shows at Fox Theater, San Bernardino.

Oct 4 Bing gives two shows at Pomona.

Changes Agent from Paramount-Publix to Mills-Rockwell.

Oct 8 ‘Please’ enters charts and quickly reaches No. 1 where it remains for six weeks.

Oct 14/25/28 Records in New York, including Brother, Can You Spare a Dime.

Oct 14 The Big Broadcast opens in New York. Reviewers praise Bing’s presence and poise in the film.

Meets Bob Hope for the first time near the Friars Club at 110 West 48^th Street, New York.

Nov 4 Records in New York, including ‘Just An Echo In The Valley’.

Nov 8 Franklin D Roosevelt is elected President for the first time.

Nov 19 ‘Brother, Can You Spare a Dime’ is a hit and soon reaches No. 1.

Nov 25 - Dec 1Bing heads the bill at Carman Theatre, Philadelphia for a week and in his 15 minute spot he is accompanied by Eddie Lang and sings ‘Brother Can You Spare a Dime’ amongst other songs. Receives $3,500 for his services.

Nov 29 Everett Crosby works out a new 13 week radio contract for Bing on CBS with Chesterfield for $2,000 for two broadcasts per week, to begin in January, 1933.

Dec 2-8 Bing tops bill in cine-variety show at the Capitol Theatre, New York with Bob Hope (of “Ballyhoo”) in support. Sings and ad-libs with Hope.

Dec 9 Records in New York, including ‘Street of Dreams’.

Vacations at Miami Beach with Dixie.

Dec 22 It is announced that Bing has signed with Paramount to make College Humor.

Dec 23-29 Bing stars in a cine-variety show at the Century Theatre, Baltimore.

1933

Jan. 4 (9:00 - 9:15 p.m. EST) Starts new radio program ‘Music That Satisfies’ on CBS, originating from Station WABC in New York. Sponsored by Chesterfield, the show is broadcast Wednesdays and Saturdays. Show comes from New York with Norman Brokenshire as announcer and Lennie Hayton conducting the orchestra. Eddie Lang accompanies Bing. After the first show, Bing uses ‘Just An Echo’ as his theme song.

Jan 6 Sennett short Blue of the Night is released by Paramount.

Jan 7 Bing’s Music That Satisfies show is not broadcast due to a radio concert by the Philadelphia Orchestra over-running.

Jan 9/12 Records in New York, including ‘You’re Getting to Be a Habit with Me’ and two other songs with Guy Lombardo and his Royal Canadians.

Jan 11/14/18/21/25/28 Bing stars in Music That Satisfies radio shows.

Jan 14-20 Bing appears at the Albee, Brooklyn in a cine-variety bill with Weber and Fields earning $3,000 for the week.

Jan 26 Paramount-Publix goes into receivership and is later reorganised as Paramount Pictures.

Jan 26 Bing has recording session and sings ‘My Honey’s Lovin’ Arms’ with the Mills Brothers.

Jan 30 Adolf Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany.

Feb 1/4/8/11/15/18/22/25 Bing stars in Music That Satisfies radio shows.

Feb 2 Dixie announces that she is pregnant.

Feb 9 Bing makes two recordings in New York, ‘What Do I Care, It’s Home’ and ‘You’ve Got Me Crying Again’.

Feb 23 It is reported that Bing had won $1,600 on the horses in the previous week.

Mar 1/4/8/11/15/22/25 Bing stars in Music That Satisfies radio shows.

Mar 3-9 Appears at Loew’s Journal Square Theatre in Jersey City with Eddie Lang. Frank Sinatra (age 17) and his girl-friend Nancy Barbato see one of the shows and Bing’s performance inspires Sinatra to enter show-business.

Mar 4 ‘You’re Getting To Be a Habit With Me’ reaches No. 1 in the charts.

Mar 10-16 Bing tops the bill at the Capitol, New York with Milton Berle and the Eddy Duchin Orchestra.

Mar 13 Harry Barris files a voluntary bankruptcy petition in Hollywood.

Mar 14 Recording in New York with Dorsey Brothers orchestra.

Mar 17-23 Bing appears at the Valencia Theatre in Brooklyn.

Mar 18 Bing is unable to take part in the Music That Satisfies radio show as “something unexpected has happened.”

Dixie leaves New York for California, travelling by ship to Cuba and then back via the Panama Canal. She is accompanied by Everett’s wife, Naomi and Sue Carol. Dixie stays with Sue Carol on her arrival in Hollywood.

Mar 24 Paramount releases another Sennett short Sing, Bing, Sing.

Mar 26 Bing’s closest friend, Eddie Lang, dies at the Park West Hospital, New York, when a blood clot forms following a routine tonsillectomy. Bing accompanies the body to Philadelphia and attends the funeral on March 29.

Mar 29 Bing’s final Music That Satisfies show from New York.

Mar 30 Bing leaves New York for California on the ‘Twentieth Century’.

Apr 1 Bing’s Music That Satisfies show is not broadcast.

Apr 2 Bing arrives at Pasadena on the ‘Santa Fe Chief’ and is met by Dixie. Mary Pickford and Nick Stuart have also been on the train with him.

Apr 3 - May 4 Films College Humor for Paramount Pictures with Jack Oakie, Mary Carlisle and Richard Arlen.

Apr 5 (6:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.) The Music That Satisfies show has moved to Hollywood to accommodate Bing’s filming activities and the first broadcast from there takes place. Paul Douglas is the new announcer, Raymond Paige becomes conductor.

Apr 8/12 Bing stars in Music That Satisfies radio shows.

Apr Bing starts building his first home, on Foreman Avenue in the Toluca Lake District. Dixie’s father, Evan Wyatt supervises the work with Jetta Goudal and Harold Grieve handling the decorating arrangements.

Apr 15 Final Music That Satisfies show is broadcast.

Apr 21 Said to have auditioned via 3000-mile leased wire to New York for a proposed new Chesterfield show for CBS with Richard Arlen and Mary Brian. It is subsequently announced that the half hour programme will commence on May 15 but in fact there are no further developments.

May 11 Makes promotional record for College Humor then leaves for Palm Springs for a rest.

May 15 Paramount signs Bing to a two year contract which calls for two pictures a year.

May 18 The King of Jazz is re-released nation-wide in view of success of Bing, John Boles and others on radio.

May 18 Bing and Dixie rent the home of Sue Carol and Nick Stuart whilst the owners are away on a personal appearance tour.

May 24 Commences filming shorts Please and Just an Echo for Paramount with exteriors being done at Yosemite Park until June 2.

Hires Leo Lynn as his chauffeur; he remains close to the family and serves as Bing’s factotum and stand-in for movie cameramen until Bing’s death.

Jun 6 Sings two songs from College Humor on ‘California Melodies’ program broadcast by CBS from station KHJ.

Jun 9 Records ‘Learn to Croon’ in Los Angeles under Jack Kapp’s supervision. Many fans consider this session to represent the best of the ‘young’ Bing.

Jun 12 (8 p.m.) Stars in ‘Hollywood On The Air’ over KECA-NBC. The programme previews College Humor.

Jun13/16 Recording sessions in Los Angeles, including Shadow Waltz.

Jun 16 College Humor is pre-released in four different locations and is a huge hit. The main release takes place on June 30.

Jun 19 Bing and others members of the cast from College Humor are presented from the Sixth and Hillstreet stage in Los Angeles.

Jun 20 Bing appears on radio station KFWB to interview Harry Bassler, the Lakeside golf professional, who in turn gives him advice on how to use a spoon (a type of golf club).

Jun 23-29 Appears live at the Paramount Los Angeles on four occasions and sings songs from College Humor.

Jun 27 Dixie gives birth to Gary Evan Crosby at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital. The baby weighs seven pounds, six ounces and he is named after Bing’s friend Gary Cooper.

Bing films Hollywood On Parade No. 1 (1933), a 12 minute short film and soon follows this with Hollywood On Parade No. 4 (1933).

Buys his parents a house at 4366 Ponca Avenue in Toluca Lake.

Jul 1 ‘Shadow Waltz’ enters charts and subsequently reaches No. 1.

Jul 3 - mid August Bing films Too Much Harmony for Paramount with Judith Allen, Jack Oakie, Skeets Gallagher and Lilyan Tashman.

Jul 4 Appears on ‘California Melodies’ radio program singing three songs from College Humor.

Jul 21 Bing’s voice is insured for $100,000 by Lloyd’s of London. Emphasis is placed on “growth on his vocal chords which affects his voice.”

Jul 25 Again appears on ‘California Melodies’ radio show.

Jul 25 It is announced that Bing has hired a bodyguard to protect his wife and new baby in his Hollywood home. Permission is given for the bodyguard to wear a special officer badge.

Bing signs a contract to make three films for Paramount in 1935 for $250,000 in total.

Aug 8 Hollywood on Parade No. 1 reviewed in Variety.

Bing goes to Catalina Island on a fishing trip.

Aug 16 Dixie Lee is back in Cedars of Lebanon hospital having fallen at home and broken her elbow. Bing rushed back from Catalina Island to take her to hospital.

Aug 21 Bing asks Paramount to remove his star billing for Too Much Harmony and co-feature him with Jack Oakie and Skeets Gallagher. Bing says that too many actors have been killed by top billing and he is not going to take a chance.

Aug 27 Records four songs from Too Much Harmony in Los Angeles. At night takes part in a joint NBC and CBS broadcast which is designed “to help pep things up for the National Recovery Administration.”

Aug 28 - Oct Films Going Hollywood for MGM singing ‘Temptation’ and four other songs, earning $2,000 weekly. Production is delayed in September by the illness of co-star Marion Davies. The film also features Fifi D’Orsay and Stuart Erwin.

Bing and Dixie move into their new home on Foreman Avenue.

Bing is involved in negotiations to appear as the Mock Turtle in the Paramount film of Alice in Wonderland. It is said that his demands for a fee are too high and the part goes to Cary Grant.

Sep 19 Variety states that Bing “is the present day disc best seller.” Under his Brunswick contract he receives $200 a side plus royalties. Victor is said to be flirting with Crosby and offering $1,000 per recording.

Sep 19 Bing appears on California Melodies radio program at 6 p.m. Pacific.

Sep 22 Too Much Harmony released.

Sep 27 Recording session in Los Angeles, including ‘The Last Round-Up’ and ‘Home on the Range’.

Sep 30 (6:15 to 6:30 p.m.) Bing stars in Parade of Champions, first of a series of six broadcasts on CBS with the Raymond Paige Orchestra. He sings ‘Thanks’, ‘Don’t Blame Me’ and ‘I Guess It Had to Be That Way’.

Sep 30 (8:30 p.m.) Bing is interviewed by Jimmie Fidler on the Hollywood on the Air radio program.

Oct 5 (6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.) Appears on the final show of the Parade of Champions radio series with Ethel Barrymore, Morton Downey, Willie and Eugene Howard, Ruth Etting and the Paige Orchestra.

Oct 8 Christening of Gary Crosby jointly with Richard Arlen Jr.

Oct 16 (5:30 - 6 p.m.) Bing returns to CBS, now on Mondays, for Woodbury Soap with Lennie Hayton’s orchestra and with Ken Niles as announcer. The guest is 18 year old songstress Mary Lou Raymond. The show has a 25.1 rating for the season.

Oct 22 Records three songs from Going Hollywood in Los Angeles, including ‘Temptation’.

Oct 23/30 Bing hosts Woodbury shows. Guests include Mary Lou Raymond, Ed Lowry and Joan Marsh.

Oct 26 - Nov 1 Appears at Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles in a cine-variety bill. He receives a standing ovation for his rendition of ‘The Last Round-Up’. On the first day of his appearances it is reported in the press that he “was mobbed by women and children” and one woman rushes on to the stage to embrace him.

Oct 30 A complaint at the Los Angeles Municipal Court alleges that Bing hired a limousine from Violet Wildey at $75 per month and used it from April to September but has not paid the hire charge. A judgement of $450 is asked against Bing.

Nov 2 Playing with Harry Bassler, Bing comes second in a pro-am prior to the Southern Californian Open at Fox Hills Golf Course, Los Angeles.

Nov 3 The Paramount short Please is released in Los Angeles.

Nov 6/13/20/27 (5:30 - 6 p.m.) Bing hosts more Woodbury shows. Kay Thompson and the Three Rhythm Kings begin an extended run as guest stars on November 27.

Nov 18 Bing and Dixie are seen at the Colony Club together with other celebrities.

Nov 19 Bing is at the Beverly Wilshire and is persuaded to mount the platform and sing with Gus Arnheim.

Nov 25 Olive Kathryn Grandstaff is born in West Columbia, Texas. She later becomes Kathryn Grant and marries Bing in 1957.

Nov 30 Press reports indicate that Bing is having a little trouble with his throat and has had to pass up two weeks at the New York Paramount at $5,000 per week.

Dec 4/11/18/25 (5:30 - 6 p.m.) Bing hosts Woodbury shows. Guests include the Mills Brothers, Irene Taylor, Charles Bourne, and Kay Thompson and the Three Rhythm Kings.

Dec 5 Prohibition ends as Utah becomes the last state to ratify the 21^st Amendment.

Dec 11 Bing interrupts a Palm Springs vacation to undertake his final recording session of the year in Los Angeles. At night, broadcasts his Woodbury show.

Dec 23 Going Hollywood has premiere at Capitol, New York.

1934

Jan 1 Bing attends the Rose Bowl game between Stanford and Columbia. Describes this on his Woodbury Soap show that night when the guests are the Mills Brothers and Kay Thompson and the Three Rhythm Kings.

Jan 8/15/22/29 (5:30 - 6 p.m.) Bing hosts the Woodbury shows. Guests include the Mills Brothers and Kay Thompson and the Three Rhythm Kings.

Jan 10 Dixie Lee tests for the feminine lead in a new Paramount film Melody in Spring.

Jan 15 Gus Arnheim and his orchestra take over from Lennie Hayton on the Woodbury show.

Jan 19 Just an Echo, a 20 minute short film is released by Paramount.

Jan 29 - Mar Films We’re Not Dressing for Paramount with Carole Lombard, Ethel Merman, Burns and Allen and Ray Milland. Location shooting takes place on Catalina Island for three weeks. The cast stays at the St. Catherine Hotel.

Feb The ‘New York World Telegram’ publishes the results of a nation-wide poll which places Bing at the top of the ‘popular male singer’ category.

Feb 3 (7:30 - 9 p.m.) Bing is one of several entertainers featured in a special radio program on CBS marking the opening of the Columbia Playhouse in New York.

Feb 5/12/19/26 (5:30 - 6 p.m.) Woodbury shows. The Mills Brothers and Kay Thompson and the Three Rhythm Kings continue as Bing’s guests.

Feb 25 In Los Angeles, Bing records four songs from We’re Not Dressing.

Mar 5/12/19/26 (5:30 - 6 p.m.) Bing hosts more Woodbury shows. The Mills Brothers are regular guests but they miss the show on March 19 and are replaced by Kay Thompson and the Three Rhythm Kings. The musical support is provided by Carroll Lofner’s Beverly Wilshire Orchestra.

Mar 10/13 Records in Los Angeles, including ‘Little Dutch Mill’ which has been written by Harry Barris.

Mar 19 A plot to kidnap Bing and/or his son Gary is overheard and Bing is warned about this by police.

Mar 22 Bing and his brother Everett have obtained permits to carry guns and they do so as a result of the kidnap plot.

Apr 2 (5:30 - 6 p.m.) Jimmie Grier and his orchestra take over from Gus Arnheim on Woodbury show. Bing’s principal guest is Carole Lombard.

Apr 9/16/23/30 (5:30 - 6 p.m.) Woodbury shows hosted by Bing.

Apr - Jun Bing films She Loves Me Not for Paramount Pictures with Kitty Carlisle and Miriam Hopkins. While filming Bing refuses to have his ears glued back any longer.

Apr 14 ‘Little Dutch Mill’ reaches No. 1 in the charts and remains there for five weeks.

Apr 17 We’re Not Dressing has Los Angeles premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

May 7/14/21 Bing hosts more Woodbury shows.

May 12 The Los Angeles Times states that Bing and Everett have been sworn in as Deputy Sheriffs and carry guns.

May 18-20 Is one of many stars appearing in the ‘Film Stars Frolic’ at the Gilmore Stadium in Hollywood.

May 24 Press comment says that Bing “has scarcely left his wife’s bedside during the past week; she’s been quite ill.” X-rays show Dixie pregnant with twins, with one in a complicating position.

Bing stars in a Child Welfare Radio program, singing two songs accompanied by the Jimmie Grier and his Orchestra.

May 28 Final Woodbury Soap Show of the season.

Bing buys a 65-acre block of old Rancho Santa Fe, 25 miles north of San Diego, for a stud farm. Employs Lilian Rice to restore the adobe house and add modern facilities such as tennis courts and swimming pools. He works alongside the labourers for a while and returns to Paramount with blisters on his hands.

Jul Forms Bing Crosby, Incorporated. Bing’s brother Larry is put in charge of public relations whilst his father becomes treasurer. John O’Melveny, of the firm O’Melveny, Tuller and Meyer is the lawyer to the company.

Jul 3 Dr. Samuel S. Pasetto sues Bing for $1,000 in respect of physician’s services performed for Gary.

Jul 5 Bing records ‘Love in Bloom’ and three other songs in Los Angeles to conclude his contract with Brunswick Records.

Jul 13 Dixie gives birth to twins: Phillip Lang and Dennis Michael in Cedars of Lebanon Hospital shortly after 6 a.m. The babies are premature and weigh between four and five pounds each. Phillip is named for Eddie Lang whilst Dennis is named after Bing’s grandfather, Dennis Harrigan.

Jul 31 She Loves Me Not has Los Angeles premiere at the Paramount.

Aug 4 Bing’s record of ‘Love In Bloom’ starts to attract attention and soon becomes No. 1 in the charts. It stays in the top position for six weeks.

Aug 8 R Records Decca’s first songs at Decca Studios at 5505 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, ‘I Love You Truly,’ ‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart,’ and two others, under contracts that eventually run to December 31, 1955.

Aug 18 Bing goes to Rancho Santa Fe for a few days vacation.

Aug 23 Press comment indicates that Bing may have to have his appendix removed.

Aug 27 Commences filming Here Is My Heart with Kitty Carlisle, Roland Young and William Frawley. Filming is completed in October.

Seriously considers retiring from radio and films.

Sep 2 Russ Columbo dies following a bizarre shooting accident.

Decca launches an energetic promotional campaign built around its stable of stars (led by Bing) and its 35-cent record prices.

Sep 6 Bing is a pallbearer at Russ Columbo’s funeral at Blessed Sacrament Church, Los Angeles.

Sep 18 (6 p.m. Pacific Time) Returns to radio and Woodbury Soap, now for a half hour on Tuesdays, with a contract that pays him $6,000 a week as a package with total control. Georgie Stoll leads the orchestra and the Boswell Sisters are guests on the opening show. The audience share during the season is 15.5.

Sep 20 (8:30 p.m. Pacific). Bing makes a short guest appearance on the Dorsey Brothers opening radio show of the season. The Dorseys are broadcasting from New Jersey on Station WEAF and Bing is linked in from Hollywood with the Boswell Sisters and Georgie Stoll. Bing sings ‘Love in Bloom’.

Sep 22 Press coverage about a competition between Richard Arlen and Bing to see which one could pick up the most foreign radio stations during a one week period. Both are said to be short wave fans. Bing wins the contest and between them they pick up 122 stations.

Sep 25 Bing’s guests on the Woodbury Show are the Boswell Sisters.

Oct 2/9/16/23/30 (6:00 - 6:30 p.m.) Bing’s Woodbury Shows. Guests include the Boswell Sisters.

Oct 5 Recording session in Hollywood with Georgie Stoll.

Oct 12 Bing sings at a banquet in honour of Emanuel Cohen (Paramount vice president) in the Indian Room at the Ambassador Hotel.

Nov 2 Leaves Los Angeles for San Francisco to watch Gonzaga University play football against the University of San Francisco on November 4. Gonzaga lose 28-0.

Nov 6/13/20/27 Bing hosts more Woodbury Shows with the Boswell Sisters as guests. Marion Mansfield and Kitty Carlisle also guest on November 27.

Nov 9 In Hollywood, records three songs from Here Is My Heart with Georgie Stoll, including ‘June in January’.

Sings ‘With Every Breath I Take’ in Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove, a short for MGM.

Nov-Jan 19, 1935 Films Mississippi with W. C. Fields, Joan Bennett and Gail Patrick. Weighing 190 pounds, Bing wears a girdle to enable him to fit into the tight period costumes.

Dec 4/11/18 Woodbury Shows. Bing is accompanied by the Boswell Sisters. Guest stars include Marian Mansfield, and Pinky Tomlin.

Dec 8 ‘June in January’ is a hit and reaches No. 1 where it stays for seven weeks.

Dec 14 Bing sings at the Los Angeles Examiner benefit at the Shrine Auditorium.

Dec 21 Here Is My Heart has New York premiere.

Dec 25 Sings ‘Silent Night’ on his Woodbury Show. Guest stars are Irene Taylor and Charles Bourne.

Dec 25 Santa Anita race track at Arcadia has its first meeting for 25 years. Bing has invested $10,000 in it in order to obtain a choice box seat and attends regularly for next two months.

For the first time, Bing is in the top 10 box office stars in the USA for 1934. He is seventh with Will Rogers coming out on top.

1935

Jan 1/8/15/22/29 (6 - 6:30 p.m.) Bing hosts the Woodbury Show. Guests include the Boswell Sisters, the Mills Brothers and Eddie McGill’s Negro Choir.

Jan 16 (7 p.m.) Bing and Dixie guest on the Jimmie Fidler radio show over KFI with several other stars.

Jan 19 Filming of Mississippi is completed and Bing goes to his ranch at Rancho Santa Fe.

Jan 26 Thought to have entertained at the Mt. Sinai All Star Show of 1935 at the Shrine Auditorium with Burns and Allen, the Mills Brothers and many others.

Jan 30 Takes part in charity fund-raising celebrations for President Roosevelt’s birthday at Warner Brothers studio. Other stars present include Nelson Eddy, Dick Powell and Jackie Cooper.

Buys his first racehorse called ‘Zombie’ adopting blue and gold as his racing colours.

Feb 5/12/19/26 Bing’s Woodbury Shows are aired. Guests are Joan Bennett and the Mills Brothers.

Feb 7 Bing’s horse ‘Zombie’ comes second in a race at Santa Anita.

Feb 17 Bing attends a party at the new Brentwood home of Pat O’Brien. He sings several songs as well as assisting with the serving.

Feb 21 Records four songs from Mississippi including ‘It’s Easy to Remember’ and ‘Soon’. Completes session with ‘Silent Night’ for the St. Columban Foreign Missionary Society.

Feb 21 Hires trainer Albert Johnson in order to establish a string of race horses. Builds stables and an exercise track at Rancho Santa Fe.

Feb 23 At Santa Anita racetrack for $100,000 handicap.

Feb 25 Bing is at Santa Anita again to see his horse ‘Zombie’ come third in its race.

Feb 27 The annual Academy Awards ceremony takes place at the Biltmore Bowl and for the first time an Oscar is awarded for the Best Song. Bing’s song ‘Love in Bloom’ is nominated but the Oscar goes to ‘The Continental’.

Mar 1 Bing takes part in the “Screen Stage and Radio Stars Gambol” for the benefit of the Loyola High School Scholarship at Carthay Circle theatre starting at 8:30 p.m.

Mar 5/12/19/26 Bing hosts his Woodbury Show. Guests include Marian Mansfield, Charles Erwin and the Mills Brothers.

Dixie Lee returns to the film studios as part of the cast of Redheads on Parade.

Mar 28 Los Angeles premiere of Mississippi at Paramount.

Apr 1 Bing is one of several Hollywood stars financing the tour of the Hollywood All-Stars basketball team to Japan.

Apr 2/9/16/23/30 More Woodbury Shows hosted by Bing. The guests include the Williams Sisters (a vocal trio from Tacoma) and the Mills Brothers.

Apr 5 Press coverage about Bing’s efforts to lose weight.

Apr 12 Star Night at the Cocoanut Grove is released.

Apr 13 ‘It’s Easy to Remember’ at No. 1 in the charts.

Apr 17 Bing films brief spot in The Big Broadcast of 1936 and sings ‘I Wished on the Moon’. There are plans for Dixie and the children to appear in the film with Bing but he vetoes this.

Apr 20 ‘Soon’ takes over as No. 1 record.

Apr 25 Bing takes Dixie to Palm Springs in an attempt to help her get rid of a stubborn cold.

May 7/14/21/28 Bing hosts his Woodbury Show with guests including Williams Sisters, Henry Busse and Andy Devine.

Jun 1 Bing at Agua Caliente race track, just over Mexican border.

Jun 4/11 Final Woodbury Shows with guests Mildred Stone and Martha Tilton.

Jun 6 Press comment seen stating that Bing has lost 12 pounds in weight. He is said to be at Rancho Santa Fe resting up prior to making Two for Tonight.

Jun - Jul Films Two for Tonight with Joan Bennett.

Jun 16 Celebrates Father’s Day at his ranch.

It is announced that Bing’s brothers, Larry and Ted, have written a book about him.

Jul 30 On vacation at Saratoga (for the racing) until August 10. Bing’s stable has now risen to 15 horses.

Aug 7 A new Merrie Melodies animated cartoon called Bingo Crosbyana is released.

Aug 14 Bing records in New York with the Dorsey Brothers, the event virtually marking the end of their orchestra as the brothers soon went their separate ways. Records songs from Two for Tonight then has a row with Jack Kapp over the style of recording for the song ‘I Wished on the Moon’.

Aug 15 Appears on Paul Whiteman’s Kraft Music Hall between 10 and 11 p.m. in New York (Station WEAF) singing songs from Two For Tonight. He then carries on to Ben Marden’s Riviera Club (just over George Washington bridge) for Paul Whiteman’s opening night where he is the guest star. Renews his friendship with Bob Hope there. It is said that Bing does both shows for nothing “in friendly memory of the days when he was one of Paul’s boys.”

Aug 16 It is announced that Will Rogers has been killed in a plane crash during the night of August 15^th. Bing is at the Arrowhead night club in Saratoga Springs when the news comes through. A radio broadcast is taking place from the club and at short notice Bing is asked to sing ‘Home on the Range’. He has had a fair amount to drink and has trouble remembering the words. Bing later says that it was the only time he was really nervous.

Aug 30 Two for Tonight is released in New York; Bing and Dixie attend the premiere.

Sep 5 Bing and Dixie arrive back in Los Angeles.

Sep 13 The Big Broadcast of 1936 has world premiere at Paramount, New York.

Sep 17 Bing arranges to sell his Foreman Avenue house to Al Jolson and Ruby Keeler.

Sep 18 Buys seven acres in Toluca Lake on Camarillo Street on which to build a home closer to the Lakeside golf course.

Bing and Dixie attend a surprise party for Grace Bradley along with Harold Lloyd, Betty Grable and Jack Oakie.

Sep - Nov Films Anything Goes with Ethel Merman, Charles Ruggles and Ida Lupino.

Sep 29 Bing gives Dixie a Swiss watch set in wood for their fifth wedding anniversary.

Oct 1 A newspaper article says that Bing and opera singer Gladys Swarthout have recorded two duets ‘Thunder Over Paradise’ and ‘Home on the Range’ at Paramount as a test for a possible film. It was intended to star Bing in a film version of Herman Bahr’s operetta The Yellow Nightingale but Bing is said to have indicated that his voice was not appropriate.

Oct 4 Bing is stopped by police when driving at 42 miles an hour on N. Highland Avenue (a 25-mile zone) and is given a speeding ticket. This is Bing’s second ticket in six months. The officer notices that Bing has a revolver and when Bing cannot produce his gun permit he is asked to drive to Hollywood police station. His explanation that he had forgotten to carry his permit is accepted and Bing is then allowed to continue to Paramount Studios.

Oct 17 Bing rents Marion Davies’ house in Beverly Hills pending completion of his new home.

Nov 12/13 Records eight songs in Hollywood including ‘Red Sails in the Sunset’ and songs from Anything Goes. Also records ‘Adeste Fideles’ and ‘Silent Night’ as commercial waxings but with earnings assigned to charity.

Bing buys a horse called Khayyam and says he will enter it in the 1936 Kentucky Derby. He promises to croon to the horse before the race.

Dec 5/12/19/26 Is paid $3,000 weekly for the hour-long Kraft Music Hall on Thursdays. Paul Whiteman hosts the program from New York with Bing being ‘cut-in’ from Hollywood for four consecutive shows. Bing is accompanied by the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.

Dec 7 Al Jolson introduces Bing on a radio show celebrating the NBC Hollywood Studio opening. Bing sings ‘On Treasure Island’ accompanied by Victor Young.

Dec 9 Bing and Dixie join in the floor show at the Century Club with Paul Draper much to the audience’s delight.

Dec 14 ‘Red Sails in the Sunset’ is a hit and soon reaches No. 1 in the charts.

In conjunction with Harry Revel, Mack Gordon and Paramount, Bing is sued for $500,000 by a woman who claims that ‘Without a Word of Warning’ is based on a song she has written.

Bing is later revealed to have earned $318,907 from Paramount in 1935.

1936

Jan 2 (7-8 pm.) Begins the Kraft Music Hall (KMH) under his own contract for NBC. The guests include Kay Weber, Eleanor Whitney and Cecil B. De Mille. Earns $5,500 per show jointly with Jimmy Dorsey. Broadcasts every Thursday until June 11. The rating for the season is 14.8. Announcer Don Wilson is replaced by Ken Carpenter during the season. Bob Burns is a regular on the show at the outset. The broadcast originates from a big barn-like building on the back lot of the RKO Studios at Melrose and Gower.

Bing begins building the Del Mar Track and Turf Club north of San Diego with several partners.

Jan 9/16/23/30 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Joe Venuti, John Barrymore, Percy Grainger, Joe E. Brown, Kay Weber and Leopold Stokowski.

Jan 23 Anything Goes is released.

Jan 24 Press comment states that Bing has been on the Hauser diet for a week and lost 12 pounds.

Feb 3 Bing goes on salary at Paramount to make Rhythm on the Range even though the script is not ready.

Feb 6/13/20/27 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Kay Weber, Alice Faye, Andres Segovia, Spencer Tracy, Walter Huston, Charles Ruggles and Ann Sothern.

Mar Carroll Carroll joins KMH as staff writer.

Mar 5/12/19/26 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Jack Oakie, Patsy Kelly, Grete Stueckgold and Virginia Bruce.

Mar 24/29 Records with Victor Young in Los Angeles.

Apr 2/9/16/23/30 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski, Rudolph Ganz, the Paul Taylor Choristers, Joan Crawford, Kay Weber, Zasu Pitts, Efrem Zimbalist, Grete Stueckgold and Louis Prima.

Apr 2 Bing goes to the first annual Radio Ball of the radio industry at the Palomar.

Apr 4 - Jun 26 Films Rhythm on the Range with Frances Farmer, Bob Burns and Martha Raye.

Apr 8 Places his prints and name in cement at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Hollywood.

May 7/14/21/28 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include George Raft, Murdo McKenzie, Mischa Levitski, Bette Davis, Rose Bampton and Una Merkel.

May 8 Press review of a Will Rogers trailer which has been made for use during the Will Rogers Memorial Fund Drive, May 22-28. Bing is included singing ‘Home on the Range’ and his segment was filmed at Paramount.

May 21 Bing and Bob Burns are rushed by special car to Hollywood from Lone Pine, near Sequoia National Park (where they are filming Rhythm On the Range) to take part in the Kraft Music Hall broadcast at 6 p.m.

Jun 1 Moves into new house at 10500 Camarillo Street at Toluca Lake. It has 20 rooms including seven bathrooms.

Jun 4 Bing’s KMH show. The guests are George Jessel and his wife Norma Talmadge plus 12 year-old Edith Fellowes.

Jun 11 No KMH broadcast because of the Republican Convention although some newspapers stated that a show hosted by Bing with guests Ernest Hutcheson, Virginia Bruce and Bert Wheeler was to take place.

Jun 17 It is announced that Bing, George Raft and William Frawley will back the Hollywood baseball club in the Pacific Coast League if they can swing the franchise.

Variety notes that Bing is the highest paid movie star at $150,000 per picture plus a percentage (compared with Fredric March $150,000 and Gary Cooper $125,000).

Jun 18 Bing hosts the Kraft Music Hall with guests Pat O’Brien and Josephine Tuminia. The broadcast of the Joe Louis versus Max Schmeling fight was due to have either replaced or curtailed the show but heavy rain forced the postponement of the fight until the next night.

Bing wins the Lakeside Golf Championship.

Jun 25 Apparently no KMH broadcast because of the Democratic Convention although it had been planned that Bing would host a show with guests Bert Wheeler and Jean Arthur.

Jul 2 Bing hosts the KMH show with guests Martha Raye, Frank Morgan and Frances Farmer. Songs and scenes from Rhythm on the Range are featured.

Jul 6 - Aug Films Pennies from Heaven with Madge Evans, Donald Meek, Louis Armstrong and Edith Fellowes. John Scott Trotter handles the musical arrangements for Bing’s songs. This is Bing’s first independent production jointly with Emanuel Cohen’s Major Pictures and he has a share in the profits. The film is distributed by Columbia Pictures.

Jul 8 Makes private recording in Hollywood as a greeting to Decca Records (UK), singing part of ‘Take My Heart’.

Jul 9/16 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Robert Taylor, Jean Arthur, Bert Wheeler, Marjorie Gateson and Rose Bampton.

Jul 14 Records in Hollywood with Victor Young.

Jul 17 First recording session with Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra. Sings songs from Rhythm on the Range including ‘I’m an Old Cowhand’.

Jul 23 Records his first Hawaiian songs ‘Song of the Islands’ and ‘Aloha Oe’ with Dick McIntyre. No KMH broadcast that night due to speech by Alf Landon, the Republican nominee for President.

Jul 24/29 Records songs from Pennies From Heaven in Hollywood with Georgie Stoll and his orchestra.

Jul 29 Rhythm on the Range has New York premiere.

Jul 30 (6-7 p.m.) Bing hosts the KMH on NBC. Guests include Dolores Costello Barrymore, Vera Van and Albert Spalding.

Aug 4/10/12/17 Recording dates in Hollywood.

Aug 6/13 Bing hosts the KMH with guests Robert Young, Ann Sothern, Ernest Hutcheson and Louis Armstrong.

Aug 19 Bing and Dixie sing two duets for Decca, ‘The Way You Look Tonight’ and ‘A Fine Romance’, Dixie’s last recordings.

Aug 20 Last KMH broadcast by Bing prior to vacation. Guests include Joan Bennett and Dorothy Lamour.

Aug 30 Sails with Dixie on the S.S. Lurline to Hawaii.

Sep 3 Bing and Dixie arrive in Honolulu, Oahu. News photographers come on board the Lurline and watch Bing have his breakfast. Bing says that he will be staying in Eugene P. Shone’s house at Kaalawai with his friends from Burlingame, California, Mr. and Mrs. Lindsay Howard, Robert Howard, Maxine Fuller and Manuela Hudson.

Sep 5 Bing motor glides, swims and surf boards. Local photographers capture the scenes and photos appear in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin that day.

Sep 6 Bing attends a meeting of Kamaaina Beachcombers’ Hui (an organisation of local sportsman interested in promoting swimming in the islands) at the home of Alfred L. Castle at Kahuku, Oahu.

Sep 15 During the afternoon, Bing travels on the sampan ‘Carrie T’ from Honolulu to Kaunakakai, Molokai with Lindsay Howard, Chick Daniels and Johnny Gomez. A crowd gathers and parades Bing through the town to the front steps of Molokai market where he sings ‘Hawaiian Paradise’ to them. He also attempts to sing ‘Na Lei O Hawaii’ but does not know all the words. The warmth of the welcome is so great that Bing is persuaded to stay overnight on the island so that he can go deer hunting there the next day.

Sep 16 Burns and Allen join Bing and Dixie in Honolulu.

Sep 21 Bing golfs in the Honolulu Sports Writers Tournament at the Moanalue course.

Oct 3 Bing and Dixie leave Honolulu on the S.S. Lurline and arrive back on October 8 in Los Angeles. During his extended vacation, Bing has discovered Harry Owens’ song Sweet Leilani which he later sings in Waikiki Wedding. Bing is also said to have appeared in a rathskeller in the native district of Honolulu and acted as master of ceremonies besides singing.

Oct 10 Buys contract of Georgie Turner, a promising young heavyweight boxer. Bing is also said to be seeking a share of the contract of Freddie Steele, World Middleweight Champion, and he soon secures this.

Oct 15 (7-8 p.m.) Returns to KMH and performs weekly until 1 July, 1937. The rating for the season is 22.4. Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra continue to provide the musical accompaniment. In the opening show, Bing sings four songs from Pennies From Heaven and the guests are Ruth Chatterton, Slip Madigan and Elisabeth Rethberg.

Construction of the new $40,000 Bing Crosby building at 9028-30 on the south side of Sunset Boulevard commences. Bing’s organisation ultimately occupies the top floor of the three story building.

Oct 22/29 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Adolphe Menjou, Cary Grant and Elissa Landi. Joe Venuti’s Orchestra replaces Jimmy Dorsey for one show on the 29^th.

Oct 25 As Lakeside champion, Bing competes in the first annual tournament of Southern California golf club champions.

Nov 3 Franklin D Roosevelt re-elected as President.

Nov 5/12/19/26 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Gladys George, Grete Stueckgold, Patsy Kelly, Ricardo Cortez and Rochelle Hudson.

Nov 14/15 Bing in San Francisco.

Nov 28 Bing’s record of ‘Pennies from Heaven’ reaches No. 1 in the charts and remains there for ten weeks.

Nov 28 Bing, in San Diego with Lindsay Howard, gets into a fracas with some sailors during the early hours of the morning in a night club.

Nov 29 Attends the University of San Francisco - Loyola football game.

Dec 3/10/17/24/31 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Jack Oakie, Alice Faye, Gene Raymond, Bruce Cabot, Mary Astor, James Gleason and Nadine Conner.

Dec 9 New York premiere of Pennies from Heaven.

Dec 11 Press comment states that “Bing Crosby is on a liquid diet to lose weight for his new epic, Waikiki Wedding.”

Dec 11 Sings at Shrine Auditorium for the Los Angeles Examiner benefit.

Dec 19 - Feb 1937 Films Waikiki Wedding with Shirley Ross, Bob Burns, Martha Raye and Anthony Quinn.

Dec 24 Bing hosts the KMH and it becomes his first special Christmas radio show as he sings ‘Adeste Fideles’ and ‘Silent Night’.

Everett Crosby and his wife Naomi separate.

1937

Jan 7/14/21/28 (7-8 p.m.) Bing’s KMH shows with guests including Josephine Tuminia, Lee Tracy, Grete Stueckgold, Edward Everett Horton, Patricia Ellis, Rose Bampton and Victor McLaglen.

Jan 7 (8:45 - 9:45 p.m.) Bing takes part in the ‘Adolph Zukor Silver Jubilee Dinner’ which is broadcast nation-wide on NBC.

Bing and Dixie attend a large party at Hal Roach’s new home in Beverly Hills.

Feb 1 (7-9 p.m.) Bing is one of many stars taking part in a Red Cross Relief Program on the Blue Network. The show is designed to raise funds to help with the serious flooding in Tennessee, West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky. He sings ‘One, Two, Button Your Shoe’. Al Jolson, John McCormack and Clark Gable are also on the show.

Feb 4/11/18/25 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include James Cagney, Basil Rathbone, William Frawley, Edward Everett Horton, Dorothy McNulty, Sophie Tucker and Mary Garden.

Feb 6 Bing asks the Board of Tax Appeals to redetermine an income tax deficiency of $128,504 assessed for 1933 and 1934.

Feb 6/7 Begins his pro-am golf tournament at Rancho Santa Fe. It is meant to be a two day event, but the first day is washed out by heavy rain. Sam Snead is the first winner with a 68. Bing cards an 87!

Feb 23/28 Records songs from Waikiki Wedding (including ‘Sweet Leilani’) in Hollywood.

Mar 3/5/8 Recording sessions in Hollywood (including Too Marvelous For Words).

Mar 4/11/18/25 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Basil Rathbone, Mischa Auer, Gale Sondergaad, Walter Brennan Harriett Hilliard and Douglas Fairbanks Jr.

Mar 4 The Academy Awards are presented at the Biltmore Hotel in Hollywood. ‘Pennies from Heaven’ has been nominated as best song of 1936 but the winner is ‘The Way You Look Tonight’.

Mar 24 Waikiki Wedding has New York premiere.

Mar 26 Bing attends Basil Rathbone’s party.

Apr 1/8/15/22/29 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Amelia Earhart, Rose Bampton, Harry Barris, Frances Farmer, Lionel Stander, Connie Boswell, Victor McLaglen, Madeleine Carroll and Mischa Auer.

Apr 17 ‘Sweet Leilani’ is the No. 1 record and is quickly followed by ‘Too Marvellous for Words’.

Apr 23 It is announced that Bing has signed for Kraft for another two seasons for $3,500 per week. The contract allows Bing 13 weeks off each year.

Apr 26 - Jun 15 Films Double or Nothing with Mary Carlisle, Martha Raye, Andy Devine and William Frawley.

May 6/13/20/27 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Zasu Pitts, Gail Patrick, Elissa Landi, John McCormack, Lionel Stander, Connie Boswell and Lee Tracy.

May 6 Hindenburg airship explodes over New Jersey, killing 36.

May 11 A strike takes place at the various Hollywood film studios. Bing is one of several stars who cross the picket lines.

May 16 Bing and Dixie and their children attend a birthday party for Pat O’Brien’s daughter.

May 19 Fire in the Melrose Grotto at 5511 Melrose Avenue forces Bing and many others to flee from the adjoining recording studio.

May 23 Bing organises and appears in a five hour benefit for pianist Joe Sullivan at the Pan-Pacific Auditorium in front of an audience of 6,000. The show is broadcast over two different radio stations. Fourteen bands attend and $3,000 is raised. (Joe suffered from TB and was convalescing at a sanatorium in Monrovia.)

Jun Named ‘Hollywood’s Most Typical Father for 1937.’

Jun 3/10/17/24 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Charlie Ruggles, Constance Bennett, Florence George, Reginald Denny and William Frawley.

Jun 21 FBI records indicate that Bing paid $10,000 to a blackmailer, possibly a procurer. It seems probable however that the payment was made to Bugsy Siegel of the Mafia to ensure that stage hands he controlled would not delay film production.

Jul 1 Last KMH broadcast by Bing until October. The guests are Toby Wing, Roland Young and Mischa Levitzki. It is Jimmy Dorsey’s last appearance as resident orchestra leader.

Jul 3 The Del Mar Turf Club opens with an attendance of 15,000. Saturday morning radio shows begin and continue through July and August on NBC. Bing’s horse ‘High Strike’ wins the first race. The Directors of the track are Bing, Pat O’Brien, Kent Allen, Charles Howard and William Quigley.

Saturday night stage shows involving celebrities take place at Del Mar.

Brother Ted joins Bing’s organisation, especially to publicise Del Mar, but he lasts only a year or two.

Jul 9 Bing gives the racing commentary from Del Mar for NBC at 5 p.m. Pacific time. NBC give him a cheque for $100 for “any charity cause of your choice.”

Jul 12 Has first recording session with John Scott Trotter. In Hollywood, they record four songs from Double or Nothing including ‘The Moon Got in My Eyes’ and ‘It’s the Natural Thing to Do’.

Later Bing takes part in a star-studded radio tribute to George Gershwin who died on 11 July.

Jul 14 Bing on crutches at Del Mar following tennis injury.

Jul 16 Broadcasts a ‘man at the race track’ type programme from Del Mar at 4:45 p.m. Similar programs are broadcast on July 23 and 30.

Aug 25 Attends Saratoga yearling auctions.

Aug 28 Bing in Chicago at races. Whilst in Chicago, he is said to be arranging to see Governor Lehman to discuss the extradition of his friend, John Montague.

Sep 1 New York Premiere of Double or Nothing.

Sep 5 Bing attends the State Fair race meeting in Detroit, Michigan.

Sep 8 Takes part in broadcast when awards to ‘Champions of Champions’ winners in golf tournament are presented.

Sep 11 Cuts four tracks with Lani McIntyre and his Hawaiians in Hollywood.

Sep 20/25 More recording sessions in Hollywood including ‘Bob White’ (with Connie Boswell) and ‘Remember Me?’

Sep 25 ‘The Moon Got in My Eyes’ is No. 1 record.

Oct 7 (7-8 p.m.) Returns to the KMH broadcast and performs weekly until July 21, 1938. The audience share for the season is 23.1. Bob Burns and the Paul Taylor Choristers continue as regulars on the show. The guests on the opening show are Beatrice Lillie, Mischa Levitski and William Gargan. John Scott Trotter furnishes the orchestral support and continues to do so for Bing’s radio shows until 1954.

Oct 14 Bing’s KMH show with guests Betty Furness, Walter Huston and Hope Manning.

Oct 21 Bing arrives in Spokane at 7 a.m. by train and goes straight to Gonzaga for mass at 7:30. This is apparently his first return visit since 1926 and he is accompanied by his parents and brothers Larry and Everett. His brother Ted is still living in Spokane. Later Bing accepts the honorary degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Music from Gonzaga University. At 11:30 a.m., he is at City Hall to receive the key to the city and is made Mayor for the day. That night at 7:30 p.m., the KMH show is broadcast from the Masonic Temple, Spokane with guests Connie Boswell, Mary Carlisle and Edmund Lowe. A banquet for Bing and his co-stars is held at the Civic Auditorium at 8 p.m.

Oct 22 Bing presides over an amateur show at 8 p.m. at the Armory, Spokane.

Oct 23 Bing attends breakfast at 8:10 a.m. with the Athletic Round Table at the Dessert Hotel in Spokane. At night, he and his co-stars from the KMH attend a dance at Natatorium Park. It is estimated that the various events involving Bing have raised $10,000 for Gonzaga.

Oct 24 Attends a football game at Gonzaga Stadium between Gonzaga and San Francisco University at 2 p.m. before leaving Spokane late to return to Hollywood.

Oct 25 Bing’s train going back to Los Angeles pulls in to Klamath Falls, Oregon in the evening and is greeted by 2,000 people at the Southern Pacific Station.

Oct 26 Bing leaves the train at Oakland and goes to the Bay Meadows race track at San Mateo to see his horse ‘High Strike’ win the Home Bred handicap.

Oct 28 Bing’s KMH show. Guests include Robert Young and Marian Marsh. Later, Bing goes on to appear with Bob Crosby and his orchestra at the Palomar Ballroom in Los Angeles.

Oct 30 ‘Remember Me?’ is a hit and becomes yet another No. 1.

Nov 4/11/18/25 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Fay Bainter, Ray Milland, Fay Wray and Alan Mowbray.

Nov 7 Defeats Bob Hope 4 and 2 in a 36 hole golf match. The loser was supposed to act as a stand-in in the other’s film.

Nov 8 Stars in CBS radio version of She Loves Me Not with Joan Blondell and Nan Gray on Lux Radio Theatre.

Nov/Jan 1938 Films Doctor Rhythm with Mary Carlisle, Beatrice Lillie and Andy Devine.

Nov 11 Attends British colony’s Armistice Day celebration and his ordinary business suit clashes with the white tie and tails worn by the other male guests, leading to some press coverage. Bing also joins in a radio show which is beamed to the UK by short wave.

Nov 12/15 Recording sessions in Hollywood.

Nov 20 ‘Bob White’ is the next recording by Bing to enter the charts on the way to becoming a No. 1 hit.

Nov 23 It emerges that Bing has recently paid $1,500 to purchase a Berman Boxer dog of championship strain called Gunda of Barmere. He nicknames her Venus. Bing plans to establish a kennel and raise the breed commercially. Bing intends to show the dog at the Santa Barbara dog show on December 4.

Nov 28 Bing at Santa Clara versus Gonzaga football game at Sacramento.

Nov 29 (8:15 p.m.) Bing appears on radio show from station KFWB to discuss sports with Jack Holmes.

Nov 30 Bing acts as M.C. at the ‘Gigantic Gonzaga - Loyola Football Rally’ at the Palomar Ballroom. Farewell festivities for Bob Crosby and his orchestra take place.

Dec 2/9/16/23/30 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Ralph Bellamy, Adolph Menjou, Verree Teasdale, Madge Evans, Basil Rathbone, Connie Boswell, Louis Armstrong and Jose Iturbi.

Dec 25 Bing is at Santa Anita racetrack for the opening of the racing season there and he takes part in a radio broadcast with W. C. Fields, Hedda Hopper, George Jessel and others over NBC of ‘The Christmas Handicap’ race. He manages to plug his Del Mar track on several occasions.

Dec 31 (5:30 - 6 p.m.) Bing guests on the premiere broadcast of Paul Whiteman’s new radio show for Chesterfield on CBS. Later Bing and Dixie entertain a few friends including the Andy Devines.

Bing is placed fourth in the USA box office stars list for 1937. Shirley Temple comes first.

1938

Jan 1 Bing goes to the races at Santa Anita.

With Lindsay Howard, Bing founds Binglin Breeding Stables.

Press coverage seen about a dispute regarding $33,000 said to be owing by the Crosby organisation to Rockwell-O’Keefe in respect of commission for the KMH show. An amicable settlement is reached after Everett counterclaims.

Jan 5 Bing and Dixie’s fourth son, Lindsay Harry is born at 4:35 a.m. at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, weighing in at six pounds five ounces. He is named after Lindsay Howard, Bing’s racing partner.

Jan 6/13/20/27 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Sterling Holloway, Constance Bennett, Ida Lupino, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Joe Venuti, Frank McHugh and Madeleine Carroll.

Jan 15/16 Bing’s second golf pro-am at Rancho Santa Fe. Sam Snead wins again. Bing plays with Harold Sampson. Rain again affects the tournament.

Jan 21/26 Recording dates in Hollywood including ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’ with Connie Boswell.

Jan 29 Bing’s radio show wins the Hearst Radio Editors’ Poll for the best variety program. He is also named most popular male vocalist.

Feb 3/10/17/24 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Brian Aherne, Spring Byington, Wayne Morris, Lotte Lehmann, Margot Grahame and Randolph Scott.

Feb 7 Press reports indicate that Bing has banned newspaper and publicity cameramen from his radio broadcasts as he can’t give his best when “bulb pressers” are around.

Bing takes Dixie to the House of Murphy for her first outing since the birth of Lindsay. They dine with the Edmund Lowes.

Bing and Dixie throw a supper buffet to honour Evelyn Kinder of the play ‘The Women’ prior to the company’s departure. Other guests include the Edmund Lowes, The Johnny Mercers, the Joe Venutis and Lindsay Howard.

Bing and Dixie attend Kathryn and Joe E. Brown’s huge dinner party at the Victor Hugo to honour Major and Mrs. Taylor of Vancouver who annually sojourn in Hollywood during the Santa Anita season.

Bing attends the Santa Anita Derby.

Mar 3/10/17/24/31 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Maureen O’Sullivan, Mischa Auer, Pat O’Brien, Franciska Gaal, David Niven, Miriam Hopkins, Anna May Wong and George Brent.

Mar 10 ‘Sweet Leilani’ wins the Oscar for Original Song of 1937 at the ceremonies at the Biltmore Hotel. Bob Burns is the M.C.

Mar 26 Bing’s horse ‘Ligaroti’ wins the $5,000 added handicap at Bay Meadows, San Mateo.

Easter Bing donates a $1,600 organ to St. Charles Church, North Hollywood, and dedicates it by singing a concert.

Apr 6 Attends charity concert by Helen Gahagan at Biltmore Hotel.

Apr 7/14/21/28 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Roland Young, Gail Patrick, Edmund Lowe, Ralph Bellamy, Percy Grainger, Rudolph Ganz and Binnie Barnes. The show on April 14 was cut to 30 minutes because of a speech by President Roosevelt.

Apr - May Films Sing You Sinners with Fred MacMurray, Donald O’Connor, Elizabeth Patterson and Ellen Drew. Two dozen of Bing’s horses are used in the racing scenes.

Apr 13/22/25 Recording sessions with Harry Owens, Eddie Dunstedter and John Scott Trotter furnishing support to Bing.

Apr 16 A loose association of Bing’s friends known as The Westwood Marching and Chowder Club present a show called ‘The Midgie Minstrels’ for their own amusement. Bing is featured together with many of his friends.

Apr 18 Everett Crosby gets divorced from his wife Naomi because of her drinking. He is given custody of daughter, Mary Sue.

Bing and Pat O’Brien compere a private show at Lucey’s which features Connie Boswell, Joe Venuti, Johnny Burke and many others.

Apr 28 Doctor Rhythm has Los Angeles premiere at Paramount.

May 5/12/19/26 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Walter Huston, Beulah Bondi, Alec Templeton, Basil Rathbone, Rose Bampton, Humphrey Bogart, Miriam Hopkins and Edward Everett Horton.

May 23 At a recording session in Hollywood, Bing has a cold and whilst he records four songs, only two are released.

Jun 2/9/16/23/30 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Mary Astor, Joel McCrea, Grete Stueckgold, Roscoe Karns, Claude Rains, Akim Tamiroff, Edna May Oliver, Gladys George, Wesley Ruggles, Alec Templeton, Efrem Zimbalist and Jack Oakie.

Jun - Jul Films Paris Honeymoon with Franciska Gaal, Shirley Ross and Akim Tamiroff.

Jun 25 Bing takes part in another meeting of the Westwood Marching and Chowder Club, North Hollywood branch. Other guests include Bette Davis, Shirley Ross, Wesley Ruggles, Edmund Lowe and Skeets Gallagher. Bing sings ‘Nobody’.

Jun 29 Lindsay is christened.

Bing enters three dogs in Long Beach dog show.

Jul 1 (6:30 to 9:30 p.m.) Records ‘Small Fry’ and ‘Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Shean’ with Johnny Mercer.

Jul 7 Bing’s KMH show. Guests include Mary Carlisle and Henry Fonda.

Jul 8 Bing records ‘Summertime’ and ‘A Blues Serenade’ with Matty Malneck and his Orchestra in Hollywood.

Jul 11 (5:30 to 8:30 p.m.) Another recording session in Hollywood where songs from Sing You Sinners are recorded including I’ve Got a Pocketful of Dreams.

Jul 14 Bob Hope is Bing’s radio guest on the KMH for the first time.

Jul 20 Bing appears on the Tommy Dorsey radio show on NBC and plays drums as part of a Westwood Marching and Chowder Club performance with Jack Benny, Dick Powell, Ken Murray and Shirley Ross.

Jul 21 Last KMH appearance by Bing prior to vacation. Donald O’Connor is a guest.

Jul 29 Opening day of Del Mar season.

Aug 5 The film Sing You Sinners is premiered on the race track at Del Mar. Saturday morning radio shows from Del Mar are aired on NBC with Bing usually participating. Bob Hope joins Bing on stage in the Saturday night stage shows reviving their patter from the Capitol Theatre in 1932.

Aug 12 Bing watches a special race at Del Mar between his horse Ligaroti and the famous horse, Seabiscuit, with the latter narrowly winning after a photo finish. Dixie Lee presents the $25,000 prize. Seabiscuit is owned by Charles S. Howard, father of Bing’s friend, Lindsay Howard. A record crowd of 22,000 is in attendance.

Aug 16 New York premiere of Sing You Sinners.

Aug 20 ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’ becomes a hit and goes on to No. 1.

Sep Bing and Dixie plus son Gary on vacation in Bermuda.

Oct 1 ‘I’ve Got a Pocketful of Dreams’ becomes No. 1 record in the charts for four weeks.

Oct 14 En route from his vacation in Bermuda, Bing stops over in Chicago to make his first recordings with his brother Bob, including ‘You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby’.

Oct 17 Bing and Dixie return to Hollywood.

Oct 20 (7-8 p.m.) Bing returns to the KMH show and appears each week until June 15, 1939. The audience share for the season is 24.5. The guests on the opening show are Johnny Mercer, Joan Bennett and Walter Connolly. Bob Burns and the Paul Taylor Choristers are regulars during the season.

Oct 27 Bing’s KMH show. Guests include Henry Fonda, Ogden Nash and Ralph Bellamy.

Nov 3/10/17/24 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Maureen O’Sullivan, Claude Rains, Pancho Palazy, Marie Wilson, Chester Morris, Gene Krupa, Ann Sheridan, Brian Aherne, Rose Bampton, Johnny Mercer and the Gonzaga Glee Club.

Nov 4 Records songs from Paris Honeymoon in Hollywood.

Nov 15 Attends wedding reception for Jimmy Monaco and his bride.

Dec 1/8/15/22/29 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include David Niven, Priscilla Lane, Florence George (Everett Crosby’s new wife), Joe Sullivan, Edward Arnold, Leslie Howard, Basil Rathbone, Jack Carson, Louis Prima and Benita Hume.

Dec 2 Records four operetta songs composed by Victor Herbert including ‘Thine Alone’. Victor Young conducts the orchestra.

Dec 9/12/19 Further record dates in Hollywood including duets with Frances Langford.

Dec 9 Acts as M.C. at the Shrine Auditorium in the Los Angeles Examiner Christmas benefit.

Dec 19 - Feb 1939 Films East Side of Heaven with Joan Blondell, Mischa Auer and C. Aubrey Smith. This is another independent production in which Bing has a financial interest. The film is released through Universal Pictures.

Dec 25 Live broadcast on NBC from Bing’s home as his children open their presents.

Dec 26 Bing and Dixie are at the opening of Earl Carroll’s Theater-Restaurant, a lavish new entertainment complex on Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood. Many celebrities attend including Bob Hope, Jack Benny, Jimmy Durante and Errol Flynn.

Dec 31 Bing and brother Bob’s ‘You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby’ becomes the No. 1 record.

Song promoters vote Bing ‘Number One Crooner of the United States.’

1939

Jan 5/12/19/26 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Humphrey Bogart, Anita Louise, Preston Foster, Roland Young, Grete Stueckgold, Wayne Morris and Frances Mercer.

Jan 6 On a link-up from Hollywood, Bing contributes ‘South of the Border’ and dialogue to a Bob Crosby radio show in New York starring Mildred Bailey.

Bing and Dixie join the Pat O’Briens who are celebrating their wedding anniversary at the Victor Hugo.

Jan 25 Paris Honeymoon has New York premiere.

Jan 28-29 Attends his Pro-Am Tournament at Rancho Santa Fe which is won by E. J. (Dutch) Harrison. Bob Hope takes part for the first time. A lady golfer, Babe Didrikson Zaharias is accepted as a competitor by mistake and plays as a professional with her wrestler husband as her amateur partner. Mrs. Zaharias was the star of the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles when she won gold medals for the 80 metres hurdles and the javelin plus a silver medal for the high jump.

Feb 2/9/16/23 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Miriam Hopkins, Harry Carey, Nigel Bruce, Elizabeth Patterson, Henry Fonda and Ellen Drew. The Music Maids take over from the Paul Taylor Choristers as resident vocal group.

Feb 5 Stars in Gulf Screen Guild broadcast with Jane Withers on CBS.

Feb 24 Attends preview of the film Kentucky with Dixie at Carthay Circle, Hollywood.

Feb 25 Sings at Barbara Stanwyck’s party.

Mar 2/9/16/23/30 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Frances Langford, William Frawley, Joan Bennett, Pat O’Brien, Florence George, Chester Morris, Matty Malneck Orchestra, Ralph Bellamy and Rudolph Ganz.

Mar 7 Rehearses songs from East Side of Heaven.

Mar 10 Records four songs from East Side of Heaven.

Mar 15/22/27/31 Recording dates in Hollywood including the songs ‘Deep Purple’ and ‘Stardust’.

Apr 3/5 Records in Hollywood, including ‘El Rancho Grande’.

Apr 6/13/20/27 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Alan Mowbray, Rosemary Lane, Jackie Cooper, Roland Young, J. Carrol Naish, Leo McCarey, John Wayne and Irene Hervey.

Apr 8/9 Bing is at Palm Springs and plays tennis at the Racquet Club. Errol Flynn, Paul Lukas, Charles Farrell, Frank Morgan and other film stars are also in attendance during the weekend.

Apr 17 - Jun Films The Star Maker with Louise Campbell and Linda Ware.

Apr 17 Takes part in broadcast of Joe Louis versus Roper fight at 10 p.m. Pacific Standard Time from Wrigley Field, Los Angeles. Louis knocks Roper out in the first round. Bing provides commentary on the many celebrities in the 25,000 crowd.

Apr 22 Bing joins Dixie at Estrella Villas, Palm Springs for a few days vacation.

May 4 East Side of Heaven has New York premiere at Radio City Music Hall.

May 4/11/18/25 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Freddie Bartholomew, Gladys Swarthout, Bruce Cabot, Wendy Barrie, Louis Hayward and Basil Rathbone.

Bing and Dixie entertain a dinner and dancing party at the Cafe Lamaze for Rita and Eddie Lowe, the Dave Butlers and the Herb Polesies.

Jun 1/8 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Walter Damrosch, Walter Huston, Bert Lahr, Linda Ware and Lucille Ball.

Jun 9 Recording date in Hollywood where Bing has his most famous ‘blow-up’ ‘Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams’.

Jun 12 Records songs from The Star Maker.

Jun 13/14/22 Records in Hollywood including ‘My Isle of Golden Dreams’. To many, these sessions represent Bing at the peak of his vocal powers.

Jun 14 (5 p.m.) Takes part in ‘America Calling’ radio show singing ‘God Bless America’.

Jun 15 Bing’s last appearance on KMH until July 20. The guests are Donald Meek and Walter Connolly.

Jun 22 Everett Crosby gives evidence in fraud trial of William P. Buckner. Part of the fraud involved attempting to borrow $35,000 from Bing on which a 20% profit was promised.

Jun 30 Bing records more songs from The Star Maker in Hollywood.

Jul 12 In Boston to see Ligaroti run in the Massachusetts Handicap at Suffolk Downs. The horse finishes eleventh out of twelve.

Jul 20 Makes a ‘guest’ appearance on KMH show to plug songs from The Star Maker.

Jul 25 Bing’s horse ‘Midge’ wins at Hollywood Park. Bing sends a good-sized bet with a friend but the friend does not get to the track in time.

Aug 2 Bing is at Del Mar for the opening of the 24-day race meeting.

Aug 18 Attends a gala dinner in the Fiesta Room of the Ambassador Hotel to celebrate the sixtieth birthday of Gus Edwards.

Aug 30 The Star Maker has New York premiere.

Sep 3 Great Britain issues formal declaration of war with Germany.

Sep 8 The Crosby twins enter the Good Samaritan Hospital to have their tonsils removed. Bing has departed for New York and is unaware of the plans for the operation. Presumably the death of Eddie Lang following a tonsillectomy in 1933 was a factor in the subterfuge.

Bing jumps off a 50 foot high board to settle a wager with his friend Harvey Shaeffer at Billy Rose’s Aquacade Review in the New York World’s Fair at Flushing Meadow. Earlier in the day, Bing and Shaeffer had played golf at Meadowbrook.

Sep 20 In New York at the Decca studios at 50 West 57^th. Street, Bing records with the Andrews Sisters for the first time. The songs are ‘Ciribiribin’ and ‘Yodelin’ Jive’. Joe Venuti and his Orchestra provide the accompaniment.

Sep 28 (7-8 p.m.) Back on the West Coast, Bing returns to the KMH show with guests Jackie Cooper, and Bobby Riggs (tennis champion). Appears weekly until June 20, 1940. The audience share for the season is 23.3.

Sep 29 Bing is in the news for alleged income tax evasion of $178,000 during the years 1935-37, with special mention of $10,000 which had represented deductible losses on certain unspecified horses. Bing refutes this.

Signs contract with KMH for 1940 (with option for further 10 years).

Oct 1 Bing plays an exhibition golf match at Virginia Country Club, Long Beach, California in a mixed foursome with Richard Arlen, Elizabeth Hicks and Patti Berg. Bing and Miss Hicks win 3 and 2. Bing cards a 73.

Oct 2 - Dec Bing, Bob Hope, and Dorothy Lamour film Road to Singapore, the first of the famous series.

Oct 5/12/19/26 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Wendy Barrie, Earle Stanley Gardner, Reginald Gardiner, Rosemary Lane, Jack Oakie, Walter Connolly, Kirsten Flagstad, Sterling Holloway, Brian Aherne, John Payne and Frankie Albertson.

Oct 8 Helps to attract the largest attendance (187,730) at the Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island, San Francisco where he sings with George Olsen and his band in two free shows.

Oct Bing’s parents are burglarised for the third time at their Toluca Lake home in as many months.

Nov 2/9/16/23/30 Bing’s KMH shows. Guests include Joan Bennett, Lou Holtz, Larry Adler, Chester Morris, Lucille Ball, Louis Hayward, Reginald Gardiner, Harry Carey, Stuart Erwin and Shirley Ross.

Dec 7/14/21/28 Bing hosts the KMH on these dates. Guests include Jackie Cooper, Claude Rains, Fay Bainter, Maria Ouspenskaya, Jack Holt, Efrem Zimbalist, Una Merkel and the Kraft Choral Society.

Dec 10 Stars in Gulf Screen Guild radio show ‘Mr. Jinx Goes To Sea’ with Andy Devine and Jean Parker on CBS. The show originates from Earl Carroll’s theater-restaurant in Hollywood.

Dec 13 Elected as a director of Western Golf Association.

Dec 15 Records three songs from Road to Singapore in Hollywood.

Go To 1940 – 1949 THE MOST FAMOUS MAN IN THE WORLD