1942-1943 Season with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra

1942-1943 Season with the John Scott Trotter Orchestra

Audience share is 23.1 during the season, which relegates the show to thirteenth place in the Hooper ratings. Bob Hope heads the tables with a rating of 40.9. Bing’s salary is $5,000 per broadcast.

No. 263 1st October 1942

With Ken Carpenter, Mary Martin, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Victor Borge, Colonel S.R. Harris and Cass Daley.

*I’ve Got A Gal In Kalamazoo (a) with The Music Maids & Hal

Welcome Back To KMH Ken Carpenter & Mary Martin

Ten Little Soldiers Mary Martin

Medley:

Frenesi, Daddy, My Sister And I, Scatterbrain, Six Lessons

From Madame La Zonga, I’ll Never Smile Again, Deep In

The Heart Of Texas, There’ll Be Some Changes Made (b) Cass Daley

*Conchita, Marquita Lopez with The Music Maids & Hal

*Be Careful, It’s My Heart

Ride, Red, Ride The Charioteers (James Sherman - Piano)

All I Need Is You The Charioteers (James Sherman - Piano)

*When You’re A Long, Long Way From Home

March from The Love Of Three Oranges (Prokofiev) The John Scott Trotter Orchestra

*Only Forever with Mary Martin

*A Boy In Khaki, A Girl In Lace

Notes:

(a) JSP Records CD JSP6705 - "Here's Bing Crosby!"

(b) All titles are parodied versions.

‘Less gab and more music has been decreed for Kraft Music Hall when Bing Crosby resumes on October 1st. Each program will have eight to ten numbers’

(“Variety” 23rd September 1942)

"A 21-bell salute, please, Mr. Carpenter. Bing is back. Forsaking the golf course and the race track for the nonce, Mr. Crosby supplants brother Bob and again takes his place as the backbone and general raison d’être of the old KMH. The show is still same expert blend of music, comedy and guest stars and that inimitable spirited of good fellowship and effortless entertainment. In addition to the usual regulars, there are the Charioteers.

Bing starts off with Kalamazoo, and as soon as the first notes are out you know that everything is all right again. Later on he gives the old Crosby once-over to Conchita Lopez; Be Careful, It’s My Heart and Boy in Khaki, and the season’s pops come into their own.

    Even Mary Martin, who sings 10 Little Soldiers, is tolerable as Bing's foil.
    Victor Borge is funny in a monolog in which he tries to explain, quite naively, what happened to him at a football game.
    John Scott Trotter's orchestra is still providing accompaniment and doing equally well on featured spots, while Ken Carpenter offers the most acceptable commercials in radio because of smooth and clever build-ups.
    Added feature, the Charioteers, provides that something extra. These four Negro vocalists, with piano accompanist, are tops in four-part harmony. Their arrangements of Ride, Red, Ride and All I Need Is You, in the popular vernacular, are out of this world.
    Special guests are Cass Daley, amusing as a stenographer applying for a job with Crosby and even more so in a medley of parodies that have made her famous, and Col. Samuel Harris, of the U. S. Army Air Force, who gave some information concerned with teaching the boys to fly safely."

(Shirley Frohlich, Billboard, October 10, 1942)

No. 264 8th October 1942

With Ken Carpenter, Mary Martin, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Victor Borge, Milton Berle and Desi Arnaz.

*Ev’rything I’ve Got with The Music Maids & Hal

*Love Is A Song

*Wait Till The Sun Shines, Nellie with Mary Martin

*By The Light Of The Silvery Moon

*White Christmas

(A classic example of ‘everything you read need not necessarily be true’ occurs when, in the programme synopsis for this show, “The Chicago Daily Tribune” describes Desi Arnaz as ‘a songstress’!)

Comedian Milton Berle and Desi Arnaz, Cuban screen, radio and night-club singer, will be Bing Crosby’s guests in the KTBC “Music Hall” tonight at 8 o’clock.

(The Shreveport Times, 8th October 1942)

No. 265 15th October 1942

With Ken Carpenter, Mary Martin, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Victor Borge, Captain E. J. Burns, Charles Ruggles and Cass Daley.

*I’ve Got A Girl In Kalamazoo with The Music Maids & Hal

Take Back Your Gold Mary Martin

It’s The Last Time I’ll Fall In Love Cass Daley

*At Last

Jeg Elsker Dig (Ich Liebe Dich) (Grieg) Victor Borge (Piano)

De Glory Road The Charioteers

*People Like You And Me (a) with Mary Martin

I’m Getting Tired So I Can Sleep Mary Martin with The Music Maids & Hal

*My Buddy (b)

Dance Of The Spanish Onion (Rose) The John Scott Trotter Orchestra

*My Devotion (a)

Note:

(a) Startone ST225 - “Bing And Mary”

Sepia CD 1373 "Bing Crosby - Kraft Music Hall Time"

(b) Comedy introduction includes a snatch of “Goin’ Home”

Cass Daley, the comedienne of a thousand faces – most of them nightmarish, who rolls ‘em in the aisle regularly with her raucous-voiced singing of zany ditties, again will be a guest of Bing Crosby in the Music Hall tonight at 8 o’clock over WMAQ. Completing the guest roster will be veteran film and stage comedian Charles Ruggles and Capt. E. J. Burns, a chaplain of the U. S. army.

(Belvidere Daily Republican, 15th October 1942)

No. 266 22nd October 1942

With Ken Carpenter, Mary Martin, Victor Borge, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, M/Sgt Raymond B. Hunt, Judy Canova and Andrew Tombes.

*Ev’rything I’ve Got with The Music Maids & Hal

Clancy Mary Martin

Some Of These Days Judy Canova

Swing For Sale (a) The Charioteers

*S’Posin’ with The Music Maids & Hal

*Moonlight Becomes You

*You Tell Me Your Dream with The Charioteers

Serenade In Blue Mary Martin

*A Cranky Old Yank In A Clanky Old Tank (b) with Chorus

Pan Americana (Herbert) The John Scott Trotter Orchestra

*White Christmas

Notes:

(a) Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"

(b) Sandy Hook SH2100 - “The Music And Sound Of World War II”

Sandy Hook SH2100 (CD) - “The Music And Sound Of World War II”

Judy Canova, Andrew Tombes, stage and vaudeville performer for 40 years, now a character actor in western films, and Master Sgt. Raymond B. Hunt, of 32nd Armored Regiment were booked for the Music Hall, KFI at 6.

(Zuma Palmer, Hollywood Citizen News, October 22, 1942)

No. 267 29th October 1942

With Ken Carpenter, Mary Martin, Victor Borge, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Photographer 1st Class Ted Huzerro USN, Eve Arden and Bob Hope.

*Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition (a) with The Charioteers

My Hero Mary Martin

*Road To Morocco with Bob Hope

*My Devotion (b)

Variations on ‘Happy Birthday To You’ Victor Borge (piano)

I’m Getting Tired So I Can Sleep Mary Martin

The Darktown Strutters’ Ball The Charioteers

Summertime The Charioteers

*Dear Old Pal Of Mine

*Mister Five By Five (c) with The Music Maids & Hal

*A Boy In Khaki, A Girl In Lace

Notes:

(a) JSP Records CD JSP6705 - "Here's Bing Crosby!"

(b) JSP Records CD JSP6705 - "Here's Bing Crosby!"

“Bob Hope will lead the guest list on Bing Crosby’s Music Hall. With Bing, he’ll premiere scenes and songs from their latest co-starring film, ‘Road To Morocco’”

(“Washington Post” 29th October 1942)

No. 268 5th November 1942

With Ken Carpenter, Mary Martin , The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Victor Borge, Mrs. Helen Fletcher, Colonel LeRoy P. Hunt, Richard Haydn and Cass Daley.

*The Marines’ Hymn with Chorus

How Come You Do Me Like You Do? Mary Martin

*Where Were You Last Night? (a) with Cass Daley

*By The Light Of The Silvery Moon

Runnin’ Wild The Charioteers

*Rolleo Rolling Along (b) with Mary Martin & The Music Maids

So Long The Charioteers

*At Last

I See Your Face Before Me Mary Martin

A String Of Pearls (Gray) The John Scott Trotter Orchestra

*Daybreak (b) & (c)

Notes:

(a) Bing’s contribution is restricted to spoken comments, only.

(b) Startone ST225 - “Bing And Mary”

Joining Cass Daley and Richard Haydn as guests on the Music Hall, KFI at 6, will be Col. Leroy P. Hunt of the First Raider Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps., and Mrs. Helen Fletcher, liaison officer of the Junior Red Cross.

(Zuma Palmer, Hollywood Citizen News, November 5, 1942)

No. 269 12th November 1942

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Victor Borge, Mrs. Dolores Garcia Schober, Mrs.Vicente Lim, Ginny Simms, Edgar Buchanan and Edward Brophy.

*Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition with The Charioteers

Mister Five By Five Ginny Simms

The Rose Of Tralee The Charioteers

*Moonlight Becomes You

*Dearly Beloved with Ginny Simms

*Ain’t Got A Dime To My Name with The Music Maids & Hal

Brother Bill The Charioteers

*June In January

Can’t Get Out Of This Mood Ginny Simms

Orchestral piece (Unknown) The John Scott Trotter Orchestra

*Dear Old Pal Of Mine

Ginny Simms, popular radio and screen vocalist, will join Bing Crosby, the Charioteers, The Music Maids and Hal, Victor Borge, Ken Carpenter and John Trotter for a session of the Music Hall tonight at 8 o’clock over WMAQ. Ginny will be the first of a series of guest stars who will fill in during Mary Martin's absence to undergo an appendectomy and take a rest. Dorothy Lamour will be the Hall’s guest vocalist for November 26, Thanksgiving Day. In addition to Ginny Simms, Bing will welcome comedian Edward Brophy and Edgar Buchanan, well-known character actor of the films, as special guests for the November 12 airing.

(Belvidere Daily Republican, 12th November 1942)

No. 270 19th November 1942

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Freddie Slack, Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom, Lloyd Nolan and Ella Mae Morse.

*A Cranky Old Yank In A Clanky Old Tank with The Music Maids & Hal

Cow Cow Boogie Ella Mae Morse (with Freddie Slack on piano)

*Down The Road A-Piece with Ella Mae Morse

It Ain't Necessarily So The Charioteers

I'm A Ding Dong Daddy From Dumas The Charioteers

*Please Think Of Me

*Over The Rainbow

*Daybreak

*When You’re A Long, Long Way From Home with The Music Maids & Hal

Lloyd Nolan, best-known to movie-goers as the intrepid sleuth Michael Shayne, Ella Mae Morse and Freddie Slack, composers of the popular “Cow Cow Boogie,” and Slapsie Maxie Rosenbloom will drop in for an hour of merriment with Bing Crosby and his colleagues in the Music Hall tonight at 8 o’clock over WMAQ.

(Belvidere Daily Republican, 19th November 1942)

No. 271 26th November 1942

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Virginia Weidler, Janet Blair and George Tobias.

*Praise The Lord And Pass The Ammunition with The Charioteers

*You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To with Janet Blair

*Moonlight Becomes You

*People Like You And Me with Virginia Weidler

*San Antonio Rose with The Music Maids & Hal

All The Things You Are John Scott Trotter Orchestra

*My Buddy

Janet Blair, currently being seen in “My Sister Eileen,” and film actor George Tobias and Virginia Weidler will be Bing Crosby’s guests for the Thanksgiving airing of the “Music Hall” over KTBS tonight at 8 o’clock.

(The Shreveport Times, 26th November 1942)

No. 272 3rd December 1942

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, Marcia Maguire, Henriette Horak and Dorothy Lamour.

*Ain’t Got A Dime To My Name with The Music Maids & Hal

*Road To Morocco (parody) with Dorothy Lamour

*Dearly Beloved

*Good Morning, Mr. Zip, Zip, Zip with The Music Maids & Hal

*White Christmas

The Music Hall, KFI at 6, will present Dorothy Lamour, Marsha Maguire, 16, RKO player, Henrietta Horah , WAAC officer, and a glider pilot, in addition to the regulars.

(Zuma Palmer, Hollywood Citizen News, December 3, 1942)

No. 273 10th December 1942

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, Margaret Lenhart, Jinx Falkenburg, Richard Haydn and Cliff Edwards.

*This Is The Army, Mr. Jones with Chorus

*Every Night About This Time with The Music Maids & Hal

*Bye, Bye, Blackbird with Cliff Edwards & The Music Maids

*There Are Such Things

*Daybreak

*Why Don’t You Fall In Love With Me? with Margaret Lenhart

With Margaret Lenhart and Cliff Edwards as his singing guest stars and the lovely Jinx Falkenburg and comedian Richard Haydn as his cinema guests, Biig Crosby will wrap up another hour-long edition of Music Hall at 9 p.m. Miss Lenhart, a soprano, was last heard over NBC on Al Pearce’s program, and Edwards as “Ukelele Ike” has a record of disc sales that still makes cash registers jingle jangle. Miss Falkenburg, tennis expert, swimmer, magazine cover girl and model, is Columbia Pictures newest star. Haydn is fondly remembered for his role of the old professor in “Ball of Fire” and his frequent NBC guest appearances.

(The Bristol News Bulletin, 10th December 1942)

No. 274 17th December 1942

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Kay Aldridge, Edgar Buchanan, Lieutenant Frances Shoup and Trudy Erwin.

*San Antonio Rose with The Music Maids & Hal

*Who Wouldn’t Love You? with Trudy Erwin

*Moonlight Becomes You

*Basin Street Blues with The Charioteers

*For Me And My Gal with The Music Maids & Hal

Oh! Dem Golden Slippers The Charioteers

*Dearly Beloved

Kay Aldridge, former Powers model and now a serial cinema queen; Edgar Buchanan, former Pasadena dentist who is attaining fame as a film comedian; Lieutenant Frances E. Shoup of the WAVES and Trudy Erwin, former member of the Music Maids and now with Kay Kyser, will be Bing Crosby’s guests at 8 o’clock tonight over WMAQ.

(The Rock Island Argus, 17th December 1942)

No. 275 24th December 1942 (a)

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Janet Blair, Andrew Tombes, Jack Carson and Fay Bainter.

*Adeste Fideles with the Studio Audience & Company

Steam Is On The Beam Janet Blair

Red River Valley (b) The Charioteers

*Why Don’t You Fall In Love With Me? (c) with The Music Maids & Hal

Letter to Virginia Fay Bainter (Reading)

Sweet Little Jesus Boy The Charioteers

*You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To (c) with Janet Blair

*Good Morning, Mr. Zip, Zip, Zip (d) with The Music Maids & Hal

That Soldier Of Mine Janet Blair

*God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (e)

The Toy Trumpet The John Scott Trotter Orchestra

*Silent Night

Notes:

(a) The complete programme was issued on Spokane 13 - “Kraft Music Hall –

December 24th 1942”.

(b) Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"

(d) Sepia CD 1224 "Bing Crosby in the Hall"

(e) Spokane 6 - “Bing Crosby - Happy Holiday”

Vintage Jazz Classics VJC-1017-2 - “Bing Crosby - The Christmas Songs” (Date shewn as 1st January 1942)

The comedy introduction includes Bing singing a few lines of “Good King Wenceslas”

Although credited with sky-rocketing Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas” to its immense popularity through film and record, Bing Crosby won’t be allowed to sing it on his Kraft airshow Thursday (24). Sensing there would be a rush of the tune, Martin Gosch, producer of the Abbott and Costello program for Camel, cleared the song a month ago and immediately put in his bid with NBC, which shut off the ballad from any other show airing within two hours on either side of the Camel entry.

(Variety, 23rd December, 1942)

No. 276 31st December 1942

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Janet Blair, Richard Haydn, Johnny Mercer and Betty Hutton.

*Let’s Start The New Year Right with The Music Maids & Hal

Babalu The Charioteers

*Hip, Hip, Hooray! with The Music Maids & Hal

*There Are Such Things

*Every Night About This Time with The Music Maids & Hal

Runnin’ Wild The Charioteers

*Old Glory with The Music Maids & Chorus

Signing off the old year, Bing Crosby will have a full cargo of guests on tonight’s broadcast. There will be Richard Haydn, Betty Hutton, Johnny Mercer and Janet Blair. Crosby and Mercer are certain to team up on some of their recording efforts.

(The Minneapolis Star, 31st December 1942)

(This programme was the last Kraft Music Hall in the 60-minute format. Starting in the New Year, the shows were reduced to 30 minutes. This was a direct result of the war. More cheese than ever was being produced but the Government had blocked off large allocations for the armed forces and lend-lease, requiring sales promotion to yield to a goodwill exercise.)

No. 277 7th January 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Janet Blair, Lieutenant Ralph W. Sweringer and Charles Ruggles.

*This Is The Army, Mr. Jones with The Music Maids & Chorus

Street Of Dreams Janet Blair

*Why Don’t You Fall In Love With Me? with The Music Maids & Hal

Bye And Bye When The Morning Comes The Charioteers

*Ballin’ The Jack

*Over The Rainbow (a) with The Music Maids & Hal

Note:

(a) So Rare: Treasures From The Crosby Archive – Collectors’ Choice Music CD WWCCM21092

Streamlined and compact, Bing Crosby’s Kraft Music Hall will go into a half-hour broadcast beginning tonight on WIBA at 8 o’clock. Bing’s guests for the evening are Janet Blair and Charles Ruggles of the screen.

(The Capital Times (Madison, Wisconsin), 7th January, 1943)

The Kraft Music Hall last week (7) marked the turn into its ninth consecutive year of network broadcasting by telescoping its running time into half of what it has been all these years. The event was strictly a casualty of the war. There’s more cheese being produced by the corporation than ever before but the Government has blocked off such a large proportion of it for the armed-forces and lend-lease that the question for Kraft became no longer one of stimulating sales, but rather that of maintaining a highly valuable goodwill franchise, namely, its weekly radio show. It solved that problem by reducing the length, and not the quality. All the elements that have made the ‘Hall’ one of the most ingratiating packages of entertainment on the air are still intact. The only difference is that Bing Crosby doesn't sing as many songs and the name guest performers number one instead of an average two. The halving of the show may, as has often happened in network radio, result in a slight drop in rating, but there's no question that the listeners will still flock in substantial numbers to the old .stand on the dial of a Thursday evening to harken to Crosby's quaint laryngeal lyre and the smooth banter that overlays the interludes of crossfire and interview.

The initial half-hour stanza found the country's current No. 1 minstrel-man blending present pop tunes with standard melodies with dulcet hepness and getting smart vocal support from Janet Blair, the Charioteers and Eight Maids and Hal. Charles Ruggles made his guest stay sprightly amusing with a routine on a Broadway pitchman. Another visitor was Lieut. Ralph W. Sweringer, who as commander of Naval task forces in the Pacific, has had 10 different encounters with the japs to date. Worthy of a special commendatory note is the fine bit of home-front comment on the air that served the program for its fadeout, with Crosby, of course, doing the delivery.

(Variety, 13th January 1943)

No. 278 14th January 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, The Charioteers, Janet Blair, Lieut. Col. Jim Newman and Cass Daley.

*Hip, Hip, Hooray! with The Music Maids & Phil

Embraceable You Janet Blair

I Ought To Dance Cass Daley

*Bob White with The Charioteers

*Lonesome And Sorry (a)

*Please Think Of Me

Red River Valley The Charioteers

*There Are Such Things

Note:

(a) The comedy introduction includes Bing singing snatches of, “Looking At The World Through Rose Coloured Glasses” and “Charmaine”

(Last week, it was “The Music Maids and Hal”, this week “The Music Maids and Phil” - The Army had taken “Hal” away!)

Cass Daley, wild-eyed mugging songstress of the films, and Janet Blair will be Bing Crosby’s guests in the Music Hall tonight at 8 o’clock over WMAQ.

(Belvidere Daily Republican, 14th January, 1943)

No. 279 21st January 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, The Charioteers, Pte. Mickey Rankin and Andy Devine.

*Good Morning, Mr. Zip, Zip, Zip (b) with The Music Maids & Phil

Stormy Weather The Charioteers

*I’ve Heard That Song Before (c)

*Some Sunny Day (a) with The Music Maids & Phil

Ezekiel Saw The Wheel The Charioteers

*Brazil

Note:
(a) As a prelude to this item, John Scott Trotter sings a few lines of ‘Way Down Yonder in New Orleans’ and Ken Carpenter then comes in with a few lines of ‘Stumbling All Around’. Both are unaccompanied.
(b) Universal CD B0027588-02 "Among My Souvenirs - More Treasures from the Crosby Archive"

Andy Devine, raspy-voiced comedian of the films, comes to the Music Hall to visit Bing Crosby tonight at 8 o’clock over WMAQ. Devine’s falsetto whisperings will provide plenty of fun, but little competition for Bing and his M. H. regulars…

(Belvidere Daily Republican, 21st January, 1943)

No. 280 28th January 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, The Charioteers, Ginny Simms and Frank McHugh.

*Anchors Aweigh with The Music Maids & Phil

*You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To (a) with Ginny Simms

Yes, Indeed! The Charioteers

*Why Don’t You Fall In Love With Me? with The Music Maids & Phil

I’m Getting Tired So I Can Sleep Ginny Simms

*As Time Goes By

Note:

(a) Spokane 5 - “Der Bingle - Those Great World War II Songs”

Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II Songs”

Comedian Frank McHugh will drop in for the doings in the “Music Hall” over KTBS at 8 o’clock tonight. In honor of President Roosevelt’s birthday, Bing Crosby the Hall genial emcee, will sing “Anchors Aweigh,” one of the Chief Executive’s favorite songs. Also, there will be a special plea for listeners to join in the March of Dimes to help the fight against infantile paralysis.

(The Shreveport Times, 28th January, 1943)

No. 281 4th February 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, and Victor Borge.

*For Me And My Gal (a) with The Music Maids & Phil

*Constantly (b) with Trudy Erwin

Night Train To Memphis The Charioteers

*Sweet Little You

*Brazil (a)

Note:

(a) Sepia CD 1373 "Bing Crosby - Kraft Music Hall Time"

(b) Spokane 23 - “Bing & Trudy - On The Air”

Trudy Erwin ex-Music Maid, ex-Kay Kyser band had landed the resident female singing spot on Kraft.

Two Music Hall veterans will return for a visit with Headman Bing Crosby tonight over KTBS at 8 o’clock. They are Victor Borge, who has been making a series of theatre appearances, and Trudy Erwin, Kay Kyser vocalist and former Music Maids member.

(The Shreveport Times, 4th February, 1943)

No. 282 11th February 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin and Edgar Buchanan.

*Abraham with The Music Maids & The Charioteers

*I’ve Heard That Song Before

Runnin’ Wild The Charioteers

*Something To Remember You By with Trudy Erwin

*Moonlight Becomes You (a)

Note:

(a) On The Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends From The Radio Shows” (Date shewn as 18th February 1943)

Local Writer Finds Bing Crosby Most Unaffected Actor In Film Capital.

Hollywood, Calif. – (Special) - Of the many celebrities a reporter is likely to meet in Hollywood, Bing Crosby gets my vote for being the most unaffected by success. I reached this conclusion after attending a rehearsal (and show) for his Kraft Music Hall program (heard each Thursday evening over the NBC network). For Bing Crosby is as natural and informal “in person” as the roles he portrays and the songs he croons.

It was about one-thirty on a Thursday afternoon in the studio-theatre of NBC’s mammoth line station here. John Scott Trotter, (Charlotte, North Carolina) arranger and director of his own orchestra on the show, in short sleeves and with tie away, was polishing up a number to be played as accompaniment for Bing, Trudy Erwin, “The Music Maids and Phil”, and “The Charioteers”, (regulars each week) when a slim youngish man with rather rosy complexion walked briskly onto the stage. “Bing,” someone on stage whispered.

“Hi, folks,” the singing star, host and master of ceremonies raised a hand in greeting to the cast and the few guests down in the theatre. He unrolled his script and knocked the ashes from his pipe – which he is never without.

Why, that can’t be the great Bing Crosby, I thought. He looks too informal. And that’s just what he was. Wearing a faded blue gabardine sports shirt – tail out – nondescript slacks, soft shoes and felt hat entwined with what appeared to be a snake skin band, he might have just dropped a hoe in his Victory Garden or made a birdie on the ninth hole – then rushed directly to the studio. (He is a stickler for punctuality). A long pencil hung across one ear. He adjusted a mike.

“A-b-r-a-h-a-m,” he crooned and shuffled his feet. The rest of the cast fell in with him. Trotter swung his baton and copious hips. Rehearsal for the number moved along.

From a controls booth, the producer barked, “Mr. Trotter, let’s move “The Charioteers” down stage. No – that won’t do – back up stage.” Bing shuffled his feet, hummed.

“There now, Mr. Crosby, we’ll do “Abraham” again.” The star of the show gripped his pipe in his hand and breathed into the mike.

“That’s better. But, Mr. Crosby - that man again.” Bing smiles. “Er-er, Mr. Crosby, suppose we move the “Music Maids” in a little.” Bing places his pipe on a stool, takes his pencil from behind his ear and doodles on his script.

There is a break in the lyric to allow Bing to recite a passage from Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. He muddles through. The cast laughs. John Scott grins and waves his baton. The producer, visibly amused, comes on stage, “Let’s try it again, Mr. Crosby.”

Bing (intentionally) muffs the lines again, shuffles his shoes and winks sheepishly across the footlights at his sparse audience. The stage is in uproar. The producer feins desperation, grins and disappears into the booth.

The rehearsal progressed into another stage: the “drama,” in which several other radio and screen personalities were being presented as guest stars! Ed Buchanan playing the part of a warden in a model prison. Richard Haydn as “The Professor” and tosser of such classics as “Boogie Woogie Cow Song,” and others. During this phase the master of ceremonies heckled the actors, ad libbed throwing the act off time.

The sound man, meanwhile wheeled out what appeared to be a huge wooden coffin and began adding various sound effects to the melee. In one place in the script a “battle” between prison inmates and the guard was to be staged. The sound man started “shooting”. Each time a gun was discharged, Bing whooped like an Indian and sought ambush – which brings to mind the story of how Crosby acquired his nickname…

…But, back to Kraft Music Hall – “It Seems to Me I’ve Heard That Song Before”. And Bing introduces a new “hit” on the air.

“That’s all. Be back at five-thirty” announces the producer.

John Scott Trotter, who along with “The Music Maids”, has been on the show since 1936 (sic), puts on his coat and straightens his tie. Musicians lay aside instruments.

The regulars and guest stars saunter away. Bing lights up his pipe, smiles down across the footlights and walks quickly off stage.

“How in the world will they ever whip up anything out of that jumble?” I wondered and stuck around to see. For the entire show was never dress rehearsed, only individual acts were timed – Bing seemed so unconcerned.

What I did not know until later when I talked with the singing star, is that each Tuesday he is handed the script. At home he goes over every line – makes corrections or any cut he thinks necessary and rehearses – thoroughly – his songs.

So, by the time he appears back on stage for a brief “warm up” for the studio audience – with no change of costume except a washed face and sans hat and pipe – he has everything under control. His shows always turn out as smooth as the product he plugs – like the one I saw rehearsed.

(Marion Brown, Burlington Daily News (North Carolina), April 10, 1943)

No. 283 18th February 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Fay McKenzie and Alan Hale.

*A Touch Of Texas with The Music Maids & Phil

*Blues In The Night (a) with Fay McKenzie

La Cachita Fay McKenzie

*Angel Child

When The Shepherd Leads The Sheep Back Home The Charioteers

*Hit The Road To Dreamland (b) with Trudy Erwin

*There Are Such Things

Notes:

(a) A few lines in Spanish

(b) Spokane 23 - “Bing & Trudy - On The Air”

Sepia CD 1224 "Bing Crosby in the Hall"

Alan Hale, one of Hollywood’s best known characters, and Fay McKenzie, rising young screen star, will be Bing Crosby’s guests. Bing often orders lunch during rehearsal by ad libbing the necessary words and working then into whatever tune he happens to be singing at the moment. As is probably well understood by now, the “groaner” can do just about anything with words and music, and probably will, as he and Trudy Erwin, his new songstress, the Music Maids, and John Scott Trotter will take care of the musical scores on the program.

(The Cincinnati Enquirer, 18th February, 1943)

No. 284 25th February 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, and Bert Lahr.

Medley:

*A Yank And A Tank

*The US Field Artillery March with The Music Maids & Phil and The Charioteers

(The Caissons Go Rolling Along)

*The Army Air Corps Song

*I’ve Heard That Song Before

Get On Board, Little Chillun The Charioteers

*Make Believe

*As Time Goes By

Professor Bing Crosby has invited a distinguished guest lecturer around to the Music Hall in the person of Bert Lahr, an old alumnus of the College of Mirth.

(Richmond Times-Dispatch, 25th February, 1943)

No. 285 4th March 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, and Cass Daley.

*A Touch Of Texas with The Music Maids & Phil

*My Heart Stood Still (a) with Trudy Erwin

This Is Worth Fighting For (b) Cass Daley

Can’t Get Stuff In Your Cuff The Charioteers

*It’s Always You (c)

*Brahm’s Lullaby

Notes
(a)        Spokane 23 - “Bing & Trudy - On The Air”
(b)        Parodied version
(c)        On The Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends From The Radio Shows”

With Cass Daley as guest, Bing Crosby will have nothing to worry about but to try to keep the roof on the Kraft Music Hall over WIBA at 8 tonight.

(The Capital Times, (Madison, Wisconsin), 4th March, 1943)

No. 286 11th March 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Major Ruth Streeter and Eddie Bracken.

Medley:

*Anchors Aweigh (a) with The Music Maids & Phil & The Charioteers

*The Marines’ Hymn (a)

*Hit The Road To Dreamland (a) with Trudy Erwin

*Please Think Of Me

My Gal Sal The Charioteers

*I Wonder What’s Become Of Sally

*You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To

Note:

(a) JOYCE 6052 - “Bing Crosby From The Forties” (“The Marines’ Hymn” is shewn as “The Halls Of Montezuma”)

(Cass Daley was due to appear on this programme but was obliged to cancel due to ill health - Substitute was Eddie Bracken who wanted his guest fee to go to Cass Daley. She refused to accept and by mutual agreement the cheque was donated to the Red Cross)

…Bing’s other guest will be the first lady of the marines, Maj. Ruth Cheney Streeter, director of the Women’s Reserve U. S. marine corps.

(The Capital Times, (Madison, Wisconsin), 11th March, 1943)

No. 287 18th March 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin and Bert Lahr.

*Hip, Hip, Hooray! with The Music Maids & Phil

*Did Your Mother Come From Ireland?

*It’s Easy To Remember with Trudy Erwin & The Music Maids

Four Buddies The Charioteers

*Taking A Chance On Love (a)

Note:

(a) JSP Records CD JSP6705 - "Here's Bing Crosby!"

In spite of a jinx hanging over the Kraft Music hall, the show will go on as usual tonight, with Bing Crosby and Bert Lahr as guest, over WIBA at 8 o’clock. Cass Daley, scheduled for the other guest, is still hospitalized – Crosby is hobbling around with an injured foot – and one of the script girls swallowed a piece of glass.

(The Capital Times, (Madison, Wisconsin), 18th March, 1943)

No. 288 25th March 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin and Bert Lahr.

*Great Day with The Music Maids & The Charioteers

*It’s Always You

*Sometimes I’m Happy with Trudy Erwin & The Music Maids

*Hit The Road To Dreamland with Trudy Erwin

*There Are Such Things

I Love Life Bert Lahr

Dear Old Girl/Girl Of My Dreams The Charioteers

*As Time Goes By

Bert Lahr, radio’s most persistent guest star, again will visit Bing Crosby on Kraft Music Hall, tonight over WIBA at 8 o’clock. …Meanwhile, Bing “The Groaner” Crosby still sports a cane to help him about the premises because of injuries sustained in a brush with an automobile in Phoenix, Ariz. Nevertheless, Bing still does all right at the mike, even though he’ll be sitting down.

(The Capital Times, (Madison, Wisconsin), 25th March, 1943)

No. 289 1st April 1943 (a)

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Lucille Ball.

*You Are My Sunshine (b) with The Music Maids & Phil

*Darling, Je Vous Aime Beaucoup (b) (i)

*With A Song In My Heart (c) with Trudy Erwin

Wade In The Water The Charioteers

*That Old Black Magic

Notes:

(a) An edited version of the programme (all vocal items are included) was issued on Lee Bee Discs

SPECS SJ101 - “Bing Crosby’s Redheads - Lucille Ball And Spike Jones”

(b) JOYCE 6052 - “Bing Crosby From The Forties”

(i) V-Disc 166-A

April fool nonsense, tom-foolery, and what have you will be the main order of business tonight at 8 over WIBA when Bing Crosby and his Kraft Music Hall crowd cut loose in a celebration of the new month. Heading the program will be Lucille Ball, titian-haired screen star, who has just scored a new movie success in the Hollywood version of “DuBarry Was a Lady.”

(The Capital Times, (Madison, Wisconsin), 1st April, 1943)

No. 290 8th April 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Rags Ragland.

*MacNamara’s Band with The Music Maids & Phil

Leo “Ukie” Sherin spot

*Please Think Of Me

*Among My Souvenirs with Trudy Erwin

Rags Ragland spot

My Melancholy Baby The Charioteers

*We Mustn’t Say “Goodbye” with The Music Maids & Phil

“Rags Ragland, the comedian featured in Metro’s ‘DuBarry Was A Lady’ guested at the Bing Crosby, Kraft Music Hall program, Thursday night and gave the stanza a five minute laugh-fest that was solid all the way. In his rapid crossfire exchange with Crosby, the ex-burlesque trouper, last seen on Broadway in ‘Panama Hattie’, demonstrated a knack for delivery and timing that was exceptional. Not even the occasional sorry pun that crept into the material could conceal the fact that Ragland, with proper assist from the script department, offers fine possibilities as a radio comedian. Crosby, himself, was right on the beam while the contributions of the program’s regulars, Trudy Erwin, The Charioteers and the John Scott Trotter Orchestra, rounded out a sock half hour of diversified entertainment”

(“Variety” 14th April 1943)

No. 291 15th April 1943

With Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Phil, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Rear Admiral Ralston S. Holmes and Frank McHugh.

*Hip, Hip, Hooray! (a) with The Music Maids & Phil

I’ve Got You Under My Skin Trudy Erwin

*Oh! How I Miss You Tonight

*By The Light Of The Silvery Moon (b) with The Charioteers

*That Old Black Magic (c)

Notes:

(a) JOYCE 1117 - “One Night Stand With Bing Crosby At The Music Hall”

Nostalgia LPF22014 - “Bing Crosby - 20 Golden Greats”

JOYCE 6052 - “Bing Crosby From The Forties”

(b) V-Disc 166-A

Bing Crosby Enterprises CD - "Bing Crosby Sings The Johnny Mercer Songbook"

“Trudy Erwin will sing a solo for the first time on the Music Hall, KFI at 6 – it will be ‘Stardust’” (Sorry, wrong number! - Compiler)

(“Hollywood Citizen News”15th April 1943)

(In order to remain consistent with the pattern of presentation, so far, it has been decided to designate this programme as the last in the “1942/43 Season”. It should be noted that Bing returned to the Kraft Music Hall on the 17th June, thereby missing his normal July/August break. He did not, entirely, forego his vacation, holidaying in Mexico City before returning to the US, dropping in, unannounced and without any publicity, on a tour of various Army Camps. During his absence from the “Hall” the shows of April 22nd & April 29th were hosted by Fibber McGee and Molly and the shows of May 5th and May 20th and 27th by Lum ‘N’ Abner.)

Go to 1943-44 season

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