1943-1944 Season with
the John Scott Trotter Orchestra
The Hooper rating
for the winter season was 22.2 placing the programme in twelfth position. The
top show was Fibber McGee & Molly with a rating of 31.9.
No. 292
17th June 1943
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Eddie
Bracken.
*Any
Bonds Today?
with
The Music Maids & Hal
*Sunday,
Monday Or Always
*Sometimes
I’m Happy
(a) with Trudy Erwin
Ride, Red, Ride
The
Charioteers
*That
Old Black Magic
Note:
(a) JOYCE 6052 - “Bing Crosby From The
Forties”
(The
Army career of “Hal” [Hal Hopper] seems to have been curtailed, for reasons unknown, as he
has returned to the show after less than six months. BUT, see notes to programme No. 304,)
With the entire
ensemble opening the half-hour with "Army Bonds Today,” (sic) the bond-selling
Bing Crosby reports back to Kraft Music Hall tonight over WIBA at 8, fresh from
an eight-week vacation seeing Mexico City and a succession of camp shows and
treks through the midwest and east for the treasury department. For his guest
of the evening, the groaner will find his Paramount pal, Eddie Bracken,
awaiting.
(The
Capital Times, (Madison, Wisconsin), 17th June, 1943)
With
Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Ed Brophy.
*MacNamara’s Band
with
The Music Maids & Hal
*It
Can’t Be Wrong
(a)
*Something
To Remember You By
with
Trudy Erwin
Straighten Up And Fly Right
The
Charioteers
*We
Mustn’t Say “Goodbye”
(b) with The Music Maids & Hal
Notes:
(a) V-Disc 28-B
(b) JOYCE 1117 - “One Night Stand With Bing
Crosby At The Music Hall”
Nostalgia LPF22014 - “Bing Crosby - 20 Golden Greats”
…The half-hour
will open with the ensemble – Bing, Trudy Erwin, the Music Maids and Phil,
Ukie, Ken Carpenter and John Scott Trotter’s orchestra – getting together with
a unique version of “McNamara’s Band.”
(The
Tucson Daily Citizen, 24th June, 1943)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin. Dorothy Lamour and Falstaff
Openshaw.
*Comin’ In On A Wing And A
Prayer
with
The Music Maids & The Charioteers
*She’s
From Missouri
with
The Charioteers
*You
Took Advantage Of Me
(a) with Trudy Erwin
Ezekiel Saw The Wheel
The
Charioteers
*Sunday,
Monday Or Always
Note:
(a) Spokane 23 - “Bing & Trudy - On The Air”
The combination of
Dorothy Lamour and Bing Crosby is the prospect for “Kraft Music Hall” dialers
tonight on WIBA at 8. And as an added attraction, the groaner also will be host
to Alan Reed, famous Falstaff Openshaw of the Fred Allen show.
(The
Capital Times, (Madison, Wisconsin), 1st July, 1943)
With
Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin and
Franklin P. Adams.
*I’ve
Got
Sixpence
with The Music Maids & The Charioteers
*Wait For
Me Mary
with Trudy Erwin
*Always
with Trudy Erwin
Down
By The Old Mill
Stream
The Charioteers
*I Never Mention Your Name
The professor of
the old Kraft Music Hall, Bing Crosby, has invited the visiting scholar from Information
Please, Franklin P. Adams, to appear at his round table on the program to be
aired at 9 p.m. on NBC-WMBG.
(Richmond
Times-Dispatch, 8th July, 1943)
With
Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Cliff Nazarro and
Raymond Walburn.
*Comin’ In On A Wing And A
Prayer
with
The Music Maids & The Charioteers
*She’s
From Missouri
with
The Charioteers
*These
Foolish Things
with
Trudy Erwin
*If You
Please
Raymond Walburn,
currently seen in the local cinema houses, playing Dorothy Lamour’s father in
Bing Crosby’s latest film effort, “Dixie,” will be featured guest when the “Music
Hall” convenes again tonight at 8 over KTBS. Sharing the guest role with the
veteran stage and screen actor will be Cliff Nazarro, the double-talk expert
who may have a little difficulty in interpreting some of Bing’s seven syllable
words.
(The
Shreveport Times, 15th July, 1943)
“J. Walter Thompson office,
Carroll Carroll and Bing Crosby were both upset and
pleased, last Friday. The double-named
scripter of Kraft Music Hall, inadvertently said that femmes from 18 to 24
could join the WAVES, in a special recruiting plea, read by Crosby on the program
last Thursday. Navy recruiters were busy
on Friday, explaining to under-age gals that the script should have read, from
the ages of 20 to 36 with no dependants under the age of 18” (“Variety” 21st July 1943)
With
Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and
William Frawley.
*I’ve Got Sixpence
with
The Music Maids & The Charioteers
*She Is
The Sunshine Of Virginia
(a)
with
The Music Maids & Hal
*You’re
Gonna Win That Ball Game, Uncle Sam with William Frawley
Straighten Up And Fly Right
The
Charioteers
*We Mustn’t Say “Goodbye”
Notes
(a) Universal CD B0027588-02 "Among My Souvenirs - More Treasures from the Crosby Archive"
William Frawley, one
of Hollywood’s best known character actors and closest friend of “The Groaner”
will be the guest of Bing Crosby tonight…. Actor Frawley replaces the guests
previously announced, Lum and Abner.
(The
Capital Times, 22nd July, 1943)
No. 298
29th July 1943
With
Ken Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Rags
Ragland.
*Thank
Your Lucky Stars
(a) with The Music Maids & The
Charioteers
Leo “Ukie” Sherin spot
*People
Will Say We’re In Love
(b) with Trudy Erwin
*Please
(c)
Rags Ragland spot
Joshua Fit The
Battle Of Jericho
The Charioteers
*Sunday,
Monday Or Always
Notes:
(a)
On The Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends from
The Radio Shows”
(b)
Spokane 23 - “Bing & Trudy - On The Air” (Date shewn as July 19th 1943)
On The Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends From
The Radio Shows”
Goldies
GLD 25448-3 (CD) –“All the Number One Hits”
(c)
On The Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends From
The Radio Shows”
V-Disc 128A contains a rehearsal version.
Comedy
introduction includes Bing singing a fragment of ‘Brother, Can You Spare A
Dime’
Rags Ragland, comedian
star in the new movie “DuBarry Was a Lady,” will be Bing Crosby’s guest on the program
to be aired tonight at 8 o’clock over WMAQ. Rags, a frequent visitor to Music
Hall, is having trouble living down Bing’s description of him last Thursday – “that
debonair suave gentleman from 33rd street.” In “DuBarry Was a Lady,” Rags
appears with the red-headed “ball of fire” girl, Lucille Ball.
(Belvidere
Daily Republican, 29th July, 1943)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Isabel
Randolph.
*What Do
You Do In The Infantry?
(a) with The
Music Maids & The Charioteers
*The Right
Kind Of Love
(b) with
Trudy Erwin
Red River
Valley
The Charioteers
*Moonlight
Bay
(c) with The
Charioteers
*If You
Please
Notes:
(a) Spokane 5
- “Der Bingle - Those Great World War II Songs”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II
Songs”
V-Disc 128-B contains a rehearsal version.
(b) Spokane
23 - “Bing & Trudy - On the Air”
(c) V-Disc
149-A.
That lady of high
society in Wistful Vista, Mrs. Uppington, will appear on the NBC-WBMG Kraft
Music Hall at 9 P. M. Mrs. Uppington, who is known off the air as Isabel
Randolph, is one of the well-known friends of Fibber McGee and Molly. High spot
of Bing Crosby’s half-hour show will be the introduction of Frank Loesser’s new
tune for the men of the “Walking Army” titled “What Do You Do in the Infantry.”
(Richmond
Times-Dispatch, 5th August, 1943)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Ed Gardner.
*I’ve Got
Sixpence (a)
with The Music Maids & The Charioteers
Leo “Ukie” Sherin spot
*Don’t Let
It Get You Down
(b) with
“Ukie” (vocal & ukulele)
*Ridin’ Herd On A Cloud
Damn The
Torpedoes!
The Charioteers
*Dancing In
The Dark
with Trudy Erwin
Ed Gardner spot
*Love In
Bloom
(c) with Ed
Gardner (piano)
*You’ll
Never Know
Notes:
(a) Sepia CD 1224 "Bing Crosby in the Hall"
(b) A snatch
only, included in comedy dialogue.
(c) A
fragment only, included in comedy dialogue.
That man from
Duffy’s Tavern, Ed “Archie” Gardner, will take off his apron and leave his
chores at the tavern to join Bing Crosby at the Kraft Music Hall, at 9 P. M.
over NBC and WMBG. “Archie” is a busy man these days. In addition to operating
Duffy’s brainchild, he’s facing the kleig lights in Hollywood for a motion
picture which will feature the famed Blue Network tavern. Bing will start the
musical fare introducing the new tune, “Ridin’ Herd on a Cloud,” written by
Perry Botkin, guitarist with John Scott Trotter’s orchestra who has not only
been an outstanding accompanist with Bing on KMH but also on recordings. Songstress
Trudy Erwin, will double her singing chores. In addition to her solo numbers
and duet with Bing, she will fill in for Pat Hyatt of the Music Maids. Pat was
injured seriously recently in an automobile accident. It will be old times for
Trudy who started off her singing career with the Music Maids.
(Richmond
Times-Dispatch, 12th August, 1943)
No. 301 19th August 1943
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Oscar Levant.
*What Do
You Do In The Infantry?
with The Music Maids & The Charioteers
*The Right
Kind Of Love
with Trudy Erwin
Them There
Eyes
The Charioteers
*Lady, Play
Your Mandolin/As Time Goes By
(a) with
Oscar Levant (piano)
*Paper
Doll
(b) with The
Music Maids & Hal
In The Blue Of
Evening
Trudy Erwin
*Nevada
(c)
Notes:
(a) Comedy
routine includes snatches only of these two items
(b) On The
Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends From The Radio
Shows” (Date shewn as 13th August
1943)
(c) Spokane
16 - “Bing’s Music Hall Highlights”
Lamton 250 - “Sweethearts
Of Song - Live 1940’s”
BCR-01 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - We’re Just Wild About Harry”
It
isn’t true that
everything Oscar Levant knows is what he sees in the movies and he’s
going to
prove it when he visits Bing Crosby on “Music Hall,” tonight at 8 over
KTBS. Never one to use the unusual in the English language, Bing will
have to be
at his best to cope with this week’s guest. Levant’s pungent and
vitriolic tongue
is a legend wherever people of the entertainment world gather and the
“Information
Pleaser” is not one to make any exceptions. Although his serious
musicianship has
earned him the right to play piano solos with several symphonies,
Levant has a
desire to sing which always seems to show itself whenever he appears on
KMH. When
these occasions arise, Bing takes over the ivory keyboard and
accompanies him.
(The
Shreveport Times, 19th August, 1943)
No. 302 26th August 1943
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Rags Ragland.
*Comin’ In On A Wing And A Prayer
with The Music Maids & The Charioteers
*People
Will Say We’re In Love
(a) with
Trudy Erwin
*Kentucky
Babe
(b) with The
Charioteers
Don’t Cry Baby
The Charioteers
*Sunday,
Monday or Always
Notes:
(a) JOYCE 6052
- “Bing Crosby From The Forties”
(b) V-Disc 128-B
Olsen and Johnson
have nothing on Bing Crosby and company. Every Thursday afternoon rehearsal of
the Groaner's Music Hall broadcast is a "Hellzapoppin." The Music Hall
is heard tonight at 8 p.m. over KTBS. The
million and one things written on the subject of "what makes Bing Crosby different"
guarantee that - plus a cast and crew of unmatched liveliness.
Take for instance
this typical day. “The Crosby studio" has its full crew aboard, plus an odd
and sundry rehearsal audience. On the mike, center stage, are Bing and Ukie rehearsing
a spot wherein the little guy is trying to sell the Groaner a bill of goods.
"Some total
draft," is his plea, “you won't have no band. How about hiring me and my uke?"
Ukie self-consciously
fingers his ukelele, a red-white-and-blue number which Bing ignominiously refers
to as a "patriotic lamb chop." Ukie is nervous and muffs occasionally.
A pretty blonde girl
in red slacks giggles. She is Betty Boyle of the sounds effect department. Presently
she is joined by another pretty blonde noisemaker. The latter has just purchased
a new jacket, and while Bing and Ukie continue rehearsal, the girls make silent
gesturing comments on the new garment.
"Pretty
snazzy," opines Bing, who all the time has had a half closed eye on them. He
has plenty of time to notice this extra goings-on because Ukie is having
difficulty: 1) reading his script, 2) turning its pages, 3) playing the uke, 4)
trying to make some kind of stand against Bing’s barrage of ad-libs. The guest
of the day, Rags Ragland, comes to Ukie’s rescue by turning a page.
“Oh, Ragland’s got
a new job – caddying for Uke,” comments Bing between lines.
(The
Shreveport Times, 26th August, 1943)
No. 303 2nd September 1943
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Frank McHugh.
*Oh! What A
Beautiful Morning
with Trudy Erwin & The Music Maids
*Ridin’ Herd On A Cloud
(a)
Pistol Packin’ Mama (b)
The Charioteers
*I’ve Got
Sixpence (parody)
with Frank McHugh & Ken Carpenter
*If I Had
My Way
(c) with The
Charioteers
*Nevada
(d)
Notes:
(a) Spokane
10 - “Der Bingle - Volume Two”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II
Songs”
(b) JASCD 714 "Swing
Low, Sweet Charioteers"
(c) On The
Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends From The Radio
Shows” (Date shewn as 9th
September 1943)
…As the Groaner’s special guest, dialers will
find film funnyman Frank McHugh.
(The Capital Times, 2nd September, 1943)
No. 304 9th September
1943
(a)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Falstaff Openshaw and Phil Silvers.
*Comin’ In On A Wing And A Prayer
with The Music Maids & The Charioteers
Leo “Ukie” Sherin spot
Falstaff Openshaw spot
*Wait For
Me Mary
with Trudy Erwin
Brother Bill (b)
The Charioteers
Phil Silvers spot
*Carolina
In The Morning
(c) with
“Ukie”
*Star
Dust
(d) with Phil
Silvers (clarinet)
*It’s
Always You
*Basin
Street Blues
(e) with The
Charioteers
Notes:
(a) The
complete programme was issued on Spokane 5 - “Der Bingle - Those Great World War
II Songs” and on Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War
II Songs”
(b) JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
(c) A snatch
only, during comedy dialogue.
(d) A few
lines only.
(e) The comedy introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf”
Allan Reed, the
poetry-reading “Falstaff Openshaw” of Fred Allen's show, and Phil Silvers, one of
the newer screen comedians, will be Bing Crosby’s guests on his broadcast tonight
at 8 o'clock over WMAQ. This will be “welcome back” night for Hal Hopper, the
male portion of “The Music Maids and Hal,” who will return to his regular position
on the show team. Last January he joined the air corps as a radio operator and
after eight months of service has been given a medical discharge. Hal’s musical
group will join Bing on the opening of the musical side of the program, “Wait
For Me Mary.” For the memory spot on this week’s session, Bing will sing “Basin
Street Blues,” one of the most popular songs with which he has ever been associated.
Aiding the “Groaner” on this number will be Memphis boys who know something
about Basin street, namely, the Charioteers.
(Belvidere
Daily Republican, 9th September, 1943)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Falstaff Openshaw and Jinx Falkenburg.
*The Road
To Victory
(a) with The
Music Maids & The Charioteers
*Pistol
Packin’ Mama
(b)
*People
Will Say We’re In Love
with Trudy Erwin
*Put Your
Arms Around Me, Honey
(c) with The
Music Maids & Hal
I Dug A Ditch
The Charioteers
*If You
Please
Notes:
(a) Spokane
10 - “Der Bingle - Volume Two”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II
Songs”
(b) A few
lines only, during comedy dialogue.
(c) Spokane
16 - “Bing’s Music Hall Highlights”
BCR-01 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - We’re Just Wild About Harry”
Sepia CD 1373 "Bing Crosby - Kraft Music Hall Time"
Falstaff Openshaw,
(Alan Reed), the poor man’s poet laureate, and Jinx Falkenburg, one of the most
beautiful girls ever to grace a magazine cover, will add their talents to
proceedings at Bing Crosby’s NBC-WMBG Music Hall at 9 p.m. Crosby will open the
program with “The Road to Victory,” the song which he introduced on the “Back
the Attack” the four network program launching the Third War Loan Drive.
(Richmond
Times-Dispatch, 16th September, 1943)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and George Murphy.
*What Do
You Do In The Infantry?
(a) with The
Music Maids & The Charioteers
Leo “Ukie” Sherin spot
I Heard You Cried
Last Night
Trudy Erwin
Pistol Packin’ Mama
The Charioteers
*I’ll Be
Home For Christmas
*Cuddle Up
A Little Closer
(b)
George Murphy spot
*Schooldays
(parody)
with George Murphy
*Sunday,
Monday Or Always
(c)
Notes:
(a) Spokane
10 - “Der Bingle - Volume Two”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II
Songs”
(b) Spokane
16 - “Bing’s Music Hall Highlights”
BCR-01 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - We’re Just Wild About Harry”
Sepia CD 1373 "Bing Crosby - Kraft Music Hall Time"
(c) Spokane
10 - “Der Bingle - Volume Two”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II Songs”
George Murphy,
frequent visitor to Bing Crosby’s Music Hall and one of Hollywood’s most popular
song and dance men, will sign Crosby’s guest book at 9 p.m. over NBC and WMBG.
Bing will sing the song he introduced a few weeks back Private Frank Loesser’s “What
Do You Do in the Infantry?”
(Richmond
Times-Dispatch, 23rd September, 1943)
No. 307 30th September 1943
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Phil Silvers.
*Vict’ry Polka
(a) with The Music
Maids & Chorus
Leo “Ukie” Sherin spot
*Mississippi Mud / Cucamonga
(b)
*Poinciana
(Song Of The Tree)
Swing Low, Sweet
Chariot
(c) The Charioteers
*The Way
You Look Tonight
(d)
with Trudy Erwin
Phil Silvers spot
*Vict’ry Polka (parody)
with
Phil Silvers & Chorus
*If You
Please
Notes:
(a) Spokane
10 - “Der Bingle - Volume Two”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II Songs”
Sounds of Yester Year DSOY2268 “Bing’s ABC Of Life"
(b) Snatches only, of these two items, during comedy dialogue with Ukie.
(c) JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
(d) Sepia CD 1373 "Bing Crosby - Kraft Music Hall Time"
Phil Silvers,
gagwriter and stage comic now being given a buildup as a screen comedian by
Paramount, will guest for his studio partner, Bing Crosby, on the groaner’s weekly
program tonight at 9 o’clock.
(Richmond
Times-Dispatch, 30th September, 1943)
No. 308 7th October
1943
(a)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Lucille Ball.
*The Road
To Victory
with The Music Maids & The Charioteers
Leo “Ukie” Sherin spot
*Play A
Simple Melody
(b)
*I’ll Be
Home For Christmas
(d)
Nobody’s
Sweetheart (f)
The Charioteers
Lucille Ball spot
*One
Alone
(c) with
Trudy Erwin
*Sunday,
Monday Or Always
(e)
Notes:
(a) The complete programme was issued
on Laserlight 12 298 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - WW II Radio Broadcasts”
(b)
One chorus only, during comedy dialogue.
(c)
Spokane 23 - “Bing & Trudy - On The Air”
(d)
Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
(e) Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby
– CBS Radio 1943/44”
Jasmine CD JASCD 121/2 “Bing Crosby – Going Hollywood – Vol. 3”
(f) Jasmine CD JASCD 714
"Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
Lucille Ball,
screen star whose crowning glory is affectionately described by her good friend
Bing Crosby as the “titian-tinted top-piece,” will be the special guest of the
NBC-WMBG Music Hall at 9 p.m.
(Richmond Times-Dispatch, 7th October, 1943)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Jack Douglas.
*Vict’ry Polka
with The Music Maids & Chorus
*Oh! What A
Beautiful Morning
with Trudy Erwin
I Dug A Ditch
The Charioteers
*By The
Light Of The Silvery Moon
with The Charioteers
*A Yank and
A Tank
(a)
*Poinciana
(Song Of The Tree)
Note:
(a) V-Disc 128-A
Erstwhile
gagwriter Jack Douglas, who tried reading his own lines and found himself the
star comic of the What’s New show, will be Bing Crosby’s guest on the Music
Hall program tonight at 9 o’clock. Tonight’s date also will mark the return of
John Scott Trotter to the podium following a three-week vacation, his first in
seven years. Douglas, as a gagwriter, contributed material for Bob Hope, Red
Skelton and Tommy Higgs.
(The
Bristol News Bulletin, 14th October, 1943)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Hal, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Cass Daley.
*Anchors
Aweigh
with The Music Maids & The Charioteers
Leo “Ukie” Sherin spot
*You Tell
Me Your Dream
(a)
*They Had
To Carry Carrie To The Ferry
(a)
*Ridin’ Herd On A Cloud
*Pistol
Packin’ Mama
(b) with The
Charioteers
*Where The
Blue Of The Night Meets The Gold Of The Day
Cass Daley spot
They’re Either Too
Young Or Too Old
Cass Daley
*How Sweet
You Are
Notes:
(a) Snatches
only, of these two items are included in the comedy dialogue with Ukie.
(b) Bing’s
only contribution to this item is his famous ad-lib (?) line, “Lay that thing
down before it goes off and hurts somebody”.
Cass Daley,
wide-mouthed singing comedian, will be Bing Crosby’s guest tonight when the Groaner
brings his Music Hall to the air.
(The
Shreveport Times, 21st October, 1943)
28th
October 1943 }
Bing was on vacation and did not appear in any of these
4th
November 1943 }
programmes.
Dialogue on his return (Programme No. 311)
11th
November 1943 }
reveals that he grew a beard during his absence.
18th
November 1943 }
25th
November 1943
}
No. 311 2nd December 1943
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Ed Gardner.
*Vict’ry Polka
with The Music Maids & Chorus
Leo “Ukie” Sherin spot
*How
Sweet You
Are
(a)
*’Way Down
Yonder In New Orleans
(b) with The
Charioteers
Ed Gardner spot
*My
Ideal
(c) with
Trudy Erwin
*I’ll Be
Home For Christmas
(d) with The
Music Maids & The Charioteers
Notes:
(a) Sepia CD 1224 "Bing Crosby in the Hall"
(b) Bing sings the verse only, for this item.
Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers" (date shown as 7/12/43)
(c) Spokane
23 - “Bing & Trudy - On The Air” (Comedy introduction includes a snatch
of “Three Little Words”)
(d) On The
Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends From The Radio
Shows”
Bing Crosby, fresh
from a visit to his Nevada ranch and a bond tour for the U. S. Treasury department
will report back to Kraft Music Hall, tonight on WIBA at 8. That old master of
swinging doors, Ed Gardner, the famed Archie of Duffy’s, will be on hand as
guest star to swing wide the KMH portals in fitting welcome.
(The
Capital Times, 2nd December, 1943)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Lucille Ball.
*Paper
Doll
with The Music Maids & Lee
My Shining
Hour
Trudy Erwin
Jesus Is A Rock In
The Weary Land
The Charioteers
Lucille Ball spot
*Wonderful
One
(a)
*Poinciana
(Song Of The Tree)
(b)
Notes:
(a) JOYCE 6052 - “Bing Crosby From The Forties” (Shewn as “My Wonderful One”)
Sepia CD 1373 "Bing Crosby - Kraft Music Hall Time"
(b) Biac Records BRAD10521 - “Bing Crosby At His Rarest Of All Rare Performances”
Lucille Ball,
flame-haired and lovely, will be Bing Crosby’s guest on Kraft Music Hall,
tonight on WIBA at 8.
(The
Capital Times, 9th December, 1943)
No. 313 16th December
1943
(a)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Phil Silvers and Joan Davis.
*Pistol
Packin’ Mama
(b) with The
Charioteers
Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Joan Davis spot
*Pistol
Packin’ Mama (parody)
(c) with Joan
Davis
*Oh! What A
Beautiful Morning
(d) with
Trudy Erwin & The Music Maids
*I Used To
Love You (But It’s All Over Now)
(e)
Phil Silvers spot
*Sunday,
Monday Or Always
(f)
*Let A
Smile Be Your Umbrella
(f)
Shoo-Shoo Baby
The Charioteers
*White
Christmas
(g) with The
Music Maids & The Charioteers
Notes:
(a)
The complete programme was issued on Laserlight 12 298 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - WW
II Radio Broadcasts”.
(b)
Arrangement includes Bing singing the opening lines of “The Road To Mandalay”
and there are alterations to the usual lyrics.
On The Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends From
The Radio Shows”
Newsound CD NFM007
“Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
(c) A few lines
unaccompanied by Joan Davis using the lyrics “Lay That Parcel Down” with Bing
joining in at the end with “We’ll
send it C. O. D.”
Living Era
CD AJA5590 “Radio Stars Of America”
(d) On The Air
OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends From The Radio
Shows”
Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
Living Era CD AJA5590 “Radio Stars of America”
(e) Spokane 10 -
“Der Bingle - Volume Two”
JOYCE 6052 - “Bing Crosby From The Forties”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II
Songs”
Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
(Shewn on all above issues
as, “It’s All Over Now”)
On The Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends
From The Radio
Shows”
(f)
Bing sings snatches of both these items during comedy dialogue with Phil
Silvers.
(g) On The
Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends From The Radio
Shows”
Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
Varese Sarabande CD 3020669052 “Bing Crosby – Crosby
Classics”
Phil Silvers, the
fellow who can talk anyone blue in the face without taking a breath in between,
will make an appearance on WFBC-NBC’s Kraft Music Hall tonight at 9 o’clock.
Silvers’ stream of babble will be injected into the half-hour show of songs…
(The
Greenville News, 16th December, 1943)
“Bing Crosby has enjoyed a string of three successive sock
performances within the unusual time bridge of a week. Two of these were
on his own show, those with Lucille Ball and Phil Silvers. The third came in
between those two, when he was a guest of Ed Gardner on ‘Duffy’s Tavern’- all
hilarious.
Also, on Monday night (20th) he did a replay of his picture, ‘Dixie’ for
the Lux Hour.”
(“Variety”
22nd December 1943)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin and The Kraft Choral Society.
*Adeste Fideles
with studio audience
*My Heart
Tells Me
with Trudy Erwin
Ezekiel Saw The
Wheel
The Charioteers
*Sweet
Leilani
*Silent
Night
with The Kraft Choral Society
Bing Crosby, as he
does each Christmas again calls in the Kraft Choral Club from Chicago as he special
guests on the “Kraft Music Hall” program tonight at 9 over WFBC-NBC. One of the
Nation’s most famous singing groups, the club is composed entirely of employees
of the Kraft cheese company. They will present a medley of Christmas carols as
arranged by Ken Darby.
(The
Greenville News, 23rd December, 1943)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Trudy Erwin, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Cass Daley.
*Happy
Holiday/Come To Holiday Inn
(a) with The
Music Maids & Lee
*Auld Lang
Syne
with Trudy Erwin, Ken Carpenter, “Ukie” & John Scott
Trotter
*The Way
You Look Tonight
(b) with
Trudy Erwin
A Slip Of The Lip
(Can Sink A Ship)
The Charioteers
*As Time
Goes By
(c)
He Really Loved Me
‘Til The “All Clear” Came Cass Daley
*Poinciana
(Song Of The Tree)
(d)
Notes:
(a)
Spokane 6 - “Bing Crosby - Happy Holiday”
Vintage Jazz Classics VJC1017-2 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - The Christmas Songs”
(b)
Spokane 23 - “Bing & Trudy - On The Air”
On The Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends From
The Radio Shows”
(c)
Spokane 10 - “Der Bingle - Volume Two”
Spokane 16 - “Bing’s Music Hall Highlights” (Date shewn as January 28th 1943)
BCR-01 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - We’re Just Wild About Harry” (Date shewn as
28.1.43)
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II Songs”
On The Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends From
The Radio Shows”
(The comedy introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “Where The Blue Of
The Night”)
So Rare: Treasures From The Crosby Archive –
Collectors’ Choice Music CD WWCCM21092
(d) On The Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends
From The Radio Shows”
Cass Daley, the
Hollywood comedienne who is rumoured to be in line for a radio show of her own
soon, will turn her comedy antics loose on Bing Crosby at Kraft Music Hall
tonight at 8 o’clock on WMAQ, Chicago.
(Belvidere
Daily Republican, 30th December, 1943)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Nan Wynn and William Frawley.
*Shoo-Shoo
Baby
with The Music Maids & The Charioteers
Leo “Ukie” Sherin & Nan Wynn spot
Speak Low
Nan Wynn
I Dug A Ditch
The Charioteers
*My
Ideal
(a)
William Frawley spot
*Carolina
In The Morning
with William Frawley &
Nan Wynn
*My Heart
Tells Me
(b)
Notes:
(a) Spokane
16 - “Bing’s Music Hall Highlights”
JOYCE 6052 - “Bing Crosby From The Forties”
BCR-01 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - We’re Just Wild About Harry”
(b) Spokane 19 - “Music Hall Highlights”
Nan Wynn, lovely
dark-haired radio and night-club songstress who has been attracting more than favorable
film attention of late, will be among those present when Bing Crosby opens the
Kraft Music Hall tonight over WIBA at 8.
(The
Capital Times, 6th January 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Jane Frazee and George Murphy.
*San
Fernando Valley
(a) with The
Music Maids & Lee
Shoo-Shoo Baby
Jane Frazee
Straighten Up And
Fly Right (b)
The
Charioteers
*It Had To
Be You
with George Murphy & Jane Frazee
*I’ll Be
Seeing You
(c)
*Candlelight And Wine
(d)
Notes:
(a)
Biac Records BRAD10521 - “Bing Crosby At His Rarest Of All Rare Performances”
Kenwest KWCD664 (CD) - “Those Were The Days - Volume 5”
American Masters CD
- Bing Crosby Rediscovered: The Soundtrack
(b)
Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
(c)
Spokane 10 - “Der Bingle - Volume Two”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II Songs”
The comedy introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “Ti-Pi-Tin”.
Goldies GLD 25448-3 (CD) –“All the
Number One Hits”
(d)
Spokane 16 - “Bing’s Music Hall Highlights”
Lamton 250 - “Sweethearts Of Song - Live 1940’s”
BCR-01 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - We’re Just Wild About Harry”
Sepia CD 1373 "Bing Crosby - Kraft
Music Hall Time"
George Murphy, popular
sing and dance man of the screen, and Jane Frazee, a rising young starlet, will
be Bing Crosby’s guests on the Kraft Music Hall this evening at 8 o’clock over
WMAQ, Chicago. “Georgeous Georges” as he is called by Bing Crosby for his many
screen roles in which he is surrounded by beautiful girls, is a frequent visitor
to Kraft Music Hall. On his last visit Murphy and Bing re-enacted a scene between
two youngsters who were earning big salaries at a defense plant.
(Belvidere
Daily Republican, 13th January 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Dale Evans.
*What Do
You Do In The Infantry?
(d)
with The Music Maids & The Charioteers
Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Dale Evans spot
Besame Mucho
Dale Evans
Mairzy Doats
(a)
The Charioteers
*You
Brought A New Kind Of Love To Me
(b)
*Where The
Blue Of The Night
(c)
*The Surrey
With The Fringe On Top
with Dale Evans
*My
Ideal
(e)
Notes:
(a) Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
(b)
Spokane 16 - “Bing’s Music Hall Highlights”
BCR-01 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - We’re Just Wild About Harry”
The comedy introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “You’re Driving
Me Crazy”.
(c) Comedy sketch includes Bing singing a few lines of this item in Spanish.
(d) Universal CD B0027588-02 "Among My Souvenirs - More Treasures from the Crosby Archive"
(e) Sepia CD 1373 "Bing Crosby - Kraft Music Hall Time"
With dramatics by
Ann Sheridan and songs by Dale Evans, Bing Crosby will have more than a full house
when he opens Kraft Music Hall tonight on WIBA at 8.
(The
Capital Times, 20th January 1944) (NOTE: Ann Sheridan was withdrawn by her studio at the last moment).
“Have you ever seen a dream walking? Have you ever heard
Bing Crosby louse up a program? It happens and kinda often, if you listen enough. Of course, Crosby
isn’t around in person, at these times. The Bing is on platters and kinda helpless but it also sometimes,
indicates that Crosby has turned loose a disc which isn’t exactly Crosby. Anyway, the
incident that comes to mind was when some disc jockey featured, ‘Alexander’,
‘The Lady Is A Tramp’ and ‘Varsity Drag’, right in a row and each recording was
a pip. Then he
turned Bing Crosby on with, ‘Sweet Leilani’ and what ‘Leilani’ did to this show,
was horrible.
It was one time Bingo was a loaf of bread and just as dull. Jack Kapp still
plays himself to sleep with ‘Leilani’, it has sold more records than FDR polled
votes the last time but it sure cut the show down to size”
(“Variety” 26th January 1944)
(Assuming
that ‘Alexander’ is the man with the ‘Ragtime Band’, are we to gather that the
disc-jockey is accused of the major crime of following three ‘upbeat’ numbers
with one in a slower mood? Out of context, it is difficult to understand
what this was all about.)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Gloria De Haven and William Bendix.
*Shoo-Shoo
Baby
(a) with The
Music Maids & The Charioteers
I’ve Got A Crush On
You
Gloria De Haven
This Is The Army Mr
Jones / G.I. Jive
The Charioteers
*One Sweet
Letter from You
(b)
*Candlelight And Wine
Notes:
(a) Spokane
10 - “Der Bingle - Volume Two”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II
Songs”
Kenwest KWCD667 (CD) -
“Those Were The Days - Volume 8”
Shout! CD DK 31515 “Swingin’ With Bing”
(b) The comedy introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “Sometimes I’m Happy”.
William Bendix
will be Bing Crosby’s guest on the Music Hall Thursday at 9 p. m. over NBC.
Bendix is the current star of “Lifeboat” and “Guadalcanal Diary.”
(The
Circleville Herald, 27th January 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Donald O’Connor.
*San
Fernando Valley
with The Music Maids & Lee
Leo “Ukie” Sherin & Marilyn Maxwell spot
Tess’s Torch Song (I Had A Man)
(a) Marilyn
Maxwell
Little David, Play
On Yo’ Harp
The Charioteers
Donald O’Connor spot
*Small
Fry
with Donald O’Connor
*I’ll Be Seeing You
Notes:
(a)
Collectors’ Choice Music WWCCM1052x - “Marilyn Maxwell - Darling Diva”
Donald O’Connor,
the young Hollywood movie star with the razor-sharp tongue will trade quips
with Bing Crosby on the “Music Hall” program tonight at 8 o’clock over KTBS.
Marilyn Maxwell, former featured songstress with Buddy Rogers and Ted Weems orchestra,
and now a rising young actress in the films, will be the guest girl singer with
Bing.
(The
Shreveport Times, 3rd February, 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Mischa Auer.
*Shoo-Shoo
Baby
(a) with The
Music Maids & The Charioteers
I Wish I May, I
Wish I Might
(b) Marilyn
Maxwell with The Music Maids
Mairzy Doats
The Charioteers
*September
Song
*Poinciana
(Song Of The Tree)
Notes:
(a) Biac Records
BRAD10521 - “Bing Crosby At His Rarest Of All Rare Performances”
(b) Collectors’ Choice Music WWCCM1052x - “Marilyn Maxwell - Darling Diva”
Mischa Auer, the
sad-eyed Russian comedian, will join Bing Crosby on the Music Hall tonight…Mr.
Auer, who has just completed his work in “Lady in the Dark” for Paramount, has
a long list of screen successes behind him. He is best known for his
impersonations of screwball characters.
(The
Shreveport Times, 10th February, 1944)
Bing’s Vote Plug for
GIs
One of the rare intervals in radio when top
performers offer striking evidence that show biz isn’t shrouded in an ivory
tower and has the courage to back it up with an expressed avowal of its convictions
on controversial issues came last Thursday (10) night during the Bing Crosby-Kraft
Music Hall program. With almost bombshell effect, Crosby broke in with a
declaration that evoked a solid round of applause from the studio audience.
Incident occurred after Crosby, early in the program, put across a novelty gag
tune and followed it up with the usual “Good evening, this is your old K. M. H.”
to which he immediately appended, “And bound out for every quarter of the globe
where American citizens are fighting for our right to vote. It certainly seems
the least we can do, is to protect theirs.”
(Variety, February 16, 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Cass Daley.
*Iowa
(a) with The
Music Maids & The Charioteers
Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Marilyn Maxwell spot
*A Lot In
Common With You
(a) (b) with
Marilyn Maxwell
Leanin’ On The Lord
The Charioteers
*After
You’ve Gone
(c)
Cass Daley spot
I’m Getting Corns
For My Country At The Stage Door Canteen
Cass Daley
*I’ll Be
Seeing You
(d)
Notes:
(a) Biac Records BRAD10521 - “Bing Crosby At His Rarest Of All Rare Performances”
(b) JSP Records CD JSP6705 - "Here's Bing Crosby!"
(c) Spokane
16 - “Bing’s Music Hall Highlights” (Date shewn as 17.12.44)
BCR-01 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - We’re Just Wild About Harry”
The comedy introduction includes Bing singing snatches of “Oh! We Don’t
Want The Bacon”,
“I’m Sorry Dear” and “Oh! How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning”
(d) A few lines only, as Bing is obliged to abandon the song due to the programme overrunning.
Cass Daley, the
young lady whose high spirits on the screen would deny Bing Crosby’s
description of his film friend – “whispering, murmuring, timid Cass Daley,”
will be his guest on the “Music Hall” program tonight…Cass has a special new
song for the occasion. She will lend her vocal talents to, “I’m Getting Corns for
My Country at the Stage Door Canteen.”
(The
Shreveport Times, 17th February, 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Phil Silvers.
*San
Fernando Valley
(a)
with The Music Maids & Lee
Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Marilyn Maxwell spot
I Never Knew (I
Could Love Anybody)
(b)
Marilyn Maxwell
G.I. Jive
(c)
The Charioteers
*It’s Only
A Paper Moon
(d)
Phil Silvers spot
Without A Song
Phil Silvers
*I’ll Be
Seeing You
Notes:
(a)
Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
(b)
Collectors’ Choice Music WWCCM1052x - “Marilyn Maxwell - Darling Diva”
(c) Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
(d)
Spokane 16 - “Bing’s Music Hall Highlights”
Biac Records BRAD10521 -
“Bing Crosby At His Rarest Of All Rare Performances”
BCR-01 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - We’re Just Wild About Harry”
Laserlight 12 300 (CD) -
“Bing Crosby - WW II Radio Broadcasts” (See also Note (a) – Programme
No. 339)
On The Air OTA101978 (CD) - “Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends
From The Radio
Shows”
The comedy introduction includes Bing singing snatches of “Easter Parade” and “Love Is The Sweetest Thing”
Phil Silvers, who
is well known in the films for his portrayals of the fast-talking boy from
Brooklyn, will be Bing Crosby’s guest on the “Music Hall” tonight…Marilyn
Maxwell will make another guest appearance as Bing’s girl singer. Silvers has
come to the conclusion that “The Groaner” is at the crossroads of his career.
For the sake of an old friendship the comedian has offered his services to Bing
as manager. Silvers’ first step as Bing’s manager will be to give him a few lessons
in diction. Of course, Phil will also handle the money matters and promises
that “The Groaner” will be able to afford a smart wardrobe which he hitherto
has not displayed about the “Music Hall.”
(The
Shreveport Times, 24th February, 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Lucille Ball.
*(There’ll
Be A) Hot Time In The Town Of Berlin
(When
The Yanks Go Marching In) (a) with The
Music Maids & Lee
Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Marilyn Maxwell spot
*The Surrey
With The Fringe On Top
(b) with
Marilyn Maxwell
Sing A Song Of
Sixpence
(c)
The Charioteers
Lucille Ball spot
*Thanks
(d)
*Amor
Notes:
(a) Spokane
10 - “Der Bingle - Volume II”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II
Songs”
(b) Collectors’ Choice Music WWCCM1052x - “Marilyn Maxwell - Darling Diva”
Sepia CD 1224 "Bing Crosby in the Hall"
(c) Jasmine CD JASCD
714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
(d)
Biac Records BRAD10521 -
“Bing Crosby At His Rarest Of All Rare Performances” (Shewn as “My
Thank”)
Once again
bringing lovely Marilyn Maxwell as his singing partner to Kraft Music Hall,
Bing Crosby will spotlight Lucille Ball, the movie star, as his guest tonight over
WIBA at 8.
(The Capital Times, 2nd March, 1944)
No. 325 9th March
1944
(a)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Lee, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and George Murphy.
*The
Bombardier Song
(b) with The
Music Maids & The Charioteers
Marilyn Maxwell and Leo “Ukie” Sherin spot
*Mexicali
Rose
(c)
My Soul Is A
Witness For My Lord
The Charioteers
George Murphy spot
*I Couldn’t
Sleep A Wink Last Night (parody)
with George Murphy
*Two Sleepy
People
with Marilyn Maxwell
*Going My
Way
(c)
Notes:
(a) The complete
programme was issued on Laserlight 12 300 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - WW II Radio
Broadcasts”
(b) Spokane
10 - “Der Bingle - Volume Two”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II
Songs”
(Shewn as “Song Of The
Bombadiers”)
(c) Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
Bing Crosby will
air premier two songs from his soon-to-be-released film “Going My Way,” during
Kraft Music Hall tonight…They are “Swingin’ on a Star” and “Going My Way.” Song
and dance star George Murphy will be the Groaner’s guest along with Marilyn
Maxwell, who will duet the memory song with Bing. “Two Sleepy People.” NOTE: Obviously a late change as "Swinging on a Star" was not used.
(The
Capital Times, 9th March, 1944)
16th March
1944 } Bing did not appear in
either of these two programmes
23rd March
1944 }
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and George Murphy.
*(There’ll
Be A) Hot Time In The Town Of Berlin
(When
The Yanks Go Marching In) with The Music Maids &
Men
*Take It
Easy
with Marilyn Maxwell & The Music Maids
The Old Music
Master
(a) The
Charioteers
*Moonlight
Bay
(b) with The
Charioteers
*Oh! What A
Beautiful Morning (parody) with George Murphy
*Amor
Notes:
(a) Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
(b)
Spokane 16 - “Bing’s Music Hall Highlights”
BCR-01 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - We’re Just Wild About Harry”
Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
Comedy introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “Alexander’s Ragtime Band”
Bing Crosby’s good
friend, George Murphy, will be on hand to greet the “Groaner” when he returns
to the Music Hall tonight…A frequent visitor to KMH, “Murph” is one of Crosby’s
closest film friends. Together, the two are a popular comedy team.
(Belvidere
Daily Republican, 30th March, 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and The Kraft Choral
Club.
*It’s Love,
Love, Love
(a) with The
Music Maids & Men
Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Marilyn Maxwell spot
*Soldiers
Of God
*Easter
Parade
(b) with
Marilyn Maxwell
Easter Carol Of The
Lamb
The Kraft Choral Club
Hallelujah
(Mozart)
The Kraft Choral Club
Star Dust
(c)
The Charioteers
*Going My
Way
Notes:
(a)
Limited Edition Club JGB1005 – “Slightly Latin”
(b) Spokane
16 - “Bing’s Music Hall Highlights”
Wallysrite Records BGMM42
- “Those Bombastic Blonde Bombshells”
BCR-01 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - We’re Just Wild About Harry”
Collectors’ Choice Music WWCCM1052x - “Marilyn Maxwell - Darling Diva”
The comedy introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf”
(c) Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
The Kraft Choral Society
will present their annual Easter music on Bing Crosby’s NBC-WMBG at 9 p.m.
(Richmond
Times Dispatch, 6th April, 1944)
No. 328 13th April
1944 (a)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Bob Hope.
*Swinging
On A Star
(b) with The
Music Maids & The Charioteers
Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Marilyn Maxwell spot
*Take It
Easy
(c) with Marilyn
Maxwell & The Music Maids
Speak to Me Of Love
(Parlez-Moi D’Amour) (d)
The Charioteers
*The One I
Love Belongs To Somebody Else (e)
Bob Hope spot
*It’s Love,
Love, Love (parody)
(f) with Bob
Hope
*Amor
(g)
Notes:
(a) The
complete programme was issued on Laserlight 12 299 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - WW II Radio
Broadcasts”
Also issued
on Spokane 22 - “Bing & Bob” although the actual running order of the
musical items, differs slightly, from that shewn on both sleeve and label.
A large
proportion of the show was issued on JOYCE1117 - “One Night Stand With Bing
Crosby At The Music Hall”. All musical items, with the exception of The
Charioteers’ solo, are included. “Amor” is shewn on the sleeve as “Amour”.
(b) Nostalgia
LPF22014 - “Bing Crosby - Twenty Golden Greats - Volume One”
Shout! CD DK 31515 “Swingin’ With Bing”
(c)
Nostalgia LPF22014 - “Bing Crosby - Twenty Golden Greats - Volume
One”
Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
Collectors’ Choice Music WWCCM1052x - “Marilyn Maxwell - Darling Diva”
Comedy introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “I Wonder What’s Become Of
Sally”
(d) Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
(e) Nostalgia
LPF22014 - “Bing Crosby - Twenty Golden Greats - Volume One”
Comedy introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “I Wonder What’s
Become Of Sally”
Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
(f) Jasmine JASCD 358 "Bob Hope & Friends"
Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
(g) Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
Bob Hope, Bing Crosby’s
good friend and screen pal, will drop in on the “Music Hall” as guest of the “Groaner”
tonight at 8 o’clock over NBC and KTBS. Marilyn Maxwell, Bing’s visiting songstress
will be featured during the evening’s entertainment. The screen team, who so
frequently travel on “The Road” will have an opportunity to compare notes on their
recent ‘real life travels’. Bob has just returned from an extensive entertainment
trip where he put on about 250 camp and hospital shows in eleven weeks. The “Groaner” more recently came back from a
USO tour of American training camps. Their latest travelog “Road to Utopia”
will soon be released.
(The Shreveport Times, 13th April, 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Dave Shelley.
*San
Fernando Valley
with The Music Maids & Men
When They Ask About
You
(a) Marilyn
Maxwell
Milkman, Keep Those
Bottles Quiet
The Charioteers
*Night And
Day
(b)
*Mississippi Mud/Those Were The Days
(c) with Dave
Shelley
*Long Ago
(And Far Away)
Notes:
(a)
Collectors’ Choice Music WWCCM1052x - “Marilyn Maxwell - Darling Diva”
(b) Comedy
introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “Please”.
(c) Snatches only, of these two items are included in the comedy dialogue.
Bing Crosby will
present a protégé during the “Music Hall” program aired tonight…He is Dave
Shelley, comedian. Shelley recently participated in a studio warmup performance
with Bing, and the Groaner and the audience thought him so funny that it was
decided to bring him to the air audience as soon as possible. A native of
Boston, Shelley is 26 years old and his last professional appearance was with
the road company of “Du Barry Was a Lady.”
(The Shreveport Times, 20th April, 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Sonny Tufts.
*Swinging
On A Star
(a)
with The Music Maids & The Charioteers
Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Marilyn Maxwell spot
*The Surrey
With The Fringe On Top
with Marilyn Maxwell
Wait Until It
Happens To You (b)
The Charioteers
Sonny Tufts spot
*I Couldn’t
Sleep A Wink Last Night (parody)
with Sonny Tufts
*Swanee River (The Old Folks At Home) (c) with The Charioteers
*Going My
Way
(d)
Notes:
Sonny Tufts, a
Paramount crony of Bing Crosby, will be the Groaner’s guest on Kraft Music Hall
tonight…A former drummer, piano player, night club, and opera singer, Tufts
recently spiraled to film fame as a result of his performance in “So Proudly We Hail.”
(The
Capital Times, 27th April, 1944)
No. 331 4th May 1944
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Gene Kelly.
*It’s Love,
Love, Love
with The Music Maids & Men
Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Marilyn Maxwell spot
I’ll Be Around (a)
The Charioteers
I Never Knew (I
Could Love Anybody)
Marilyn Maxwell
Gene Kelly spot
*Mississippi Mud
(b)
*H-A-R-R-I-G-A-N (parody)
with Gene Kelly
*My Old
Kentucky Home
with The Charioteers
*Long Ago
(And Far Away)
(c)
Notes:
(a) Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
(b) A
few lines only, during comedy dialogue with Gene Kelly.
(c) Spokane
10 - “Der Bingle - Volume Two”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II Songs”
Sounds of Yester Year DSOY2268 “Bing’s ABC Of Life"
Bing Crosby
invites Gene Kelly, Hollywood’s newest topflight musical star, to visit with
him on the Music Hall…Marilyn Maxwell charming MGM vocalist, returns for
another guest appearance.
(The
Atlanta Constitution, 4th May, 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Keenan Wynn.
*Great
Day
with The Music Maids & Men
Stormy Weather (a)
The Charioteers
*Take It
Easy
with Marilyn Maxwell
*San
Fernando Valley (parody)
with Keenan Wynn
*Dearly
Beloved
(b)
*Going My
Way
Notes:
(b) Comedy
introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “White Christmas”.
“Keenan Wynn, back from the China-Burma-India theatres of
war, will try to sell Bing Crosby on the idea of making a similar tour, KFI at
6. Wilfred Williams, top tenor of the Charioteers, has reported to the
Army. There
will be no outside replacement. Eddie Jackson, second tenor, will take
over.
(“Hollywood
Citizen News” 11th May 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell, Eddie Marr and Jack Carson.
*It’s Love, Love, Love
with The Music Maids & Men
*It Could Happen To You
(a)
*Side By
Side
(b) with
Marilyn Maxwell
Alouette (c)
The Charioteers
*Amor
(a)
Notes:
(a) V-Disc
241-A
(b) Comedy introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “Blue Skies”
(c) Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
Bing
Crosby has invited Jack Carson and Eddie Marr to be his guests on the “Music
Hall” show tonight…The popular radio comedy team paid a visit to the “Music
Hall” this fall but missed the Groaner who was away on a bond-selling tour. Jack
Carson is now in his second year with his own half-hour air show and his pal,
Eddie “I'll Tell You What I'm Going to Do” Marr, appears with him in the familiar
role of “pitchman.”
(The Shreveport Times, 18th May, 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Richard Haydn.
*Bless
‘Em All
with The Music Maids & The Charioteers
Milkman, Keep Those
Bottles Quiet
(a) Marilyn
Maxwell
*Louise
(b)
*Take It
Easy
with Marilyn Maxwell
I’ll Get By
(c)
The Charioteers
*I’ll Be
Seeing You
Notes:
(a) Collectors’ Choice Music WWCCM1052x - “Marilyn Maxwell - Darling Diva”
(b) Sepia CD 1373 "Bing Crosby - Kraft Music Hall Time"
(c) Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
Richard Haydn, better
known as “Mr. Carp, expert on fishes of all types,” will put down his rod and
reel to pay a visit to the “Music Hall” tonight…This will be Haydn’s first
visit to Bing’s half-hour show. The comedian once presented his character “Mr.
Carp” before England’s present king and queen. British-born, he was first
introduced to this country through Noel Coward.
(The Shreveport Times, 25th May, 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Katina Paxinou.
*San
Fernando Valley
with The Music Maids & Men
Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Marilyn Maxwell spot
*I Love You
(Porter)
A Slip Of The Lip
(Can Sink A Ship)
The Charioteers
Katina Paxinou spot
*Something
To Remember You By
(a) with
Marilyn Maxwell
*Long Ago
(And Far Away)
Note:
(a) Sepia CD 1373 "Bing Crosby - Kraft Music Hall Time"
Comedy introduction includes Bing “boo-booing” a few bars of “Where The Blue Of The Night”
Katina Paxinou,
Greek actress who distinguished herself in the film “For Whom the Bell Tolls,”
is the guest star Bing Crosby has invited to the “Music Hall” for the show aired
tonight…One of the most dominant characters in the epic film based on Ernest Hemingway’s
popular novel, Katina Paxinou in “For Whom the Bell Tolls” won her first American
acting laurel. However, the Greek star will be called upon to do a different version
of her screen character when she appears in a special Crosby production of “For
Whom the Bell Tolls.”
(The Shreveport
Times, 1st June, 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Marilyn Maxwell and Cecil
B. De Mille.
*Swinging
On A Star
with The Music Maids & The Charioteers
Cecil B. De Mille spot
*It Could
Happen To You
*There’s A
Small Hotel
(a) with
Marilyn Maxwell
*Old
Glory
with Chorus
(Due to a
lengthy, pre-show news bulletin updating the recent D-Day landings, the
programme was reduced to a running time of only 23 minutes.)
Note:
(a) Collectors’
Choice Music WWCCM1052x - “Marilyn Maxwell - Darling Diva”
Bing Crosby has
invited Hollywood’s ace film and radio producer, Cecil B. DeMille, to be his
guest on the Kraft Music Hall at 9 o’clock over WFLA.
(The Tampa Times, 8th June, 1944)
No. 337 15th June
1944 (a)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Bob Hope.
*Bless
‘Em All
(b) with The
Music Maids & Men
Milkman, Keep Those
Bottles Quiet
(c)
The Charioteers
*The Day
After Forever
*Together
(d) with
Marilyn Maxwell
Bob Hope spot
*Put It
There Pal
(e) with Bob
Hope
*I’ll Be
Seeing You
(f)
Notes:
(a)
The complete programme was issued on Spokane 22 - “Bing & Bob” and Laserlight
12 299 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - WW II Radio
Broadcasts”
(b)
Spokane 10 - “Der Bingle - Volume Two”
Double
Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II Songs”
Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
(c)
Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
(d)
The comedy introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “June Night”.
(e) On The Air OTA101978 (CD) -
“Great Moments With Bing Crosby And Friends From The Radio Shows”
PLS CD 627 “The Golden
Age Of Comedy – Bob Hope & Bing Crosby”
American Masters CD - Bing Crosby
Rediscovered: The Soundtrack
(f) Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
Bob Hope, who is affectionately
called “Snag-Snoot” by his good friend Bing Crosby, will be the guest of the “Groaner”
on the Music Hall tonight at 8 o’clock over WMAQ…When Robert (Leslie Towne)
Hope last visited Crosby he rumored he had just completed a book. However, he
was elusive when pinned down to the date of its publication and name. When Bing
discovered the manuscript in Hope’s golf bag, while trying to retrieve some of
his own golf balls, he found the title to be, “I Never Left Home.”
“That’s the name
of it,” said Hope, What do you think of it?”
“Leave home,” countered
Crosby.
(Belvidere
Daily Republican, 15th June, 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and George Murphy.
*(There’ll
Be A) Hot Time In The Town Of Berlin
(When The Yanks Go Marching In)
with The Music Maids & Men
Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Marilyn Maxwell spot
Star Dust
The Charioteers
Is You Is Or Is You
Ain’t My Baby?
(a) Marilyn
Maxwell
George Murphy spot
*Take Me
Out To The Ball Game (parody)
with George Murphy
*Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-Ral
(b)
*Long Ago
(And Far Away)
Notes:
(a) Collectors’
Choice Music WWCCM1052x - “Marilyn Maxwell - Darling Diva”
(b) V-Disc 301-B
Bing Crosby’s popular "Kraft Music Hall” visitor,
George Murphy, will be on hand for the “Groaner’s” half-hour show tonight at 9
over WFBO-NBC. The “Mighty Murph” will find Bing’s singing partner. Marilyn
Maxwell, and dead-pan stooge, “Ukie”, on the regular reception committee. Murphy
has requested an easier routine from the one Bing gave him on his last visit. The
two wound up playing singing waiters at a Hollywood restaurant. Their theme song
was set to “O! What a Beautiful Morning.” There’s a rumor around Hollywood that
George Murphy may be the substitute for Bing if he plans to take a vacation this
summer. Brother Bob, who usually takes over KMH during the “Groaner’s” vacation
weeks, is now a lieutenant with the Marines.
(The Greenville
News, 22nd June, 1944)
No. 339 29th June
1944
(a)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Roy Rogers.
*Swinging
On A Star
(b) with The
Music Maids & The Charioteers
Marilyn Maxwell and Leo “Ukie” Sherin spot
*There’s A
Small Hotel
(c) with
Marilyn Maxwell
The General Jumped
At Dawn
The Charioteers
Roy Rogers spot
*San
Fernando Valley
(d) with Roy
Rogers
Square Dance
Roy Rogers
*It Had To
Be You
(e)
*Going My
Way
(f)
Notes:
(a) The complete programme was issued on Laserlight 12 300 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - WW II Radio
Broadcasts” - Except that the final song, “Going My Way” has been substituted
with the version of “San Fernando Valley” heard on Programme No. 323.
(b) Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
V-Disc 301-B
(c) Wallysrite Records
BGMM42 - “Those Bombastic Blonde Bombshells”
Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
(d) A few lines
only, unaccompanied.
Living Era CD AJA5590 “Radio Stars of America”
(e) Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
(f) V-Disc
301-A
Roy Rogers, the No. 1 singing cowboy, will be the
visiting guest with Bing Crosby on his Music Hall show tonight…
(The
Rock Island Argus, 29th June, 1944)
Bing was dressed very conservatively on June
29th. He was wearing dull green slacks and light grey shirt — no tie nor hat.
His hat was placed on a nearby chair. The next week, Bing’s outfit was the same
except for the addition of a gray jacket. During the shows, Bing tosses the
pages of the scripts to the floor as he’s finished with them. Roy Rogers guested the first week (June 29), and
Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey the second (consecutive) week.
(BINGANG, Summer 1944)
No. 340 6th July
1944
(a)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell, Tommy Dorsey and Jimmy Dorsey.
*Snoqualme Joe
with The Music Maids & Men
Leo “Ukie” Sherin spot
*Together
(d) with Marilyn
Maxwell
Tumbling
Tumbleweeds
(e) The Charioteers
Sandman
Tommy Dorsey (trombone) & Jimmy
Dorsey (clarinet)
Tommy Dorsey & Jimmy Dorsey spot
*Exactly
Like You
with Tommy Dorsey & Jimmy Dorsey
*I’ll Get
By
(b)
*Amor
(c) & (d)
Notes:
(a) The
complete programme was issued on Laserlight 12 302 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - WW II Radio
Broadcasts”
Extracts
from the dialogue between Bing and the Dorseys were also included on Living Era CD
AJA5590 “Radio Stars of America”
(b) Spokane
10 - “Der Bingle - Volume Two”
Biac Records BRAD10521 -
“Bing Crosby At His Rarest Of All Rare Performances”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II
Songs”
The comedy introduction includes Bing singing snatches of “Diga Diga Doo” and “Sonny Boy”
(c) Biac Records BRAD10521 - “Bing Crosby
At His Rarest Of All Rare Performances”
(d) Newsound CD NFM007 “Bing Crosby – CBS Radio 1943/44”
(e) Jasmine CD JASCD
714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
The two distinguished
brothers of the band world, Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey, will make a rare radio appearance
together when they pay a visit to Bing Crosby on the “Music Hall” show tonight…This
will be a renewal of a long friendship dating back to the early days when Bing
and his good friends, the Dorsey brothers, first made records together. All
three worked with Paul Whiteman’s orchestra at one time.
(The
Shreveport Times, 6th July, 1944)
During a Dorsey Bros. number, Bing was playing
the cymbal, and at one point, tossed the drumstick in the air and caught it just
in time. Bing threw his head back and laughed - along with everyone else. At the
conclusion of the show, Bing saunters off the stage as the audience leaves with
the strains of “Hail KMH” ringing in their ears.
(BINGANG, Summer 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Keenan Wynn.
*Bless
‘Em All
with The Music Maids & Men
Leo “Ukie” Sherin spot
Is You Is Or Is You
Ain’t My Baby
Marilyn Maxwell
Jesus Is A Rock In
The Weary Land
The Charioteers
Keenan Wynn spot
*Heigh-Ho (parody)
with Keenan Wynn
*Let Me
Call You Sweetheart
(a)
*The Day
After Forever
Note:
(a) V-Disc
301-A
Keenan Wynn, the
Mulvehill of Marian Hargrove’s popular best seller and movie, “See Here,
Private Hargrove,” will join Bing Crosby in the Kraft Music Hall at 9 o’clock
over WFLA.
(The
Tampa Times, 13th July, 1944)
“Wilfred Williams, who can sing F above high C, has
received a medical discharge from the Army (I’m not
surprised! – Compiler) and is again with the Charioteers”
(“Hollywood
Citizen News” 13th July 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Sonny Tufts.
*Snoqualme Joe
with The Music Maids & Men
*I’ll
Remember April
(a)
Red River
Valley
The Charioteers
*Sonny Boy
(parody)
with Sonny Tufts
*Side By
Side
(b) with
Marilyn Maxwell
*Amor
Notes:
(a) Biac Records BRAD10521 - “Bing Crosby
At His Rarest Of All Rare Performances”
(b) Spokane
16 - “Bing’s Music Hall Highlights”
BCR-01 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - We’re Just Wild About Harry”
Bing Crosby’s
guest on tonight’s “Music Hall” will be Sonny Tufts when the program is aired
at 8 o’clock over NBC and KTBS. Bing’s singing assistant Marilyn Maxwell and comedy
stooge, “Ukie” Sherin will complete the talent for the half-hour show. Bing and
his film friend are currently at work on a new motion picture with Betty Hutton
called “Here Comes the Waves.” On Sonny’s last visit with Bing he revealed that
he was merely passing his time away movie-acting until he could return to his
old job of selling refrigerators.
(The Shreveport Times, 20th July, 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, The Charioteers, Leo “Ukie” Sherin, Marilyn Maxwell and Sonny Tufts.
*Swinging
On A Star
with The Music Maids & The Charioteers
Leo “Ukie” Sherin and Marilyn Maxwell spot
*It Had To
Be You
Come Out, Come Out,
Wherever You Are
The Charioteers
Sonny Tufts spot
*Anchors
Aweigh (parody)
with Sonny Tufts & Marilyn Maxwell
*Together
(a) with
Marilyn Maxwell
*I’ll Be
Seeing You
Note:
(a) The
comedy introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “You’re The Cream In My
Coffee”
“Bing Crosby’s show has seldom, if
ever, provided a better consecutive twenty minutes than the opening for last
week’s summer sign-off (27th). Nothing dynamic or hysterical about any of it
but consistently amusing and good. Besides, in the middle of it was ‘Crawz’ putting away, ‘It Had To Be
You’. One of
those plain but solid little tunes which he has always been smart enough not to
tie up too fancy, vocally. Between John Scott’s flute obbligato and Crosby just ramblin’ along, tendin’ to his mumblin’ it ought to become one of his wax
‘standards’.
For this rendition, unquestionably, rates as an example of Crosby at his
best”
(“Variety” 2nd August 1944)
(Shortly
after this programme was broadcast, Bing flew east to New York and in
Mid-August, sailed on a troopship (the ex-luxury liner, “Ile de France”) which was carrying reinforcements to
the European Theatre of Operations. A small USO troupe accompanied him,
consisting of, Joe De Rita (Comedian), Gene Darrell (Singer), Darlene Garner
(Dancer), Earl Baxter (Accordion) and Buck Harris (Guitar). He disembarked in
Scotland on the 25th August and then to Glasgow railway station where a group of
women porters induced him to sing “Where The Blue Of The Night” and “I Belong To
Glasgow” after which, to use his own words, “I climbed into a sleeper and knew
no more until they hit me with a pot of tea around 7.30 in the morning”. There followed a
crowded itinerary of broadcasts, recordings and visits to hospitals and army
camps, both in Britain and France, before Bing returned to the US in early
October.)
“Bing’s Overseas USO Tour” (Headline)
Dateline
Hollywood August 1st - “Bing Crosby is ready to hop overseas on his first USO
entertainment tour with thirteen weeks of vacation at his disposal and his
inoculation shots completed. His destination and time of starting are
still secret but all the arrangements have been made by the Hollywood Victory
Committee. One
reason for the crooner’s delay, in going abroad, is his aversion to air
travel. He has
not climbed aboard a plane since Knute Rockne (football coach for Notre Dame) was killed in
an air crash, several years ago but recently, he agreed to go anywhere, by any
means of transportation. Another reason was that his vacations were
split into short periods. For the first time in years he has thirteen
consecutive weeks off. Actor is due back for his radio show on November 2nd
(sic).”
(“Variety”
August 2nd 1944)
“Sonny Tufts will do five guestings on Kraft Music Hall while Bing is crooning
to GI’s in the Pacific (sic). The Music Maids, five-year fixtures, on the
cheese show have been displaced by The Charioteers”
(“Variety”
9th August 1944)
“George Murphy follows Sonny Tufts into Kraft Music Hall as
compere, for an indefinite
span. El Bingo
is due back on November 2nd”
(“Variety”
13th September 1944)
“Bing Crosby arrived in Glasgow on Friday 25th August and
was met by a crowd of women porters at Glasgow railway station who induced him
to sing ‘Where The Blue Of The Night’ and ‘Glasgow Belongs to Me’(sic). He then climbed
into a sleeper and then knew no more ‘until they hit me with a pot of tea,
around 7.30 in the morning’”
(“Melody
Maker” 2nd September 1944”)
“Der Bingle - New Weapon For Allies”
(Headline)
“The Allies opened up on the Nazis with a new secret weapon
from London, this week, according to Bob Musel, ‘United Press’ and ‘Variety’ correspondent in
London whose story on the weapon broke, Monday. The new counter attack to the V2 was Der
Bingle, sometimes known in the States as Bing Crosby and now, overseas, for
morale work.
He talked and sang in a recorded broadcast by an American broadcasting
station in Europe, beamed to Germany. Der Bingle, who, according to Musel, is a great favourite with the
Germans, took off first in a snappy chat to the Wehrmacht, astonishing front line observers by using
reasonably good German. Der Bingle who doesn’t speak German was asked
to explain how come.
‘I do it with phonetics’, he said. Consulting his phonetic chart, according to
Musel, Crosby started off with,
‘Hello, German soldiers, here speaks Bing Crosby, I’ve just arrived from
America, the country where nobody is afraid of the Gestapo and where everybody
has a right to say and write what he thinks’ Rippling through the Teutonic guttural, the
Bingo told the Germans about constitutional rights and what Americans fight for,
then he signalled his pianist and said, “I didn’t come here to preach, I came to
sing a few songs”.
It was beautiful psychological warfare, wrote Musel, a passing typist, asking what was going on in
the studios, was told it was Crosby singing to the Nazis, had a different
comment. ‘To
the Nazis’, she exclaimed, incredulously, ‘what kind of punishment is
that?’”
(“Variety”
6th September 1944)
“Crosby And Astaire In New York After Overseas
Tour”
(Headline)
“Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire arrived in New York, Sunday
8th, after appearing in England and France with USO Camp Show units. Crosby spent seven
weeks abroad and Astaire, six. The two stars worked in several shows,
together, as well as with other units. Crosby will leave by train for the coast on
Friday 13th
(“Variety”
11th October 1944)
With Ken
Carpenter, The Music Maids & Men, Marilyn Maxwell, Spike Jones and his City
Slickers, George Murphy and Bob
Hope.
Thou Swell
George Murphy & Marilyn Maxwell
Cocktails For
Two
Spike Jones and his City Slickers with The Music Maids & Men
*Swinging
On A Star
*White
Christmas
The show was hosted by George Murphy and Bing made a guest appearance only, his contribution being cut in from New York. It is possible that his songs were pre-recorded. Bing mentions that General Eisenhower would like hominy grits and this produces an avalanche of them and later the General has to ask Bing to stop the supplies coming.
Notes:
(a)
Biac Records BRAD10521 - “Bing Crosby At His Rarest Of All Rare Performances”
Kenwest KWCD664 (CD) - “Those Were The Days - Volume 5”
American Masters CD
- Bing Crosby Rediscovered: The Soundtrack
(b)
Jasmine CD JASCD 714 "Swing Low, Sweet Charioteers"
(c)
Spokane 10 - “Der Bingle - Volume Two”
Double Gold DBG53042 (CD) - “Bing Crosby Those Great World War II Songs”
The comedy introduction includes Bing singing a snatch of “Ti-Pi-Tin”.
Goldies GLD 25448-3 (CD) –“All the
Number One Hits”
(d)
Spokane 16 - “Bing’s Music Hall Highlights”
Lamton 250 - “Sweethearts Of Song - Live 1940’s”
BCR-01 (CD) - “Bing Crosby - We’re Just Wild About Harry”
Sepia CD 1373 "Bing Crosby - Kraft
Music Hall Time"
George
Murphy—later Senator Murphy—also did some pinch-hitting for Crosby. And it was
arranged that when Bing came back from Germany, George should turn the show
back to him. To make it a real gala we added Bob Hope to the reception
committee.
But Bing’s ship didn’t arrive in New
York in time for him to get to Los Angeles for the broadcast, because at that
time he did not choose to travel by air. Today he’s as happy in the sky as the
Flying Nun. So we put Bing in a studio in New York and had him do the show with
George and Bob and Marilyn Maxwell, just as if they were all together. But of
course the audience knew that it was actually a very expensive conference call
they were tuned in to.
Part of the script went something
like this. George said, “Hey, Bing, guess who’s here to welcome you.”
“It must be Hope. I can hear him
breathing. He gets so eager when near a mike. Better stand back, George, before
he goes berserk and claws you.”
“Well, if it isn’t Der Bingle,” said
Hope. “Same old Cros. Jealous of us younger men who can still experience a
little passion. I want to tell you, Bing, this is wonderful.”
“Glad to have me back, huh?”
“It is so refreshing after working
with you all these years to be able to do and not have to look at you.”
“And that goes double for me,
Toboggan Beak. It’s just as I planned it. And if you think it’s easy to talk a
ship’s captain into bringing his barge in a day late, forget it.”
(Carroll Carroll, My Life
With...)
Go to 1944-45 season