Bing Crosby Radio show from 60, 65, or 70 years ago this week !

Discussion in 'Music Corner' started by Dr. Pepper, Mar 4, 2014.

  1. tinpanalley

    tinpanalley Forum Resident

    Location:
    Montreal, Canada
    Were there any Bing or Sinatra shows recorded live during the Christmas season during WWII? I think those would be really nice to hear during the holiday season.
     
  2. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

  3. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

  4. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

    JAG likes this.
  5. DmitriKaramazov

    DmitriKaramazov Senior Member

  6. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

    Jason W and Mr. H like this.
  7. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

  8. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

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  9. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

    I'm bringing us Bing shows from WWII, but the problem is that many of the well known Christmas songs weren't written until after WWII and then it usually takes a few years for the song to find a big enough audience to become a standard and be prominently featured on a Christmas show, so "Christmas Shows" feature more recognizable music from the late 1940s on up. Check out the dates on this below list from our friends at Wikipedia.

    Most-performed Christmas songs (US)
    According to the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers in 2006, the following are the Top 25 most-performed "holiday" songs written by ASCAP members, for the first five years of the 21st century:[8] (tracking plays in the U.S. only, and in order of number of plays)[9]


    Rank Song Composer(s) Year Type
    1 "The Christmas Song" Mel Tormé, Robert Wells 1944 traditions
    2 "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Ralph Blane, Hugh Martin 1944 celebratory/sentimental
    3 "Winter Wonderland" Felix Bernard, Richard B. Smith 1934 seasonal
    4 "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" J. Fred Coots, Haven Gillespie 1934 mythical
    5 "White Christmas" Irving Berlin 1940 seasonal/sentimental
    6 "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" Sammy Cahn, Jule Styne 1945 seasonal
    7 "Jingle Bell Rock" Joseph Carleton Beal, James Ross Boothe 1957 celebratory/seasonal
    8 "The Little Drummer Boy" Katherine K. Davis, Henry V. Onorati,Harry Simeone 1941 religious
    9 "Sleigh Ride" Leroy Anderson, Mitchell Parish 1948 seasonal/birthday
    10 "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" Johnny Marks 1939/1949 mythical
    11 "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" Edward Pola, George Wyle 1963 seasonal/traditions
    12 "I'll Be Home for Christmas" Walter Kent, Kim Gannon, Buck Ram 1943 traditions/sentimental
    13 "Silver Bells" Jay Livingston, Ray Evans 1950 traditions
    14 "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" Johnny Marks 1958 traditions
    15 "Feliz Navidad" José Feliciano 1970 celebratory
    16 "Blue Christmas" Billy Hayes, Jay W. Johnson 1957 traditions/alternative
    17 "Frosty the Snowman" Steve Nelson, Walter E. Rollins 1950 mythical
    18 "A Holly Jolly Christmas" Johnny Marks 1964/5 traditions/celebratory
    19 "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" Meredith Willson 1951 traditions/celebratory
    20 "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" Tommie Connor 1952 mythical/novelty
    21 "Here Comes Santa Claus" (Right Down Santa Claus Lane) Gene Autry, Oakley Haldeman 1947 mythical
    22 "Carol of the Bells" Peter J. Wilhousky, Mykola D. Leontovych 1921/47 celebratory
    23 "Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed the World)" Midge Ure, Bob Geldof 1984 traditions
    24 "(There's No Place Like) Home for the Holidays" Bob Allen, Al Stillman 1954 traditions/sentimental
    25 "Santa Baby" Joan Ellen Javits, Philip Springer, Tony Springer, and Fred Ebb 1953 mythical/alternative

    Of these, the oldest songs are "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" and "Winter Wonderland", both published in 1934—though some element of the song came along earlier for two titles (the source or music). Almost a dozen were released in the 1940s, the next largest group coming in the 1950s. Only two became popular in the 1960s; one each in the 1970s and 1980s. "Do They Know It's Christmas? (Feed the World)" by Midge Ure and Bob Geldof is the only relatively new one on the list: "Recorded in 1984 by Band Aid—an all-star band of British musicians—this benefit single assisted famine relief efforts in Ethiopia, and sold millions of copies over the '84 holiday season."[8]

    Christmas songs introduced in theater, television, and film include "White Christmas" from Holiday Inn (1942), "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" from Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), and "Silver Bells" in The Lemon Drop Kid (1950).

    Elvis Presley introduced his cover of "Blue Christmas", and debuted the Leiber-Stoller "Santa Claus Is Back in Town", on his first Christmas album in 1957—along with versions of other standards such as "Here Comes Santa Claus", "White Christmas", and "I'll Be Home for Christmas". Bruce Springsteen and The Jackson Five recorded separate versions of "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", as well as other Christmas titles. The unlikely pairing of Bing Crosby with David Bowie on the impromptu "The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth" created one of the most popular Christmas duets ever recorded.[10]

    Other popular Christmas songs
    Other popular Christmas songs often heard include: "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" (1937), "Happy Holiday" (1942), "Baby It's Cold Outside" (1944), "Merry Christmas Baby" (1947), "Mary's Boy Child" (1956), and "We Need a Little Christmas" (1966)—all recorded by a number of acts. Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters had a hit with "Mele Kalikimaka" in 1950, and Crosby introduced "Marshmallow World" (backed by The Lee Gordon Singers and the Sonny Burke Orchestra) in the same year. In 1951 he recorded "Christmas in Killarney". Frank Sinatra put "The Christmas Waltz" on the B-side of his version of "White Christmas" in 1954, and included "Mistletoe and Holly" on his 1957 album A Jolly Christmas From Frank Sinatra. Nat King Cole put his stamp on "The Happiest Christmas Tree", "Buon Natale (Means Merry Christmas to You)", and "The Little Boy that Santa Claus Forgot" on various Christmas album releases.

    "Suzy Snowflake" was recorded by Rosemary Clooney in 1951 and Chuck Berry released "Run Rudolph Run" in 1958. Others would follow in the ensuing decades:
     
    Last edited: Dec 17, 2014
    Bob F likes this.
  10. Jason W

    Jason W Forum Resident

    Location:
    Mill Valley, CA
    love Bing's Kraft shows- keep 'em coming :)
     
  11. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

    I post "new" 1944-1945 Kraft shows to my Podcast every Thursday, and I'll keep linking to them on this thread as long as folks are interested! Bing was quoted before the 1944-1945 season of 70 years ago, saying that this season would take a more musical focus and feature a variety of musical guests over popular entertainers of the day. You can see this is true by the higher percentage of musical guests featured this year, but it must not have worked for ratings because of Bing's shift back to featuring higher percentage of popular entertainers as guests in future years - see our 1949-1950 season shows that we have been airing for example.
     
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  12. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

    Here you go!

    Bing Crosby Show 1944-12-14-Kraft Music Hall - Guest Jerry Colonna - Holiday Inn Medley

    With Ken Carpenter, The Charioteers, Eugenie Baird and Jerry Colonna.

    *Don’t Fence Me In (b) with Choir

    Straighten Up And Fly Right The Charioteers

    *More And More (b)

    (All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings Eugenie Baird

    Can’t You Hear Me Calling, Caroline? Jerry Colonna

    Medley from “Holiday Inn”

    *Let’s Start The New Year Right

    *Abraham with Choir

    *Be Careful, It’s My Heart

    *Easter Parade with Eugenie Baird

    *White Christmas with Choir


    [​IMG]
     
  13. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

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  14. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

  15. JAG

    JAG Forum Professor with Tenure

    Location:
    Northeast USA
    love the old bing Christmas radio shows.....could just listen to them for hours, thanks
     
  16. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

    The one from 1953 (above) is absolutely outstanding and he never did another quite like it. Here is the summary of the episode:

    No. 52 20th December 1953 (a)


    Transcribed in Hollywood. Announced by Ken Carpenter. With Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires.


    *Adeste Fideles (b) with Rhythmaires

    *Sleigh Ride (c) with Rhythmaires

    *The Christmas Song (d)

    *Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (e) with Rhythmaires

    *Jingle Bells (f) with Rhythmaires


    Medley:

    *Deck The Halls With Boughs Of Holly (g) with Rhythmaires

    *Away In A Manger (g) with Rhythmaires

    *O Little Town Of Bethlehem (h)

    *The First Nowell (g) with Rhythmaires


    The Toy Trumpet (Scott) John Scott Trotter Orchestra

    *White Christmas (i) with Rhythmaires

    *Silent Night (j) with Rhythmaires

    Silent Night Closing Theme - Rhythmaires
     
  17. kennyluc1

    kennyluc1 Frank Sinatra collector

    what a great thread. Keep up the good work!!!
     
  18. paulmock

    paulmock Forum Resident

    Location:
    Hollywood, CA
  19. JAG

    JAG Forum Professor with Tenure

    Location:
    Northeast USA
    it is wonderful

    2 that stand out to me....I believe it is one of his oldest if not his oldest, before the war late 30's? it is the one where he is home with his kids Christmas morning I think also the one with Rosemary Clooney (I love her so I am bias)
     
  20. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

    Command Performance - Christmas Special 1945-12-25

    I've had some requests for Bing and Sinatra, so here they are in a special Command Performance!

    Wow! Bob Hope (m.c.), Ken Carpenter (announcer), Bing Crosby, Dinah Shore, Harry James, Herbert Marshall, Jimmy Durante, Ginny Simms, Jerry Colonna, Johnny Mercer, The Pied Pipers, Judy Garland, Ed Gardner, Frances Langford, Kay Kyser, Frank Sinatra, Mel Blanc, The Robert Mitchell Boys Choir, Harry Truman, Cass Daley.

    [​IMG]
     
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  21. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

    Elgin Holiday Specials 1944-12-25 Elgin Christmas Show 3rd Annual

    From 70 years ago today Elgin Watches brings us their third annual Christmas program. With Ginny Simms, Eddie Anderson, Jack Benny, Louis Silvers and His Orchestra, Manny Klein, The Swing Wing, The Charioteers, George Burns, Gracie Allen, Carmen Miranda, Joseph Szigeti, The Les Paul Trio, Barbara Jo Allen, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Carroll Carroll (writer), Anthony Stanford (production supervisor), Don Ameche (m. c.), Ken Carpenter (announcer), Joan Davis, Anne Stone, Tyler McVey.
    [​IMG]
     
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  22. Dr. Pepper

    Dr. Pepper What, me worry? Thread Starter

    I think you are talking about this, my favorite Christmas Show of all time!

    Bing Crosby Podcast 1950-12-20 (047) Crosby Family Christmas
    Bing and his family really shine on this one!

    [​IMG]
     
    paulmock likes this.
  23. paulmock

    paulmock Forum Resident

    Location:
    Hollywood, CA
    WOW! This one looks like a gem. sadly, some of those names are unknown to me. I shall enjoy it later. Thank you and Merry Christmas!!!!
     
  24. paulmock

    paulmock Forum Resident

    Location:
    Hollywood, CA
    Much as I try, almost anything that involves Bing with the 1st family eventually creeps me out. I mean NO OFFENSE to Bing. But you get the feeling that there is something deeper running underneath everything when the boys are with Dad in front of a mike. Gladly, the new PBS Special has finally shed light on what was an unfortunate situation from before they were even born. Sad.
     
  25. JAG

    JAG Forum Professor with Tenure

    Location:
    Northeast USA
    this one is wonderful but no the kids are older and it is in a studio

    it is the late 30's and they are at Bing's home, the kids are young waiting for Santa I think or they just open their presents. I have to do some research
     

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