"Bingo" was what my grandmother used to call Bing Crosby, the king of the crooners. I think the world at large knew him as Der Bingle, or simply just as Mr. Showbiz. He was certainly one of the most popular performers of the 20th Century, excelling at popular music, jazz, movie acting and TV. Crosby's work in Hollywood is especially appealling, and a great insight into his celebrity appeal -- even while mired in the corniest material, Bing was cool. Always a bit aloof, he was nonetheless a remarkably relaxed performer, tossing off stellar performances and shifting moods at the drop of a hat. Here's a quick look at some (though not all!) of his long acting career. (For more about his musical legacy, check out my discography page.)

"I'll See You In My Dreams" (1941, MGM)
Slow, corny Gus Kahn bioflick featuring Doris Day as his wife, and Danny Thomas as the great great lyricist. They have no chemistry together as actors, and the script is typically leaden. Still, it's interesting to get a glimpse into how one of Tin Pan Alley's early legends got a foothold in the business, and how rough it turned out to be on him. Plus, boy, did he write a bunch of famous tunes! Not a great movie, but may be of interest nonetheless. Bandleader Isham Jones is mentioned several times, although he never appears as a character in the plot.

"New Orleans" (1951)

"Orchestra Wives" (1942, Fox)
Miller plays himself (sort of) as a bandleader with woman problems... problems with women married to his musicians!! A mildly interesting attempt to introduce some melodramatic social commentary about the strains that life on the road can impose on even the best marriages... A few campy catfights don't keep the wives' club scenes from dragging down the script, but the music is great. Highlights include the opening number, "People Like Us," which gives us a good look at the whole band, and a typically dazzling tap routine by the Nicholas Brothers, during the "I Got A Gal From Kalamazoo" medley finale. Miller plays his role with a surprisingly hardbitten edge; Cesar Romero, Jackie Gleason beef up the cast, and it's always nice to see Harry Morgan in one of his early roles as a teenage geek. Some funny references to the wartime swing scene.

• The Bing Crosby Internet Museum is an amazing resource for the diehard Crosby fan, with extensive discographies, a filmography, song lyrics and info about his work in radio, as well as a lot of links to other sites. Very cool.

• Songbirds is a pop/jazz vocals treasure trove, collecting articles written by a wide-ranging list-serve group. Includes sappy pop singers and jazz musicians alike... Lotsa great info here, although it looks like the site went on hiatus sometime in 2000... So I'd recommend you check the site out now... while you can! Here's a link to an article someone wrote on Bing Crosby's Christmas records.

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