| NAME | MESSAGE |
| Judy Schmid |
posted 07/09/02 02:14 PM Central Time (US)  contact the author directly
HEY BING FANS! (I don't usually type in ALL CAPS) but I wanted to make sure people spotted my posting.....Arne, how are you doing updating websites with correct Bing info? Can someone who's a good writer and/or has some time to devote to web-updates volunteer to help?..If someone were to do a GOOGLE search on Bing Crosby, they'd find tons of websites - some are selling Crosby music and films (and many of them need updated critiques!!!! hint hint hint!)... there are also some 'informational sites' that have his birthdate wrong (can we link somewhere to Gary Giddins' information so we can quote the exact date with a scholarlyreference?)...or they've got negative things to say based on negative headlines that sold two books in the 80s (have any of these people who mention the negative stories even READ the books they're taken from, I wonder...).....Please, people - there are a few of us working very hard to do what we can in our own little spheres of influence and there are others of us who need gentle prodding to share their skills with us. Is there someone or many someones who can update these sales sites or information sites with critiques or correct information?..Of course, there are a lot of site that have asinine commentary invoking Bing's name and they've got nothing to do with him, but I think that it's up to the family to have those sites shut down...OK...off my soapbox for yet another day! ;-)..Friends, will you sign up to help? You can always e-mail me at judy@koenig-adpr.com for suggestions.....judy |
| Steven Lewis |
posted 07/09/02 09:27 PM Central Time (US)  no email address given
I've offered "advice" to many websites regarding their Bing content over the years. Sometimes my advice is taken, sometimes it is ignored. Sometimes changes are made, but the errors magically reappear a few months later. Bing's birthdate wobbles back and forth because of all the conflicting accounts. I know that many people go by what is etched in stone -- what is on Bing's grave. Now there would be a job for the family. Some folks are just psychotic, like our late visitor from another planet -- Jack. I don't have time to go through the thousands of sites that mention Bing to edit them for correctness. I wouldn't devote any time to "shutting down" websites because I feel their content is asinine. If I could do so, the internet would be a much smaller place! Often folks are blissfully ignorant. The Crosby family, on the other hand, prefers to be blissfully silent. |
| Howard Crosby |
posted 07/10/02 09:53 AM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Steven...in breaking the "silence", I've often found it's better to remain silent that upset someone's preconceived notions. For instance, the birthday question has been endlessly debated back and forth, 1903 or 1904? The real story is that none of them are right. My Dad, Edward J "Ted" Crosby was born on July 29, 1900, the third son of Kate and Harry. Their fourth son, Harry Lillis, came along in May a couple of years later, in 1902. I have a picture of Dad and Bing sitting on their back porch holding their puppy dogs when Dad was five and Bing was almost four. At that age, a year makes a big difference, and there's no way Bing was less than three! Besides, the two boys slept in the same bed on the sleeping porch, and Dad always said Bing was just over a year younger. I don't care how many baptismal certificates or other "evidence" anyone comes up with, the fact is, Bing was born in 1902. Now, when you see the responses to this posting, you'll see why we all tend to be reticent. |
| Ben Weaver |
posted 07/10/02 01:07 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Howard. . Do you have an explanation for the newspaper announcements of 'A little son arrived May 3 in the home of Mr. and Mrs. H.L. Crosby.' appearing May 7th,1903 in 'The Tacoma Ledger', Tacoma, Washington and 'Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Crosby are receiving congratulations on the arrival of a son at their household May 3' that appeared in 'The Tacoma Daily News' on Wed. May 6th. 1903?. |
| Paul Fisher |
posted 07/10/02 04:51 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Ben's got a good point, Howard, but the MAIN point when all is said and done is that Bing was born at all. Isn't that what we all celebrate after all? Whether it's now 99 or 100 years later, I really couldn't care less. |
| Steven Lewis |
posted 07/10/02 06:35 PM Central Time (US) no email address given
Paul's point is a bullseye for Bing fans, but historians (not mere fans) need to deal with issues such as birth dates, recording dates, recording personnel .... Some of us try to walk atop the fence and play the role of fan and historian, often to the chagrin of those who stand on either side...Ben rightly points to some of the evidence of Bing's 1903 birth that was first unearthed by J.T. Mize in the 1940s and reconfirmed by the research of Gary Giddins for his Bing biography. Two different 1903 Tacoma newspapers, as well as church 1903 baptismal records, point to Bing's birth as May 1903. Sadly, none of this evidence will be of any interest to Howard, for he has already drawn his 'Maginot Line' in the sand: "I don't care how many baptismal certificates or other 'evidence' anyone comes up with, the fact is, Bing was born in 1902." The Crosby family ignored Mize's research in the '40s and others are following this noble tradition in the face of Giddins research today. Recall, though, that the Crosby family initiated the confusion about Bing's birth and perpetuated it through the years with conflicting accounts. Bing seemed mostly oblivious to it all. |
| Bob |
posted 07/13/02 09:49 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Just curious. Who are these historians who are supposed to ferret out such information as the real date of Bing's birth? Where do they come from, and what are their credentials? Are they professional historians? Journalists? Biographers? All of the above? |
| Ben Weaver |
posted 07/14/02 10:25 AM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Bob.. Probably some or all of the above. I don't think it takes a great deal of education or any special skill to go into a library and look through old newspapers for possible information on the birth of a baby or through Church records for information on a Baptismal.. In addition, I find that people employed at these institutions are very helpful in assisting you find the information you are looking for. They will also make photostatic copies of their records if requested. . I, myself, have obtained such photostats of the evidence of Bing's Birth on May 3rd.1903 from two Tacoma, Washington Newspapers [Birth Announcements ] and of his Baptismal on May 31st. 1903 from St. Patricks Parish, 1122 North J. Street, Tacoma, Washinton. in the form of a copy of the Baptismal Certificate. |
| Dieter Pressler |
posted 08/15/02 08:07 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
(I do not often have the opportunity to get on the net; my little device handles only e-mail PURE TEXT, no links, etc.)..Calling up "Bing Crosby" on amazon.com film listing, yielding 91 items(not all of them Crosby material!), I took advantage of their feedback feature to correct that troublesome birth date...See y'all in Spokane? |
| Glenn T. |
posted 06/26/04 03:12 AM Central Time (US) no email address given
I saw Fahrenheit 9/11 tonight. Bing can be heard with the Andrew Sisters singing "Here Comes Santa Clause". No reference to him is made though. Film is great by the way. GT |
| Arne |
posted 06/28/04 08:04 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Haven't seen the movie yet, but is there any truth to the rumor that both Michael Moore and President Bush claim that Bing was born May 2nd, 1901? (Now THAT would be controversy!) |
| howard crosby |
posted 07/02/04 03:09 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Arne, Actually, it is my fervantly held belief that Bing was actually born on May 2, 1902, but I've long since given up on this. Gary Giddens cites the '03 date based upon a newspaper artice announcing Bing's baptism in late May, 1903. There is no question the 1904 date was bogus. Why do I believe in 1902? Well, Dad was born July 29, 1900, no dispute. Bing was the next in line, and I have a picture of the two of them sitting on their front poarch holding new puppies, when Dad was about 4 and Bing two. Now if Bing had been born in '03, he'd have been a one year old baby in the photo. Also, Dad and Bing slept in the same bed as boys, and they were less than two years apart in age, according to Dad. (May 1902 would have made Bing 21 months younger)Also, Dad said Bing was born in 1902. Do you know what year your next youngest sibling was born? This was not the kind of detail my Dad would have forgotten. I rest my case, and I'll never visit this subject again. |
| Arne |
posted 07/02/04 04:20 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Howard, It must have seemed odd to you that I would post something regarding Bing's birthdate on this otherwise misbegoten thread, but what I was trying to do (in my foolishness) was lighten the "fahrenheit" mood by reminding long-term visitors of the controversial days of one Mr. J.W., a fellow who used to visit this site and raise holy Hell on the subject of your uncle's birth. My silly joke here was to compare the controversy surrounding Moore's movie to the REALLY heated debates we used to have on the subject of Bing's birth. This Mr. J.W would state his unshaken belief in Bing's birthdate being 5-2-01, and then if anyone dared contradict him, he would slide into personal insult mode - and worse. So, anyway, I was trying to be "funny"... Oh well. Your communication to me here, however, gives me the opportunity to tell you how much I have been enjoying your articles in "Bing" magazine. It's not just the fact that the reminiscenses themselves are fascinating, but also that you are a very good writer. I think there is a Crosby family book in you that should be written. It would provide an incredible look at Bing and family, a story that's never been told, from a totally unique perspective. Please consider it! |
| Richard Walker |
posted 07/02/04 04:49 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
Howard, I heartily second Arne's motion--I've enjoyed your sensible, knowledgeable and articulate posts, and your take on all things Crosby, Bing and otherwise is one that bridges past in present in a valuable way. Go to it, man! Richard |
| Jim Kukura |
posted 07/02/04 07:44 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
I'll third that nomination. Having spent a little time with Howard at Hofstra, I can tell you he is a very level headed, well spoken man who has a talent for communicating his ideas to others, whether written or verbal. Having said that, I will take exception to the 1902 year of birth for Bing. While at Hofstra, a representative from some branch of the U.S. government addressed one panel with an enlightening presentation of how much information on Bing was available from government archives. Much documentation about Bing's World War II activities, as coordinated through the federal government is a prime example. Encluded in the examples the man handed out, was a copy of the 1920 U.S. Census report for Bing's family taken in February or March, I believe, but certainly before Bing's birthday that year. Bing is listed as 16, meaning he would have turned 17 in May, 1920, making his year of birth as 1903. I hardly think Bing was shaving years as a teenager in the expectation he would be a famous entertainer some day. Enough said. |
| Carod |
posted 08/31/04 04:00 AM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
The song in this movie isn't "Here comes Santa Claus"; the song in this movie is "Santa Claus is coming to town", an other christmas song. You're right, no reference to him is made thoug: the same succeded in "The talented Mr.Ripley" where you can hear the Crosby song "May?" or in "I know what you did last summer" when you can hear for seconds "Beautiful girl" and these songs aren't in the score. WHAT A PITY!!! Barcelona, Spain |
| Ben Weaver |
posted 07/08/05 02:09 PM Central Time (US) contact the author directly
The 174 page book "Bing Crosby and The Bing Crosby Style" by Dr. J.T.H. Mize is currently listed for sale on eBay for $3.00. I whole heartily recommend this book to every Bing Crosby fan. Published in 1946 it is full of wonderful photographs and interesting facts about Bing's career and family life up to that time. Of particular interest, at least to me, are the facts surrounding Bing's place and date of birth as was known as early as 1946. On Page 17~"Consistent with a general, tho not enviable, practice in the moompitcher land of make-believe, some of Bing's Hollywoodian publicity releases reduce his age by a year, stating that he was born in 1904, instead of 1903. Some state 1901. Officially, Bing was never born: at least his birth was not recorded with civil authorities. During our preliminary research, before having his birth-date confirmed, we had the records of Tacoma's Department of Public Health searched and researched on two occasions: and between 1898 and 1906 only two births to the Crosby family were recorded in Tacoma, two "unnamed females", who were Catherine and Mary Rose. [According to the parish records of nearby Saint Patrick's Church Harry Lillis was baptized there on 31 May 1903]. But as was not uncommon back in those days, the attending obstetrician simply neglected to register this Bing baby, not realizing that eventually the ugly brat would become one of the best-known figures in world history" Co-incidently the listing price on eBay is the same as the $3.00 retail price for the book back in 1946! The listing still has three and a half days to run. |