4326 Forman Ave, North Hollywood, CA 91602
Near Toluca Lake and Lakeside Golf Course
In March 1933 Bing and his wife, Dixie, leave New York for California where a movie career beckons. Dixie is pregnant with their first child, Gary, and the couple decide to build a home at the corner of Forman and Toluca Lake avenues. It's a 5,000-square-foot English Tudor. Bing, Dixie and Gary move into the home in the fall.
Toluca Lake home #2 1936-43
10500 Camarillo Street, North Hollywood, CA
Colonial Villa near Toluca Lake and 5 miles from Lakeside Golf Club
Now with 3 children and more to come the Crosbys needed a larger home. In September, 1935, Bing buys 7 acres of land near Toluca Lake and Lakeside Golf Course and builds a 20 room home that includes 7 bathrooms, swimming pool and tennis court. The Crosby family moves into the new home in June, 1936. On Jan. 3, 1943, a fire from Christmas tree lights burned the home to the ground while Bing was away golfing and dining at the Brown Derby. The family lost nearly everything, including the family dog and Bing's collection of transcription discs of the Kraft Music Hall. Bing was able to salvage a large amount of cash he had stashed inside a pair of shoes. The shortage of building materials during the War prevented Bing from rebuilding, so he sold the lot for $15,000 and moved into a Beverly Hills hotel.
Holmby Hills 1943-64
594 South Mapleton Drive, Los Angeles CA
Built in 1932 next to Los Angeles Country Club
17 room Georgian Colonial home
Within 2 weeks of the fire that destroyed Bing's Toluca Lake home Bing bought a vacant home in the Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles near the 14th fairway of the Los Angeles Country Club. To escape Los Angeles Bing sold the home in 1963 without consulting his wife. The home was demolished in 1988 after it was purchased by TV producer Aaron Spelling.
Hillsborough #1 (1964-65)
101 Robin Road, Hillsborough, CA
The disaster that was his first family weighed heavily on Bing. He wanted to get his new family away from the Hollywood environment, so in 1963 he sold his Holmby residence and bought a new home in Hillsborough. Hillsborough is located between San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Bing had just finished a round of golf in Hillsborough in 1963 when he was approached by the original owners and invited to tour the home. Bing agreed to buy it without consulting his wife, who preferred to remain in Los Angeles. When Kathryn toured the home she was aghast. Bing promised her that their stay would be brief.
Hillsborough #2 (1965-77)
1200 Jackling Drive, Hillsborough, CA
11-bedroom, 10-full bathroom, and five-half bathroom
Bing and Kathryn toured the home Oct. 1, 1964. Kathryn insisted that Bing buy it. He did, although they couldn't move in until December 1965. Following Bing's death Kathryn continued to occupy the home part-time. She died at the home in 2024, 47 years after Bing's death. Six months later the family sold the home for $25 million.
