Bing Crosby

Bing Crosby was one of the most influential and popular entertainers of the 20th century. He was a pioneering radio star, a hugely successful recording artist, and a major movie star, appearing in over 80 films. Crosby’s smooth baritone voice and relaxed, casual style made him a household name and one of the most recognizable voices of his era. He was a versatile performer, equally at home with pop standards, jazz, and country music, and his recordings and radio shows were hugely popular throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s.

Crosby’s radio career began with his first major series, 15 Minutes with Bing Crosby, which debuted on August 31, 1931, on CBS. This show was significant in establishing him as a national radio star, and it was followed by various other successful programs, including Kraft Music Hall and Bing Crosby Entertains.

The Stars

Bing Crosby was the undisputed star of the show, with his smooth baritone voice and easygoing persona making him one of the most beloved entertainers of his time. He was supported by a variety of talented musicians, singers, and comedians over the course of his long career, including the Boswell Sisters, the Mills Brothers, and Bob Hope, with whom he starred in the popular “Road to” series of comedy films.

Key Dates

• 1931-1932: Crosby’s first major radio series, The Cremo Singer, aired six nights a week on CBS, establishing him as a national radio star. 
• 1932: Crosby began a series of unsponsored 15-minute shows on CBS called 15 Minutes with Bing Crosby. 
• 1933-1935: Crosby starred in the weekly radio series Bing Crosby Entertains, sponsored by the Woodbury Soap Company, which helped cement his reputation as a radio star. 
• 1935-1946: Crosby hosted the popular Kraft Music Hall series on NBC, which ran for 60 minutes until 1943 and then 30 minutes until the end of its run. 
• 1941-1945: Crosby’s radio shows were broadcast to American troops during World War II as part of the Bing Crosby on Armed Forces Radio in World War II series. 
• 1946-1949: Crosby hosted the Philco Radio Time series on ABC. 
• 1949-1952: Crosby starred in The Bing Crosby – Chesterfield Show on CBS. 
• 1952-1954: Crosby hosted The Bing Crosby Show for General Electric on CBS. 
• 1954-1956: Crosby starred in The Bing Crosby Show on CBS, which aired 15 minutes five nights a week. 
• 1955-1962: Crosby hosted the annual A Christmas Sing with Bing holiday special, which was broadcast on CBS, the Voice of America, and the Armed Forces Network. 

Other Information

Bing Crosby was one of the most successful and influential entertainers of the 20th century. He was the first multimedia star, achieving success in radio, recordings, and films. His recordings were enormously popular, with his version of “White Christmas” becoming the best-selling single of all time.

Crosby won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 1944 film Going My Way, and was nominated for the sequel, The Bells of St. Mary’s, in 1945, becoming the first of six actors to be nominated twice for playing the same character.

Crosby was also known for his collaborations with his friend Bob Hope, starring in the popular “Road to” series of comedy films from 1940 to 1962. The two were an iconic on-screen duo, though they never officially declared themselves a “team” in the way that other famous comedy duos like Laurel and Hardy or Martin and Lewis were.

Crosby’s popularity extended far beyond the United States. He was known as “Der Bingle” in Europe and Russia, and his music was hugely popular in Africa, where he was known as the “Bing Crosby of Africa.” His music was so ubiquitous that the Yank magazine said he was “the person who had done the most for the morale of overseas servicemen” during World War II.

Crosby was also a pioneer in the use of magnetic tape for radio recording, which allowed him to pre-record his shows and have more control over the final product. This was controversial at the time, as networks and sponsors preferred the “live” feel of radio, but Crosby’s insistence on using tape technology helped drive its wider adoption in the industry.

Crosby remained a major star throughout his career, appearing in dozens of hit films and continuing to record and perform live until his death in 1977 at the age of 74. He is considered one of the most important and influential entertainers of the 20th century, and his smooth, relaxed style and versatility as a performer have made him an enduring icon of American popular culture.