Tag: bing crosby

The Hearst Follies – 3

A very sympathetic 1-hour biography of Marion Davies, with comments from noted silent film historian Kevin Brownlow. It was financed by Hugh Hefner, who was revealed in last year’s Secrets of Playboy to have been a monster.

How about that swell toe-tapper of a tune, heard a couple of times in the documentary? “There Ain’t No Maybe in My Baby’s Eyes” is what Robert Crumb would call sweet music.

As pointed out in the documentary, Marion had a stutter. She wanted to quit the movies when sound came in, but then her stutter disappeared once the cameras were rolling.

In 1933 Marion, age 36, was teamed with the somewhat younger Bing Crosby in Going Hollywood. Being a pre-code movie, several disclaimers need to be made. First, Marion does a number in black face. Second, Bing implies that Sterling Holloway was gay. Third, Ned Sparks makes fun of Pratts!

Before watching Going Hollywood, I suggest reading this extremely negative review.

http://pre-code.com/going-hollywood-1933-review-marion-davies-bing-crosby/

With all of that background to go on, you can now decide for yourself if Marion Davies was a no-talent hack whose career was entirely thanks to the influence of William Randolph Hearst. I’m leaning towards the side that says, “Gosh, she was a peach of a girl.”

Sister Acts

Kathy Lennon of the Lennon Sisters says this on Facebook about the passing of Patty Andrews, of the Andrews Sisters.

Kathy Lennon — (1/30/13)
Just heard from a friend that Patty Andrews died…94 years old. The Andrew Sisters were the 1st singing sister act that we tried to copy. We loved their rendition of songs, their high spirit, their fabulous harmony. We were honored to meet them on THE MIKE DOUGLAS SHOW… we could not believe they knew who we were, and we sang a bit of BOOGIE WOOGIE BUGLE BOY with them. We tribute them at every Lennon Sisters Concert, with our version of BOOGIE WOOGIE…The Lennon Sisters send their families love, prayers and admiration for these beautifully talented women…

As posted here last month, the Lennon Sisters performed with Bing Crosby, so here are the Andrews Sisters backing up Bing.

Lennons without John celebrate Christmas

Christmas, 1968, with the Lennon Sisters, Glen Campbell, and Bing Crosby. Now this is special! But how the heck did John Byner get in there?

Here’s more with the lovely Lennons from 1968. Months later, the Lennon Sisters’ father, William, would tragically become the first Lennon to be murdered by a deranged fan.

And the Lennons sing, “How’d you like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?” Isn’t that what President Obama is doing?

[audio:https://s3.amazonaws.com/dogratcom/Audio/2012/12/ChristmasIsland.mp3|titles=The Lennon Sisters: Christmas Island]

P.S. Here’s Byner doing his Bing impression.

Joe Sinnott, from Bing to Beatles

Joltin’ Joe Sinnott’s granddaughter Erin has been posting a very enjoyable weekly series of video Q&A’s with Joe on his Facebook page. Joe’s fans and friends know that he’s a big fan of Bing Crosby, and this week’s question comes from a fellow Der Bingle fan, who’s none other than my co-conspirator in fanboy endeavors, Dennis F. Rogers.

[flv:http://s3.amazonaws.com/dogratcom/Video/2012/JoeSinnottBing.flv 512 384]

Joe’s praise for Bing singing the plaintive Hang Me, Oh Hang Me makes it deserving of a listen, so here it is.

[audio:https://s3.amazonaws.com/dogratcom/Audio/2012/12/BingCrosby.mp3|titles=Bing Crosby – Hang Me Oh Hang Me]

I’m pleased no end that Joe Sinnott also has a connection to the Beatles, because when they came to America in 1964, Joe had the distinction of being picked to illustrate the authorized comic book of their story…

… and here’s Joe talking about drawing the Beatles. A couple of years later he would be in the thick of his legendary run with Jack Kirby on The Fantastic Four.

[flv:http://s3.amazonaws.com/dogratcom/Video/2012/JoeSinnottBeatles.flv 512 384]