Premier Collections:
The Bing Crosby Show
Liner notes written by Elizabeth McLeod

Click to listen to an audio sample

More than a crooner, more than a comedian, more than an actor, more than an entertainer -- Bing Crosby was perhaps the most well rounded personality of the old time radio era. A recording artist who could sell millions of records, an actor capable of Oscar-caliber performance, a comedian with the timing and talent to trade quips with the sharpest wits in the business, and a welcome guest in millions of American homes in his weekly radio series, Crosby's appeal crosses all boundaries. Find out why -- in this new collection of beautifully restored radio programs.

Crosby's radio series presented him as the most casual of stars. Listeners could picture him in a Hawaiian shirt and old hat, with a pipe in his mouth - a cross between everyone's wise guy brother-in-law and an old-school hipster who knows he doesn't have anything left to prove. And that sense of casual fun carries over to his guest stars as well, creating an environment in which anyone might show up and you never know what's coming next. Guests in this collection of shows run the gamut - from Lum and Abner to Beatrice Lillie, from Hopalong Cassidy to Louis Armstrong - and, wonder of wonders, they all seem to belong on Bing's show.

This collection of twenty programs offers an excellent sampling of Bing's 1949-50 series for Chesterfield Cigarettes over CBS, all taken from beautiful Radio Recorders and Empire 16" lacquer linechecks. (Be sure to click on the links below to view many of the original disc labels.) It comes to you on ten audio compact discs, playable on any CD player -- newly transferred, fully restored, and ready for your enjoyment. In addition to Bing and his celebrity guests, the shows also feature John Scott Trotter and his Orchestra, Jud Conlon's Rhythmaires, and announcer Ken Carpenter.

Here's the complete line-up of this fine new collection:

Guests Abe Burrows and Peggy Lee
Guests Peggy Lee and writer/comedian Abe Burrows join Bing in Burrows' musical version of "Hamlet."
Wednesday, September 21, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes
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Guest Judy Garland
Judy Garland, Bing, and announcer Ken Carpenter have fun with their memories of what radio was like way back in 1927.
Wednesday, October 5, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes
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Guest Frank Fay
Bing and his guest, monologist Frank Fay, sing a musical duet.
Wednesday, October 19, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes
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Guests Lum & Abner
Bing is invited to Pine Ridge to sing for guests Lum and Abner (Chester Lauck and Norris Goff).
Wednesday, October 26, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes
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Guest Bob Hope
Bing and guest Bob Hope go "out west" for a comedy skit.
Wednesday, November 2, 1949 - 30:00 CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes
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Guests William Boyd and Peggy Lee
The program features a fun western skit with Bing and guest William Boyd as Hopalong Cassidy.
Wednesday, December 7, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes 
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Guest Al Jolson
Now that guest Al Jolson has enjoyed two successful films based on his life - "The Jolson Story" and "Jolson Sings Again" - the question is: will Columbia Pictures make a third film about him, too?
Wednesday, December 28, 1949 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes
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Guest Al Jolson
Jolson makes a second guest appearance in a show that features snappy patter and a series of delightful musical duets.
Wednesday, January 4, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes
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Guests Jack Teagarden, Louis Armstrong and Joe Venuti
Jazz greats Jack Teagarden on trombone, Louis Armstrong on trumpet, and Joe Venuti on violin join Bing for a show filled with great music and song.
Wednesday, January 25, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes
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Guest Bob Hope
Comedian Bob Hope makes another guest appearance with old pal Bing.
Wednesday, February 1, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes
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Guests Fred Allen, Portland Hoffa, and Peggy Lee
Comedian Fred Allen appears with his wife, Portland, in a show that also features a surprise cameo by Al Jolson. The first tune is "Sunshine Cake" from Crosby's latest picture "Riding High."
Wednesday, February 8, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes
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Guest Al Jolson
The new "Humble Al" Jolson makes another guest appearance with Bing in a show that features several duets. The first tune is Frank Loesser's "The New Ashmolean Marching Society."
Wednesday, February 15, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes
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Guests Gary Cooper & Gary Crosby
Guest Gary Cooper remembers the day Bing's son Gary was born.
Wednesday, March 8, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes

Guests Dennis & Philip Crosby
Dennis and Phillip Crosby, Bing's fourteen-year-old twins, make a guest appearance to sing and do a routine with ol' dad. 
Wednesday, March 15, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes 

Guests Ethel Merman & William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd
A fun show in which Crosby sings (and genially messes up) a duet with guest Ethel Merman and does a western skit with guest William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd.
Wednesday, March 22, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes

Guests The Andrews Sisters & The Firehouse Five Plus Two
There's great music with Bing's long-time friends The Andrews Sisters and Dixieland jazz with the Firehouse Five Plus Two.
Wednesday, March 29, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes

Guests Perry Como & Arthur Godfrey
Originating from a tobacco distributor's convention in Chicago, the program features chat and duets with fellow Chesterfield celebrities Perry Como from "The Chesterfield Supper Club" and Arthur Godfrey.
Wednesday, April 5, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes

Guests Carol Richards & Lindsay Crosby
Bing is joined by vocalist Carol Richards and son Lindsay in a tune-filled show that opens with "Music, Music, Music."
Wednesday, April 19, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes

Guest Beatrice Lillie
Comedienne Beatrice Lillie joins Bing for a comedic medley of "Cake" songs!
Wednesday, April 26, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes

Guests Lindsay Crosby, Dennis Crosby, Phillip Crosby, Gary Crosby, Arthur Godfrey, Perry Como, and Bob Hope 
A compilation program combining new material with portions taken from shows broadcast earlier in the season. Featured are the four Crosby boys as well as Chesterfield alumni Perry Como, Arthur Godfrey, and Bob Hope.
Wednesday, May 24, 1950 - 30:00 - CBS, sponsored by Chesterfield Cigarettes
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