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 Bing Crosby Bing Crosby was (and still is!) one of the most popular figures in American film and music. His “Road” movies with Bob Hope and his very long discography are legendary. Perhaps his most beloved film was White Christmas, which will be shown this weekend at the Heights Theater in Columbia Heights, MN. This is no ordinary screening, however. At the Heights, the film will be augmented by a special presentation from Bing’s widow, Kathryn Crosby and local Bing archivist and crooner, Arne Fogel. There will be three shows, 2 pm on Saturday, December 15th, and at 1:30 and 7:30 pm on Sunday, December 16th.
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby had a prolific career as a singer and actor from the 1930s until his death in 1977. One of the first true superstars of the entertainment industry, his is considered the most electronically recorded human voice in history. After Louis Armstrong, many consider Crosby to have been the major source of inspiration for male singers of the 20th century, including Frank Sinatra. Himself influenced by Armstrong and gaining prominence with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra in the late 20s-30s, Bing pioneered a style that took advantage of the new microphone, using a conversational approach to lyrics and incorporating jazz elements in popular song—in essence, Crosby invented the art of “crooning.” Noted musicologist J.T. Mize, Crosby could "melt a tone away, scoop it flat and sliding up to the eventual pitch as a glissando, sometimes sting a note right on the button, and take diphthongs for long musical rides." Crosby was also a significant influence on the American recording industry explosion following World War II. In 1947 he invested $50,000 in the Ampex company, which developed the world's first commercial reel-to-reel tape recorder, and became the first performer to prerecord his radio shows and master his commercial recordings on magnetic tape. His gift of one such recorder to Les Paul led to Paul’s invention of multitrack recording. With Sinatra, Crosby was also one of the early investors in the United Western Recorders studio complex in Los Angeles. In 1962, the Grammy’s recognized Crosby as its first Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Sales of his recordings have been estimated at between 500 and 900 million.  White Christmas
Crosby and Kaye (in a role originally planned for Fred Astaire) play a song and dance team who follow the Haynes sisters (Clooney and Ellen) to Vermont to entertain at a ski lodge. With the lodge, owned by a retired general, about to go under due to lack of snowfall, Crosby and Kaye plot to reunite the general's old unit at the inn while they sing and dance for snow. The leading box-office attraction of 1954, and Bing's all-time box-office leader, White Christmas also marked the beginning of Bing's romance with Paramount actress Kathryn Grant, who would become his second wife.  Arne Fogel and Kathryn Crosby (2001)
Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Arne Fogel grew up in Minneapolis where he first gravitated to drawing and particularly cartooning. But as cartooning pervaded his other artistic efforts, Arne began to lose interest in art and by 14 found another passion. After watching a documentary on Flo Ziegfeld, “I developed an almost spiritual interest in the ‘past’, as regards the popular arts,” recalls Arne. In high school “as a first-generation Beatles fan,” Arne played in several bands, and launched his recording career with “The Puddle” (later touring as The Batch) with Barry Goldberg, Gary Paulak and Jay Lee. Soon his talents as a studio vocalist were discovered, and over the years Arne has sung on over 1500 jingles as well as composing and producing his own music for jingles and industrial presentations. He also evolved as a popular radio personality, hosting programs for Minnesota Public Radio, KLBB and KBEM, and serving as music director of “The Golden Rock” (WWTC). On the air, Arne developed a reputation as “purveyor of vintage music and entertainment from an historical point of view.” Arne launched his jazz club career in the 80s, starting on the Dakota’s “open stages” with Debbie Duncan and with further encouragement from local stars Patty Peterson, Don Stille, and the Wolverines. He also launched a 14-year stint on MPR, hosting “Arne Fogel Presents.” From the late 1980s, in clubs throughout the Twin Cities, Arne channeled Sinatra and Crosby, became a regular at the Times and Rossi’s, and released two solo recordings--You Call It Madness on vinyl in 1989 and the acclaimed CD, Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams in 2001 with long-term vocal partner, Maud Hixson.  Arne Fogel©Andrea Canter
This weekend, in addition to the now-annual showing of White Christmas, Kathryn Crosby will present her cabaret salute and utograph copies of My Last Years With Bing, a book of personal memories and rare photos of Bing Crosby (price $19). In addition to music from Arne Fogel and pianist Rick Carlson, film archivist Bob Flores will be on hand, and Harvey Gustafson will be heard on the Heights’ mighty Wurlitzer. Last year, two showings of White Christmas at the Heights were sold out. Make reservations now ($12 per ticket) by calling the Heights Theater at 763-789-4992 or online at www.heightstheatre.com
The Heights Theater is located at 3951 Central Avenue NE in Columbia Heights, just north of Minneapolis. |
Twin Cities, MN 
Friday, 12 March 2010
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