5 Things You Never Knew About Bing Crosby
When you think of Bing Crosby, songs of Christmastime likely appear in your head. But while his connection to the season of tree ornaments and gifts will always remain, Crosby was much more than that — in fact, he remains one of the most influential music artists of all time. Crosby was more than just a singer; he was also an actor, television producer, TV and radio personality, and businessman who recorded over 1,600 songs, and appeared in over 70 films including White Christmas, High Society, Holiday Inn and many, many more. Born Harry Lillis Crosby Jr., we now celebrate his life by learning some interesting facts about the star on the anniversary of his death (Oct. 14, 1977).
1. “Bing” Is a Childhood Nickname
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While many might think that Bing was a stage name, he was actually given the nickname when he was a child. While there are several versions of the story online, it sounds like he got the nickname from the love of a comic strip called The Bingville Bugle, featuring a character called Bingo. He loved it so much that someone called him Bingo but he eventually dropped the “o.”
2. He Was an Avid Golfer and Even Played Right Before His Death
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Golf was more than just a hobby for Crosby, and he took it very seriously. He played in both British and U.S. amateur championships and even started a tournament of his own in 1937. At first, the “Crosby Clambake” was played for a prize of $3,000, donated by Crosby himself; it is now a huge golf event called the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Over the years, Crosby would turn down roles or ask for things to be taped instead of shown live, just so he could keep up on the golf course. His love of golf remained for his entire life, and he got to play one last game just outside Madrid, Spain, before he died of a heart attack at 74 years old.
3. He Surprised Fans by Advocating for Marijuana Legalization
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Of course, the legalization of marijuana was a hot topic for many years (perhaps still is, as not every state has legalized and decriminalized the drug). While Crosby enjoyed drinking and was even called “Binge Crosby” on occasion, he sometimes talked in interviews about how he believed marijuana should be legalized and once said he smoked occasionally with jazz artist Louis Armstrong.
4. He was Nominated for an Oscar for the Same Role Twice
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Crosby became the first actor to be nominated for an Oscar for the same role twice. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Going My Way as Father Chuck O’Malley in 1945. He played the same role in the sequel The Bells of St. Mary’s and was nominated again, although he didn’t win that time.
5. He Had Connections to the Mafia
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Crosby had a squeaky-clean public image, but the reality was more complex. In addition to drinking, he loved to gamble and once got busted with his pal Bob Hope for being in an illegal gambling sting, but they were let go. In his autobiography, Crosby also shared a story of a time he was drinking with a Mafia gangster who was involved in the St. Valentine’s Day massacre.
Let us know what other fun facts you know about Bing Crosby! There are so many, so if you enjoyed this article and would like a Part 2, let us know in the comments too.
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1950s Musicals
November 2020
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