Modern Screen (Dec 1949 - Nov 1950)

(Continued from page 75) young star in her own right. She cheerfully loaned them her own house while she went East. This was way back in 1931. Bing and Dixie were very happy and very carefree. Bing is a shrewd investor nowadays. But back in 1931, money was made to be spent. Life was short, love was with him, and together he and Dixie would enjoy it to the full. He was in his twenties. His brother Everett was managing him, and if he had any worries about making a success of his marriage, he certainly never showed them. He was confident something would turn up, and as luck would have it, something did. Brother Everett talked Jack Kapp of Decca Records into letting Bing record twelve sides at $125 a side. (Today these records are considered collector's items and each pressing is worth $25.) He then broke up Bing's honeymoon by dragging him off to New York and getting him two jobs: one at CBS for $600 a week and one at the Paramount Theater for $1,000. Thus, a few months after his marriage, Der Bingle, the boy of whom so many had warned Dixie — "He's a loafer. You'll starve if you marry him." — this boy was earning $1,600 every seven days. In 1931, Bing wasn't nearly the nonchalant sophisticate he is today. He used to turn to Everett in amazement and say, "Everett, please take care of this money. I'm sure this luck can't last." But it did last, and as Bing's success grew, so did his family. With the birth of their boys, Bing and Dixie were seen together less and less. This was to be expected. Raising four boys is a full-time job. When the sun set, Dixie was tired. Bing has never been a socially-minded creature, and he, too, when the day's work was done, would come home, flop down on the sofa, light his pipe, and relax. Almost never did the Crosbys make the nightclub rounds. But they spent the evenings together. Bing, who's always been a fine golfer, would play 18 holes whenever he could, and on many occasions, Dixie found herself a golf widow, but she never minded, because the boys provided all the daytime company and excitement she could afford. When they grew up and went off to St. John's Military Academy in Los Angeles, she found some respite, but not much. Gary began to play the trombone. The twins took up the trumpet, and Linny discovered great enjoyment in pounding the drums. The tennis court in back of the house was used for football, baseball, and basketball. The boys invited home such schoolmates as Donnie and Ronnie Ameche, Les Gargan, Mike Geisler, Phil Harris, Jr. and young Mike Farrow. The house became one happy shambles. As soon as Gary grew out of one stage, the twins would grow in. Once they stopped being trouble, Linny made a fine substitute. Watching their youngsters grow and develop, Dixie and Bing found these the happy years. Occasionally, Dixie came down with some illness and had to be hospitalized, but for the most part, the Crosby menage was regarded as an extremely model one. Bing's career was progressing at its usual incredible rate. From an individual who could sing in a simple, sincere manner, who could "throw lines away," who could charm a nation with his voice and wit, Bing Crosby developed into big business. That's what Bing is today — big business. How many people make their living through him directly or indirectly is difficult to say. One researcher estir "Doesn't matter how many times a day I need it, Mother always has a 'change' ready. . . I don't know how she does it!" Your Mother's a smart woman, Baby. She washes your diapers with Improved Fels-Naptha Soap. You can thank Fels-Naptha for getting all your things so clean and sweet it makes you feel good, just to put 'em on. And there's so much EXTRA washing help in Fels-Naptha, it's easy to have fresh clothes ready whenever you need them. Mother — Remember This: ONLY IMPROVED FELS-NAPTHA GIVES YOU THESE THREE WASHING ADVANTAGES: 1. Mild, golden soap. 2. Gentle, active naptha. 3. Finer 'Sunshine' ingredients that get white things whiter whiter than new — and make washable colors radiantly bright. Look for Improved Fels-Naptha at your grocer's — NOW! IMPROVED Fels-Naptha Soap RAMS HPS "tattif-taif GRAY' "1