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for April 19 36
21
An Open Letter to Bing Crosby
The "Old" Bing Crosby.
The "New" Bing Crosby
DEAR BING: Where did you get that bee-stung lip ? When I saw "Anything Goes" I couldn't believe my eyes. The voice was the same, but I couldn't place the pout. Could this be Crosby? Or Chevalier, by some foul chance? The billing said "Bing Crosby." But there must have been some mistake. Bing Crosby didn't stick out his lower lip; he didn't look coy when he crooned; he didn't "act." Well, I said at first, if it isn't Chevalier back again! Then I listened some more. No accent. So it must be Crosby — perhaps the "New Crosby." You know — all Hollywood stars after a certain time in the spotlight, have to change their personalities. Who'll ever forget "The New Crawford" — no, not the last one; the one before that. And "The New Hepburn"— only she must have changed her mind at the last minute, because she still looks like the Old Hepburn to me. All right, so we have The New Bing. But I'm old-fashioned; I liked the first, original, and only Crosby. Booboo-bring back, oh bring back, etc.
Remember when you were our pet troubadour? Or will you have minnesinger? Our minnesingers are nice and fresh today. Anyway, you were a short-subject boy for Mack Sennett and SCREENLAND gave you your first interview and called you "Bing! Bang! Crosby" by way of prophecy that you were going to make a big noise in pictures. You were shy and boyish and naive; you never seemed camera-or
mike-conscious; you had that disarming air of deprecation about your voice that won people who would never have been won by your voice alone.
s From short subjects to Paramount stardom was like nothing at all. You sang, better than ever; your careless charm created a Crosby cult; even your girl-fans' brothers and boyfriends liked you; and despite the fact you never learned to "act," you managed to turn in some pretty grand performances. Best of all, success never went to your head; if it went to your waistline a little, nobody minde*d,for it •was all in keeping with the Crosby tradition of casualness. And now "Anything Goes." You sang Sailor Beware; the voice was booboo-beautiful, but you did lip-service to Chevalier. That spoiled it for me. What is there for you to pout about? . Were you only cursing Khayyam? If so, think of something pleasant while singing. You don't want Crosby fans to close their eyes and just listen— they could stay home and listen to the radio or the records for that. Remember, television is just around the corner — where I hope it stays for quite a while. Meanwhile, "Anything Goes" — but does it?