Dennis replies to Bing!

[bboswell]

I was just listening to the Dennis Day Show episode of March 26th, 1947.

This was just a week-and-a-half after Bing Crosby inadvertently ad libbed "Who the hell picked out this key, Dennis Day??" on Jack's show.

In the opening song, Managua Nicaragua, Dennis speaks: "Who picked out this key, a baritone?"

I found it especially interesting because the policy of the era seemed to be "ignore the fact that anything happened, and don't even refer to it," when something slipped out like that.

[Mandolynn]

He said on the Benny show, too, two weeks after the incident on Mar 30 1947 from San Francisco, although it's very hard to hear. He sings a great version of "Why Oh Why Did I Ever Leave Wyoming" and at the end he hits a high note, slips into an imitation of Jerry Cologna, and then says something like "Whoops! That baritone must've picked out the key!"

[helloagain]

Jack also made reference to the Crosby incident a few weeks later on his show. Marjorie Reynolds was a guest and they were discussing her experience working with him in 'Holiday Inn'. Marjorie said that Bing was so unpredictable and that you never knew what he would say next. Jack replied 'I know, I had him on my program!'

[Maxwell]

Jack also made reference to the Crosby incident a few weeks later on his show. Marjorie Reynolds was a guest and they were discussing her experience working with him in 'Holiday Inn'. Marjorie said that Bing was so unpredictable and that you never knew what he would say next. Jack replied 'I know, I had him on my program!'

On the CD of Bing and the Andrews Sisters there is an outtake of their recording of "Jingle Bells." Bing makes a mistake (one of a few) and stops the Andrews Sisters cold by singing, instead of "jingle all the way, " "holy Jesus Christ." One of the sisters cracks up completely, and I think it's Patty who says, "Urp!"

Meanwhile the orchestra, conducted by Vic Schoen, plugs along and finishes the tune.

[helloagain]

I have quite a few of similar Crosby out takes. In the days before tape, recordings were done direct to disk in one take. If anyone messed up they had to scrap it and start over. Crosby said that when it was obvious that the take wasn't going to make it he would purposely say something off color so the record could not be bootlegged.

[Mister Kitzel]

I do not think I would want to hear one of Bing's outtakes. When those off-color remarks in blooper reels show up it gives me mixed feelings. The stars of the early and mid 20th Century entertained us with clean humor and language. It is best to maintain that image. Hearing them use profanity might be funny for a moment, but it changes the perception of them.

I know they were human and that people used profanity long before it was allowed in movies and now television. I prefer the entertainment that never needed naughty words to be good.

[Moose Hatrack]

Agree wholheartedly, Mr. K!

[helloagain]

I see your point. In the old days it was harder to be funny because you could not rely on 'shock humor'. You had to be G rated. Today, of course, you can say anything. But I kind of like hearing the classic entertainers of the past make those off mike comments. It makes me feel a little closer to their human side. There are a few X rated remarks on record by Mr. Benny himself. I still love him.