Television Bing Crosby

crosby , family in christmas special, 1974

the fireside theater (1950) first television production. series of 26-minute shows filmed @ hal roach studios rather performed live on air. telefilms syndicated individual television stations. frequent guest on musical variety shows of 1950s , 1960s. associated abc s hollywood palace. show s first , frequent guest host , appeared annually on christmas edition wife kathryn , younger children. in 1970s, made 2 late appearances on flip wilson show, singing duets comedian. last tv appearance christmas special filmed in london in september 1977 , aired weeks after death. on special recorded duet of little drummer boy , peace on earth rock star david bowie. duet released in 1982 single 45-rpm record , reached no. 3 in uk singles charts. has since become staple of holiday radio , final popular hit of crosby s career. @ end of 20th century, tv guide listed crosby-bowie duet 1 of 25 memorable musical moments of 20th-century television.

bing crosby productions, affiliated desilu studios , later cbs television studios, produced number of television series, including crosby s own unsuccessful abc sitcom bing crosby show in 1964–1965 season (with co-stars beverly garland , frank mchugh). company produced 2 abc medical dramas, ben casey (1961–1966) , breaking point (1963–1964), popular hogan s heroes (1965–1971) military comedy on cbs, lesser-known show slattery s people (1964–1965).