Judy Garland and Friends - OTR Podcast

This great audio version of this show took a lot of work to get!

This great audio version of this show took a lot of work to get!

This show seems to mark the abandonment of the series rather than its logical close. There were 39 shows in the first season for General Electric but this is only the 36th. The usual ‘discussion’ between Bing and Ken Carpenter, implies that they are summing up all the previous items of this nature but astonishingly, at the close of the program, we hear Bing saying, “I hope to see you all again, next week, when our guest will be Miss Rosemary Clooney” This information is re-iterated by Ken Carpenter in the closing announcements. In fact, it was planned that Gary Crosby would take over with his own show on the following Sunday. The confusion may have been due to Gary Crosby having a motor accident on May 24 near San Jose when a Mexican laborer called Felix Olivares (age 24) was killed. Gary was treated for a lacerated nose and an injured knee. Fortunately Gary had not been drinking but the Mexicans had been. Bing was however the recipient of suits totaling $155,000 as Gary was a minor. No charges were filed though and County officials said neither driver was at fault. Gary’s debut had to be postponed until June 13 and his radio program replaced Bing’s on CBS for the summer period of thirteen weeks before Gary began his third year at Stanford. Guests on Gary’s opening show included Jane Russell and Rhonda Fleming. Ken Carpenter was the announcer, John Scott Trotter furnished the musical support, and Bill Morrow was the writer. Murdo MacKenzie directed the show. In other words, Gary appears to have simply stepped into Bing’s shoes for the summer season.

This show seems to mark the abandonment of the series rather than its logical close. There were 39 shows in the first season for General Electric but this is only the 36th. The usual ‘discussion’ between Bing and Ken Carpenter, implies that they are summing up all the previous items of this nature but astonishingly, at the close of the program, we hear Bing saying, “I hope to see you all again, next week, when our guest will be Miss Rosemary Clooney” This information is re-iterated by Ken Carpenter in the closing announcements. In fact, it was planned that Gary Crosby would take over with his own show on the following Sunday. The confusion may have been due to Gary Crosby having a motor accident on May 24 near San Jose when a Mexican laborer called Felix Olivares (age 24) was killed. Gary was treated for a lacerated nose and an injured knee. Fortunately Gary had not been drinking but the Mexicans had been. Bing was however the recipient of suits totaling $155,000 as Gary was a minor. No charges were filed though and County officials said neither driver was at fault. Gary’s debut had to be postponed until June 13 and his radio program replaced Bing’s on CBS for the summer period of thirteen weeks before Gary began his third year at Stanford. Guests on Gary’s opening show included Jane Russell and Rhonda Fleming. Ken Carpenter was the announcer, John Scott Trotter furnished the musical support, and Bill Morrow was the writer. Murdo MacKenzie directed the show. In other words, Gary appears to have simply stepped into Bing’s shoes for the summer season.

Mindi with Judy and Mickey again!

Mindi with Judy and Mickey again!

Jack Benny stops by to keep us in Suspense!

Jack Benny stops by to keep us in Suspense!

Bings final half hour radio episode ever from 1954!

Bings final half hour radio episode ever from 1954!