Getting the call from the Crosbys
It’s tradition. For retired Regina broadcaster Lorne Harasen and his wife, Velma, the spirit of Christmas includes keeping in touch with legendary U.S. singer/ actor Bing Crosby’s family. His wife Kathryn, in particular.
“I talked to her last Saturday,” Lorne said. “It’s fun to be in touch with Kathryn.”
The Harasens chat with Kathryn once or twice annually. “We always hear from her,” Lorne said.
And for the past five years, Kathryn has been sending them a collectible pewter Christmas ornament as a keepsake. During their recent telephone conversation, Lorne said Kathryn assured them No. 6 should arrive at their south Regina home soon.
“I met her in 2003,” Lorne said, explaining that he was asked to moderate a couple of panel discussions at the U.S. university Crosby attended. It was part of a celebration to mark the 100th anniversary of the entertainer’s birth.
“Ever since, I have kept in touch with Kathryn,” Lorne said.
Lorne praised the late singer’s wife for her efforts to keep people aware of Crosby, who died 35 years ago.
“She has worked overtime perpetuating Bing’s memory,” he said. “She does it with energy at a ripe old age.” (Kathryn turned 79 last month.)
The Harasens have been fans of the Crosby family for as long as they can remember.
“(Bing) was synonymous with Christmas,” Velma said with a smile. “I still love White Christmas.”
Lorne first made contact with Crosby in 1967. He went through the usual channels to request an on-air interview with Bing, whose trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the bestselling recording artists of the 20th century.
“I was quite brash in those days,” Lorne admitted.
The next year, arrangements for an interview were made through Bing’s brother, Larry. Then he hit gold. Lorne was given Bing’s home phone number — and the go-ahead to call him directly.
For seven years, Lorne interviewed Bing for his Christmas radio show.
“We could trade stories and kid.” he said. “We talked about everything — current events, baseball, and there was always something happening in music. He made about 65 movies, so we talked about that. And we talked about the actors who died that year.”
Lorne described Crosby as “down to earth and friendly; a very tolerant man ... with a good sense of humour.”
Lorne only spoke to the performer over the phone; they never met. He voiced regret that he didn’t make more of an effort to set up a face-to-face meeting with Bing when the avid hunter visited the province to hunt game birds. (Bing told him about pulling into a Saskatchewan farmyard and being invited in to warm up by the hospitable — but understandably surprised — homeowners.)