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Bing Crosby: The Hollow Man
Bing Crosby was enormously talented, but with an indolent and irresponsible bent. He was also intelligent and cunning, and created for himself an enchanting image and a legend that was so often repeated in authorized biographies that it was accepted as fact. Now, in this compelling biography by Donald Shepherd and Robert F. Slatzer, the image is shattered and the legend stripped away - revealing the shocking truth about the man and the innocent people who suffered immeasurably for having touched him.
- GenresBiographyNonfictionMusic
Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 9, 2023
This biography of Bing Crosby was written after he passed away in 1977. The dust jacket blurb defines the book as being different because it’s the first bio about him to show both sides of the story. The gist of the book is that Crosby was a star who ran a tight ship regarding his image, which is basic for Hollywood in general. As the first major post-mortem biography, it also aimed to get behind-the-scenes, which can be a bit dicey at times.
The authors spend a good deal of the book looking at Bing Crosby’s early years. This was quite informative, as it explained the family dynamics and life in the Northwest of the United States. Crosby came from a tight-knit Irish American family of which he was the most low-key and un-ambitious of his siblings. Bing liked to sing but he also liked to drink and carouse, and he barely got himself together to become famous. He would eventually hire his family members to work for him so that they created an organization which kept Crosby from having to deal with matters he didn’t like to handle on his own. Bing would marry and have four sons, but his wife would die of cancer and his sons would fritter away their trust funds and their mother’s inheritances and end up “broken”. Bing would then marry again and have three more children, who became known for appearing in their father’s television Christmas specials.
The book tries hard to make Crosby a villain, but it seems manufactured, as though they set out with a defined objective and then had to find something to meet that goal. The authors are very passionate about their respect for the first wife and the sons, blaming the addictive personalities of wife and children upon Bing. In other words, they were victims. I found that premise hard to buy. The eldest son, Gary, would go on to write a Mommie Dearest-type book about his late father only to admit that it wasn’t completely true and that he did it for the money. I have little sympathy for Hollywood children who refuse parental help in setting up careers outside of entertainment, because they want the lifestyle of glitz. I mean, the sons blew away a LOT of money, but that was supposed to be Bing Crosby’s fault.
In the industry, Crosby was known to be affable and professional, but he wanted his privacy. That didn’t make him an evil man, just one who tried to stay away from the darker side of The Biz. He would leave Hollywood and move to the Bay Area, which afforded him more time to do what he wanted to do. In San Francisco, Bing always was there to do the famous Laguna Honda benefits for the elderly, and he gave generously for those charities that were true charities. I respect the authors for the intense research they did on this book, but it seemed to be written more for sensationalism than anything else. No doubt, Crosby was not especially passionate, like a Sinatra, but more of an introvert. Did he have a good PR machine? They all do, not sure why that’s bad for him but not for others.
One interesting fact from the book is that the Crosby business entity worked out of a nondescript building in Hollywood at 9028 Sunset Blvd. It was his corporation which perfected audiotape and then videotape recording. That’s right, reel-to-reel, cassette, VHS, and everything else flowed from that discovery. They revolutionized the industry. The building is still there, a landmark to history. I wouldn’t have known that if I hadn’t read the book. That’s wild.
I do have one anecdote about Mr. Crosby. My mother and I were walking along Ocean Beach in San Francisco one morning when my mother casually stated, “Oh, Mr. Crosby is out today”. I looked up to see who she was talking about and nearing us was an older gentleman wearing a cap and using a golf club as a walking stick. As we crossed paths, he stopped and called my mother by her nickname. The only person who used that name to my mother was my father. As I looked in astonishment, it was indeed Bing Crosby! They chatted, as though they were old friends, about the weather, he said hello to me, and then they walked on as though that were an everyday occurrence. Well, apparently, it seemed to be. My mother walked on the beach almost every day and she met the singer when she had stopped to do her breathing exercises. She said there were “regulars” she saw each morning and Crosby would show up on a consistent basis. He told her he drove from the Peninsula, because he liked being able to walk the full length of the beach without being bothered. My mother wasn’t a fangirl but knew him from growing up in Europe as, “Der Bingle”. That was it. They were just two beach-walkers from the morning crew. Yet none of us in the family knew about it, because my mother didn’t think it was that big of a deal. Amazing. I spent the rest of my walk with her in stunned silence. Crosby died a few months later, after finishing a round of golf in Spain.
Book Season = Summer (melodies under the sun)
The authors spend a good deal of the book looking at Bing Crosby’s early years. This was quite informative, as it explained the family dynamics and life in the Northwest of the United States. Crosby came from a tight-knit Irish American family of which he was the most low-key and un-ambitious of his siblings. Bing liked to sing but he also liked to drink and carouse, and he barely got himself together to become famous. He would eventually hire his family members to work for him so that they created an organization which kept Crosby from having to deal with matters he didn’t like to handle on his own. Bing would marry and have four sons, but his wife would die of cancer and his sons would fritter away their trust funds and their mother’s inheritances and end up “broken”. Bing would then marry again and have three more children, who became known for appearing in their father’s television Christmas specials.
The book tries hard to make Crosby a villain, but it seems manufactured, as though they set out with a defined objective and then had to find something to meet that goal. The authors are very passionate about their respect for the first wife and the sons, blaming the addictive personalities of wife and children upon Bing. In other words, they were victims. I found that premise hard to buy. The eldest son, Gary, would go on to write a Mommie Dearest-type book about his late father only to admit that it wasn’t completely true and that he did it for the money. I have little sympathy for Hollywood children who refuse parental help in setting up careers outside of entertainment, because they want the lifestyle of glitz. I mean, the sons blew away a LOT of money, but that was supposed to be Bing Crosby’s fault.
In the industry, Crosby was known to be affable and professional, but he wanted his privacy. That didn’t make him an evil man, just one who tried to stay away from the darker side of The Biz. He would leave Hollywood and move to the Bay Area, which afforded him more time to do what he wanted to do. In San Francisco, Bing always was there to do the famous Laguna Honda benefits for the elderly, and he gave generously for those charities that were true charities. I respect the authors for the intense research they did on this book, but it seemed to be written more for sensationalism than anything else. No doubt, Crosby was not especially passionate, like a Sinatra, but more of an introvert. Did he have a good PR machine? They all do, not sure why that’s bad for him but not for others.
One interesting fact from the book is that the Crosby business entity worked out of a nondescript building in Hollywood at 9028 Sunset Blvd. It was his corporation which perfected audiotape and then videotape recording. That’s right, reel-to-reel, cassette, VHS, and everything else flowed from that discovery. They revolutionized the industry. The building is still there, a landmark to history. I wouldn’t have known that if I hadn’t read the book. That’s wild.
I do have one anecdote about Mr. Crosby. My mother and I were walking along Ocean Beach in San Francisco one morning when my mother casually stated, “Oh, Mr. Crosby is out today”. I looked up to see who she was talking about and nearing us was an older gentleman wearing a cap and using a golf club as a walking stick. As we crossed paths, he stopped and called my mother by her nickname. The only person who used that name to my mother was my father. As I looked in astonishment, it was indeed Bing Crosby! They chatted, as though they were old friends, about the weather, he said hello to me, and then they walked on as though that were an everyday occurrence. Well, apparently, it seemed to be. My mother walked on the beach almost every day and she met the singer when she had stopped to do her breathing exercises. She said there were “regulars” she saw each morning and Crosby would show up on a consistent basis. He told her he drove from the Peninsula, because he liked being able to walk the full length of the beach without being bothered. My mother wasn’t a fangirl but knew him from growing up in Europe as, “Der Bingle”. That was it. They were just two beach-walkers from the morning crew. Yet none of us in the family knew about it, because my mother didn’t think it was that big of a deal. Amazing. I spent the rest of my walk with her in stunned silence. Crosby died a few months later, after finishing a round of golf in Spain.
Book Season = Summer (melodies under the sun)
January 24, 2010
I thought this was a great book. I chose to pick it up after finally seeing 'Holiday Inn' this winter. I was interested to learn more about Bing Crosby and I certainly did. This isn't even close to a total Bing-bashing book, as the title/cover art of it may begin to suggest. More accurately, I found it to be a well-researched and objective account of his life and the lives of those around him. The tale was really fascinating-complete with humor (I especially liked the funny story when he and his friends were playing hooky from school as children), success (Bing's rise to fame was interesting to watch unfold and it happened so quickly. His business decisions off stage were really something as well!), and sadness (Particularly, Bing's inability to form a truly warm connection with anyone and his tendency to neglect or "disappear" those friends and loved ones who aided him the most in life. The most disheartening parts for me involved his interactions with first wife Dixie Lee and his first four kids, as well as his break from Al Rinker and Harry Barris of the Rhythm Boys). This book takes nothing away from Bing's talent or outward charm, but rather tries to form a complete picture of his personality and all aspects of his life.
October 19, 2011
I picked this book up because of the title. I wanted to know why Bing was called “The Hollow Man.” Of course he wasn’t called that during his lifetime. I think the authors of the book thought the title would sell the book.
Always an admirer of Crosby’s style and entertainment gifts I was pleased to find the book refreshing and educational regarding his early career and climb to mega stardom. It’s clear that much research went into the writing of the book. While, at times, it seems like the authors are most critical of Bing Crosby and more supported of the close relationships he had, I still found the book to be a fairly factual read about Crosby’s life and his achievements. Title aside, and it’s clear the authors do not care much for Crosby as a man, I wouldn’t call them vindictive. However they certainly referenced him from the beginning of the book as a man who used everyone else to achieve his goals. He was most commonly referred to as “lazy” and not in a favorable manner.
Much is in this book about other famous people who worked with Crosby and the relationship he had with them; however the content is viewed through these authors’ eyes. So take the pleasure of reading about this icon and do your own assessment of Bing based on prior knowledge and this books references.
I would recommend it to anyone wanting to research Crosby’s life or anyone who just wanted to read a biography about Bing Crosby. As I said, it’s a good read and well written. That’s my opinion.
The Hollow Man a biography about Bing Crosby by Donald Shepherd & Robert Slatzer
Always an admirer of Crosby’s style and entertainment gifts I was pleased to find the book refreshing and educational regarding his early career and climb to mega stardom. It’s clear that much research went into the writing of the book. While, at times, it seems like the authors are most critical of Bing Crosby and more supported of the close relationships he had, I still found the book to be a fairly factual read about Crosby’s life and his achievements. Title aside, and it’s clear the authors do not care much for Crosby as a man, I wouldn’t call them vindictive. However they certainly referenced him from the beginning of the book as a man who used everyone else to achieve his goals. He was most commonly referred to as “lazy” and not in a favorable manner.
Much is in this book about other famous people who worked with Crosby and the relationship he had with them; however the content is viewed through these authors’ eyes. So take the pleasure of reading about this icon and do your own assessment of Bing based on prior knowledge and this books references.
I would recommend it to anyone wanting to research Crosby’s life or anyone who just wanted to read a biography about Bing Crosby. As I said, it’s a good read and well written. That’s my opinion.
The Hollow Man a biography about Bing Crosby by Donald Shepherd & Robert Slatzer
August 5, 2022
Excellent biography that seemed more honest as regards its subject than others written about him. Reading that he wasn't necessarily a wonderful person doesn't change my opinion of his talent, which was formidable. It does however, make me feel sad for his wives (especially his first, Dixie) and his 7 children, in particular his first 4 sons with Dixie. Theirs was not an easy row to hoe. But oh man, how he could sing.
July 23, 2022
Kind of boring. He was a shrewd businessman who looked out for himself, had a great voice, became successful, burned some bridges on the way up. His private life behind the scenes wasn't what he really was in the eyes of the public. Nothing of interest happened to him on the way to the top. He had no adversity other than what he created for himself by being a gambling drunk. He was married twice and not always the best father. The authors argue that he was a just a selfish jerk for acting the way he did, but maybe progress that's been made in the behavioral sciences since 1980 (when this book was published) would say different. The more I read the more I thought maybe he's got a personality disorder other than being an a-hole.
November 13, 2025
he seems to have been a simlair mould to henry fonda,something in his past undisclosed made him freeze everybody out including his children.all children of famous people have to find their way out of the parents shadow.
March 3, 2017
This book was so mean and nasty and filled with assumption that I could not finish it.
October 19, 2020
This book was clearly well researched and fair. It gave Bing credit where he deserved it but also discussed the many places where he didn't. I would like to read more about Dixie Lee now.
October 29, 2013
This is an old-fashioned book about an old-fashioned guy. It was a bit dull.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews