In the early 1910s, a quaint house at 508 E. Sharp Ave. in Spokane's Logan neighborhood was the home of someone who'd become one of the biggest multimedia stars of the 20th century.
Little Harry Lillis Crosby Jr. ran around the neighborhood playing cops and robbers and other games, later attending Gonzaga High School and Gonzaga University alongside many of his peers. He eventually stopped going by Harry, adopted the nickname Bing, and at one point began playing drums with a few local bands. Shortly after dropping out of college three years in, he started playing music with his friend Al Rinker at the Clemmer Theatre in downtown Spokane.
Crosby's childhood home still stands on Sharp Avenue and since 2014 has served as a museum showcasing his achievements and lasting impact on the entertainment industry. The pale yellow-colored building also serves as a hub for the Bing Crosby Advocates, a nonprofit dedicated to preserving Crosby's legacy.
"The group's original purpose was to preserve the Met Theater downtown," says David Reynolds, its president. "They actually worked in conjunction with Kathryn Crosby, Bing's second wife, to raise money and get the name changed to the Bing Crosby Theater."
The theater was officially renamed in 2006 after a two-year campaign to revive it.
"Our focus changed [after that], and now our mission is to celebrate and preserve Bing's legacy, his life, and really showcase his connections to Spokane," Reynolds says. "And time and time again we realize that a lot of people don't know about his connection to Spokane."
In 1925, Rinker and Crosby left Spokane behind, seeking fame and fortune in Hollywood.
That decision ultimately resulted in the boy from Spokane receiving an Oscar, Golden Globe, Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and 41 No. 1 hits, including that timeless holiday classic "White Christmas."
The theater where he got his start — and which now bears his name — hosts an annual film festival showcasing the movies that propelled Crosby into stardom. This year's Bing Crosby Holiday Film Festival happens on Saturday, Dec. 7. On the slate is A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, and Frank Capra's Here Comes the Groom, bookended by two showings of White Christmas. The festival also features themed raffle baskets with all proceeds benefiting the Bing Crosby Advocates and their mission.
Director Capra's daughter-in-law Carol Capra, who serves as treasurer of the Bing Crosby Advocates, will introduce Here Comes the Groom, and Spokane historian Tom McArthur will talk about Crosby's history in the Lilac City.
Though most of the advocates' work takes place during winter to prepare for the holiday film festival, it's a year-round effort.
Members volunteer as docents at the Bing Crosby House Museum every weekend, sharing about Crosby's life as well as listening to stories from visitors who have connections to the star.
Reynolds says people come from all over to visit the museum. Recently, visitors from as far as Greece and the East Coast came to see artifacts from Bing's career and to walk the hallways of his childhood home.
Next year, Reynolds says the Bing Crosby Advocates' focus will shift as the group expands further than ever before. Multiple members are hoping to teach young kids about Crosby through outreach events, such as reenactments of moments from his life in Spokane and guided walking tours of significant spots.
"It's kind of launching into more things, like working more directly with Gonzaga," Reynolds says. "Bing loved Gonzaga and championed the university throughout his entire life and career. You can still see it and feel his connection to the world. So part of what we're trying to do is really kind of reinforce that he was from Spokane, he loved Spokane, he loved Gonzaga, and that this neighborhood shaped his values."
"Generation after generation, people love Bing," he continues. "He meant so much to so many people, and we're here to make sure that continues." ♦
Bing Crosby Holiday Film Festival • Sat, Dec. 7 from 11 am- 9 pm • $20; free for ages 17 and under • Bing Crosby Theater • 901 W. Sprague Ave. • bingcrosbyadvocates.org
