Bing Crosby's mistake

[radhead]

I don't know how many people are aware of singing/recording legend Bing Crosby's reputation as a father (or even care). It was nearly ruined when his son Gary published a book about the physical and psychological abuse that Bing Crosby used to afflict on him and his brothers. Personally, I don't think Bing's parenting style had any kind of positive effect on them. They lived in constant fear of their parents. Bing didn't want his sons to grow up in some kind of priveliged environment, but he really took things too far.

Gary Crosby wrote this in the introduction to his book: "The answer was so obvious that it took me the rest of the day to figure it out. He knew he was right, so he didn't feel he owed us an explanation. That was my father. He never thought he had to explain himself to anyone."

 

[Tinkerbell33]

I never knew that about Bing Crosby.

 

[radhead]

Two of his sons committed suicide.

 

[KarrieTex]

The thing that you need to remember too is that type of parenting was an accepted form. My grandparents were about that age and they did the same thing.

I wonder how much the Depression effected people and how far reaching it really was since this generation came from dealing with that.

 

[SonicBOOM]

what are the details? What exactly did Bing Crosby do to his kids?

 

[BoarderDave]

Yup.. I found this out via Family Guy. In an episode, Bing makes an appearance (obviously not REALLY him) and tells Peter to hit his kids with a sack or oranges. "It wont leave a bruise, but it'll show them who's boss.."

It's sad.. but I lol'd. Then I found out that he truly WAS like that.. Sad for his kids.

Was still funny in the show though.. cause then Peter doesn't want to do it and Bing goes off on him.. "What boy? You givin me lip?" Then he takes off his belt and starts hittin Peter.. Ohh.. funny show.

 

[SonicBOOM]

It's sad.. but I lol'd. Then I found out that he truly WAS like that..

yikes! Abusive much?

 

[KarrieTex]

I also want to add that most of his children save for the two that followed in their mom's well known alcoholic footsteps have not had an issue with their father on the same level (since we all have issues with our parents at some point). In fact they have gone on to be successful.

 

[radhead]

I also want to add that most of his children save for the two that followed in their mom's well known alcoholic footsteps have not had an issue with their father on the same level (since we all have issues with our parents at some point). In fact they have gone on to be successful.

I'm pretty sure the kids from the second marriage had it much better.

 

[KarrieTex]

Only because their mother wasn't also an addict.

And only the two sons who had the drug problem fussed about him.

I can understand him being hard on them to some degree and not giving them everything but as for the other no, I am not sure about that.

 

[radhead]

what are the details? What exactly did Bing Crosby do to his kids?

I said it all in my first post (all I know so far). Also, Bing always portrayed a nice, loving family to the media at the time. It was a living nightmare.

Actually, I've only read about a quarter of the book so far. I don't know yet how bad things got.

 

[Tinkerbell33]

I said it all in my first post (all I know so far). Also, Bing always portrayed a nice, loving family to the media at the time. It was a living nightmare.

Actually, I've only read about a quarter of the book so far. I don't know yet how bad things got.

Got this from wikipedia.

"It is believed Bing's regret over the way he treated his first wife and children, and his regret over his long affair with Grace Kelly, encouraged him to be a better father to the children from his second marriage."