[78-L] Bing question

[Jeff Sultanof]

Fair enough, Dr. Biel. Next time I will be clearer the first time.

This film appears on one of the tvdays.com commercial compilations (this is
Ira Gallen's company). I did allude to the fact that this is not a standard
commercial. It is a five minute industrial film that was made for owners of
gas companies, the type shown at a convention for dealers. He does not
mention any one gas company by name. Bing describes an upcoming Christmas
campaign to publicize why gas is a better fuel for the home. He talks about
ad tie-ins for newspapers, magazines and TV commercials in which he will
appear hawking the product. Apparently a run of the Decca Christmas album he
made is also a tie-in, as he discusses the LP and holds the cover at one
point.

The question I had revolves around what appears to be a 7 inch 78 that he
says will be available. Part of the record is played, and can be seen on
camera on a record player. The song is "Swinging on a Star" with special
lyrics about gas. My guess is that Sammy Cahn probably wrote them, as he was
James Van Heusen's collaborator at the time of the film, and Van Heusen
wrote the music to the song. I'm almost sure that Bing describes the record
as a premium of some type. My question was, "What year was this record
made?" (which would answer my second question, namely the year of the film).
I imagine that this special version of "Swinging on a Star" would show up on
some Crosby discography, or perhaps we have a Crosby collector who has it.

That should do it.

Jeff Sultanof



> What I find strange is that Jeff describes it as Bing talking ABOUT the
> UPCOMING ad campaign.  This film itself does not sound like a TV
> commercial itself.  Jeff, is the ad campaign he is talking about a
> radio, magazine, newspaper, TV, or direct mail campaign?  Is this film
> something that would be seen by the general public or advertising
> insiders or gas company employees?  Is the 78 that is described
> something people would send away for or perhaps a transcribed ad to be
> played on the radio?  Is the record shown?  What is the name of the gas
> company?  You see, if you want a real answer, you have to give a full
> description.
>
> Mike Biel  mbiel at mbiel.com
>