A Bing is a Bing is a Crosby

I just had a discussion with my editor about what to call Spokane’s Bing Crosby Theater on second reference.

Here’s what I mean. I might, for example, write the following lead: “ Elvis Costello killed a chicken Saturday night at the Bing Crosby Theater.”

In that short sentence, I’ve identified the main character of the story (the musician Costello), the presumed event (a Saturday night performance) and the place where the event was held (the theater formerly known as The Met – or TFKATM).

The question involves just how to refer, later on in the story, to the TFKATM. Do I write “The Bing” or “The Crosby”?

It was fairly easy, and natural, with the TFKATM. Its proper name was the Metropolitan Performing Arts Center. So the abbreviation The Met just seemed to roll off the tongue.

And some people, my colleague Jim Kershner among them, think the same holds true with the Bing Crosby Theater. On second and subsequent references, he calls it The Bing.

I prefer The Crosby. I think The Bing sounds stupid and demeaning. Furthermore, it doesn’t make sense. If the place had been named The Bob Hope Theater, would we call it The Bob? What about Judy Garland ? Or, worse, Peter Sellers ?

“Hey, did you see Elvis Costello murder that chicken at The Pete on Saturday?”

But I, as always, will bow to the majority. If The Bing prevails, The Bing is what I will type.

Not gleefully and not well, but type it I will.

Below: Workmen install the sign that announces the new name of Spokane’s downtown theater.

Spokesman-Review photo by Dan Pelle