Crosby relatives to star at festival

This year, a niece and nephew of Spokane’s own Bing Crosby plan to speak at the annual Bing Crosby Holiday Film Festival on Dec. 4 at the Bing Crosby Theater in downtown Spokane.

This is the fourth year that the festival, sponsored by the nonprofit Advocates for the Bing Crosby Theater (ABCT), is expected to present the film festival as ABCT’s holiday gift to the Spokane community, said Bill Stimson, the organization’s president.

The festival is free, though donations are appreciated to help defray expenses. Crosby memorabilia, including a letter he wrote to Spokane’s Joe Albi, will be on display, and light refreshments will be served.

Carolyn Schneider, of Las Vegas, daughter of Bing Crosby’s sister Mary Rose, will speak at 5 p.m. She has written a new book, “Bing: On the Road to Elko,” about her famous uncle’s days as a Nevada cattle rancher. Her first book about him is titled “Me and Uncle Bing.” Howard Crosby, son of Bing Crosby’s brother Ted, enjoyed many adventures golfing with his uncle and will share reminiscences at 7 p.m.

Films being shown are “Holiday Inn” at noon, “Road to Zanzibar” at 2:30 p.m. and “White Christmas” at 7:30 p.m.

Bing Crosby, who grew up in Spokane, became one of the biggest stars in Hollywood in the 1930s through the 1950s, winning an Oscar for his performance in “Going My Way.”

Information about the Bing Crosby Holiday Film Festival is available at (509) 842-8664, 467-0157 and 993-1732.