Bing in B'game

Chronicle columnist Beth Spotswood is remembering her mother remembering Bing Crosby as the local celebrity for B'gamers.  In her Datebook column she notes

Wherever you grew up, there’s probably some famous person with a connection to your hometown or home region. And the celebrities for every nook and cranny of the country change from generation to generation.

For example, my mother grew up in Burlingame in the 1950s and ’60s and as such, her claim to local fame is having wrapped Bing Crosby’s Christmas presents during a holiday gig at Burlingame Hardware. She’d mentioned this connection to Crosby a dozen times — and I don’t think she was even a fan. Ask anyone from Burlingame circa 1965 who their hometown celebrity is and they’ll say Bing Crosby.

Spotswood's mom is not the only one with fond memories of Bing in B'game.  Whenever Burlingame Historical Society events start down the "remember when" path during Q&A, Bing is a common memory.  My 1952 directory shows Burlingame Hardware at 1208 Burlingame Ave. where North Face has recently arrived, wedged between the Luggage Center and Copenhagen Bakery.  It does give me an opportunity to say how lucky we are to have the Ace Hardware on Park Rd. in town.  No gift wrapping that I am aware of, but they pack a lot of stuff into a small space.

Any other nominees for local celebrity besides Bing? 

 

Comments

[Burlingame Resident]

Kathryn Crosby. One of the truly nicest, warmest, genuine and generous people you could ever meet.

And Mary Crosby. She was a huge celebrity on the cover of Time.

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Bruce Dickenson

[JP]

Mario Lanza lived in Hillsborough as did Bing Crosby. He was also a lovely man.

[Phinancier]

I'm thinking the two guys from BALCO are in the running for most imfamous.

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Does anyone remember the man who had a Bomb in his house on Cabrillo, the man had also transported another Bomb to his home in San Mateo?
Both neighborhoods were evacuated until the San Mateo County Bomb Disposal Unit diffused both. As I recall, the "Bomb Containers" held Applesauce.
Weird.. You can not make this stuff up.

[Burlingame Dad]

Alicia Silverstone?