F
Field Ethos
Guest
By Edgar Castillo
There was a time in Tinseltown when actors didn’t shy away from guns and hunting during the Golden Era of Hollywood. Many stars of the Silver Screen, both men and women, were regularly engaged in the pursuit of killing things for sport. It was the norm. Regarding celebrities, no one did it better than crooner Bing Crosby. Famously known for his smooth baritone voice, Bing used his public notoriety advocating and defending hunting.
The monumental entertainer, recording artist, and Oscar-winning actor regularly gallivanted around the world with style and panache in pursuit of wingshooting meccas hunting a long list of gamebirds. Bing hunted Idaho sage grouse, pheasants in the Midwest, sandgrouse in Africa, and driven partridge in Ireland. One of his most favorites pursuits was dove hunting. Oftentimes he would make it a point to meet up even for a day or two with other actors to shoot fast-flying mourning and white-winged doves along the southern border, then leave just as fast as he arrived.
In March of 1963, Bing was dealing with health issues. However, it isn’t enough to sway him from flying to Baja California and resist the joys of dove hunting. While at a private Las Cruces hunt club, Bing was standing on a hillside waiting for some overhead doves. Suddenly, he heard a rustling noise at his feet. Looking down in horror, Bing observed a five-foot rattler winding along his right shoe. Without thinking, the singer leapt back and simultaneously fired one blast from his 28-gauge, decapitating the snake. Afterwards, Bing jokingly told friends he’d gone on a heavy “tequila diet” after the ordeal.
Wanting to participate in the 1969 Arizona dove opener, Bing arrived in Scottsdale, Ariz. For days he stayed at the Safari Resort—a big bwana hotel for the famous. He hodgepodged with local golf celebrities and fellow Hollywood actors as they hunted nearby dove fields for the hottest action. Known for his shooting prowess, Bing hired hotel maids to clean and dress heaps of birds which were later served to hunters in the dining room.
Bing Crosby (left) and Phil Harris
Having already filmed a few episodes for “American Sportsman,” Bing is asked to do another show with friend and notable voice actor, Phil Harris, of “The Jungle Book” animated character Baloo the Bear fame. He and Phil share a long-lasting friendship, rooted in their shared love for bird hunting. The two meet on September 9, 1971, along the Texas and Mexico border. They are outside Reynosa, a pueblo known for being a premier destination for gringos looking to experience high-volume white-wing dove shooting. The hunt is such a big deal it attracts Mexico’s top game control man to fly from Mexico City to make sure everything goes smoothly. He is told from higher ups that the famous visitors must get what they came for. Lucky for the government official, the hunting is great. For a week, Bing and Phil hunt every day on various properties, shooting their dainty, pigeon-grade 28-gauge Winchester Model 12s. Reports trickle down saying the VIPs had all the shots and waves of action they could want, even while standing in mud and during rains produced by tropical storm, Fern.
At the end of one such dove hunt, they load into a Suburban and head back to their motel on the U.S. side. Phil takes up residence in the passenger seat, while everyone else sleeps, and pulls out a bottle of Jack Daniels and pours himself a drink. It’s rumored that it helps him forget the pounding his shoulder took after shooting several hundred rounds at doves. The deserted highway is dark, except … in the far distance, a huge, lit factory is seen. As they get closer, a sign announces the industrial complex to be Cerveceria Moctezuma, one of Mexico’s largest beer breweries. Phil, often characterized by his playful, witty, and humorous banter, nonchalantly says to the driver, “Looks like I’ve got them working nights.” It’s determined these daily late-night drives ferrying film equipment back and forth across the international bridge to McAllen, Texas, is time consuming. At the behest of their government liaison, Bing, Phil, and crew are put up at a swanky resort close to dove-producing ranchos.
On the last night, which happens to befall on Mexican Independence Day, September 16, Bing and Phil help clean scores of birds shot earlier that day. They keep the grill lined with doves with Bing saying, “Best thing I ever ate.” They feast while smoking cigars, downing glasses of chilled libations, and firing a few shotgun salutes into their air. Besides being an especially good wing shot, Phil, a legendary whiskey drinker, keeps the fiesta going well into the night, breaking into improvised melodies with Bing. The revelers made up of staff, bird boys, and a few locals wanting to mingle with the famous Americans, continue eating ‘til midnight after Bing yells, “Let’s cook another batch!”
The next morning, facing an early morning flight and picture taking session, a crowd gathers at the small airstrip wanting to catch a glimpse of Bing and Phil. Neither are in spry condition as the duo stop for cameras and shouts of “Señor Bing!” on the way to the private plane. Bing tells reporters he will return again to shoot doves soon, but will go easier on the “throat tonic” (tequila). Phil, who is dragging behind, is asked about the night’s celebration and his consumption amount, to which he answers behind dark sunglasses, “I had merely one or two.”
The post Señor Bing, Birds & Booze appeared first on Field Ethos.
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There was a time in Tinseltown when actors didn’t shy away from guns and hunting during the Golden Era of Hollywood. Many stars of the Silver Screen, both men and women, were regularly engaged in the pursuit of killing things for sport. It was the norm. Regarding celebrities, no one did it better than crooner Bing Crosby. Famously known for his smooth baritone voice, Bing used his public notoriety advocating and defending hunting.
The monumental entertainer, recording artist, and Oscar-winning actor regularly gallivanted around the world with style and panache in pursuit of wingshooting meccas hunting a long list of gamebirds. Bing hunted Idaho sage grouse, pheasants in the Midwest, sandgrouse in Africa, and driven partridge in Ireland. One of his most favorites pursuits was dove hunting. Oftentimes he would make it a point to meet up even for a day or two with other actors to shoot fast-flying mourning and white-winged doves along the southern border, then leave just as fast as he arrived.
In March of 1963, Bing was dealing with health issues. However, it isn’t enough to sway him from flying to Baja California and resist the joys of dove hunting. While at a private Las Cruces hunt club, Bing was standing on a hillside waiting for some overhead doves. Suddenly, he heard a rustling noise at his feet. Looking down in horror, Bing observed a five-foot rattler winding along his right shoe. Without thinking, the singer leapt back and simultaneously fired one blast from his 28-gauge, decapitating the snake. Afterwards, Bing jokingly told friends he’d gone on a heavy “tequila diet” after the ordeal.
Bing Crosby, American Sportsman
Wanting to participate in the 1969 Arizona dove opener, Bing arrived in Scottsdale, Ariz. For days he stayed at the Safari Resort—a big bwana hotel for the famous. He hodgepodged with local golf celebrities and fellow Hollywood actors as they hunted nearby dove fields for the hottest action. Known for his shooting prowess, Bing hired hotel maids to clean and dress heaps of birds which were later served to hunters in the dining room.
Bing Crosby (left) and Phil Harris
Having already filmed a few episodes for “American Sportsman,” Bing is asked to do another show with friend and notable voice actor, Phil Harris, of “The Jungle Book” animated character Baloo the Bear fame. He and Phil share a long-lasting friendship, rooted in their shared love for bird hunting. The two meet on September 9, 1971, along the Texas and Mexico border. They are outside Reynosa, a pueblo known for being a premier destination for gringos looking to experience high-volume white-wing dove shooting. The hunt is such a big deal it attracts Mexico’s top game control man to fly from Mexico City to make sure everything goes smoothly. He is told from higher ups that the famous visitors must get what they came for. Lucky for the government official, the hunting is great. For a week, Bing and Phil hunt every day on various properties, shooting their dainty, pigeon-grade 28-gauge Winchester Model 12s. Reports trickle down saying the VIPs had all the shots and waves of action they could want, even while standing in mud and during rains produced by tropical storm, Fern.
Beware the Throat Tonic
At the end of one such dove hunt, they load into a Suburban and head back to their motel on the U.S. side. Phil takes up residence in the passenger seat, while everyone else sleeps, and pulls out a bottle of Jack Daniels and pours himself a drink. It’s rumored that it helps him forget the pounding his shoulder took after shooting several hundred rounds at doves. The deserted highway is dark, except … in the far distance, a huge, lit factory is seen. As they get closer, a sign announces the industrial complex to be Cerveceria Moctezuma, one of Mexico’s largest beer breweries. Phil, often characterized by his playful, witty, and humorous banter, nonchalantly says to the driver, “Looks like I’ve got them working nights.” It’s determined these daily late-night drives ferrying film equipment back and forth across the international bridge to McAllen, Texas, is time consuming. At the behest of their government liaison, Bing, Phil, and crew are put up at a swanky resort close to dove-producing ranchos.
On the last night, which happens to befall on Mexican Independence Day, September 16, Bing and Phil help clean scores of birds shot earlier that day. They keep the grill lined with doves with Bing saying, “Best thing I ever ate.” They feast while smoking cigars, downing glasses of chilled libations, and firing a few shotgun salutes into their air. Besides being an especially good wing shot, Phil, a legendary whiskey drinker, keeps the fiesta going well into the night, breaking into improvised melodies with Bing. The revelers made up of staff, bird boys, and a few locals wanting to mingle with the famous Americans, continue eating ‘til midnight after Bing yells, “Let’s cook another batch!”
The next morning, facing an early morning flight and picture taking session, a crowd gathers at the small airstrip wanting to catch a glimpse of Bing and Phil. Neither are in spry condition as the duo stop for cameras and shouts of “Señor Bing!” on the way to the private plane. Bing tells reporters he will return again to shoot doves soon, but will go easier on the “throat tonic” (tequila). Phil, who is dragging behind, is asked about the night’s celebration and his consumption amount, to which he answers behind dark sunglasses, “I had merely one or two.”
The post Señor Bing, Birds & Booze appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...
