Bing celebrated the holidays by starring in his first color special, which aired on Christmas Eve. This time the show concluded with an extended holiday-themed segment featuring Bing and his guests, Mary Martin , Andre Previn and The United Nations Children’s Choir . Bing delivers a standout version of “ The Little Drummer Boy ” and performs “ White Christmas ” with Mary Martin. The other musical selections are dominated by two extended Crosby-Martin medleys, but there’s also a fine solo by Bing on “ I Left My Heart in San Francisco ” and the positively surreal production number, “ Doin’ the Bing ”. (A dance craze was not started.) This would be the last Crosby holiday show not devoted entirely to the Christmas theme.
