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Christmas in Washington State with Bing Crosby, Darren McGavin, Burl Ives, Stan Boreson, and Yogi Yorgesson


Q: What do Bing Crosby, Darren McGavin, Burl Ives, Stan Boreson, and Harry Stewart (Yogi Yorgesson) have in common?

A: Washington State...and Christmas! 💁🎅🎄

Here are five famous and fondly-remembered entertainers that my holidays wouldn't be the same without (and maybe yours, too!) who are connected to my home state of Washington. 

 Map created with Google Maps & information compiled via Wikipedia by Eve Penman. Following the order on the map above; top to bottom, left to right:

 TOP STAR 
> Burl Ives (1909-1995) best known at Christmastime for being the narrator Sam the Snowman in the 1964 classic Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; an Illinois native where he was laid to rest, he passed away while living at his home in Anacortes, WA, in 1995.

 Find Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for listening and watching at Amazon (see disclaimer below).

MIDDLE STAR 
> Stan Boreson (1925-2017) best known at Christmastime amongst Washingtonians and/or those of Scandinavian lineage (such as myself!) for his recording of I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas and other Scandahoovian Christmas classics; born in Everett, WA, he passed away at age 91 in Seattle at the beginning of this year, January of 2017, due to a stroke (godspeed).

 Good luck finding Stan Boreson's recordings. Here's a vinyl record at Amazon that was in my house growing up! (see disclaimer below)
BOTTOM STAR 
> Harry Stewart (1908-1956) best known for his character Yogi Yorgesson and his Christmastime hit I Yust Go Nuts at Christmas, which was later recorded by Stan Boreson of Everett, WA; born in Tacoma, WA, where he grew up in the Proctor District (where I used to live!) and attended Stadium High School (where I took my SATs and once lived near!). 

 Find Yogi Yorgesson's hit on Dr. Demento Presents The Greatest Christmas Novelty CD of All Time at Amazon (see disclaimer below). 
BOTTOM STAR & RIGHT STAR
> Bing Crosby (1903-1977) best known at Christmastime for the film Holiday Inn featuring the timeless song White Christmas, released in 1942; born in Tacoma, WA, where his father built a house that still stands to this day (I lived so close it was on my running route!), before moving to Spokane, WA, in 1906.

 Find the classic song White Christmas and film Holiday Inn at Amazon (see disclaimer below).

BOTTOM STAR & RIGHT STAR
> Darren McGavin (1922-2006) best known at Christmastime as Old Man Parker in the nostalgic 1983 film A Christmas Story; a runaway at a young age from Spokane, WA, he lived in abandoned warehouses during his teen years in Tacoma, WA. 

 Find the one and only A Christmas Story on DVD at Amazon (see disclaimer below).  



> Did you learn something new?

> Do you know of more Washington State entertainers famously & fondly connected to the Christmas holidays? 

> Share in a comment, or write a blog post and share the link in a comment!

 ~ Happy Christmasing! 🎄🎇🎉



D I S C L A I M E R
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