History Daily – Episode 1277: The First Performance of “White Christmas”

Date: December 25, 2025
Host: Lindsey Graham
Theme: The origins and emotional impact of Irving Berlin’s “White Christmas,” from its creation in the late 1930s to its historic first performance on December 25, 1941, and its enduring legacy.

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the moving story behind “White Christmas,” one of the world’s most beloved holiday songs. Host Lindsey Graham recounts how personal tragedy and longing inspired Irving Berlin to write the song and how Bing Crosby’s iconic performance turned it into a timeless classic, shaping Christmas music and comforting Americans during some of their nation’s darkest days.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Irving Berlin’s Personal Tragedy and Beginnings

• Setting the Stage (01:00–06:56):
  • December 24, 1938: Irving Berlin, celebrated American songwriter, works alone over Christmas at the La Quinta Resort, Palm Springs, separated from his family in New York.
  • His loneliness on Christmas Eve leads him to the piano, where he starts penning lyrics that capture his longing for home, written at the top of the page: “White Christmas.”
  • Earlier Losses (06:56–12:13):
    • December 25, 1929: Berlin and his wife mourn the first anniversary of their infant son’s death, a tragedy that haunts him and colors his music.
    • Berlin’s own childhood was marked by hardship: fleeing Russia after their home burned, immigrating to the U.S., losing his father at 13, and scraping by as a working-class boy in New York.

“It's the first anniversary of the worst day of their lives. A year ago, Irving and Ellen woke on Christmas morning to find that their infant son had died during the night.”
— Lindsey Graham (06:58)

• Music as Solace:
  • Despite never learning to read or write music, Berlin’s natural talent as a singer and pianist leads him to early success in New York.
  • His first big hit, “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” sparks a dance craze.

Transition to Hollywood: Growth & Challenges

• Hollywood Setbacks and Successes (10:00–12:13):
  • 1930: Commissioned for his first Hollywood musical, “Reaching for the Moon.” Most of Berlin’s songs are cut, except one sung by Bing Crosby, then a rising star.
  • 1935: Berlin’s music features prominently in “Top Hat,” starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, earning Berlin his first Oscar nomination.

The Song’s Genesis: “White Christmas” is Born

• Alone at Christmas (12:13–14:49):
  • By 1938, still driven by the need to provide and impacted by his personal losses, Berlin spends Christmas working alone, channeling his emotions into the now-famous song.

The First Performance: America at War

• Christmas 1941 – A Nation in Turmoil (14:49–19:28):
  • December 25, 1941: Bing Crosby prepares to perform “White Christmas” on his NBC radio show, just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
  • Despite producers suggesting a more patriotic tune, Crosby insists on “White Christmas” for its emotional resonance.
  • The song, with its melancholic and nostalgic lyrics, perfectly captures the wartime mood of Americans at home and abroad.

“Most Christmas music is upbeat or religious, but ‘White Christmas’ has a slower, more maudlin tone...its longing, wistful, almost sad lyrics would strike the right tone for these troubled times.”
— Lindsey Graham (17:07)

• Immediate Impact:
  • Crosby’s performance touches audiences deeply and becomes an anthem for soldiers and families missing each other during wartime.

“Wherever he performs it, Bing sees tears in his audience's eyes as he sings of Christmases just like the ones I used to know.”
— Lindsey Graham (18:45)

Chart Success and Enduring Legacy

• White Christmas Takes Over (19:28–22:08):

  • 1942: Featured in the movie “Holiday Inn,” the song becomes a chart-topping success for 12 weeks.
  • Its longing and sense of loss resonate with wartime America; audiences request it at every Crosby show.

• Oscar Glory and Beyond (22:08–24:44):

  • March 4, 1943: At the Academy Awards, Irving Berlin announces himself as the winner of Best Song for “White Christmas.”
  • The song returns to the top of the charts in 1945 and 1946; Crosby’s original master is so played that it must be re-recorded in 1947.
  • The 1954 film “White Christmas” further cements the song’s iconic status.
  • Through the years, covered by artists from Elvis Presley to Lady Gaga, none eclipse Crosby’s version—the best-selling single of all time.

“White Christmas will be covered by Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Gwen Stefani and Lady Gaga, but none will prove more popular than Bing Crosby's original, the biggest selling single of all time—one that reimagined what Christmas music could sound like after it debuted on the radio on December 25, 1941.”
— Lindsey Graham (23:36)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Irving Berlin’s Christmas Grief:

  “It's the first anniversary of the worst day of their lives. A year ago, Irving and Ellen woke on Christmas morning to find that their infant son had died during the night.”
  — Lindsey Graham (06:58)

• On Berlin’s Songwriting Origins:

  “He never learned how to read or write music, but that didn’t stop him from coming up with songs of his own.”
  — Lindsey Graham (09:15)

• Bing Crosby’s Choice:

  “The producer…suggests something more arousing and patriotic instead. But Bing shakes his head. He’s happy with his decision.”
  — Lindsey Graham (15:52)

• On the Song’s Impact:

  “Wherever he performs it, Bing sees tears in his audience’s eyes as he sings of ‘Christmases just like the ones I used to know.’”
  — Lindsey Graham (18:45)

• Oscar Night Irony:

  “He jokes with the audience, saying that he’s known the songwriter for years and he’s a good kid. Then Irving reveals that the winner of this year’s best song is ‘White Christmas’ by himself, Irving Berlin.”
  — Lindsey Graham (22:24)

• On White Christmas’s Legacy:

  “White Christmas…reimagined what Christmas music could sound like after it debuted on the radio on December 25, 1941.”
  — Lindsey Graham (23:36)

Important Segment Timestamps

• Irving Berlin’s Christmas Alone and the Writing of White Christmas: 01:00–06:56
• Personal Tragedy and Early Career: 06:56–12:13
• Berlin’s Hollywood Struggles and Success: 10:00–12:13
• Birth of the Song & Berlin Alone at Christmas: 12:13–14:49
• First Performance by Bing Crosby Amid Wartime: 14:49–19:28
• Song’s Success and Chart Dominance: 19:28–22:08
• Berlin Wins the Oscar – The Song’s Lasting Impact: 22:08–24:44

Conclusion

This episode of History Daily poignantly weaves together personal tragedy, national anxiety, and creative brilliance to explain why “White Christmas” became more than just a song. It was, and remains, a vessel for longing, memory, and hope—timelessly resonant whether in the darkest days of wartime or in every Christmas season since.