Bob Hope

The English-born Hope and his family emigrated to the USA in 1907. Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Hope drifted into vaudeville in the 1920s and made his Broadway musical debut in 1933's "Roberta", although his early act was "song, patter, and eccentric dancing," and his uncomplicated, reachable and relatable trademark quips and razor-sharp delivery came later. He went on to be featured in the 1935 edition of the Ziegfeld Follies and the following year co-starred with Ethel Merman in Cole Porter's "Red Hot and Blue". After appearances in short films and on radio, Hope moved to Hollywood in 1938, first teaming up with Bing Crosby in "Road to Singapore" (1940). Trading on his knack for rapid-fire wisecracking, Hope made seven "road" films with Crosby and Dorothy Lamour (probably the best of which is "Road to Utopia" 1945) and went on to become a showbiz institution. This was hardly a surprise to Paramount chair Adolph Zukor who sent a now-famous memo predicting just that. Famous for his "ski-slope" nose, Hope regularly made Hollywood's list of top ten boxoffice stars throughout the 40s and early 50s, sometimes placing second to Crosby. Hope's star image became that of the comic coward caught in...

The English-born Hope and his family emigrated to the USA in 1907. Raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Hope drifted into vaudeville in the 1920s and made his Broadway musical debut in 1933's "Roberta", although his early act was "song, patter, and eccentric dancing," and his uncomplicated, reachable and relatable trademark quips and razor-sharp delivery came later. He went on to be featured in the 1935 edition of the Ziegfeld Follies and the following year co-starred with Ethel Merman in Cole Porter's "Red Hot and Blue".

After appearances in short films and on radio, Hope moved to Hollywood in 1938, first teaming up with Bing Crosby in "Road to Singapore" (1940). Trading on his knack for rapid-fire wisecracking, Hope made seven "road" films with Crosby and Dorothy Lamour (probably the best of which is "Road to Utopia" 1945) and went on to become a showbiz institution. This was hardly a surprise to Paramount chair Adolph Zukor who sent a now-famous memo predicting just that. Famous for his "ski-slope" nose, Hope regularly made Hollywood's list of top ten boxoffice stars throughout the 40s and early 50s, sometimes placing second to Crosby. Hope's star image became that of the comic coward caught in adventurous situations who eventually makes good and wins his leading lady's hand. His better films sans Crosby include "The Cat and the Canary" (1939), "The Ghost Breakers" (1940), "My Favorite Brunette" (1947) and "The Paleface" (1948). Hope worked well with his many co-stars, which reads like a who's who of Hollywood films, with a few exceptions, like Katharine Hepburn, with whom he clashed while making "The Iron Petticoat" (1956).

Although his film career had diminished by the 60s, (e.g., the forgettable comedy "Sorry, I Got A Wrong Number" 1966), Hope was hardly through. One of the few show business figures who can boast a star status in vaudeville, Broadway, radio, films and TV, Hope hosted the Pepsodent Show for NBC on radio beginning in 1938, and lasted on the air until the 50s. Hope first appeared on TV in 1947 when he inaugurated the opening of KTLA Los Angeles, the first West Coast TV station. By 1950, Hope was regularly appearing on the small screen, first in the "Star Spangled Revue" and later as host of and performer in the anthology series, "Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre". Hope also frequently made appearances on "The Tonight Show" and on the comedies of his long-time friends, such as Lucille Ball and Jack Benny. But, he was best known for his variety specials, which often came four or more times per season and usually included not just Hope's quick-timed monologues but the latest female stars. After his final special in 1996, "Bob Hope . . . Laughing With the Presidents," he formally and amicably ended his association with NBC, declaring himself "a free agent."

From 1953 through 1994, Hope did annual Christmas specials, many of which were broadcasts of his shows for armed forces troops stationed throughout the world. Over the years, Hope entertained troops serving throughout Europe (in the 40s) in Korea (the 50s) and in Vietnam (60s and 70s). Even during peacetime, Hope would bring his USO shows to soldiers stationed around the world. While he did not have as many close calls at the front as Martha Raye (who often seemed to be leading the troops) Hope came close. Many of his numerous humanitarian awards stem from his performances for US service personnel, for which he earned the moniker, 'The USO's Ambassador of Good Will'. In 1983, at 80, Hope once more hit the road, this time traveling to Lebanon, where a peacekeeping force; and nearing age 90, Hope even went to the Persian Gulf prior to the war to liberate Kuwait.

Hope has been the intimate of presidents since Franklin Delano Roosevelt, although his politics usually were associated with Republicans. Nevertheless, Roosevelt and every president since have laughed at his zings. He was an avid golfer and sponsored the Bob Hope Desert Classic, and in addition to his numerous charitable causes, Hope was often considered one of the wealthiest members of the Hollywood community, with investments in oil and real estate as well as his entertainment industry income. His image as a tame tweaker of contemporary foibles has been bolstered by his skillful comic timing and legions of gag writers through the years. He was also the author or co-author of 10 books, including his 1990 autobiography, "Don't Shoot, It's Only Me."

The multimillionaire (Hope's fortune has been estimated at as much as $500 million) had oil wells in Texas, was once part-owner of the Cleveland Indians baseball team and had a variety of other business ventures under Bob Hope Enterprises. But most of his money was in property. He owned about 8,500 acres in California, most of it in the San Fernando Valley, bought when it was fruit orchards and vacant lots. By his own estimate, he was one of the largest individual property owners, if not the largest, in the Golden State. He was able to reach that status, he said, when he and singer Bing Crosby-neither of whom knew anything about oil wells-invested in one in 1949 that produced oil.

Hope's awards (the Guinness Book of Records cited him as the most honored and publicly praised entertainer in the world, with more than 2,000) included scores of honorary degrees; special Oscars for humanitarianism and service to the film industry; an Emmy for his television work; radio's George Peabody Award; a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center; the National Conference of Christians and Jews Award; the Medal of Merit from President Dwight D.Eisenhower, a Congressional Gold Medal from President John F. Kennedy (he was only the third civilian to be so honored); the Medal of Freedom from President Johnson; the National Medal of the Arts from President Bill Clinton; the George C. Marshall Award; the Navy's Distinguished Service Medal and the Distinguished Public Service Medal of the U.S. Department of Defense, the highest award the military can bestow on a civilian. On Oct. 29, 1997, at age 94, he became the first American designated by Congress as an "honorary veteran of the United States Armed Forces." He received honorary knighthood--Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire--from Britain in 1998, shortly before Hope's 95th birthday, the same year he was awarded a papal knighthood by Pope John Paul II. On his 100th birthday in 2003, he was too frail to take part in public celebrations, but was said to be alert and happy - and overwhelmed by the outpouring of affection. The fabled intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street was renamed Bob Hope Square, and President Bush established the Bob Hope American Patriot Award. He died just two months after reaching the centennial mark and was hailed as both a comedic legend and an outstanding American--indeed, an iconic piece of Americana itself.

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