Bob Hope - a Classic Long Gone

If you are old enough to remember Bob Hope then you remember one of the greatest comedians, actor of all times; he was a classic! If you don't have the foggiest idea who Bob Hope was then ask your parents. I remember growing up watching his old movies, Christmas shows every Christmas season and watching him entertain our military troops over seas. Bob Hope was definitely a great man.

Bob Hope was born in Eltham, England on May 29, 1903. At the age of four he and his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio. Growing up Bob Hope worked at odd jobs, a shoe salesman, soda jerk, (bet you probably have no idea what that was), a newsboy and also a boxer. That's right his name was "Packy East." In 1924, Bob's debut was doing a song and dance routine in Fatty Arbuckle revue.

Bob Hopes real name was Leslie Towne Hope but in 1928 he changed his name to "Bob."

Bob Hope appeared in short little comedy skits in the 1930s and made his Broadway debut in 1933; he also started on the radio in 1935. He was a member of The Intimate Revue. The Big Broadcast stared Bob Hope in 1938. He had already signed a contract for his radio show in New York so he moved to Hollywood for the filming of the movie and broadcasted his monologues back to New York.

On February 19, 1934, Bob Hope married Dolores Reade. She was a singer with a beautiful voice.

As Bob Hope became more well know he was casted in the Cat and the Canary; then in 1940, beside Bing Crosby (another classic actor) and Dorothy Lamour (she was a beautiful lady) in the movie Road to Singapore. This was the start of seven more Road movies.

Bob Hope was a regular appearing on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and he was one of Hollywood's Top 10 Stars during 1941 to 1953. On of the best thing I can remember about Bob Hope was his Christmas Show's that was aired internationally every Christmas season. He would have present and up and coming stars. His family would join him in a beautiful family Christmas setting singing songs. I will never forget how he always closed everyone of his show, whether it was Christmas or entertaining our troops with the song 'Thanks for the Memory.'

During World War I, Korean War and the Vietnam War, Bob Hope would travel all over the world to entertain for our American troops. His wife Dolores would accompany him plus also sing. He totaled 700 trips and entertained some 10,000 troops at Military bases and hospitals. A lot of his shows at the military bases were televised and he always came walking out on stage with his golf club; he loved his golf. Bob Hope discovered golf in his twenties and was hooked. Bob learned from the legendary Ben Hogan and made the game famous in Hollywood by playing with stars such as Dean Martin and Jackie Gleason (these are two other classical famous actors).
Inducted in the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1983. Bob Hope formed many charity golf tournaments mainly to help with child diseases.

Bob Hope received over 2,000 awards, five very special Academy Awards, honorary knighthood into the Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by the Queen of England, 54 honorary doctorates and the Presidential Medal of Freedom. John F. Kennedy called him "America's most prized ambassador of goodwill throughout the world." Bob Hope's nickname was "Mr. Humanitarian," which came from the Academy Awards, United States Congress honored him in 1997, as the "honorary veteran." He is also in the Guinness Book of Records as the "Most Decorated and Honored Entertainer."

On February 19, 1934, Bob Hope married Dolores Reade. She was a singer with a beautiful voice. On one of the military tours that was broadcasted, she sang the song Silent Night on Christmas Eve and every soldier had tears running down their faces. When she was done she was applauded with a standing ovation. I can remember her singing and she could make your true feeling surface.

At the loss of a great entertainer at the age of 100 on July 27, 2003, America lost one of our classic entertainer that can and will never be replaced.