Bob Hope KBE (May 29 1903-July 27 2003) was an English-born, Academy Award-winning entertainer who appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, in radio, television, movies, and on numerous USO tours for U.S. military personnel.
Hope was the fifth of seven sons. His English father, William Henry Hope, was a stonemason from Weston-super-Mare and his Welsh mother, Avis Townes, was a light opera singer who later had to find work as a cleaning woman. The family lived in Weston-super-Mare, then Whitehall and St. George in Bristol, before moving to Cleveland, Ohio in 1908. The family traveled to the United States as passengers on board the SS Philadelphia. They were inspected at Ellis Island on March 30 1908. Hope became a U.S. citizen in 1920 at the age of seventeen.
Hope is noted for his work with the US Armed Forces and his renowned USO tours. Hope always incorporated a handful of talented performers and celebrities to accompany him on these tours. Most of the time he was flanked by beautiful television and film actresses such as Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable. Marilyn Monroe and Betty Grable join Hope on USO tour Throughout his career he was decorated by many presidents for his humanitarian work.
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre was an anthology television series which ran on NBC from 1963 through 1967. The show was hosted by Bob Hope, but it had a variety of formats, including musical, dramatic, and comedy.
The program included such events as a showing of One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, starring Jason Robards (from the novel by Alexander Solzhenitsyn); The Seven Little Foys, starring Mickey Rooney, Eddie Foy Jr. and the Osmond Brothers; and Think Pretty, a musical starring Fred Astaire and Barrie Chase.
Bob Hope's performances consisted of his typical joke- and celebrity-filled blackout sketches. These were usually called Chrysler Presents a Bob Hope Special. Every season, Hope traveled to Vietnam for Christmas, to entertain the troops.
Celebrities who appeared in dramatic episodes included Ida Lupino, Sam Peckinpah, Peter Falk, Hugh O'Brian, Shelley Winters, Cliff Robertson, John Cassavetes, Jack Lord, William Shatner, Angie Dickinson, Suzanne Pleshette, Robert Stack, Dina Merrill, Darren McGavin, Broderick Crawford and Stuart Whitman.
Several episodes were rerun from 1968 through 1972 under several different titles: NBC Adventure Theatre, NBC Action Playhouse, NBC Comedy Playhouse and NBC Comedy Theater. The Hope introductions were replaced by other hosts.
b: How old are you, Natalie? talie: 18. b: 18. It's hard to believe I'm almost twice your age! [audience laugh] Three times? Four? Let's not get nasty, huh!
uring an "I Love Lucy" skit, Lucy has smothered Ricky with kisses] cky: The last time you kissed me like that, you wrecked the car, the insurance company cancelled my insurance on everything, and you did my laundry in the whiring mixer!
Ricky' throws his hat into the wardrobe, only for the sea lion Lucy has hidden inside to throw the hat back out] cy: Oh, close the door! I'm fumigating - we got termites! cky: Yeah, one of 'em must pitch for Cleveland!
cky: Why are you fumigating the place? That's the landlord's job! cy: Well, Fred and Ethel are away. I'd just thought I'd help. cky: Oh, you're always helping, like when we went on our honeymoon. You thought we'd be lonesome, so you invited your mother to come along! cy: Well, I was just trying to help! cky: Who were you helping, your father?
cky: [picking up a herring from a plate on the table] What is this? What are these Texas anchovies doing here? cy: That's my first dividend. I joined a herring of the month club!
b: Would you like to have dinner with me tonight? rilyn: Well, I'd love to, Bob, but I'm not sure I can afford it!
b: Would you consider going out with a fella a little older than yourself? rilyn: Well of course, Bob. Why, do you have a son?
b: You know, I can't get over you. Your singing sure has improved. ank: Really, well, when was the last time you heard me? b: At rehersal! ank: You know, I can't get over you, Bob. The older you get, the funnier you get, and, man, you've grown hilarious!
Legendary entertainer Bob Hope hosted, and occasionally starred in, one of the last major anthology series on network TV. Both dramatic and comedy shows were presented, featuring many of Hollywood's top names, including quite a few who didn't do much TV otherwise. Every month or so, Hope would host a variety special in the show's time slot. On those occasions, the show was entitled "Chrysler presents a Bob Hope Special." As can be seen from the various hosts listed, many of these shows were shown in reruns, usually as a summer replacement series, during the late 1960's and early 1970's. Written by Bob Sorrentino
Comedian, born in London and moved to Bristol before emigrating with his parents to the US in 1908. After some years on the stage as a dancer and comedian, he made his first film appearance in Big Broadcast of 1938, The (1938) singing "Thanks for the Memories", which became his signature tune. In partnership with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour, he appeared in the highly successful "Road to ..." comedies (1940-1952), and in many others until the early 1970s. During World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars he spent much time entertaining the troops in the field. For these activities and for his continued contributions to the industry he was given a special Academy Award on five occasions.
