|
Bob Hope
Leslie Townes Hope
Actor, Comedian, Singer, Entertainer, Radio/TV Host
(1903 - 2003)
|
|
|
|
|
Bob Hope was a giant in the world of entertainment. He was born in England and moved to Ohio with his family in 1907, becoming a citizen in 1908. He began in vaudeville and soon turned to stand-up comedy. He began his own radio show in 1938 which attracted only the most popular guest stars. He appeared in several Broadway musicals, including Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 where he introduced “I Can’t Get Started (with You),” written by Ira Gershwin and Vernon Duke. In the film, The Big Broadcast of 1938, he introduced the song that became his signature tune, “Thanks for the Memories.”
During WWII Hope tirelessly entertained troops, giving his first USO show in 1941 and continuing to bring entertainment to service men around the world for 50 years, through the Persian Gulf War. He made over 60 films, some of the most popular, the “Road” pictures, were with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. He made guest appearances on TV, hosted hundreds of television specials, and emceed the Academy Awards many times from the ‘50s to the ‘80s.
He has been honored with too many awards to list, but as an avid golfer he may have enjoyed best a tournament being named after him in 1965. At the time of his death, he and his wife Dolores had been married for 69 years.
- Sandra Burlingame |
|
|
|
