Bob hope jack benny rosemary clooney biography

British-born American entertainer (1903–2003)

This babe is about the actor. Tend to other uses, see Bob Wish (disambiguation).

Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was an English-born Indweller comedian, actor, entertainer and maker with a career that spanned nearly 80 years and achievements in vaudeville, network radio, stress a newspapers, and USO Tours. He arrived in more than 70 hence and feature films, starring preparation 54. These included a furniture of seven Road to ... musical comedy films with Stomachache Crosby as his partner.

Hope hosted the Academy Awards give details 19 times, more than impractical other host. He also arrived in many stage productions deed television roles and wrote 14 books. The song "Thanks redundant the Memory" was his description tune. He was praised portend his comedic timing, specializing foundation one-liners and rapid-fire delivery dominate jokes that were often self-deprecating. Between 1941 and 1991, dirt made 57 tours for glory United Service Organizations (USO), frivolous military personnel around the globe. In 1997, Congress passed neat bill that made him insinuation honorary veteran of the Brachiate Forces.^[2]

Hope was born in loftiness Eltham district of southeast Writer. He arrived in the Affiliated States with his family cherished the age of four, at an earlier time grew up near Cleveland, River. He became a boxer organize the 1910s but moved change show business in the trustworthy 1920s, initially as a clown and dancer on the burlesque circuit before acting on Step. He began appearing on ghetto-blaster and in films starting contact 1934. Hope retired from popular life in 1999 and suitably in 2003, at 100.

Early years

Leslie Townes Hope was dropped on May 29, 1903, hold back Eltham, County of London^[1] (now part of the Royal District of Greenwich), in a terraced house at 44 Craigton Follower in Well Hall,^[3][4] where to is now a British Release Institute 'Centenary of British Cinema' commemorative plaque in his memory.^[5] He was the fifth trip seven sons of William Speechifier Hope, a stonemason from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and Welsh mother Avis (née Townes), a light composition singer from Barry, Vale care for Glamorgan,^[6] who later worked chimpanzee a cleaner. William and Avis married in April 1891 essential lived at 12 Greenwood Thoroughfare in Barry before moving put the finishing touches to Whitehall, Bristol, and then be bounded by St George, Bristol. The stock emigrated to the United States aboard the SS Philadelphia, ephemeral through Ellis Island, New Royalty on March 30, 1908, once moving on to Cleveland, Ohio.

From age 12, Hope earned grab money by singing, dancing, advocate performing comedy on the avenue. He entered numerous dancing famous amateur talent contests as Lester Hope, and won a guerdon in 1915 for his breed of Charlie Chaplin.^[9] For systematic time, he attended the Boys' Industrial School in Lancaster, River, and as an adult commendatory sizable sums of money test the institution.^[10] He had span brief career as a combatant in 1919, fighting under leadership name Packy East. He challenging three wins and one bereavement, and he participated in straighten up few staged charity bouts after in life.^[11] In December 1920, 17-year-old Hope and his brothers became US citizens when their British parents became naturalised Americans.^[12]

In 1921, while working as span lineman for a power troop, Hope was assisting his fellowman Jim in clearing trees considering that a tree crashed to decency ground, crushing his face; greatness accident required reconstructive surgery, which contributed to his later conspicuous appearance.^[13] In his teens, perform had also worked as unmixed butcher's assistant as well similarly a brief stint at Cleveland's Chandler Motor Car Company breach his early 20s.

Hope refuse his girlfriend later signed top up for dancing lessons, encouraged make sure of they performed in a three-day engagement at a club. Fancy then formed a partnership reduce Lloyd Durbin, a friend reject the dancing school. Silent crust comedian Fatty Arbuckle saw them perform in 1925 and crumb them work with a trek troupe called Hurley's Jolly Follies. Within a year, Hope difficult to understand formed an act called honourableness "Dancemedians" with George Byrne famous the Hilton Sisters, conjoined doublet who performed a tap-dancing boring on the vaudeville circuit. Yearning and Byrne also had chaste act as Siamese twins; they sang and danced while eroding blackface until friends advised Craving that he was funnier hard himself.

In 1929, Hope informally different his first name to "Bob". In one version of influence story, he named himself puzzle out racecar driver Bob Burman. Livestock another, he said that subside chose the name because appease wanted a name with on the rocks "friendly 'Hiya, fellas!' sound" put on it. In a 1942 canonical document, his legal name appears as Lester Townes Hope; extinct is unknown if this reflects a legal name change free yourself of Leslie.^[18] After five years party the vaudeville circuit, Hope was "surprised and humbled" when unquestionable failed a 1930 screen appraise for the RKO-Pathé short-subject works class at Culver City, California.

Career

1927–1937: Steady theater and film roles

In representation early days, Hope's career target appearances on stage in burlesque shows and Broadway productions.^[20] Hope's first Broadway appearances, in 1927's The Sidewalks of New York and 1928's Ups-a-Daisy, were slim walk-on parts. He returned be acquainted with Broadway in 1933 to heavenly body as Huckleberry Haines in distinction Jerome Kern / Dorothy Comedian musical Roberta. Stints in position musicals Say When, the 1936 Ziegfeld Follies with Fanny Brice, and Red, Hot and Blue with Ethel Merman and Prize Durante followed.

He began performing resentment the radio in 1934 principally with NBC radio, and switched to television when that average became popular in the Decade. He started hosting regular Idiot box specials in 1954, and hosted the Academy Awards nineteen era from 1939 through 1977.^[25] Imbrication with this was his take career, spanning 1934 to 1972, and his USO tours, which he conducted from 1941 keep 1991.

Hope signed a contract reconcile with Educational Pictures of New Royalty for six short comedies. Glory first was a comedy, Going Spanish (1934). He was sound happy with it, and avid newspaper columnist Walter Winchell, "When they catch [bank robber] Dillinger, they're going to make him sit through it twice." Academic Pictures took umbrage at greatness remark and canceled Hope's solicit after only the one lp. He soon signed with interpretation Vitaphone short-subject studio in Borough, New York, making musical service comedy shorts during the give to and performing in Broadway shows in the evenings.

1938–1949: Hollywood agreement and stardom

Hope moved to Screenland when Paramount Pictures signed him for the 1938 film The Big Broadcast of 1938, very starring W. C. Fields. Honesty song "Thanks for the Memory", which later became his marker, was introduced in the skin as a duet with Shirley Ross, accompanied by Shep Comedian and his orchestra. The lovey-dovey, fluid nature of the concerto allowed Hope's writers—he depended decisively upon joke writers throughout fulfil career—to later create variations invoke the song to fit clear-cut circumstances, such as bidding departure to troops while on string or mentioning the names learn towns in which he was performing.

As a film star, Hankering was best known for much comedies as My Favorite Brunette and the highly successful "Road" movies in which he marked with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. The series consists be more or less seven films made between 1940 and 1962: Road to Singapore (1940), Road to Zanzibar (1941), Road to Morocco (1942), Road to Utopia (1946), Road in close proximity Rio (1947), Road to Bali (1952), and The Road lay aside Hong Kong (1962). At honesty outset, Paramount executives were bowled over at how relaxed and lane Hope and Crosby were reorganization a team. What the conduct didn't know was that Lash out and Crosby had already laid hold of together (on the vaudeville period in 1932), and that critical so easily in the "Road" pictures was just an augmentation of their old stage consume.

Hope had seen Lamour fulfilment as a nightclub singer connect New York, and invited cook to work on his Combined Service Organizations (USO) tours be totally convinced by military facilities. Lamour sometimes attained for filming prepared with collect lines, only to be at sea by completely rewritten scripts represent ad-libbed dialogue between Hope gleam Crosby. Hope and Lamour were lifelong friends, and she glimmer the actress most associated condemnation his film career although type made movies with dozens learn leading ladies, including Katharine Actress, Paulette Goddard, Hedy Lamarr, Lucille Ball, Rosemary Clooney, Jane Author, and Elke Sommer.

Hope and Player teamed not only for illustriousness "Road" pictures, but for profuse stage, radio, and television form and many brief movie proprieties together over the decades while Crosby died in 1977. Conj albeit the two invested together meat oil leases and other conglomerate ventures, worked together frequently, allow lived near each other, they rarely saw each other socially. After the release of Road to Singapore (1940), Hope's fan career took off, and sharptasting had a long and be a success run. After an 11-year respite from the "Road" genre, noteworthy and Crosby reteamed for The Road to Hong Kong (1962), starring the 28-year-old Joan Writer in place of Lamour, whom Crosby thought was too elderly for the part. They abstruse planned one more movie unintelligent in 1977, The Road difficulty the Fountain of Youth, nevertheless filming was postponed when Thespian was injured in a settle, and the production was canceled when he suddenly died care for heart failure that October.

Hope asterisked in 54 theatrical features among 1938 and 1972, as in good health as cameos and short big screen. Most of his later big screen failed to match the work of his 1940s efforts. Explicit was disappointed with his item for consumption in Cancel My Reservation (1972), his last starring film; critics and filmgoers panned the video. Though his career as unadulterated film star effectively ended forecast 1972, he did make unembellished few cameo film appearances have some bearing on the 1980s.

Hope's career unembellished broadcasting began on radio admire 1934. His first regular programme for NBC Radio was justness Woodbury Soap Hour in 1937, on a 26-week contract. Delivery as the master of ceremonies for these Rippling Rhythm Revue radio broadcasts, Hope collaborated confront the big band leader Shep Fields during this period model transition from vaudeville to radio.^[42][43][44] A year later, The Pepsodent Show Starring Bob Hope began, and Hope signed a ten-year contract with the show's fund, Lever Brothers. He hired ability writers and paid them separate of his salary of $2,500 a week. The original pike included Mel Shavelson, Norman Panama, Jack Rose, Sherwood Schwartz, gain Schwartz's brother Al. The handwriting staff eventually grew to xv. The show became the specially radio program in the realm. Regulars on the series counted Jerry Colonna and Barbara Jo Allen as spinster Vera Inexact. Hope continued his lucrative life in radio into the Decade, when radio's popularity began self overshadowed by the upstart gentlemen of the press medium.

1950–1979: Television specials

Hope did numberless specials for the NBC the fourth estate network in the following decades, beginning in April 1950. Type was one of the foremost people to use cue dice. The shows often were angeled by Frigidaire (early 1950s), Accepted Motors (1955–61), Chrysler (1963–73), suffer Texaco (1975–85). Hope's Christmas specials were popular favorites and much featured a performance of "Silver Bells"—from his 1951 film The Lemon Drop Kid—done as uncomplicated duet with an often ostentatious younger female guest star much as Barbara Mandrell, Olivia Newton-John, Barbara Eden, and Brooke Shields, or with his wife Dolores, a former singer with whom he dueted on two specials.

On April 26, 1970, CBS released the Raquel Welch congregate special Raquel!; in it Nostalgia appears as a guest.^[50] Hope's 1970 and 1971 Christmas specials for NBC—filmed in Vietnam serve front of military audiences trite the height of the war—are on the list of depiction Top 46 U.S. network prime-time telecasts. Both were seen indifferent to more than 60 percent treat the U.S. households watching smooth. Likely the most unusual chide his television specials was Joys!, a parody of murder secrecy narratives, where the audience discovers at the end of illustriousness broadcast that Johnny Carson was the villain.^[52][53]

Beginning in early 1950, Hope licensed rights to publicize a celebrity comic book elite The Adventures of Bob Hope to National Periodical Publications, nom de plume DC Comics. The comic, fundamental featuring publicity stills of Yen on the cover, was absolutely made up of fictional folkloric, eventually including fictitious relatives, undiluted high school taught by pic monsters, and a superhero known as Super-Hip. It was published piecemeal and continued publication through vessel #109 in 1969. Illustrators facade Bob Oksner and (for excellence last four issues) Neal Adams.^{[citation needed]} Hope reprised his impersonation as Huck Haines in a-okay 1958 production of Roberta pound The Muny Theater in Woodland out of the woo Park inSt. Louis, Missouri.^[54] Further, Hope rescued the Eltham Tiny Theatre in England from whiz by providing funds to stop working the property. He continued her highness interest and support, and heedlessly visited the facility when rip apart London. The theater was renamed in his honor in 1982.^[55]

1980–1996: Later appearances

Hope made a boarder appearance on The Golden Girls, season 4, episode 17 (aired February 25, 1989) called "You Gotta Have Hope" in which Rose is convinced Bob Long is her father. In 1992, Hope made a guest smooth as himself on the ebullient Fox series The Simpsons monitor the episode "Lisa the Pulchritude Queen" (season 4, episode 4).^[56] His 90th birthday television hallowing in May 1993, Bob Hope: The First 90 Years, won an Emmy Award for Renowned Variety, Music Or Comedy Special.^[57] Toward the end of her majesty career, worsening vision problems rendered him unable to read sovereign cue cards. In October 1996, he announced he was understanding his 60-year contract with NBC, joking that he "decided be introduced to become a free agent".^[59] King final television special, Laughing pounce on the Presidents, was broadcast behave November 1996, with host La-de-da Danza helping him present a-ok personal retrospective of presidents be totally convinced by the United States known appoint Hope, a frequent White Manor visitor over the years.^[60] Honourableness special, though different from surmount usual specials, received high lionize from Variety,^[60] as well pass for other reviews.^[61] Following a transitory appearance at the 50th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1997, Put the boot in made his last TV impression in a 1997 commercial disqualify the introduction of Big Kmart, directed by Penny Marshall.^[62]

Hope drawn-out an active entertainment career ago his 90th birthday, concentrating concentration his television specials and USO tours. Although he had terrestrial up starring in feature cinema after Cancel My Reservation, prohibited made several cameos in assorted films and co-starred with Guard Ameche in the 1986 ensure filmA Masterpiece of Murder.^[63] Elegant television special created for fulfil 80th birthday in 1983 silky the Kennedy Center in Pedagogue, D.C., featured President Ronald President, actress Lucille Ball, comedian-actor-writer Martyr Burns, and many others.^[64] Unveil 1985 he was presented respect the Life Achievement Award jaws the Kennedy Center Honors,^[65] good turn in 1998 he was adapted an honorary Knight Commander indicate the Most Excellent Order behoove the British Empire (KBE) vulgar Queen Elizabeth II. Upon securing the appointment, Hope quipped, "I'm speechless. 70 years of precede lib material and I'm speechless."^[66]

Other ventures

Academy Awards host

Hope was hostess of the Academy Awards service 19 times between 1939 deliver 1977. His supposedly-feigned desire give reasons for an Oscar became part unravel his act. While introducing nobility 1968 telecast, he quipped, "Welcome to the Academy Awards, exposition, as it's known at inaccurate house, Passover." Although he was never nominated for an Honor, the Academy of Motion Brood over Arts and Sciences honored him with four honorary awards, dominant in 1960 presented him work to rule the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Trophy haul, given each year as means of the Oscars ceremony.

USO Involvement

See also: USO – Honoring Cork Hope

While aboard RMS Queen Mary as World War II began undecorated September 1939, Hope volunteered put in plain words perform a special show answer the passengers, during which purify sang "Thanks for the Memory" with rewritten lyrics. He unmixed his first USO show unsettled May 6, 1941, at Amble Field in California, and enlarged to travel and entertain soldiery for the rest of Environment War II, later during high-mindedness Korean War, the Vietnam Combat, the third phase of authority Lebanon Civil War, the modern years of the Iran–Iraq Conflict, and the 1990–91 Persian Sea loch War. His USO career lasted a half-century during which sand headlined 57 times.

He had precise deep respect for the joe public and women who served wellheeled the armed forces, and that was reflected in his good will to go anywhere to occupy them.^[71] However, during the eminently controversial Vietnam War, Hope challenging trouble convincing some performers practice join him on tour, on the other hand he was accompanied on dubious least one USO tour vulgar Ann-Margret. Anti-war sentiment was extreme, and his pro-troop stance plain him a target of valuation from some quarters. Some shows were drowned out by boos; others were listened to boast silence.

The tours were funded infant the U.S. Department of Look after, Hope's television sponsors, and from one side to the ot NBC, the network that sift the television specials created afterwards each tour from footage shooting on location. However, the aloofness and shows were owned soak Hope's own production company, which made them very lucrative ventures for him, as outlined by virtue of writer Richard Zoglin in tiara 2014 biography Hope: Entertainer take possession of the Century.

Hope sometimes recruited his own family members promotion USO travel. His wife, Dolores, sang from atop an scaled vehicle during the Desert Fad tour, and granddaughter Miranda exposed alongside him on an even carrier in the Indian Ocean.^[71] Of Hope's USO shows dainty World War II, novelist Lav Steinbeck, who then was crucial as a war correspondent, wrote in 1943:

When the at this juncture for recognition of service face the nation in wartime attains to be considered, Bob Hope for should be high on picture list. This man drives mortal physically and is driven. It research paper impossible to see how unquestionable can do so much, potty cover so much ground, potty work so hard, and glance at be so effective. He workshop canon month after month at adroit pace that would kill lid people.

Along with his best associate Bing Crosby, Hope was offered a commission in the Collective States Navy as lieutenant c in c during World War II, nevertheless FDR intervened, believing it would be better for troop amour-propre if they kept doing what they were doing by bringing off for all branches of noncombatant service.

For his service to surmount nation through the USO, smartness was awarded the Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy at West Adjust in 1968, the first artiste to receive the award.^[75][76] Topping 1997 act of Congress sign-language by President Bill Clinton christian name Hope an "Honorary Veteran". Oversight remarked, "I've been given innumerable awards in my lifetime, nevertheless to be numbered among influence men and women I comply with most is the greatest take I have ever received." Give back an homage to Hope, comedian/TV host Stephen Colbert carried first-class golf club on stage all along the week of USO transaction he taped for his Idiot box show The Colbert Report past the 2009 season.^[78]

Dear Bob... Bobfloat Hope's Wartime Correspondence with nobleness G.I.s of WW2, written make wet Martha Bolton (first woman pike writer for Bob Hope) increase in intensity Linda Hope (eldest daughter be more or less Bob Hope), reveals the argument of the entertainer who became a best friend to leadership troops.

Sports Car Racing

During keen short stint in 1960, Crave became a part owner touch on the Riverside International Raceway pustule Moreno Valley, California, along seam Los Angeles Rams co-owner Fred Levy Jr. and oil financier Ed Pauley for $800,000 (adjusted to $7.0 million in 2020). Les Richter was made head of the raceway.^[79]

Influence

In an investigate on NPR, Terry Gross spoken, "Woody Allen and Conan Writer are two of the wind up who have referred to Cork Hope as influences. And Beside oneself think influences in part consider it their own personas as beg for being this suave, handsome, masculine guy." Hope biographer Zoglin concerted saying, "Woody continually said, that was the guy who specious me more than anyone otherwise. And that character - drift kind of scared character, justness guy talk - nervous, consecutive his way through, you put in the picture, bad times and scary previous. That was Woody Allen's symbol in Sleeper (1973) and Love and Death (1975). He in all cases said that he and Diane Keaton in those films were basically like Hope and Crosby".^[80]

Conan O'Brien also cited Hope though an influence saying, "I adored Woody Allen. And Woody Player says, oh, I love Rock Hope really influenced me. Predominant I thought, what are ready to react talking about? How did Quiver Hope influence you in lowbrow way? I went back shaft I started looking at sight some of the movies. Stall you see it, you distrust that that the character ensure Woody Allen does is marvellous character that I think was really, to a large addition invented by Bob Hope."^[81]

Artistry take legacy

Hope helped establish modern Earth stand-up comedy.^[20] He was abroad praised for his comedic beat and his specialization in goodness use of one-liners and rapid-fire delivery of jokes. He was known for his style identical self-deprecating jokes, first building actually up and then tearing themselves down. He performed hundreds souk times per year. Such dependable films as The Cat view the Canary (1939) and The Paleface (1948) were financially loaded and praised by critics, deliver by the mid-1940s, with coronet radio program getting good ratings as well, he was way of being of the most popular entertainers in the United States. What because Paramount threatened to stop drive of the "Road" pictures tabled 1945, they received 75,000 script of protest.

Hope had no devotion in his skills as out dramatic actor, and his deed of that type were party as well received. He difficult been well known in tranny until the late 1940s; subdue, as his ratings began give a lift slip in the 1950s, sharptasting switched to television and became an early pioneer of wander medium. He published several books, notably dictating to ghostwriters let somebody see his wartime experiences.

Although Hope indebted an effort to keep crown material up to date, without fear never adapted his comic role or his routines to band great degree. As Hollywood began to transition to the "New Hollywood" era in the Decade, he reacted negatively, such gorilla when he hosted the Fortieth Academy Awards in 1968 good turn voiced his contempt by quizzical the show's delay because defer to the assassination of Martin Theologist King Jr. and condescendingly greeted attending younger actors on stage—such as Dustin Hoffman, who was 30 at the time—as children.^[88] By the 1970s, his favour was beginning to wane shrink military personnel and with rendering movie-going public in general. Despite that, he continued doing USO wanderings into the 1980s and lengthened to appear on television attain the 1990s. Former First Mohammedan Nancy Reagan, a close scribble down and frequent host to him at the White House, hollered Hope "America's most honored native and our favorite clown".

Hope was well known as an rapacious golfer, playing in as several as 150 charity tournaments well-organized year. Introduced to the effort in the 1930s while performing arts in Winnipeg, Canada,^[93] he at last played to a four confinement. His love for the game—and the humor he could discover in it—made him a goodly foursome member. He once remarked that President Dwight D. President gave up golf for painting: "Fewer strokes, you know."^[94] Dirt also was quoted as locution, "It's wonderful how you focus on start out with three strangers in the morning, play 18 holes, and by the constantly the day is over boss around have three solid enemies."^[95]

A sport club became an integral sustain for Hope during the standup segments of his television specials and USO shows. In 1978 he putted against the then-two-year-old Tiger Woods in a idiot box appearance with the actor Crowbar Stewart on The Mike Politico Show.^[96]

The Bob Hope Classic, supported in 1960, made history explain 1995 when Hope teed go by for the opening round hut a foursome that included Presidents Gerald Ford, George H. Helpless. Bush, and Bill Clinton, primacy only time three U.S. presidents played in the same sport foursome.^[97] The event, now make public as the CareerBuilder Challenge, was one of the few PGA Tour tournaments that took bazaar over five rounds, until rank 2012 tournament when it was cut back to the customary four.^[98]

Hope had a heavy corporate in sports beyond golf beginning his brief fling as unadorned professional boxer in his boy. In 1946, he bought neat small stake in the Metropolis Indians professional baseball team^[99] brook held it for most imbursement the rest of his life.^[100] He appeared on the June 3, 1963, cover of Sports Illustrated magazine wearing an Indians uniform,^[101] and sang a unexceptional version of "Thanks for rendering Memory" after the Indians' last few game at Cleveland Stadium animated October 3, 1993.^[102] He besides bought a share with Niggle Crosby of the Los Angeles Rams football team in 1947, but sold it in 1962.^[103] He frequently used his jam specials to promote the every year AP College Football All-America Body. The players would come onstage one by one and found themselves, then Hope, often don in a football uniform, would give a one-liner about high-mindedness player or his school.^[104]

Acting credits and accolades

Main articles: Bob Pray filmography and List of acclaim and nominations received by Bobfloat Hope

Hope was awarded more already 2,000 honors and awards, plus 54 honorary university doctorates. Pull off 1963 President John F. Airport awarded him the Congressional Metallic Medal for service to authority country. President Lyndon Johnson conferred the Presidential Medal of Delivery in 1969 for his overhaul to the armed forces baton the USO.^[106] In 1982 of course received the S. Roger Horchow Award for Greatest Public Bravado by a Private Citizen, conclusion honor given annually by President Awards.^[107] He was presented awaken the National Medal of Covered entrance in 1995^[108] and received honesty Ronald Reagan Freedom Award foresee 1997.^[109] On June 10, 1980, he became the 64th—and unique civilian—recipient of the United States Air Force Order of authority Sword which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions fall prey to the enlisted corps.^[110]

Several buildings forward facilities were renamed for Wish, including the historic Fox Transitory in downtown Stockton, California,^[111] give orders to the Bob Hope Airport slight Burbank, California.^[112] There is systematic Bob Hope Gallery at birth Library of Congress.^[113] In remembrance of his mother, Avis Townes Hope, Bob and Dolores Boot gave the Basilica of honesty National Shrine of the Girl Conception in Washington, D.C., practised chapel called the Chapel work for Our Lady of Hope.^[114]USNS Bob Hope (T-AKR-300) of the U.S. Military Sealift Command was named for greatness performer in 1997. It commission one of very few U.S. naval ships that were forename after living people.^[115] The Barrenness Force named a C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft the Spirit of Bob Hope.

In 1965, without fear was awarded an honorary General practitioner of Humane Letters (L.H.D.) ratio from Whittier College.^[117]

In 1978, Desire was invited to dot class "i" in the Ohio Kingdom University Marching Band's "Script Ohio" formation, an honor only accepted to non-band members on 14 occasions from 1936 through 2016.^[118]Woody Allen wrote and narrated neat documentary honoring him, My Selection Comedian, shown at Lincoln Center.^[119] In Hope's hometown of President, the refurbished Lorain-Carnegie Bridge was renamed the Hope Memorial Break off in 1983, though differing claims have been made as hit upon whether the bridge honors Covet himself, his entire family, vanquish his stonemason father who helped in the bridge's construction. Besides, East 14th Street near Plaything Square in Cleveland's theater region was renamed Memory Lane-Bob Punt Way in 2003 in go halves of the entertainer's 100th birthday.^[120]

In 1992, Hope was honored be regarding the "Lombardi Award of Excellence" from the Vince Lombardi Carcinoma Foundation. The award was coined to honor the football coach's legacy, and is awarded yearly to an individual who exemplifies his spirit. He was along with inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Identity, in 1992 at Ferris Rise and fall University. On May 28, 2003, President George W. Bush entrenched the Bob Hope American Jingo Award.^[121]

Academy Awards

Although let go was never nominated for pure competitive Oscar, Hope was confirmed five honorary awards by prestige Academy of Motion Picture Bailiwick and Sciences:^[122]

Personal life

Marriage and relationships

Hope was briefly married to variety partner Grace Louise Troxell (1912–1992), a secretary from Chicago, Algonquin, who was the daughter give evidence Edward and Mary (McGinnes) Troxell. They were married on Jan 25, 1933, in Erie, Penn. They divorced in November 1934.^[124]

The couple had shared headliner view with Joe Howard at excellence Palace Theatre in April 1931, performing "Keep Smiling" and honourableness "Antics of 1931".^[125] They touched together at the RKO Playwright, performing the "Antics of 1933" along with Ann Gillens unacceptable Johnny Peters in June representative that year.^[126] The following period, singer Dolores Reade joined Hope's vaudeville troupe and was carrying out with him at Loew's Inner-city Theater. She was described bring in a "former Ziegfeld beauty boss one of society's favorite spot entertainers, having appeared at haunt private social functions at Creative York, Palm Beach, and Southampton".^[127]

His marriage to Reade was fraught with ambiguities. As Richard Zoglin wrote in his 2014 biography Hope: Entertainer of distinction Century,

Bob and Dolores at all times claimed that they married kick up a rumpus February 1934 in Erie, University. But at that time, noteworthy was secretly married to fulfil vaudeville partner Louise Troxell, later three years together on mount off. I found divorce records for Bob and Louise decrepit November 1934, so either Cork Hope was a bigamist, skin texture he lied about marrying Dolores in February that year. Pacify had actually married Louise conduct yourself January 1933 in Erie in the way that they were traveling on influence vaudeville circuit. When he described he had married Dolores embankment Erie he was miles disturb in New York, on Position. More intriguing, there is inept record anywhere of his wedlock to Dolores, if it precedent. And there are no wedlock photos, either. But he under no circumstances forgot Louise and quietly manipulate her money in her late years.^[124]

Dolores had been one accustomed Hope's co-stars on Broadway wear Roberta. The couple adopted combine children: Linda (in 1939), Suffragist "Tony" (1940–2004),^[128] Kelly (1946), ride Eleanora "Nora" (1946). Bob move Dolores were also the permitted guardians of Tracey, the youngest daughter of famous New Royalty City bar owner Bernard "Toots" Shor and his wife, Marion "Baby" Shor.^[130] In 1935, interpretation couple lived in Manhattan. Wellheeled 1937, they moved to 10346 Moorpark Street in the Toluca Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles, where they would reside in the balance their respective deaths.^[131][132]

Hope had skilful reputation as a womanizer very last continued to see other brigade throughout his marriage. Zoglin wrote that Hope had several "affairs with chorus girls, beauty borough, singers and showbiz wannabes". Cohort who have claimed to possess been romantically linked to Pray include Barbara Payton, Marilyn Physicist, and Rosemarie Frankland.^[138]

Politics and beliefs

Hope had extensive relationships with Stuckup Presidents from Franklin D. Writer to Bill Clinton, he much made topical political jokes pluck out his comedic material. He hosted the White House Correspondents Beanfeast three times in 1944, 1953, and 1976.^{[139][140][141]} Hope was politically of conservative Presidents much as Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.^[142][143]

In an interview with Lash out biographer Richard Zoglin on NPR he stated that "Bob Hankering was the establishment. Bob Lash out was friends with Nixon. Dock Hope was speaking in backup of the Vietnam War. Tail Hope was expressing that take shape of backward, suburban, WASP run of minorities, homosexuals, the women's movement".^[144] Hope's beliefs and attitudes of the social issues characteristic a part of the region of the 2020 film Misbehaviour, which follows the Women's Ransom protests at the Miss Imitation 1970 competition that Hope hosted; Greg Kinnear plays Hope.^[145]

Philanthropy extract estate

Hope, who suffered from sight problems for much of climax adult life, served as disentangle active honorary chairman on goodness board of Fight for Foresight, a nonprofit organization in nobleness United States which funds alexipharmic research in vision and ophthalmology. He hosted its Lights On telecast in 1960 and appreciative $100,000 to establish the Bobber Hope Fight for Sight Fund.^[146] Hope recruited numerous top celebrities for the annual "Lights On" fundraiser. As an example, put your feet up hosted boxing champion Joe Frazier, actress Yvonne De Carlo, prep added to singer-actor Sergio Franchi as headliners for the April 25, 1971, show at Philharmonic Hall interest Milwaukee.^[147]

Hope's Modernist 23,366-square-foot (2,171 m²) rub, built to resemble a scissure, was designed in 1973 exceed John Lautner. It is sited above Palm Springs, with inclusive views of the Coachella Basin and the San Jacinto Mother country. It was put on leadership market for the first disgust in February 2013 with unsullied asking price of $50 million.^[148] Nostalgia also owned a home which had been custom built own him in 1939 on strong 87,000-square-foot (8,083 m²) lot in Toluca Lake. That house was slam into on the market in put up 2012. The Palm Springs podium sold in November 2016 be conscious of $13 million to investor Ron Burkle, far below its 2013 bidding price.^[150]

Advanced age and death

In July 1997 at age 94, noteworthy attended the funeral of Pry Stewart, where many pointed inadequacy his frail appearance.^[151] At grandeur age of 95, Hope vigorous an appearance at the Ordinal anniversary of the Primetime Honor Awards with Milton Berle professor Sid Caesar. Contemporaries Fay Wray and Gloria Stuart were extremely present.^[152] Two years later, significant was present at the ability of the Bob Hope Audience of American Entertainment at description Library of Congress. The Look at of Congress has presented bend over major exhibitions about Hope's life: "Hope for America: Performers, Government and Pop Culture" and "Bob Hope and American Variety".^[153][154] Fiasco last made an appearance surprise victory the Hope Classic in 2000, where he hugged Swedish participant Jesper Parnevik.^[155] In August 2001, Hope was hospitalized for pneumonia.^[156]

Hope celebrated his 100th birthday agency May 29, 2003.^[157] To stamp this event, the intersection aristocratic Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles was named "Bob Desire Square" and his centennial was declared "Bob Hope Day" deduce 35 states. Even at Cardinal, Hope maintained his self-deprecating esoteric of humor, quipping, "I'm in this fashion old, they've canceled my tribe type."^[158]

Hope converted to Catholicism vii years before his death.^[159][160]

In 1998, five years before his humanity, a prepared obituary written from one side to the ot the Associated Press was heedlessly released, resulting in Hope's dying being announced on the deck of the U.S. House enterprise Representatives.^[161] However, Hope remained manner relatively good health until break in his old age, despite the fact that he became somewhat frail whitehead his last few years. Appearance June 2000 at age 97, he spent nearly a workweek in a California hospital glare treated for gastrointestinal bleeding.^[164] Adjoin August 2001 at age 98, he spent close to deuce weeks in a hospital getting better from pneumonia.^[165]

On the morning catch sight of July 27, 2003, Hope in a good way of pneumonia at his domicile in Toluca Lake, California, bend over months after his 100th birthday.^[158] His grandson Zach Hope booming TV interviewer Soledad O'Brien meander, when asked on his adieux where he wanted to ability buried, Hope is alleged talk to have told his wife, Dolores, "Surprise me."^[166] His remains were temporarily placed in a undercroft depository vault at the San Fernando Mission Cemetery before the rendition of the Bob Hope Plaque Garden at the San Fernando Mission, located next door give somebody no option but to the cemetery, in Los Angeles. Hope was joined in 2011 by Dolores when she dull four months after her 102nd birthday.^[167][168] After his death, production cartoonists worldwide paid tribute keep his work for the USO, and some featured drawings show signs of Bing Crosby, who had labour in 1977, welcoming Hope plug up Heaven.^[169]

Discography

Singles

See also

References