Bob Hope is perhaps the most recognized and successful personality, entertaining audiences in radio, movies, and television. While he never receiving an Oscar for his roles, he has received numerous honors and awards, including 58 honorary doctorates, two honorary Oscars, and the Hersholt Humanitarian Award. He has also been honored by the US Congress five times, ultimately leading to his being made an honorary veteran for his war time efforts for American troops.
Originally born in England, Bob Hope and his family relocated to Cleveland, Ohio in 1907. In 1920, they became naturalized citizens, at which time Bob’s legal name of Leslie Townes was changed to what the world would eventually know him as - Bob Hope. His career began on the stage of Vaudeville, as an opening act for the Fatty Arbuckle Show. Asked to introduce the coming attractions within the New Castle theater in Pennsylvania, the audience enjoyed his routine so much that his previous act of a team was changed to a single.
In 1932, Hope made his way to Broadway where he was recognized by both the public and the critics in the successful musical, “Roberta”. It was during this run that he met a young singer named Dolores Reade, who would become his wife two years later and stay married to him until his death. Hope’s success on Broadway continued, with the musical “Say When”, appearing in the 1936 edition of the “Ziegfeld Follies” and sharing the spotlight with the infamous Fanny Brice. Finally, he landed a role in "Red, Hot, and Blue” with Ethel Merman and Jimmy Durante.
Bob Hope’s radio career began on the “Capitol Family Hour” , where he would meet singer Bing Crosby. In 1938, Hope was given his own radio show that would prove to be widely successful and a hit on Tuesday nights until 1956. The show featured such acts as Les Brown, Judy Garland, and Doris Day. The move to movies would grant him another round of success, with 50 feature films to his name and appearing in cameo roles in another 15. His famous song, “Thanks for the Memory”, is one of two of his Academy Award winning songs. His movie partnership with Bing Crosby, though never official, is often regarded as the most successful team in history, ranking up with both Laurel and Hardy and Martin and Lewis.
Bob Hope is probably more recognized for his support and commitment of morale for American troops, stretching from World War II and up to the Gulf War. For nearly sixty years, Hope traveled the world to entertain service men and women, whether they were at war or at peace. During the second world war, Hope’s radio shows were performed and broadcasted from military bases throughout the US, Europe, and the South Pacific with only two exceptions. Many of his later performances would air live for the television viewing audiences, especially holiday specials. Along with his honorary veteran award, Bob Hope has a class of ships named after him – the USNS Bob Hope – as well as a new class of planes – C-17 “Spirit of Bob Hope” – and a chapel at the LA National Cemetery renamed the Bob Hope Veterans Chapel.
As an avid and foremost proponent of golf, Hope has contributed to the popularity of the sport, winning various golfing awards. For nearly 45 years, his development of the Bob Hope/Chrysler Classic has raised over 35 million dollars for various charities.
Franck Benedittini
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