Bob Hope Documentary
PBS is airing a new documentary, “American Masters: This is Bob Hope” that follows his 40 years as an actor, comedian and patriot. Famous for his movies, radio shows and his annual tours at military bases, he also would visit the local VA hospital when on tour. The documentary includes over 35 minutes of clips of his shows.
Fox News interviewed Hope’s daughter about growing up him. It’s worth a read.
Opinions about PBS aside, I’ll be watching. The director’s cut premiers Friday, December 29.
Category: Politics
I used to like the guy until years ago when I listened to the radio on the way home from work and a book about him was written and that during WW2, in the Pacific, he refused to perform a last minute performance on an anchored hospital ship because this one was not in the contract so Jerry Collona and other actors/actresses did the show for free. So screw Mercenary hope. In private life he was not a nice person. The book was written in the very early 1970’s.
I still like Bob Hope.
I’m sure, like any man, he had his failures and faults. But I enjoy his humor, and honor the service he did give to our military.
He visited our Teen Club in Bangkok back in 1969 during one of his SEA tours. He was a little late and said, “Sorry I’m late, but I was down under.”
One of the kids quipped, “Down under who?”
Hope shot back, without missing a beat: “Listen kid, around here I make the jokes!”
Everybody laughed.
1968~1970 … Bangkok … high school …… hormones …… GREAT TIME!
Saw him either Christmas Eve or Christmas Day at the Navy Hospital Bethesda, MD. I had duty. I’m almost certain it was a weekend, between 72-77, probably 75. My memory ain’t what she used to be. I admired him for his patriotism more than I did his being funny. I never thought he was a particularly funny guy, but he did tremendous stuff for the troops, frequently miles from harm’s way. He had some scantily clad women with him. One tried to sing and failed miserably. Bob even made fun of her, but it was part of the show. I’m glad I more or less stumbled into the show.
My uncle saw him in the Philippians in forties, my brother-in-law’s brother saw him in Korea in the fifties,I saw him in Saigon in 65. The man came out for troops.
One of Hope’s best lines.
I missed his show twice in 1966, released from the hospital a day before his show there and caught a ride back to the company a day before his show in Danang.
I can’t remember what month it was but in 68 I was one of the two from my Company that got randomly drawn to go to see the Bob Hope show at hill327 in Da Nang. Les Brown and his Band of Renoun, Raqell Welch , Miss Universe, the Rocketts and I believe Ann Margret and Phylis Diller. I still have the ticket!
It was a great time!
Saudi Arabia 26 Dec 1990.
When he was off the cue cards and not being recorded, Bob did some blue material.
Biggest shocker was hearing Bob Hope drop the F Bomb!
Small crowd of about 500, stage was the back of a 5 ton truck. Johnny Bench and Aaron Tippin were with him/
Caught the show on Christmas Eve 1971 at Camp Eagle.
Jim Nabors and Vida Blue didn’t quite have the legs of Ann-Margaret, but what the Hell. We had all went just for the Les Brown music and the chance to sing The Animal’s Vietnam theme song./s
Thanks for the memories, Bob.
I’ll just leave this, Claw. Get some…
Thanks, Perry. Heroes and Hueys.
Good motivator for a Friday morning.