Thanks for the memories... -Ed
Bob Hope, a tireless performer who entertained millions over six decades, has died, sources close to his family told NBC News. The cause of death was not immediately released.
HOPE, WHO HAD been in poor health in recent years and was rarely seen in public, celebrated his 100th birthday on May 29.
Born Leslie Towns Hope to a stonemason and his wife in the London suburb of Cheltham, Hope grew up to become the most American of comedians.
The family moved to Cleveland when the boy was 4. “I left England when I found out that I couldn’t be king,” Hope later quipped. Like many immigrants, he became strongly patriotic.
He entertained troops in far-off lands, often near combat zones, during every major 20th century American conflict except World War I. He was a tireless performer for charitable causes. He appeared before 11 presidents, even playing golf with several of them.
As a performer in radio, movies and television, Hope captured the American idiom. His crisp delivery was tuned to the latest slang. His barbs at politicians and other public figures were well-aimed but never hurt. And unlike many later comedians, his humor was always fit for family audiences.
‘A BIG GRIN ON HIS FACE’
Linda Hope, the oldest of Hope’s four adopted children, said before her father’s 100th birthday that he knew his birthday was approaching. “Every time we talk about it, he has a big grin on his face,” she said. “He always said that he was determined to outlive his grandfather, who passed away shortly before his 100th birthday.
“His health is very frail at this point, and the doctor won’t let him out in crowds with all the infection going around. He’s pretty much home in his room and out on the patio.”
In his prime, Hope received more than 1,500 awards from Queen Elizabeth, the Pope, the Motion Picture Academy (four honorary Oscars), the White House, Congress and dozens of universities (54 honorary degrees).
As a young man, Hope boxed briefly under the name “Packy East.” In the 1950s, he was part-owner of the Cleveland Indians baseball team.
The 100th birthday celebrations included a May 24 two-hour NBC special (a rerun from Easter Sunday that drew 12.6 million viewers); a Hollywood Walk of Fame event proclaiming Hope as Citizen of the Century; release of 17 Hope movies on DVD by Universal Studios; a traveling exhibit at the Reagan Library; Hollywood and Vine being renamed Bob Hope Square; a BBC special; an A&E biography; film festivals in Los Angeles, New York, London and Chicago; and renaming the street where he lives Bob Hope Way.
Two days before Hope’s birthday, his wife, Dolores, turned 94. The couple met on Dec. 21, 1933, when Bob walked into a Manhattan nightclub and heard a statuesque beauty singing “It’s Only a Paper Moon.” Hope persuaded Dolores Reade to join his vaudeville act, and they were married in 1934. They’ve been together 69 years in a town not known for marital longevity.
Daughter Linda, unofficial keeper of the Hope legacy, said on Hope’s birthday her dad “was a great father, full of fun.”
‘HE WAS SPONTANEOUS’
“He made such fun for all of us, like giving us golf lessons with our own little clubs,” she said. “And the ordinary things that fathers do: going out to restaurants, the theater, circuses. It was always a fun-filled thing with him, because he was spontaneous.”
For many years the Hope children observed Christmas Day while their father took his troupe of entertainers to far-off places.
“We had two Christmases,” Linda explained. “We would open a few presents on Christmas Day. Two or three days later, Dad would return and we’d have more presents. Dad would always bring us little exotic pieces he picked up on his trips.”
Those who helped make Hope funny over the years agree that he was a benign boss.
“He was the easiest person for a writer to work for that there ever was,” comments Mort Lachman, who also toiled as director and producer for Hope from 1947 to 1975. “He was the opposite of most comics: he didn’t hate the writers.”
Lachman recalled his first job with Hope. He was in a room with a dozen other joke writers, most from New York, all pitching for the star’s radio show. Lachman, “an introvert from Seattle,” shyly wrote a joke on a used envelope. Hope grabbed it, read it and crumpled it. When the pitches ended, he recited the young man’s joke. Big laugh.
Hope muttered to Lachman, “You didn’t think I was that funny, did you?”
Gene Perret, who contributed gags from 1969 to Hope’s retirement in 1993, recalls: “There were two things he always wanted with him when he traveled a big box with all his makeup in it and a beat-up briefcase full of jokes. That was all he needed on the road.”
Source:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/944998.asp
Bob Hope, a tireless performer who entertained millions over six decades, has died, sources close to his family told NBC News. The cause of death was not immediately released.
HOPE, WHO HAD been in poor health in recent years and was rarely seen in public, celebrated his 100th birthday on May 29.
Born Leslie Towns Hope to a stonemason and his wife in the London suburb of Cheltham, Hope grew up to become the most American of comedians.
The family moved to Cleveland when the boy was 4. “I left England when I found out that I couldn’t be king,” Hope later quipped. Like many immigrants, he became strongly patriotic.
He entertained troops in far-off lands, often near combat zones, during every major 20th century American conflict except World War I. He was a tireless performer for charitable causes. He appeared before 11 presidents, even playing golf with several of them.
As a performer in radio, movies and television, Hope captured the American idiom. His crisp delivery was tuned to the latest slang. His barbs at politicians and other public figures were well-aimed but never hurt. And unlike many later comedians, his humor was always fit for family audiences.
‘A BIG GRIN ON HIS FACE’
Linda Hope, the oldest of Hope’s four adopted children, said before her father’s 100th birthday that he knew his birthday was approaching. “Every time we talk about it, he has a big grin on his face,” she said. “He always said that he was determined to outlive his grandfather, who passed away shortly before his 100th birthday.
“His health is very frail at this point, and the doctor won’t let him out in crowds with all the infection going around. He’s pretty much home in his room and out on the patio.”
In his prime, Hope received more than 1,500 awards from Queen Elizabeth, the Pope, the Motion Picture Academy (four honorary Oscars), the White House, Congress and dozens of universities (54 honorary degrees).
As a young man, Hope boxed briefly under the name “Packy East.” In the 1950s, he was part-owner of the Cleveland Indians baseball team.
The 100th birthday celebrations included a May 24 two-hour NBC special (a rerun from Easter Sunday that drew 12.6 million viewers); a Hollywood Walk of Fame event proclaiming Hope as Citizen of the Century; release of 17 Hope movies on DVD by Universal Studios; a traveling exhibit at the Reagan Library; Hollywood and Vine being renamed Bob Hope Square; a BBC special; an A&E biography; film festivals in Los Angeles, New York, London and Chicago; and renaming the street where he lives Bob Hope Way.
Two days before Hope’s birthday, his wife, Dolores, turned 94. The couple met on Dec. 21, 1933, when Bob walked into a Manhattan nightclub and heard a statuesque beauty singing “It’s Only a Paper Moon.” Hope persuaded Dolores Reade to join his vaudeville act, and they were married in 1934. They’ve been together 69 years in a town not known for marital longevity.
Daughter Linda, unofficial keeper of the Hope legacy, said on Hope’s birthday her dad “was a great father, full of fun.”
‘HE WAS SPONTANEOUS’
“He made such fun for all of us, like giving us golf lessons with our own little clubs,” she said. “And the ordinary things that fathers do: going out to restaurants, the theater, circuses. It was always a fun-filled thing with him, because he was spontaneous.”
For many years the Hope children observed Christmas Day while their father took his troupe of entertainers to far-off places.
“We had two Christmases,” Linda explained. “We would open a few presents on Christmas Day. Two or three days later, Dad would return and we’d have more presents. Dad would always bring us little exotic pieces he picked up on his trips.”
Those who helped make Hope funny over the years agree that he was a benign boss.
“He was the easiest person for a writer to work for that there ever was,” comments Mort Lachman, who also toiled as director and producer for Hope from 1947 to 1975. “He was the opposite of most comics: he didn’t hate the writers.”
Lachman recalled his first job with Hope. He was in a room with a dozen other joke writers, most from New York, all pitching for the star’s radio show. Lachman, “an introvert from Seattle,” shyly wrote a joke on a used envelope. Hope grabbed it, read it and crumpled it. When the pitches ended, he recited the young man’s joke. Big laugh.
Hope muttered to Lachman, “You didn’t think I was that funny, did you?”
Gene Perret, who contributed gags from 1969 to Hope’s retirement in 1993, recalls: “There were two things he always wanted with him when he traveled a big box with all his makeup in it and a beat-up briefcase full of jokes. That was all he needed on the road.”
Source:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/944998.asp
still i think he won his bet to be the last one alive (i forget who it was with)