Bob Hope: The Icon of Classic Television

"I'm so old, they've canceled my blood type" quippeddebut. In addition to Hope's appearance, the "Star
Bob Hope, upon reaching the age of 100 in July 2003.Spangled Revue" featured other popular entertainers
Indeed, Bob Hope has been around throughout theand stars of the day including Dinah Shore and
20th century, becoming immortal to so manyDouglas Fairbanks Jr.
generations by entertaining the masses withThe show's formula was immediately successful and
countless films, TV and radio shows and of courseBob Hope's television shows remained successful for
his appearances with the troops overseas.the next 40 years. NBC was his network of choice
Bob Hope was born on May 29, 1903 in Eltham,and Bob Hope appeared in many of the network's
England although his family moved to Cleveland, OhioChristmas and other holiday specials. His last TV
when he was four years old ("I left England at thespecial was in 1996 appearing alongside Tony Danza.
age of four when I found out I couldn't be king"). HisToday these programs are rightly considered classic
first modest success in show business came in 1915TV shows, television programs that translate for
when he won a Charlie Chaplin imitation competition.multiple generations.
He began to work in vaudeville in the early 1920s andPerhaps Bob Hope is most famous for his
during the early 1930s was appearing on the stage inappearances with the troops, a gesture that almost
Broadway. His first film role was "The Big Broadcast"certainly boosted morale far more than any
in 1938 in which he sang the song "Thanks for theappearance by the president. His first such
Memory" in a duet with Shirley Ross. That songappearance was in May 1941, when Bob Hope, along
would become Bob Hope's signature tune.with various friends, appeared at March Field in
Bob Hope appeared in over 75 films throughout hisCalifornia to entertain the airmen.
career although he only won two honorary Oscars.The rest, as they say, is history. Bob Hope was soon
He even joked about his lack of Oscar awards -christened "G.I. Bob" by the troops and went on to
"Oscar night at our house is called Passover!" He mayperform all over the world during the next 60 years.
not have won many Oscars but he enjoyed bringingHe has entertained troops and broadcast from
his unique humor to the awards ceremony - heEurope, the South Pacific, the Indian Ocean and the
presented or co-presented them on a record 18Persian Gulf. He nearly always appeared in army
occasions up until 1977.fatigues as a further gesture of support for the
His most famous movies, of course remain the seriessoldiers.
of "road" movies that he made with Bing CrosbyBob Hope has been honored five times by the United
during the 1940s. He also starred in "The Paleface"States Congress, has been made honorary mayor of
along with Jane Russell which many consider his bestPalm Springs and an honorary veteran. He also has
film. Today, many of his classic movies are availableseveral theaters, a battleship and an airport named in
on DVD or regularly shown on cable TV channels.his honor and his love of golf lives on in one of the
Hope took to TV fairly late in his career, not entirelysport's major events - the Bob Hope Classic.
convinced that the still fairly new medium wouldBut his biggest legacy is the wealth of entertainment
succeed. "Television - that's where movies go whenhe has given us over the years. And of course, his
they die," quipped Hope once. However, it wassharp wit; his one-liners and quotes are almost as well
television that really made Bob Hope a star and aknown as his TV shows and movies. As he
household name throughout the United States.accurately remarked once, "I've always been in the
Easter Sunday 1950 was a memorable day. It was onright place and time. Of course, I steered myself
that day that Bob Hope made his formal televisionthere.