The Bob Hope Memorial Book

Winner of the 2021 Golden Scroll Awards for Memoir of the Year and Christian Market Book of the Year awarded by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THE MEMOIR CATEGORY OF THE 2022 SELAH AWARDS For five decades, comedian, actor, singer, dancer, and entertainer Bob Hope (1903–2003) traveled the world performing before American and Allied troops and putting on morale-boosting USO shows. Dear Bob . . . : Bob Hope’s Wartime Correspondence with the G.I.s of World War II tells the story of Hope’s remarkable service to the fighting men and women of World War II, collecting personal letters, postcards, packages, and more sent back and forth among Hope and the troops and their loved ones back home. Soldiers, nurses, wives, and parents shared their innermost thoughts, swapped jokes, and commiserated with the “G.I.s’ best friend” about war, sacrifice, lonely days, and worrisome, silent nights. The Entertainer of the Century performed for millions of soldiers in person, in films, and over the radio. He visited them in the hospitals and became not just a pal but their link to home. This unforgettable collection of letters and images, many of which remained in Hope’s personal files throughout his life and now reside at the Library of Congress, capture a personal side of both writer and recipient in a very special and often-emotional way. This volume heralds the voices of those servicemen and women whom Hope entertained and who, it is clear, delighted and inspired him.

He entered TV an A list superstar in 1950 and maintained that status through his final special in 1996. Much of his work on TV still ranks among the top 100 highest rated shows of all time, from hosting the Academy Awards to his Christmas specials from Vietnam. Given all that, there has not been one book devoted to profiling and analyzing his amazing achievements--until now. Bob Hope on TV: Thanks for the Video Memories summarizes and reviews the television appearances by the man voted in 1985 America's favorite all-time entertainer--when he was 77 years old! It profiles nearly 1,000 hours of national TV appearances by "Ol' Ski Nose" by virtually every genre in the medium, starting with all his comedy specials he headlined for almost half a century. Other appearances included are his acting guest shots ranging from I Love Lucy to The Simpsons; his work on close to 200 variety shows and specials; his memorable moments on talk shows, game shows, awards presentations and sporting events; and even his considerable contributions to documentaries and news programs. Laugh again to great jokes and get new insights as nearly forty interviewees share their recollections about working with Bob as guest stars, writers, producers and directors. Bob Hope on TV: Thanks for the Video Memories is a tribute to the impact of one of the brightest stars ever to shine on television.

Winner of the 2021 Golden Scroll Awards for Memoir of the Year and Christian Market Book of the Year awarded by the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THE MEMOIR CATEGORY OF THE 2022 SELAH AWARDS For five decades, comedian, actor, singer, dancer, and entertainer Bob Hope (1903–2003) traveled the world performing before American and Allied troops and putting on morale-boosting USO shows. Dear Bob . . . : Bob Hope’s Wartime Correspondence with the G.I.s of World War II tells the story of Hope’s remarkable service to the fighting men and women of World War II, collecting personal letters, postcards, packages, and more sent back and forth among Hope and the troops and their loved ones back home. Soldiers, nurses, wives, and parents shared their innermost thoughts, swapped jokes, and commiserated with the “G.I.s’ best friend” about war, sacrifice, lonely days, and worrisome, silent nights. The Entertainer of the Century performed for millions of soldiers in person, in films, and over the radio. He visited them in the hospitals and became not just a pal but their link to home. This unforgettable collection of letters and images, many of which remained in Hope’s personal files throughout his life and now reside at the Library of Congress, capture a personal side of both writer and recipient in a very special and often-emotional way. This volume heralds the voices of those servicemen and women whom Hope entertained and who, it is clear, delighted and inspired him.

Bobs loyalty to the Troops was at the highest level. He went where the Troops were and if there was a war going on, Bob became more determined to see us. Bob was like one of us. He was breathing the same air that we were breathing and that mattered. Bob made the Troops the stars, the audience was the Show. Bobs U.S.O. Christmas Shows with the Troops had meaning and is now History. The spirit and the memories of it all should live forever! I wrote about my particular set of circumstances: leading up to the Show, at the Show and then after the Show. THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO ALL THE TROOPS! PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE. I have been watching The Bob Hope United Service Organizations (U.S.O.) Christmas Shows with the Troops with my family, since I was about 4 years old. I enjoyed watching the Troops in the audience laughing, having a good time, getting together. The Troops were my Heroes, my Stars. I thought that maybe when I grew up; that one day, I would be in the audience of one of Bobs Christmas Shows. It was inspirational for me to see and hear the people singing Silent Night together at the end of the Show. The Memories Are Priceless! Like we still talk about Remember The Alamo, I think we should say, Remember The Bob Hope Christmas Show, because it was important. It brought us together! I thank my Lord, Jesus Christ, for helping me get to The Bob Hope Christmas Show and in writing this book. At The Bob Hope Christmas Show: the sights, the sounds, living through the moment of it all was the best. Bob, Thanks For The Memories!

Draws on exclusive reporting to honor Bob Hope's top-rated successes while discussing such topics as his secret first marriage, stint in reform school and ambivalent relationships with fellow stars.