Bob Hope

Leslie Townes "Bob" Hope KBE, KC*SG, KSS (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was an American comedian, actor, entertainer, and producer with a career that spanned nearly 80 years and achievements in burlesque, network radio, television, and USO Tours. He appeared in more than 70 short and feature films, starring in 54. These included a series of seven Road to ... musical comedy films with long-time friend Bing Crosby as his partner.

Hope hosted the Academy Awards show 19 times, more than any other host. He also appeared in many stage productions and television roles and wrote 14 books. The song "Thanks for the Memory" was his signature tune.

Hope was born in the Eltham district of southeast London. He arrived in the United States with his family at the age of four, and grew up near Cleveland, Ohio. He became a boxer in the 1910s but moved into show business in the early 1920s, initially as a comedian and dancer on the vaudeville circuit before acting on Broadway. He began appearing on radio and in films starting in 1934. He was praised for his comedic timing, specializing in one-liners and rapid-fire delivery of jokes that were often self-deprecating.

Between 1941 and 1991, Hope made 57 tours for the United Service Organizations (USO), entertaining military personnel around the world. In 1997, Congress passed a bill that made him an honorary veteran of the Armed Forces.

Hope retired from public life in 1998 and died on July 27, 2003 at 100.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 29, 1903 (Eltham), Died July 27, 2003 (Toluca Lake)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1938 - 1960

Roles Represented in DAHR: speaker, vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 101939 3/8/1957 The boys with the Proboskis-7 Jimmy Durante vocalist  
Decca 108704 2/11/1960 Saturday Evening Post interview Bob Hope speaker  
Decca 109778 10/26/1960 Silver bells Bob Hope ; Dolores Hope ; Reg Owen Orchestra vocalist  
Decca DLA 1582 10-in. 11/23/1938 Two sleepy people Bob Hope ; Shirley Ross vocalist  
Decca DLA 1583 10-in. 11/23/1938 Thanks for the memory Bob Hope ; Shirley Ross vocalist  
Decca DLA 1779 10-in. 6/16/1939 The lady's in love with you Shirley Ross vocalist  
Decca DLA 1780 10-in. 6/16/1939 Penthouse serenade (When we're alone) Shirley Ross vocalist  
Decca L 3686 10-in. 12/8/1944 Put it there, pal Bing Crosby ; Bob Hope vocalist  
Decca L 3687 10-in. 12/8/1944 Road to Morocco Bing Crosby ; Bob Hope vocalist  
Decca L 6819 6/23/1952 Hoot mon Bing Crosby ; Bob Hope vocalist  
Decca L 6820 6/23/1952 Chicago style Bing Crosby ; Bob Hope vocalist  
Decca L 6821 6/24/1952 Road to Bali-1 Bing Crosby ; Bob Hope vocalist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Hope, Bob," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/204665.

Hope, Bob. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/204665.

"Hope, Bob." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/204665

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