Bob Hope : The ultimate collection DVD
Bob Hope
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Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003), was a
British-born American comedian and actor who appeared in vaudeville,
on Broadway, and in radio, television and movies. He was also noted
for his work with the US Armed Forces and his numerous USO tours
entertaining American military personnel.[1] Throughout his career,
he was honored for his humanitarian work.
[edit] Early years
Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, London, England, the
fifth of seven sons. His father, William Henry Hope, was a
stonemason from Weston-super-Mare and his Welsh mother, Avis Townes,
was a light opera singer who later worked as a cleaning woman. The
family lived in Weston-super-Mare, then Whitehall and St. George in
Bristol, before moving to Cleveland, Ohio in 1908. The family
emigrated to the United States aboard the SS Philadelphia, and
passed inspection at Ellis Island on March 30, 1908. Hope became a
U.S. citizen in 1920 at the age of seventeen.[2] In a 1942 legal
document, Hope's legal name is given as Lester Townes Hope; it is
unknown if this reflects a legal name change.[3]
From the age of 12, he worked at a variety of odd jobs at a local
board walk. He would busk, doing dance and comedy patter to make
extra money. He entered many dancing and amateur talent contests,
and won prizes for his impersonation of Charlie Chaplin. He also
boxed briefly and unsuccessfully under the name Packy East, once
making it to the semifinals of the Ohio novice championship.[4]
Silent film comedian Fatty Arbuckle saw one of his performances, and
in 1925 got him steady work with Hurley's Jolly Follies. Within a
year, Hope had formed an act called the Dancemedians with George
Byrne and the Hilton Sisters, conjoined twins who had a tap dancing
routine. Hope and his partner George Byrne had an act as a pair of
Siamese twins as well, and both danced and sang while wearing
blackface, before friends advised Hope that he was funnier as
himself.[5] After five years on the vaudeville circuit, by his own
account, Hope was surprised and humbled when he and his partner (and
future wife) Grace Louise Troxell failed a 1930 screen test for
Pathé at Culver City, California
