And for you. Here, Hope introduces Langford to an audience of enlisted men. Required fields are marked *. Here, on December 26, 1987, Hope performs at a USO show aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Okinawa. However, it was Hope and the USOs Bob Hope Christmas Shows during the Vietnam War that truly solidified this tradition of holiday entertainment. Soon after, he began traveling overseas to visit troops in the European and Pacific Theatres. Interestingly, Dolores Hope was the only woman allowed to perform for Americans in Saudi Arabia during the tour; the other women were only permitted to perform on aircraft carriers stationed offshore. After 15 years in the Air Force, Doug Watjus left the military armed with a degree from Texas A&M University and an MBA. Bob Hopes USO shows were a staple for many decades, entertaining generations of military personnel in the United States Armed Forces. Linda got a firsthand taste of USO tours when she began producing her fathers television specials, something she did for the last 20 years of his performances. The first Bob Hope USO Christmas Show for the troops was in December of 1948, during the Berlin Airlift. These included a series of seven Road to . Funds are paid by Greater Good Charities to benefiting organizations as a grant. Despite the death of LaVerne in 1967, the Andrews Sisters remained active until disbanding in 1975. The namesake of our organization, Bob Hope was a legendary American entertainer, actor, showman, comedian and philanthropist. According to Hope himself, this effort was undertaken because he was expressly asked by the Pentagon. Bob Hope entertains troops in Saudi Arabia in 1990. He worked with Raquel Welch, Ann-Margret, Connie Stevens, The Golddiggers, even Neil Armstrong. Remember the boys and girls whose fathers may never come back.. USO stars who entertained troops in Korea during and after the Korean War: Frankie Adams - female ballet, soft shoe, and tap dancer (Her stage name was Kathy Bryan. She kept up her morale-boosting tours through the Korean War and had the troops in stitches during Vietnam and sometimes pulled rankthough her Marine Corps and Army ranks and membership in the Green Berets were all honorary. Victoria Dawn Addams - entertained the troops in Korea December 1952/January 1953 Hopes legacy lives on at the USO not only in the entertainment of the troops, but also in his unshakeable belief in and dedication to expressing gratitude to Americas service members for the sacrifices they make every day on behalf of this country. For more than 75 years, the United Service Organizations Inc. (USO) has supported U.S. military members by providing them programs and entertainment during their service. Dolores Hope, meanwhile, worked hard to try to give the kids a normal upbringing, not that of a movie stars children. Menu. Miss World 1969, Actress - Bob Hope Christmas show 1969. In the Second World War, Rooney served with special services in the U.S. Army for nearly two years, earning a Bronze Star Medal. TogetherWeServed.com Inc. All Rights Reserved | Not a U.S. Government Website. Over a 50-year span, Bob Hope entertained American troops overseas. Martha Rayes support of the military began in 1942 with a request to travel to England to entertain the troops. Some of them were caught on the television programsyoud see fighter jets. In this October 1950 photo, Hope wears a pilots gear and climbs out of the cockpit of a jet fighter while on a visit to Kimpo Air Base in Korea. Lola Falana, a singer, dancer, model and actress, traveled to Vietnam with Bob Hope and the USO several times to entertain deployed troops. He got a standing ovation from the minute he came on, Ronning said. Irving Berlin, Bob Hope and others slide out of a plane during their 1948 visit to Germany while smiling troops watch along the side. Instead, Martin and his wife met with service members and signed autographs. There would be all the band members. There were a number of close calls. Copyright 2003-2021. A few years later, in May 1979, Bob Hope hosted a special USO show in honor of his 76th birthday aboard the USS Iwo Jima, which was moored in the Hudson River at the time. The appearance of DoD visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. According to Vietnam Magazine, Welch joined Hope on stage to add a few crowd-pleasing dance moves to his rendition of "Dancing in the Streets." Scroll down to watch Welch's solo performance from that 1967 show. Im looking for pictures of the 1984 miss uso pagent in Hollywood, ca. Hope logged over 30,000 miles and gave more than 150 performances during this trip. Another guy named ski let me take his spot as he had seen it the year before. However, his future undertakings with the USO were inspired by this trip and the warm welcome and gratitude from the servicemen and women in Berlin. In 1983, he spent Christmas with U.S. troops in Beirut and in December 1988, performed on bases and ships in the Persian Gulf. Bob Hope entertained Americans for decades, but his most impactful shows were for soldiers deployed overseas during the holidays. USO icon. It's a scene that played out again and again for nearly 50 yearsfrom World War II, through Vietnam, to the Gulf War. Free shipping for many products! A few years later, during the Korean War, Bob Hope hit the road again to entertain troops serving in both Japan and Korea. A tribute to Bob Hope's 31 years of entertaining American troops overseas. Driving Force Behind the USO Tours. Bob Hope was many things, but to the USO and to the service members of the United States, he was the one-man-morale machine.. 10. Like fellow USO performer Bob Hope, actor and comedian Mickey Rooney began entertaining troops during World War II and continued to do so throughout his lifetime. It was a very interesting experience because of all the restrictions in the Middle Eastrespecting all their religious [traditions], she said. Anywhere we went, whenever we landed we would always do an impromptu show, she said. In December 1950, reluctantly beginning to appear more regularly on television, Hope recorded his first-ever holiday variety TV special for a New York studio audience, just after returning from a fall USO tour to Korea, where he also recorded episodes of his show. Im sure I speak for many vets, not only Vietnam, but also Korea and WWII. Men hung from cranes and other heavy equipment for a better view of the stage. FOR SALE! Palm Springs, CA 92262, 1940 East Moore Way On account of that general saying were not ready, my opening line was, Are you ready? And they went wild. :27 Easter based entertainments that aren't biblical epics", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bob_Hope_television_specials&oldid=1126167914, This page was last edited on 7 December 2022, at 22:34. I mean, its amazing how high the morale is. Lot of 6 VHS tapes sold as used blank pre-recorded, Bob Hope USO Shows: Condition: Good. The USO in Florida is coming up with creative ways to support service members, such as with therapy dog visits to USO centers to keep morale and spirits high. Vicki Lawrence. I soon went to MTT-1 and after a few months we ended up in Tam Ky about 3 miles inland from the water. As time went by and Hopes shows became more of a staple, he assembled a team of regular collaborators: Tony Romano, the musician. As the USO celebrates its 75th anniversary, On Patrol asked USO tour veteransactors, musicians, athletes, authors, cartoonists and even a Muppet or twowhy they stepped up to support our military and their families. But it was a rigorous schedule, the actress recalled, and Hope lead the charge. Although comedy and the U.S. military had changed a great deal since that first show in 1941, Hope was still delighted to do what he did best: bring laughter to service members just when they needed it most. I think he tried to change with it, Linda said. He would be angry if my school schedule wouldnt let me be in one of the Christmas specials. Over the next 18 months, he traveled the length and breadth of the country performing at military bases, until he ventured overseas to the European and Pacific fronts to perform for troops stationed there.His Road to co-star Bing Crosby also joined USO tours. Bob Hope's first radio show for the U.S. Armed Forces was broadcast from March Field in Riverside, California. In 2015, after recognizing the need for an increased presence in military communities both stateside and abroad, the USO launched an aggressive center expansion effort to bring connectivity, entertainment and programming to more service members and families. Bob Hope Actor | The Ghost Breakers Comedian Bob Hope was born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, London, England, the fifth of seven sons of Avis (Townes), light opera singer, and William Henry Hope, a stonemason from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. Bob Hope, original name Leslie Townes Hope, (born May 29, 1903, Eltham, near London, Englanddied July 27, 2003, Toluca Lake, California, U.S.), British-born American entertainer and comic actor known for his rapid-fire delivery of jokes and one-liners and for his success in virtually all entertainment media. Clip from Bob Hope USO tour Cu Chi Vietnam 1968.DVD series available at Time/Life Here, Bob Hope performs on stage in 1991 at a celebratory event. I hope I can be excused a little sentimentality as I look back over 22 of these Christmas trips [and remember] the millions of service men and women who responded to our efforts with warmth, enthusiasm and affection.. Bob Hopes 1990s performances in the Middle East would be the final overseas shows of his legendary career of entertaining the military. Please take a moment to let our troops know how much we appreciate their service and sacrifice. Bob Hope USO Donate Open Menu . He often insisted on traveling straight to the front lines, even occasionally placing himself in harms way, in order to put on a variety show of comedy, singing and dancing. Download our app to find events, locations and programs near you. According to Vietnam Magazine, Welch joined Hope on stage to add a few crowd-pleasing dance moves to his rendition of Dancing in the Streets. Scroll down to watch Welchs solo performance from that 1967 show. The following is a list of Bob Hope television specials. It was miserable there. He displayed our organizations most closely-held values and was committed to the USOs mission of connecting troops to home, bringing a moment of joy during challenging times and of always going where our service members go. Bob Hope and Claudette Colbert smile with sailors at Naval Surface Warfare Center Corona. . More than 180 NFL players, officials, coaches and executives have taken part in 49 tours to 24 countries during that span, creating a partnership that has become essential to both organizations. Ended: Apr 15, 2023. Furthermore, the USOs Southern California service area is aptly called the Bob Hope USO, in honor of the legendary entertainer who resided there for decades. For nearly six decades, wherever Bob Hope went to entertain the troops . Starting bid: US $5.00 [ 0 bids] Shipping: $8.25 Economy Shipping | See . It was a collaboration that forever linked the names Bob Hope and the USO, giving both a new visibility, respect, and recognition. Los Angeles International Airport While famously he never won an Academy Award, he was awarded honorary Oscars multiple times. In late 1942, Bob Hope headed on his first USO tour outside of the continental U.S. to Alaska, which was then a U.S. territory. You can always blame the bombs on the enemy., And at the USO, too: The USO and I have had a wonderful relationship over the years, extending to all parts of the world. CA. Ann-Margret. Connie Stevens, 77, has a similar view of the Bob Hope USO shows. Apparently, this worked to Dolores advantage as she stole the show with her performance of White Christmas. The legendary entertainer dedicated his talents to our service members by bringing a bit of home wherever he went. Hope was an unstinting supporter of the members of the US armed forces, even at times when their actions were unpopular with the public. | In the 1940s and 1950s, Hope often did his radio show from military bases overseas. As an actor, Rooney appeared in over 300 films, his career spanning from the late 1930s until he passed away in 2014. Christmas 1972. Director Mort Lachman Writers Mort Lachman Bill Larkin John Rapp Stars Bob Hope Raquel Welch Barbara McNair See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 2 Critic reviews Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys 3 nominations total Photos 294 Top cast Edit I guess its kind of special to me, like having a grandchild, she said in a UPI story. Diahann Carroll dances on stage with Bob Hope, right, during a taping of a USO show aboard USS Iwo Jima in 1979. The name Bob Hope just seems to be synonymous with the USO, as Hope devoted so much time to the organization and the troops. During World War II Hope was sufficiently moved by the sacrifices the U.S. troops made on behalf of the U.S. public that he and his radio troupe traveled nearly every week to perform The Pepsodent Show at a military training site. Similarly, Navy records show that on December 23, 1947, Hope hosted a special recording of the Pepsodent Show, at Corona Naval Hospital, California in front of a military audience. Although, the actor and comedian didnt put on a show, which was at the request of military officials, as public entertainment was not locally permitted. The appearance of DoD visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. Bob Hope, Raquel Welch, Elaine Dunn, Miss World Madeleine Bel and Barbara McNair head out on the December 1967 Bob Hope Holiday Tour. Linda works through the Bob and Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation and its programs to ensure her fathers memory and contributions will not be forgotten. The USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD). Johnny Bench, Bob Hope, Ann Jillian and others pose outside of a plane in 1990. A Bob Hope Christmas Cartoon from 1968. Be the first to learn about news, service member stories and fundraising updates from USO. By 1939, Bob Hope was already a pretty big star in radio and television. I won miss congeniality that year & hit to meet Bob Hope. In fact, during WWII, with only a few exceptions, all of Hope's shows were performed for a military crowd. This page is not available in other languages. The August 2022 edition of the Bob Hope USO newsletter is now available at the linkbelow: The July 2022 Newsletter for Bob Hope USO is now available. So he would rearrange the schedule., Traveling on USO tours with Hope is an experience Shields, 50, said shell never forget. Service members can walk into participating USO locations, record themselves reading their childs favorite story and have that recording shipped home. He was also a frequent visitor to American forces stationed in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, regularly seen with his trademark golf club. His commitment to the troops was evident not only in how many years he performed USO shows, but also in how determined he was to bring a smile to a soldiers face and how enthusiastic he was about performing for military audiences. He couldnt remember the up-and-comers name, so he called her the Dinah girl. It stuck throughout her more than 50 years in entertainment. Throughout the 1960s, Bob Hope traveled overseas many times to visit the troops. The sisters performed extensively for troops of the Allied forces during World War II, frequently singing their hit song, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, as part of their USO performances. Bob Hope performs for service men at Munda Airstrip in the Solomon Islands in October 1944. Heres a look at 10 of the greatest performers to grace the USO stage. He had complete commitment and real respect for them.According to Shields, Hopes legacy is Humanity for our men and women in uniform.. From that first show, Hope would go on to entertain the troops for nearly 50 years, through World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Lebanon Civil War, the Iran-Iraq War and the Persian Gulf War. ", Hope and the USOs Bob Hope Christmas Shows, USO's Bob Hope Legacy Reading Program Keeps Service Members and Their Kids Connected, For 40 Years, Bob Hope USO Christmas Shows Brightened the Holidays for Deployed Troops, Programs for Service Members and Their Families. 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