Age for Hope Is a Rather Large Number

Tuesday, May 27, 2003
By Rudi Williams
American Forces Press Service

When Bob Hope's 100th birthday rolls around on May 29, Linda [daughter] said, "We've gone through every possible kind of birthday party. So we're going to keep it simple and have the close family and a few close friends and cerebrate at home." However, she said earlier in the day people who worked for him are going to get together and lift a glass of champagne. The Hollywood's intersection of Hollywood and Vine will be dedicated as Bob Hope Square.

Standing in the Bob Hope Gallery of American Entertainment at the Library of Congress, Linda Hope said, "He's determined to be 100 and looking forward to it." Bob Hope becomes a centenarian on May 29.
Image Credit: Rudi Williams -- AFIS

WASHINGTON -- AFIS
WASHINGTON -- AFIS
The Library of Congress now has Hope among its many precious holdings – Bob Hope, that is, the entertainer who turns 100 May 29.

Tourists and other visitors to the nation's capital should make sure they see the Bob Hope Gallery of American Entertainment in that library, advises Ward Grant, Hope's longtime director of public and media relations.

"It's a permanent exhibit, and you're going to find laughter in there," he noted.

Bob's daughter, Linda, was in town also May 21 preparing for a special reception and stage tribute to her father hosted by entertainer Dick Cavett and actor Boyd Gaines at the library May 22. Hope did not travel.

She reflected on her father's life and his love for America's men and women in uniform. Hope has made more than 700 trips to entertain more than 10 million GIs at bases and hospitals in the U.S., North Atlantic, Caribbean, Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Linda said it all started on May 6, 1941. "I guess it was serendipitous," she noted. "He was looking for good audiences for his radio shows and one of his writer's brother or cousin was stationed at March Field (Calif.). That person mentioned, 'Wouldn't it be nice if we got the Bob Hope Show to come entertain the guys here.'

"So dad went to March Field and it was love at first laugh because the huge laughs that he got there were not to be equaled in the studio," said Hope, who produced her father's television specials for more than 25 years. "He loved the spirit and he got to know some of those people and he was hooked."
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2003 © U.S. Department of Defense.

Dan