bob hope's timeless career
1903 born leslie townes hope in eltjam, england, on may
29
1907: father william hope moves family to
cleveland, ohio
1927: after success as a traveling vaudeville dancer and
comedian, lands first broadway role in the sidewalks of new
york
1928: changes name to bob hope
1932: performs for first time with bing crosby at new york's
capitol theater
1933: first major public recognition for wisecracking role
in successful broadway musical roberta
1937: begins regular radio broadcasts from nbc studios in
new york
1938: release of first major feature film for paramount
pictures, the big
broadcast of 1938
1940: release of road to
singapore, first of seven
career-defining "road" films with bing crosby and dorothy
lamour
1941: begins touring u.s. home-front bases as part of weekly
radio program
1943: first trip into combat areas in england, africa, and
sicily. adds
south pacific in 1944. with only two exceptions, all
of his radio shows during world war ii were performed and aired
from military bases and installations.
1948: trip to entertain troops involved in the berlin
airlift begins
christmas tradition of overseas shows
1950: first tv special broadcast from
new york city on
nbc
1956: last regular radio show
1960: first palm springs golf classic (now the bob hope
chrysler classic), a hope-sponsored event that has raised more than
$35 million for charity.
1962: presented congressional gold medal by president
kennedy
1964: first of nine trips to vietnam
1972: last starring film role in cancel my reservation
1977: hosts 50th academy awards ceremony