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Jarworski
from The Grove (United Kingdom) on 2003-07-28 07:46 [#00796460]
Points: 10836 Status: Lurker
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Bob Hope, whose quick wit, daring personality and ski-sloped nose identified him as an icon of 20th-century entertainment, has died. He was 100.
Known as "Mr. Entertainment" or "the King of Comedy," Hope appeared in more than 75 films, starred in more than 475 TV programs and 1,000-plus radio programs. He also toured tirelessly for the U.S. armed forces.
He was one of the last of the great entertainers whose career took off in the first half of the 20th century and who continued to reach new generations of fans by the end of it.
Born Leslie Townes Hope on May 29, 1903, in Eltham, England, Hope was the fifth of seven sons of William Henry Hope and Avis Townes Hope.
After his family moved to Cleveland, Ohio, when he was 4, Hope got his first taste of show business in 1915 when he won a Charlie Chaplin imitation contest.
He took to vaudeville by the 1920s -- and started using the stage name "Bob" in 1928, dropping Leslie. His first Broadway performances came in the 1933 musical "Roberta."
Hope made it to the silver screen with "The Big Broadcast of 1938." He teamed with Shirley Ross on the Oscar-winning song "Thanks for the Memory." The tune became a signature theme for Hope.
Hope's film career really took off with the highly popular series of "Road" movies with Bing Crosby -- among them "Road to Singapore," "Road to Morocco" and "Road to Rio."
But movies were just the tip of the iceberg in Hope's career as an entertainer. He also created and starred in an NBC radio show that went on for 18 years and 1,145 programs.
In 1941, he began visiting U.S. troops. In 1948, Hope held a Christmas show for the troops -- the first of many. By 1953, he'd performed before nearly 1 million servicemen at some 400 camps, naval stations and military hospitals around the world.
Television was not immune to Hope's charisma, either. In 1950, he signed a deal with NBC that eventually turned into 40-plus years of TV specials -- more than 475 programs and specials, many of whic
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Jarworski
from The Grove (United Kingdom) on 2003-07-28 07:47 [#00796464]
Points: 10836 Status: Lurker
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many of which swept the Nielsen ratings.
Late in his career, Hope spoke to new generations of television viewers through his annual song, dance and comedy Christmas specials on NBC.
Hope also became one of America's most famous amateur golfers. "Golf is my real profession," Hope once said. "Show business pays my green fees."
Each year he hosted the Bob Hope Classic; the tournament, still played by tour pros, is now called the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
In 1997, Congress named Hope an honorary U.S. veteran, citing his decades of entertaining troops around the world. He is the only person to receive that distinction.
When informed of the honor, Hope was uncharacteristically serious. "I've been given many awards in my lifetime," he said, "but to be numbered among the men and women I admire the most is the greatest honor I have ever received."
Hope is survived by his wife, Dolores Hope, their four adopted children and four grandchildren.
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Jarworski
from The Grove (United Kingdom) on 2003-07-28 07:48 [#00796466]
Points: 10836 Status: Lurker
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I've only posted this cause I used to love the 'Road To...' movies.
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titsworth
from Washington, DC (United States) on 2003-07-28 07:48 [#00796467]
Points: 14550 Status: Lurker
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it's about time i guess but he was pretty funny.. rest in peace dawg
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marlowe
from Antarctica on 2003-07-28 07:49 [#00796469]
Points: 24589 Status: Lurker
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I thought he died ages ago. About bloody time ! :@
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pomme de terre
from obscure body in the SK System on 2003-07-28 07:52 [#00796473]
Points: 11941 Status: Moderator | Show recordbag
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whew.. he was 100 years old. i think it was his time.
RIP
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marlowe
from Antarctica on 2003-07-28 07:54 [#00796477]
Points: 24589 Status: Lurker
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The best thing Bob Hope did was to become a slang term for Mary-Jane !
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jonesy
from Lisboa (Portugal) on 2003-07-28 07:57 [#00796483]
Points: 6650 Status: Lurker
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I'm gonna go down Barry to pay my respecs later, like.
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Key_Secret
from Sverige (Sweden) on 2003-07-28 08:03 [#00796490]
Points: 9325 Status: Regular
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I guess Hope is the last thing to go. No more Hope for us! We're out of Hope!!!
Damn!
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giginger
from Milky Beans (United Kingdom) on 2003-07-28 08:15 [#00796515]
Points: 26326 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag
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:'(
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Zeus
from San Francisco (United States) on 2003-07-28 08:17 [#00796519]
Points: 14042 Status: Lurker
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the price is wroooong bitch
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Jedi Chris
on 2003-07-28 08:17 [#00796521]
Points: 11496 Status: Lurker | Followup to jonesy: #00796483
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I know where you mean Jonesy, behind the Civic Offices....the house where he was born/grew up yeah? The name plate is still on the building.
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IronLung
from the 91fwy in soCAL (United States) on 2003-07-28 08:29 [#00796545]
Points: 8032 Status: Lurker | Show recordbag
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may he NOW be playing golf in the clouds!!
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Quernstone
from Padova (Italy) on 2003-07-28 08:35 [#00796563]
Points: 1826 Status: Regular
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Did anyone read that VIZ in which bob utters his last words?
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Key_Secret
from Sverige (Sweden) on 2003-07-28 08:38 [#00796567]
Points: 9325 Status: Regular | Followup to Quernstone: #00796563
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no...
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Quernstone
from Padova (Italy) on 2003-07-28 09:24 [#00796694]
Points: 1826 Status: Regular
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shame! It was a strip devoted to his last well tought out words.
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Key_Secret
from Sverige (Sweden) on 2003-07-28 09:26 [#00796697]
Points: 9325 Status: Regular | Followup to Quernstone: #00796694
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you haven't got a URL to post?
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Quernstone
from Padova (Italy) on 2003-07-28 09:39 [#00796723]
Points: 1826 Status: Regular
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nah, they prefer people to buy it in hardcopy :o(
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mc_303_beatz
from Glasgow, Scotland on 2003-07-28 10:23 [#00796817]
Points: 3386 Status: Regular
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he had a good innings
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Joyrex
from watmm.com (United States) on 2003-07-28 10:54 [#00796898]
Points: 1389 Status: Lurker
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Zeus: You're thinking of Bob Barker, the host of The Price Is Right...
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LeCoeur
from the outer edge of the universe (United States) on 2003-07-29 00:08 [#00797691]
Points: 8249 Status: Lurker
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he certainly had a good RUN, and did a lot of thoughtful things for others. he seemed to always be laughing and enjoying life, and it certainly seems he had a good one FO REAL.
when i think of bob hope i smile......so in my book he was an ALRIGHT kinda dood.
*thanks for the memories.....* and rest in peace!
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jonesy
from Lisboa (Portugal) on 2003-07-29 01:17 [#00797710]
Points: 6650 Status: Lurker
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Well, he wasn't someone I was exposed to. But I don't have a lot of time for cheerleaders of imperialism.
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xf
from Australia on 2003-07-29 02:24 [#00797736]
Points: 2952 Status: Lurker
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not much hop... wait, already done
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titsworth
from Washington, DC (United States) on 2003-07-29 07:22 [#00798056]
Points: 14550 Status: Lurker | Followup to jonesy: #00797710
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touche! *kicks the coffin*
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bill_hicks
from my city is amazing it is calle on 2003-07-29 07:55 [#00798162]
Points: 4286 Status: Lurker | Followup to Quernstone: #00796723
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I can't remember a time when bob hope wasn't next to death's door.
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