- published: 07 Mar 2011
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Bob Hope, KBE, KCSG, KSS (born Leslie Townes Hope; May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was an English-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 shows entertaining American military personnel. Throughout his long career, he was honored for his humanitarian work. In 1996, the U.S. Congress honored Bob Hope by declaring him the "first and only honorary veteran of the U.S. armed forces." Bob Hope appeared in or hosted 199 known USO shows.
Hope was born in Eltham, London, England, the fifth of seven sons. His English father, William Henry Hope, was a stonemason from Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, and his Welsh mother, Avis Townes, was a light opera singer from Barry who later worked as a cleaning woman. She married William Hope in April 1891 and the couple set up home at 12 Greenwood Street in the town, then moved to Whitehall and St George in Bristol, before eventually 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 17. In a 1942 legal document, Hope's legal name is given as Lester Townes Hope. His name on the Social Security Index is also listed as Lester T. Hope. His name as registered at birth was Leslie Towns [sic] Hope.
Actors: Mark Robinson (producer), Patsy Kensit (actress), Dominic Brunt (actor), Yvette Lyons (producer), Lucy Pargeter (actress), Antony Audenshaw (actor), Norman Bowler (actor), Nick Miles (actor), Kenneth Farrington (actor), Claire King (actress), John Middleton (actor), Jeff Hordley (actor), Charlotte Bellamy (actress), Dave Woodyer (editor), Emma Atkins (actress),
Genres: Documentary,Actors: Mark Charnock (actor), Dominic Brunt (actor), Sam Cullingworth (actor), Antony Audenshaw (actor), Eden Taylor-Draper (actress), Sammy Winward (actress), Joanne Zorian (actress), Natalie Anderson (actress), David Mercer (editor), Meg Johnson (actress), Michael Lacey (director), Will Marwood (miscellaneous crew), Darren Beaumont (actor), Zoë Henry (actress), Nicky Jean Wilson (actress),
Genres: Family,Actors: Tom McCamus (actor), Gordon Pinsent (director), Gordon Pinsent (actor), Gordon Pinsent (writer), Peter MacNeill (actor), Mark McKinney (actor), Avi Federgreen (producer), Gabriel Hogan (actor), Donna Gardon (miscellaneous crew), Hanna Tower (miscellaneous crew), Leah Pinsent (actress), Ray Landry (actor), Suzanne Cheriton (miscellaneous crew), Lea Carlson (costume designer), Wiebke von Carolsfeld (editor),
Plot: During World War II, the usually sleepy town of Gander, Newfoundland is abuzz with activity as the stopover point for many flights between North America and the European Theater. Teenager Terry Fleming, who lives just outside of Gander, is feeling conflicted. He wants to work in Gander so that he can have access to the plethora of movie stars and GIs flying though the area. His neighbor, Laurie Dwyer, who works at the American base in Gander in the service sector, states she can get a job for Terry, perhaps as a waiter. Terry has a secret crush on Laurie. But Terry also wants to stay at home and take care of his ailing mother, Violet, who is eventually diagnosed with diphtheria. Terry and Violet have a special bond especially over their love of the popular entertainment of the day. Frank - Terry's father and Violet's husband - doesn't quite understand it but appreciates this bond between mother and son. Terry dreams that much of the activity at the Gander Airlines Hotel is fodder for stories to his mother, stories of glamorous movie stars involved with the USO, GI's having flings with local girls who are looking to escape Gander, and war espionage.
Keywords: 1940s, coming-of-age, dying-mother, military-base, music-score-composed-by-director, newfoundland-canada, semi-autobiographical, waiter, world-war-twoActors: Bob Cesca (writer), Bob Cesca (editor), Bob Cesca (director), Joe Canose (actor), Tara Donnon (producer), Tim Panella (composer), Sandra Cimochowski (actress), Richard Bradbury (actor), Deane Weislogel (actor), Barbara Cimochowski (actress), Linda Kauffman (actress), Irene Romanelli (actress), Janet Tomlinson (actress), Ron Bisaga (actor), Andrew Littlefield (miscellaneous crew),
Genres: Comedy, War,Actors: Andrea Martin (actress), Melora Walters (actress), Julie Hagerty (actress), Tom Sizemore (actor), Eric Roberts (actor), Cindy Williams (actress), Rae Dawn Chong (actress), Robert Carradine (actor), Elzbieta Czyzewska (actress), Cheech Marin (actor), Cliff De Young (actor), Buck Henry (actor), Timothy Leary (actor), Louise Lasser (actress), Richard LaGravenese (writer),
Plot: In the late 1960s, two hippies are forced to leave their friends as they are wanted by the FBI, who see them as criminals. They hide in the jungle for 20 years, secluded from the outside war. In the late 1980s, they find out that a secret war is about to start in the US, and decided to return to New York to tell someone about it. What they find when they return is that all of their fellow hippies have become rich yuppies, like everyone else, and that no one wants to save the world anymore -- they just want to buy it.
Keywords: 1960s, 1980s, acid, anti-capitalism, anti-war, cannabis, capitalism, capitalist, drug, drug-cultureActors: Zenji Yamada (actor), Hyôe Enoki (actor), Yûjirô Ishihara (actor), Kôji Yashiro (actor), Hiroshi Nihon'yanagi (actor), Isamu Kosugi (actor), Taiji Tonoyama (actor), Dokô Kihara (actor), Masaki Tsuji (writer), Chiemi Eri (actress), Shôsei Mutô (actor), Gô Kuroda (actor), Reiko Arai (actress), Michiko Sakyô (actress), Shirô Amakusa (actor),
Genres: ,Actors: Jack Mercer (actor), Jack Mercer (actor), Jack Mercer (actor), Jack Mercer (actor), Jack Mercer (actor), Mae Questel (actress), Mae Questel (actress), Mae Questel (actress), Cecil Roy (actress), Seymour Kneitel (producer), Izzy Sparber (producer), Isadore Klein (writer), Winston Sharples (composer), Seymour Kneitel (director),
Plot: Little Audrey, an avid reader of pulp-fiction detective stories, falls asleep and dreams she is in animal-land investigating the murder of Cock Robin. She questions the animals, many of which resemble famous show-business people, and finds out that it was her own pet-canary who shot the arrow, that killed Cock Robin, meant as a valentine. She awakens, and finds her canary it its cage romancing a bird that resembles Cock Robin.
Keywords: 1950s, arrow, bird, book, bow-and-arrow, cage, canary, caricature, detective, detective-storyActors: William Demarest (actor), Hal K. Dawson (actor), Walter Abel (actor), Edgar Dearing (actor), Eric Alden (actor), Frank Butler (actor), Macdonald Carey (actor), Stanley Clements (actor), Charles Coleman (actor), Pinto Colvig (actor), Gary Cooper (actor), William Bendix (actor), Bing Crosby (actor), Howard Da Silva (actor), Cecil B. DeMille (actor),
Plot: Dozens of star and character-actor cameos and a message about the Variety Club (show-business charity) are woven into a framework about two hopeful young ladies who come to Hollywood, exchange identities, and cause comic confusion (with slapstick interludes) throughout the Paramount studio.
Keywords: variety-clubActors: Robert Benchley (actor), Humphrey Bogart (actor), Melville Shavelson (writer), Bob Hope (actor), Alan Ladd (actor), Franklin Pangborn (actor), Barbara Stanwyck (actress), Bing Crosby (actor), William Demarest (actor), Betty Hutton (actress), Marjorie Weaver (actress), Diana Lynn (actress), Dona Drake (actress), Charles Victor (actor), Noreen Nash (actress),
Plot: A girl is desperate to get to Washington D.C. to be with her lonesome brother, a wounded G.I. But train travel is impossible just after the war. She pleads with an exasperated railroad agent for something, anything. He suggests she go to Paramount Pictures and talk to Bing Crosby, who is in charge of a Victory War Bonds show. The government has arranged a special caravan to Washington for the Hollywood stars. Maybe she could get a ride with them. The next morning, she arrives at the studio. She manages to get past the studio guard, who chases her around the lot. She encounters many stars, including Robert Benchley, Barbara Stanwyck and Alan Ladd. Finally, she meets Bing. The trouble is, if she wants Bing's upper berth, she will have to persuade Bob Hope to share his lower berth.
Keywords: berth, brother-sister-relationship, chase, cigarette-smoking, crying, dance, dancer, dancing, dreaming, exasperationActors: Ken Carpenter (actor), Bob Hope (actor), Judy Garland (actress), Lana Turner (actress), Betty Hutton (actress), Skinnay Ennis (actor),
Plot: A filmed broadcast of the Command Performance radio programs in which various Hollywood stars appeared and performed in accordance with letter requests from American service men stationed around the world. Transcriptions were made of each program and sent to American posts and camps around the world. This entry (Army-Navy Screen Magazine No. 20) was broadcast and filmed at a live performace at Camp Roberts, California. Lana Turner, via a request from a group of soldiers, fried a steak, which was brought on stage accompanied by armed guards since this was a rationed and rare item during the war years. Betty Hutton sung "Murder, He Says" and Judy Garland did "Over the Rainbow", and all three guest stars swapped quips and banter with emcee Bob Hope, with Hope usually on the butt-end of the jokes.
Keywords: acronym-in-title, actor, actress, america, american, american-soldier, announcer, bandleader, california, cooking