Hollywood Bids Farewell to Bob Hope
A two-and-a-half-hour memorial tribute. Twenty-seven speakers. Three singers. And not a dull moment the entire time.
How could there be, when the man being saluted was Bob Hope? On August 27, several hundred invited friends and colleagues joined Hope’s wife Dolores and their children at the Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre for a final farewell to the beloved entertainer, patriot and humanitarian, who had died one month earlier at age 100. The event capped a day that had started with an invitation-only mass at St. Charles Borromeo Church and a luncheon at the Lakeside Golf Club, both near Hope’s Toluca Lake estate.
Dolores Hope, herself lauded throughout the afternoon, had asked participants to "keep it light." Most complied, so there was plenty of laughter. Red Buttons greeted his "fellow AARP members" and related how he’d met Hope during World War II when he was in uniform — as a hotel bellhop. Sid Caesar received a standing ovation for his tribute in four languages, all fractured. Phyllis Diller shared favorite jokes Hope had told about her. Fred Travelena did impersonations of the U.S. presidents Hope had entertained.
Several speakers, among them Brooke Shields, told of how much they had learned from Hope. "He taught me not only about comedy, but about the value of laughter," she said, recalling the time when she was a Princeton student and Hope spent an hour trying out jokes on her in advance of an appearance at the university. Hope’s longtime media relations rep Ward Grant said that his mentor "taught me everything — to respect everyone and be positive. And he taught me about promotion." One lesson: The morning in New Mexico when Hope quizzed Grant about efforts to publicize a performance, then asked what he had planned to accomplish that day. "This is Sunday," replied a surprised Grant. "Everything’s closed." Shot back Hope, "You can always go door to door." And Grant did.
Even more frequently than the laughs, though, came the heartfelt testimonials of Hope as loyal friend, shrewd businessman, charitable fundraiser and of course, selfless military entertainer. Such was the range of his endeavors that along with a Hollywood who’s who, speakers included Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers, former Chrysler chairman Lee Iacocca, former Eisenhower Medical Center chief of staff Dr. Lawrence Cone, San Diego Chargers owner Alex Spanos, golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez and even Hope’s longtime starter at Lakeside, Eddie Gannon.
After an opening medley by the Les Brown Band of Renown, who had played for the comedian since his early radio days, Academy Foundation chairman Tom Sarnoff welcomed guests both officially — the Hopes donated $1 million to the Foundation last year — and personally, having worked with Hope for more than 50 years, 25 of them at NBC as the point person for the deals Hope negotiated himself.
Angela Lansbury, born in Britain as was Hope, told of how he’d invited her to his home for an English tea prior to performing together for the first time. "It was a wonderful way of welcoming me before starting work," she said. Marie Osmond, who’d asked Hope to lend his name to the fledgling Children’s Miracle Network, said he answered, "You can’t use my name. You can use me." The result: More than $2 billion raised thus far.
Perhaps the most moving reminiscences were those involving Hope’s efforts on behalf of servicemen and women. Connie Stevens recalled Hope’s early morning summons to the cockpit of their plane after a Christmas show in Vietnam. "There are 2,700 men in the water we’re flying over, who haven’t been home in seven or eight months," he told her. "I’m going to talk to them, and I want you to, too." Writer Mort Lachman tearfully remembered Hope’s unflinching bravery in visiting military hospitals to help the wounded and dying feel better. Before performing "Tie A Yellow Ribbon ’Round the Old Oak Tree," Tony Orlando credited Hope’s championing the song as the reason it became a hit.
Michael Feinstein and Jack Jones also sang. Other speakers included Larry King, Johnny Grant, Norm Crosby, Kathryn Crosby, Rhonda Fleming, NBC programming exec Rick Ludwin, music director Nick Perito and Gary Smith, who produced the tribute.
Bob and Dolores’ daughter Linda thanked everyone for coming. "I can’t tell you how much this has meant to me and to our family," she said.
The day ended with the audience singing specially written lyrics to Hope’s theme song "Thanks for the Memories," fronted by a celebrity choir including Loni Anderson, Anita Bryant, Dixie Carter, Jack Carter, Dick Clark, Cathy Lee Crosby, Joey Heatherton, Carol Lawrence, Melissa Manchester, Ed McMahon, Janis Paige and Mickey Rooney.
— Libby Slate