Bob Hope My Life in Jokes

by Hope, Bob; Hope, Linda

• ISBN13: 9781401300951
• ISBN10: 1401300952
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-05-07
• Publisher: Hachette Books

Summary

Bob Hope is one of the greatest figures in the history of American show business. His legendary career has spanned the entire twentieth century, from impersonating Charlie Chaplin in front of the firehouse in Cleveland in 1909 to celebrating an unprecedented sixty years with NBC in 1996. He has entertained millions worldwide with his performances in vaudeville and on Broadway, on his top-rated weekly radio show, in beloved movies such as his "Road Pictures" with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour, and, most notably, in the countless television appearances that made him a superstar and a welcome guest in every living room in the country. Bob celebrates his 100th birthday this year, and to mark the occasion, he shares this extraordinary recollection in the form of his best jokes and comic anecdotes, organized by the stages of his life. Each of the ten chapters corresponds to a decade in Bob's phenomenal career (and features remarkable photos of him at that age). The end result is a compelling, and hilarious, portrait of the twentieth century's greatest entertainer -- and, ultimately, of the twentieth century itself. Bob Hope is best known as a comedian, and over the course of a lifetime, he has amassed -- in his personal "Joke File" -- thousands of jokes, on such subjects as golf (a lifelong passion for Bob), politicians, the military, movie stars, and much more. Now, with the publication of My Life in Jokes, readers have the opportunity to enjoy the very best of his humor and, in the process, learn about the amazing life and career of a true national treasure. Book jacket.

Author Biography

Bob Hope has been in the forefront of the entertainment world for virtually his entire life. Primarily a comedian, he also acted, sang, and even danced, hosted his own radio and television shows, and starred in sixty movies. Bob Hope's dedication to and love for the American Gl is legendary. He traveled around the world to entertain the men and women in uniform during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and Desert Storm. No individual in the history of show business has journeyed so far -- and so often -- to entertain so many. He has received more than two thousand awards and citations for his humanitarian and professional efforts, and has been honored and befriended by every U.S. president since Franklin Roosevelt. Bob lives with his wife, Dolores, in Toluca Lake and Palm Springs, California Linda Hope, Bob and Dolores's daughter, is chief operating officer of Hope Enterprises and producer of his television specials for the last twenty-five years. She lives in North Hollywood, California, and Ireland

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. ix
Note to the Reader	p. xiii
My Childhood: 1903-1913	p. 1
My Early Years: 1913-1923	p. 16
My Twenties: 1923-1933	p. 26
My Thirties: 1933-1943	p. 36
My Forties: 1943-1953	p. 59
My Fifties: 1953-1963	p. 88
My Sixties: 1963-1973	p. 115
My Seventies: 1973-1983	p. 137
My Eighties: 1983-1993	p. 161
My Nineties: 1993-2003	p. 193
Acknowledgments	p. 205
Table of Contents provided by Rittenhouse. All Rights Reserved.