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Reader Memories: Bob Hope
May-June 2003
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BOB HOPE KEPT RONALD REAGAN OUT LATE
In 1989, I was one of a group of veterans who had served in the Air Force with Ronald Reagan, and we decided to have a reunion.
We invited Ronnie, who had just left the White House. He accepted, but Nancy placed a restriction on the ex-President's participation.
Because of health problems, he would attend the dinner, make no speeches, and leave promptly at 6:30.
Our committee was frustrated until I came up with a suggestion. The reunion was being held in Studio City, California, just a few miles from Toluca Lake, the home of Bob Hope. We would invite Hope as a surprise after-dinner guest.
At 6:30 promptly, the secret service men on duty surrounded the President, ready to escort him and Nancy home, when actor Bill Orr, our MC, announced that Bob Hope had just come to entertain the troops.
Would the President please stay for that? Ronnie agreed.
Then Bob Hope bounded on stage and sang a special version of "Thanks for the Memory". He invited Ronnie to come up to accept a special gift, a new book on the history of the Academy Awards.
Ronnie asked if there were members of the press there. When assured there weren't, he joined Hope and accepted the present.
Then he proceeded to tell an Air Force story with an off-color ending.
The audience roared with laughter. Ever the entertainer, Ronnie went on to relate a string of his favorite stories.
When he finally left at 9:00 p.m., Nancy glowered at our committee for keeping the President up so late.
But the next morning we received a call from Ronnie's secretary. "The President had just a great time, and he hopes you fellows will invite him to the next reunion."
As for Bob Hope's parting comment, he said that he had journeyed thousands of miles to entertain the troops, but this was the first time he ever traveled only ten minutes from his home, and he too asked to be invited to the next reunion.
Malvin Wald
Sherman Oaks, CA
HE ENTERTAINED A UNIT OF ONE
While stationed at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon, Vietnam, I was on duty and unable to attend the Christmas show.
The airman driving the jeep claimed that a KC-135 aircraft was inbound with a navigational problem. He left me standing alone with tool bag in hand at a remote tarmac a mile away from everything. Air bases can be as large as a township.
About 10 minutes later Bob Hope's aircraft, evidently misdirected, taxied up and lowered its stairway. Bob Hope appeared at the door looking down at a reception of one GI. He descended wearing military fatigues and swinging a golf club; moving toward me, he asked, "What did they do, cancel the war due to lack of interest?"
Red Fox followed dressed in like fashion, pushing a broom down the stairs and then in a circle around us.
Lastly the Gold Diggers deplaned, dressed in matching green bell bottom outfits typical of the era. The group of round-eyed ladies was a sight.
They all entertained me for about 5 minutes before a number of vehicles rushed toward us and whisked them away.
During my four years in the service I was never able to attend any of his many shows. But I will always treasure that mini show for just one GI.
William Farnen
Erie, PA
HE THOUGHT I WAS BUYING FOR THE WHOLE STREET
On July 26, 1985 I went into a bookstore in Hartford, Connecticut to buy a book. (I remember the exact date because I wrote it on the bookmark.)
While I was there, who should I see, but my favorite comedian, Bob Hope, autographing his book Confessions of a Hooker—My Life Long Love Affair with Golf.
I decided to get a few books with his autograph to give as gifts.
He kidded and said, "What are you doing, buying books for your whole street?" I laughed.
He was as nice and as funny as I expected him to be.
Ruth Johnson
East Hartford, CT
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