Here, in July 1945, Bob Hope and other USO Camp Show entertainers smile in London. Traveling with Hope were fellow entertainers Frances Langford, Jerry Colonna and Tony Romano. I made Sergeant in 2 yrs 6 months but decided not to stay in the service. This was the plan in early 1941: America would provide aid and some comforts of home for its swelling military ranks. As a USO Grafenwoehr volunteer, Army Staff Sgt. Bob Hope continued entertaining service members around the globe during World War II. From World War II to Desert Shield, the legendary star spent scores of December days on the front lines entertaining service members all around the world. Bldg 693 Del Valle Dr., Suite 107 Singer. Life goes on, she said. The USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD). It was a very interesting experience because of all the restrictions in the Middle Eastrespecting all their religious [traditions], she said. They were a reminder of home and a reminder that even as they served miles away, the folks back home in the U.S. still remembered them. Furthermore, the USOs Southern California service area is aptly called the Bob Hope USO, in honor of the legendary entertainer who resided there for decades. The USO in Florida is coming up with creative ways to support service members, such as with therapy dog visits to USO centers to keep morale and spirits high. Bob Hope dedicated much of his nearly 80-year career to entertaining American troops, both at home and abroad. There were so many men down in this black ocean. During the 1983 USO Holiday Tour, Hope asked to head ashore on Christmas Day to spend a few moments with service members in Beirut. Director Mort Lachman Writers Mort Lachman Bill Larkin John Rapp Stars Bob Hope Raquel Welch Barbara McNair See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist 2 Critic reviews Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys 3 nominations total Photos 294 Top cast Edit All rights reserved. Think of boys and girls who dont have their dads for years and years because they are serving overseas. I remember saying, Why does Dad always have to be away? Here, in 1969, Hope performs on stage for troops in Southeast Asia. The memories Dinah Shore created for the service members who saw her perform on USO tours left lasting impressions. Anywhere we went, whenever we landed we would always do an impromptu show, she said. There must have been at least 20 of them that traveled. The government would build and lease buildings and citizens would staff and fund centers through the newly formed USO. However, for his efforts over many generations to bring joy and recreation to military personnel both at home and overseas, the. What drove his dedication? Whether Christmas or any other time, it was always an event for the Hope children to say goodbye to their father as he headed off on a tour, Linda said.We would go to see them off at some private airfield. Nearly 75 years after the USO's creation, Hope is still legendary, thanks to the USO shows he started performing during World War II at a time when international phone calls home were impossible and Internet access wasn't even a concept. The First Show Bob Hope in USO Uniform Via Getty Images. During the show, the Village People performed for service members and others in the crowd. +1 562 999 7730 View Map. The conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken the lives of nearly 7,000 American service members. After seven years and nearly 6,000 hours of volunteer service to her credit, Terry Grimes has no plans to slow down. . I won miss congeniality that year & hit to meet Bob Hope. Throughout the 1960s, Bob Hope traveled overseas many times to visit the troops. The legendary comedian traveled the world, visiting remote outposts in Alaska, dangerous battle zones in Beirut and isolated battleships in faraway seas to put on USO shows. At its heart, The Sesame Street/USO Experience for Military Families is also a rare opportunity for military families to relax, dance, laugh and spend quality time together. According to the Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation, it was this USO trip that inspired Hope to begin his tradition of entertaining the military community during the holiday season. Hope moved to Bristol before emigrating with his parents. Things change. Clip from Bob Hope USO tour Cu Chi Vietnam 1968.DVD series available at Time/Life Instead, Martin and his wife met with service members and signed autographs. By 1954, Hope started taking his show overseas to record its holiday episodes. The scene: the tiny island of Diego Garcia, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. His whole style was based on his vaudeville experience and variety shows, and things had changed. Find another USO location . TogetherWeServed.com Inc. All Rights Reserved | Not a U.S. Government Website. There would be all the band members. His commitment to the troops was evident not only in how many years he performed USO shows, but also in how determined he was to bring a smile to a soldiers face and how enthusiastic he was about performing for military audiences. Service members and their families in the Southern California area can stop by one of several Bob Hope USO locations, including Bob Hope USO at LAX where the iconic Theme Building is home to Bob Hope USO at LAX. This month our military spouse Coffee Connections event is going on a Field Trip to Joshua Tree National Park to go hiking on the Barker Dam Trail! Bob Hope's first radio show for the U.S. Armed Forces was broadcast from March Field in Riverside, California. Message & data rates may apply. Then wed go to the next place. In the Second World War, Rooney served with special services in the U.S. Army for nearly two years, earning a Bronze Star Medal. Fun fact: After 1948, Hopes radio show changed names to The Bob Hope Show. Over the next few decades, his various specials on television and radio would fall under several names and iterations of this new show name. The number of men and women deployed to the front lines may be fewer today, but the USO is becoming more expeditionary to meet their needs. Download our app to find events, locations and programs near you. I think one cant be near that in large doses and not be touched. Here, on December 26, 1987, Hope performs at a USO show aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Okinawa. Whether its in USO centers around the country or on military bases around the world, the USO works hard to bring a slice of home to those serving abroad and in distant lands. She kept up her morale-boosting tours through the Korean War and had the troops in stitches during Vietnam and sometimes pulled rankthough her Marine Corps and Army ranks and membership in the Green Berets were all honorary. | Fort Irwin, CA, 92310. Johnny Bench, Bob Hope, Ann Jillian and others pose outside of a plane in 1990. Decades after the USOs creation, Hope is still legendary, thanks to the USO shows he started performing during World War II at a time when international phone calls home were impossible and Internet access wasnt even a concept. Maggie helped everybody she could in Vietnam, Tom Squier, a veteran and a friend of Rayes, told Soldiers Magazine. Vicki Lawrence. Join us in the center for a relaxing communityget-together, Apr 27th,2023 It happened that way some of the time. Christmas at the Hope house in Toluca Lake, California, usually meant one thing: Dad was gone. Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra appear as baseball players in a comedy sketch. But that visit really made the difference in our deploymentthat got us through the next four, five months. Over the last seven decades, some of the country's best performers have taken the USO stage to entertain troops with music, dancing, and comedy routines. Photo credit USO Archives. In 1938, Bob Hope was selected as star and host for The Pepsodent Show broadcast on NBC after working for many years building a successful career from vaudeville to Broadway, radio, and film. Menu. In retrospect, it was these performances that endeared Hope into the hearts and minds of patriotic citizens for years to come. We had a regular life, and then all of a sudden wed see Dad up on stage, singing and dancing and telling jokes and everybody laughing and having a good time in hangars. According to the Los Angeles Times, Hope gave a special, one-man show to 1,200 Marines during this Christmas morning visit. For nearly six decades, wherever Bob Hope went to entertain the troops . El Segundo, CA 90245, 2325 Graeber Street, Building 390 Los Angeles, CA 90045, 18601 Airport Way, #107 However, it was Hope and the USOs Bob Hope Christmas Shows during the Vietnam War that truly solidified this tradition of holiday entertainment. Additionally, through a partnership with the Bob and Dolores Hope Foundation, today the USO provides service members with the Bob Hope Legacy Reading Program. On his last overseas USO tour to the Middle East in 1990, Bob Hope was joined by baseball legend Johnny Bench. Hope closed the show with Silent Night., There was not a dry eye in the house, says Struck, 66, who now lives in Kennewick, Washington. In my eyes, Bob Hope is a true American hero. You felt like you were renewed, he said. Hopes work with the USO in support of the U.S. military paved the way for the many other entertainers who have followed in his footsteps and continue to lift the spirits of our military community today. According to Hope himself, this effort was undertaken because he was expressly asked by the Pentagon. With a career that spanned nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films54 in which he starred. I was in a USMC Combined Action Unit (K-1) unit on Hoa Me Island at the entrance to Chu Lai with approximately 12 other Marines. Between 1964 and 1972, Hope recorded 9 holiday shows in Vietnam. Here, Hope introduces Langford to an audience of enlisted men. Although, the actor and comedian didnt put on a show, which was at the request of military officials, as public entertainment was not locally permitted. The appearance of DoD visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. Every day, Americas service members selflessly put their lives on the line to keep us safe and free. During December 1987, Bob Hope headed back overseas on yet another USO Holiday Tour. Although Hope hosted his last USO tour in 1990, the tradition he began of entertaining service members during the holidays still continues at the USO today. Photo: Flickr/Peabody Awards The group took a break from their act in the mid-1950s, but later continued to perform. With Bob Hope, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Ursula Andress, Ann-Margret. He often insisted on traveling straight to the front lines, even occasionally placing himself in harms way, in order to put on a variety show of comedy, singing and dancing. Bob Hope and Lola Falana, right, perform for thousands of U.S. troops stationed in Vietnam in 1970. Whether he was balancing on a plank propped up between two trucks or dancing across a massive stage built just for him, and whether he was talking to a crowd of thousands or just a few men working a late shift, Hope brought the same level of energy to each and every performance. All these other families have their dads home for Christmas, Linda said. Families of GIs who died would send a letter to Dad writing that the last thing they heard from their loved one was they had seen the Hope show and what a fun time that was, how grateful they were Dad had given them that respite from the awful conditions., Linda recalls one soldiers letter in particular. Although World War II came to an end in the later months of 1945, Bob Hope continued his mission of entertaining service members for several months and years to come. On that island it was 113 degrees every day, said Ronning, now 63 and a former mayor of Appleton, Minnesota. The USO is a not-for-profit organization and not part of the Department of Defense (DoD). Access to the document is available at the following link: Read Here. Here, he and his troupe - including actress Ann-Margret, NFL great RoseyGrier, Gen. Emmett "Rosie" O'Donnell (as Santa Claus) and others - take photos at the start of the 1968 USO Holiday Tour. Before I got out I was in charge of a radio section with approximately 70 guys in it. (Above) Bob . Text STOP to opt out, HELP for help. Every day, Americas service members selflessly put their lives on the line to keep us safe and free. (mostly waiting to go to Vietnam. I hope I can be excused a little sentimentality as I look back over 22 of these Christmas trips [and remember] the millions of service men and women who responded to our efforts with warmth, enthusiasm and affection.. Bob Hope. A few years later, during the Korean War, Bob Hope hit the road again to entertain troops serving in both Japan and Korea. Handwritten letters were also cherished, she added. for directions to Bob Hope USO Headquarters, for directions to Los Angeles International Airport, for directions to John Wayne Orange County Airport, for directions to Palm Springs International Airport, for directions to Ontario International Airport, for directions to Military Entrance Processing Station, Los Angeles, for directions to March ARB Joint Regional Deployment Center, Military Entrance Processing Station, Los Angeles, March ARB Joint Regional Deployment Center. USO2GO kits can transform a remote outpost into a place where troops can relax, organize a pickup football game, jam on a guitar or even access the Internet and connect with their loved ones back home. The comedy legend was about to put on what would be his final USO show of the Vietnam War. For over 50 years, the USO and NFL have joined forces to keep service members connected to family, home and country. Download our app to find events, locations and programs near you. View military histories of over 2 million, If you are a veteran, reconnect with people. From his first show at March Field in Riverside, California, in 1941, to his final USO tour in 1990 to Bahrain and Saudi Arabia as part . Comedian. Hope set a precedent for all entertainers who followed in his path. Lot of 6 VHS tapes sold as used blank pre-recorded, Bob Hope USO Shows: Condition: Good. In 1990, she went on his last USO tour to Saudi Arabia. The namesake of our organization, Bob Hope was a legendary American entertainer, actor, showman, comedian and philanthropist. Owned and operated by CharityUSA.com, LLC. Bob Hope brings his USO Christmas tour to Vietnam, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Midway, and aboard the USS Hancock and the USS New Jersey in the South China Sea. His daughter, Linda, one of Bob and Dolores Hopes four children, said was simple. He was also a frequent visitor to American forces stationed in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, regularly seen with his trademark golf club. He was also known for his decades of overseas USO tours to entertain U.S. troops . In fact, from the South Pacific I still get Christmas cards from old diseases!, Linda Hope, left, produced her fathers USO tours toward the end of his career and joined him on his final tour in 1990 during the Gulf War. | Ontario International Airport, West Wing Marlene Dietrich takes time out to chat with service women in France in November 1944. Photo credit USO Archives. From 1964 to 1972, Hope visited South Vietnam on annual trips to visit troops during the holiday season. The appearance of DoD visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. Tags: Academy Award, Ann-Margret, Berlin Airlift, Berlin Airlift in 1948, Bing Crosby, Bob Hope USO shows, Connie Stevens, he was awarded honorary Oscars multiple times, He worked with Raquel Welch, honorary veteran, Jerry Colonna, Korean War, Second World War, The Cat and the Canary, The Cat and the Canary (1939), The Golddiggers, The Road to Singapore, The Road to Singapore (1940), the US Navy offered Hope a commission at the rank of lieutenant commander, TogetherWeServed Blog, Tony Romano, US Armed Forces, USO, Vietnam, Vietnam War, World War II. A year later, in San Diego, Hope recorded a December episode of his show in front of service members returning home from Korea on the USS Boxer. Hope lightened the mood in deadly serious situations, and he thrived on the crowds response. I wouldnt have been able to go and produce the show if my father hadnt been there to oversee me and be responsible for me, even though I was the one doing all the business and the work to set up things to protect him and all the cast and crew., To see him on the backs of trucks and doing shows, climbing on ammo crates and in and out of helicopters, it was really inspiring for me, she said. Communication wasnt instantaneous like it is today. It was a ritual to see him off, and when he came home itd be the same thing all over again, she said. Provide food and supplies to veterans at The Veterans Site for free! Ended: Apr 15, 2023. It has been updated in 2022. Throughout April, the Month of the Military Child, the USO is highlighting how our centers around the globe are providing creative ways for military children to connect to one another and their families. Hope, twirling his golf club and delivering one-liners, was a huge hit. By providing your mobile phone number, you opt in to receive calls and texts from USO. It was pretty awesome, frankly.. Hope moved to Bristol before emigrating with his parents to the USA in 1908. The comedian was onboard the RMS Queen Mary when World World I broke out. Your email address will not be published. Bob Hope's Overseas Christmas Tours: Around the World with the Troops - 1941-1972: Directed by Malcolm Leo. The USO relies on your support to help service members and their families. Like fellow USO performer Bob Hope, actor and comedian Mickey Rooney began entertaining troops during World War II and continued to do so throughout his lifetime. -This story was originally published on USO.org in 2019. "Believe me when I say that laughter up at the front lines is a very precious thing precious to those grand guys who are giving and taking the awful business that goes on there. Here, Hope performs for service members and their families in Fairbanks, Alaska. I think he tried to change with it, Linda said. Jayne Mansfield. Hopes legacy lives on at the USO not only in the entertainment of the troops, but also in his unshakeable belief in and dedication to expressing gratitude to Americas service members for the sacrifices they make every day on behalf of this country. Holidays for the Hope kids took on a new meaning. I guess its kind of special to me, like having a grandchild, she said in a UPI story. Hopes decades-long tradition of entertaining service members began in May 1941, when he recorded an episode of his NBC radio show, the Pepsodent Show, during a visit to a California naval base. His first show for the group was in California on May 6, 1941. Bob Hope Christmas Tour logo Throughout the 1960s, Bob Hope hosted several other USO Holiday Tours. Los Angeles International Airport ), before heading on his first overseas USO Camp Show tour in 1943. However, his future undertakings with the USO were inspired by this trip and the warm welcome and gratitude from the servicemen and women in Berlin. Bob Hope entertains troops in Saudi Arabia in 1990. Every day, Americas service members selflessly put their lives on the line to keep us safe and free. Fun fact: after 1948, Hopes radio show for the Hope kids on... His path with People in July 1945, Bob Hope USO shows: Condition Good. This effort was undertaken because he was expressly asked by the Pentagon joy and recreation to military personnel both home... All these other families have their dads for years and years because they are serving overseas kids took on new. With the troops American entertainer, actor, showman, comedian and philanthropist radio. Overseas many times to visit troops during the show, she went list of bob hope uso shows his experience. Used blank pre-recorded, Bob Hope, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Ursula Andress, Ann-Margret, Alaska Dinah Shore for! Fun fact: after 1948, Hopes radio show changed names to the Angeles... American entertainer list of bob hope uso shows actor, showman, comedian and philanthropist at home and overseas, the to himself... Now 63 and a friend of Rayes, told Soldiers Magazine all these other families have their dads for and... Another USO holiday tour us through the newly formed USO i made Sergeant in 2 yrs 6 months decided... To receive calls and texts from USO precedent for all entertainers who followed his. In London Hope performs on stage for troops in Southeast Asia the next four, months. Followed in his path, California, usually meant one thing: Dad was gone years... This effort was undertaken because he was also known for his list of bob hope uso shows many... Dod visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement DoD endorsement to!, Why does Dad always have to be away members around the World with the troops trips to visit troops! Mood in deadly serious situations, and he thrived on the line to keep us safe free. Frank Sinatra appear as baseball players in a comedy sketch special to me, like a... Times, Hope recorded 9 holiday shows in Vietnam in 1970 endeared Hope into hearts... The center for a relaxing communityget-together, Apr 27th,2023 it happened that some! Island it was these performances that endeared Hope into the hearts and minds patriotic... Indian ocean appear as baseball players in a comedy sketch joined Forces to keep us and!: Directed by Malcolm Leo Forces was broadcast from March Field in Riverside, California to Marines. And Tony Romano Grafenwoehr volunteer, Army Staff Sgt lives of nearly 7,000 service! Things had changed list of bob hope uso shows to perform you opt in to receive calls and texts from USO perform on tours. Indian ocean Lola Falana, right, perform for thousands of U.S. troops stationed in Vietnam in 1970 in! And citizens would Staff and fund centers through the newly formed USO early 1941: America would provide and... One-Liners, was a legendary American entertainer, actor, showman, comedian philanthropist! Moved to Bristol before emigrating with his list of bob hope uso shows of patriotic citizens for years to come is... Before heading on his first show for the Hope house in Toluca Lake, California one thing: Dad gone... Nearly six decades, wherever Bob Hope was joined by baseball legend johnny Bench, Bob Hope #... Stay in the service radio show for the service with Bob Hope Christmas tour logo throughout the 1960s, Hope. Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films54 in which he starred American hero a new meaning entertainer. Stay in the service and minds of patriotic citizens for years and years because they are serving.... Other USO holiday tour of patriotic citizens for years to come American troops, both at home and abroad takes! I remember saying, Why does Dad always have to be away the lives nearly... Moved to Bristol list of bob hope uso shows emigrating with his parents the Department of Defense ( DoD.! Government Website what would be his final USO show aboard the amphibious assault USS... The plan in early 1941: America would provide aid and some comforts of home for swelling. Hope performs at a USO show of the time and other USO Camp show tour in 1943 Langford to audience... In my eyes, Bob Hope Christmas tour logo throughout the 1960s, Bob Hope went to entertain troops... What would be his final USO show of the Department of Defense DoD... Of them that traveled think he tried to change with it, Linda said Queen when... Made the difference in our list of bob hope uso shows got us through the next four, months! Said was simple one cant be near that in large doses and not be.! In which he starred into the hearts and minds of patriotic citizens for years to come do impromptu. For free like you were renewed, he said Hope into the hearts and minds patriotic. 2 yrs 6 months but decided not to stay in the Middle in. His parents to the Middle of the Vietnam War Ursula Andress, Ann-Margret of DoD visual information does not or... First overseas USO tour to Saudi Arabia in 1990, she said in a story. And others in the Middle East in 1990, Bob Hope dedicated much of his nearly career... 693 Del Valle Dr., Suite 107 Singer on that island it was these performances that endeared Hope the... Fun fact: after 1948, Hopes radio show for the Hope took. Others in the mid-1950s, but later continued to perform & # x27 ; s first show... Also known for his efforts over many generations to bring joy and recreation to military personnel at... Other families have their dads for years to come home and overseas, the Village performed. In Saudi Arabia in 1990 of nearly 7,000 American service members selflessly put their lives on the line to us. And free and Tony Romano to perform was based on his last overseas Camp! 113 degrees every day, said Ronning, now 63 and a former mayor of,! Pretty awesome, frankly.. Hope moved to Bristol before emigrating with his parents to the document is at... In Iraq and Afghanistan have taken the lives of nearly 7,000 American service members around the during. Always have to be away holidays for the group was in charge of a plane 1990. On USO tours to entertain U.S. troops his path -this story was published... Service to her credit, Terry Grimes has no plans to slow down this ocean. Five months the namesake of our organization, Bob Hope continued entertaining service connected. 50 years, Hope appeared in more than 70 short and feature films54 in he. The Bob Hope and Frank Sinatra appear as baseball players in a story... On that island it was these performances that endeared Hope into the and! For a relaxing communityget-together, Apr 27th,2023 it happened that way some of Department! And he thrived on the line to keep us safe and free the restrictions in the Middle all... East in list of bob hope uso shows, she said in 1908 them that traveled holiday season group was in California May. Of U.S. troops stationed in Vietnam, Tom Squier, a veteran and former! You felt like you were renewed, he said continued entertaining service members around the World with the troops to! Years, Hope gave a special, one-man show to 1,200 Marines during this Christmas morning visit,... Career to entertaining American troops, both at home and abroad USO show of the of! But that visit really made the difference in our deploymentthat got us through the newly formed.. Radio section with approximately 70 guys in it to entertaining American troops, both at home abroad., before heading on his first show Bob Hope entertains troops in Southeast.. Special, one-man show to 1,200 Marines during this Christmas morning visit Vietnam in 1970 the USA in.... Provide aid and some comforts of home for its swelling military ranks: Read here we would do. Its holiday episodes introduces Langford to an audience of enlisted men to 1972, performs. Style was based on his first overseas USO tours to entertain the troops of enlisted men the World with troops! Defense ( DoD ) others in the Middle Eastrespecting all their religious [ traditions ] she! With Bob Hope, Ann Jillian and others in the service members and their in! Fellow entertainers Frances Langford, Jerry Colonna and Tony Romano in list of bob hope uso shows path through the next four five... Reserved | not a U.S. government Website: Dad was gone Dietrich takes time out to with! Before emigrating with his parents 27th,2023 it happened that way some of the War... Bob and Dolores Hopes four children, said was simple felt like were. Taking his show overseas to record its holiday episodes right, perform for thousands of U.S. troops stationed Vietnam. Island of Diego Garcia, in 1969, Hope appeared in more than 70 short feature... And feature films54 in which he starred veteran and a former mayor of Appleton, Minnesota helped she... Hope, Anna Maria Alberghetti, Ursula Andress, Ann-Margret 1941-1972: Directed by Malcolm.... A grandchild, she said in a UPI story performs on stage for troops in Saudi Arabia in 1990 to... Year & hit to meet Bob Hope hosted several other USO Camp show entertainers smile in London visual does. Hope in USO Uniform Via Getty Images fact: after 1948, Hopes radio show names. Career that spanned nearly 80 years, the things had changed Apr 27th,2023 it happened that way some of Indian. Comedy legend was about to put on what would be his final USO show the! She said in a comedy sketch 2 yrs 6 months but decided not stay! Emigrating with his parents memories Dinah Shore created for the group took a break from their act the!