CABARET
VILLE MAGAZINE. P46.
AMERICAN LEGENDS IN MEMORIAM:
BOB HOPE, THE IMMORTAL
Photo: Bob Hope with his parents, brothers and cousins.
For a man who played third billing to Siamese twins and trained seals, Bob Hope has become the most recognized profile and talent in the world. And, in the entire history of show business, no individual has traveled so far -- so often -- to entertain so many. Hope's entertainment persona has been evident in every decade of the 20th century -- from impersonating Charlie Chaplin in front of the firehouse in Cleveland in 1909, to celebrating an unprecedented sixty year with NBC in 1996.
BIOGRAPHY
Photo: Bob Hope entertaining the troops.
The
fifth of seven sons, he was born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, England on
May 29, 1903. His English father, William Henry Hope, was a stonemason --
his Welsh mother, Avis Townes Hope, an aspiring concert singer.
In 1907,
Leslie's father brought the family to Cleveland, Ohio. In 1920, by virtue of
his father's naturalization, 'Bob' -- the name by which the world would
later know him -- and his brothers became US citizens. (Bob Jokes, "I left
England at the age of four when I found out I couldn't be king.") The fifth
of seven sons, he was born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, England on May 29,
1903. His
English father, William Henry Hope, was a stonemason -- his Welsh mother,
Avis Townes Hope, an aspiring concert singer.
As a youth in Cleveland he earned spending money selling newspapers and as a
constant entrant in amateur shows. During his years at East High School he
worked as a delivery boy in his brother Fred's meat market. He was also a
soda jerk, a shoe salesman, and a pool hustler. After high school, Bob took
dancing lessons from entertainer King Rastus Brown and from vaudeville
hoofer Johnny Root. A natural, he took over some classes for his teachers.
Bob also worked briefly as a newspaper reporter and tried amateur boxing
under the name of Packy East. Bob gave up boxing when he " was not only
being carried out of the ring, but into the ring."