Bob Hope Specials

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

From the Museum of Broadcast Communications Encyclopedia of Television originally published 1997

In 1953, NBC broadcast the first annual Bob Hope Christmas Special. These specials were usually filmed during Hope's regular tour to entertain the troops overseas. He also began a series of comedy specials for NBC-TV where he became known for his marvelous comic timing, his stunning array of guest stars, and his ease with both studio audiences and the camera. His guests regularly included top stars from film, stage, television, and the music industry. As well, he was usually surrounded by Hollywood starlets and athletic figures. His humor poked gentle fun at the world of politics, usually leaning toward the conservative.

Highlights

Barbara Eden on touring with Bob Hope for the Bob Hope Specials

07:13

Sid Smith on directing Bob Hope Specials

05:20

Jamie Farr on a memorable Bob Hope special in which he and Milton Berle wear the same dress

01:33

Seaman Jacobs on becoming involved with writing Bob Hope Specials

03:21

Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on a Bob Hope special the night her own special aired

01:01

Who talked about this show

Al Borden

Al Borden on Bob Hope's USO specials

12:07

Al Borden on the countries they visited on Bob Hope's USO tours

06:20

Al Borden on getting caught in crossfire on Bob Hope's USO tours

05:51

Al Borden on the then-head of the USO, General Rosie O'Donnell

01:16

Al Borden on working with the performers on Bob Hope's USO shows

02:19

Al Borden on Bob Hope's various guest stars

02:41

Al Borden on Lucille Ball appearing on Bob Hope's specials

02:17

Cyd Charisse

Cyd Charisse on appearing on various Bob Hope Specials

00:58

Cyd Charisse on appearing on Bob Hope Specials

00:36

Phyllis Diller

Phyllis Diller on Bob Hope's comic sensibilities

02:18

Phyllis Diller on Bob Hope

03:28

Barbara Eden

Barbara Eden on touring with Bob Hope for the Bob Hope Specials

07:13

Jamie Farr

Jamie Farr on a memorable Bob Hope special in which he and Milton Berle wear the same dress

01:33

Mitzi Gaynor

Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on a Bob Hope special the night her own special aired

01:01

Seaman Jacobs

Seaman Jacobs on becoming involved with writing Bob Hope Specials

03:21

Seaman Jacobs on the longevity of Bob Hope

01:03

Seaman Jacobs on shooting several Bob Hope Specials on location

01:17

Seaman Jacobs on the last Bob Hope special he wrote for, and on writing for high profile performers

03:07

Mort Lachman

Mort Lachman on writing for the Bob Hope Specials and on learning the technical aspects of television

04:10

Mort Lachman on writing to the guidelines of standards and practices for the Bob Hope Specials and on writing political material for Hope

03:12

Mort Lachman on working with the writing staff of the Bob Hope Specials

01:44

Mort Lachman on writing monologues for Bob Hope Specials

02:21

Mort Lachman on becoming a producer of the Bob Hope Specials

04:46

Mort Lachman on working with Jerry Colonna on the Bob Hope Specials

00:40

Mort Lachman on Jack Benny appearing on the Bob Hope Specials

00:53

Mort Lachman on Frank Sinatra appearing on the Bob Hope Specials

05:29

Mort Lachman on Phyllis Diller appearing on the Bob Hope Specials

01:48

Mort Lachman on Barbara Eden on the Bob Hope Specials

00:39

Mort Lachman on various sketches from the Bob Hope Specials

02:46

Mort Lachman on writing the pilot for One Day at a Time, and on moving over to All in the Family

06:08

James Lipton

James Lipton on producing birthday specials for Bob Hope

05:02

James Lipton on producing the Bob Hope special Happy Birthday, Bob with then-president Ronald Reagan as a guest

09:20

Kent McCray

Kent McCray on being unit manager for Bob Hope on a USO show from Alaska, also featuring Ginger Rogers

04:24

Kent McCray on being unit manager for a Bob Hope USO show that also featured Mickey Mantle

04:20

Kent McCray on being unit manager, and later associate producer on Bob Hope's USO Christmas shows

06:27

Kent McCray on traveling around the country as an associate producer on Bob Hope's USO Shows

01:36

Kent McCray on the experience of being with Bob Hope's USO show for the first time in Okinawa

02:28

Kent McCray on the logistics of shooting Bob Hope's USO shows

06:48

Kent McCray on traveling to South Korea to associate produce Bob Hope's USO shows

05:53

Kent McCray on what it was like working for Bob Hope, and on his decision to move on from working with him

03:35

Barney McNulty

Barry McNulty on working with Bob Hope on his TV specials

08:05

Barry McNulty on Bob Hope's management style and how he worked with his writers

04:05

Barry McNulty on how Bob Hope felt about television

02:22

Barry McNulty on doing cue cards for Bob Hope's USO specials

02:25

Barney McNulty on doing cue cards and other duties for Bob Hope's USO Specials

07:03

Barney McNulty on how Bob Hope's USO shows were received and on tailoring the show (and the cue cards) to the audience

03:46

Barney McNulty on working with Bob Hope as he got older and his eyesight declined

02:11

Barney McNulty on a bomb going off near him when he was with Bob Hope's USO show

04:16

Tony Randall

Tony Randall on appearing on Bob Hope Specials

02:10

Larry Rhine

Larry Rhine on writing for the Bob Hope Specials

06:11

Herbert S. Schlosser

Herbert S. Schlosser on NBC's relationship with Bob Hope and Johnny Carson

07:00

Arthur Schneider

Arthur Schneider on editing the Bob Hope Specials

03:54

Arthur Schneider on working with Bob Hope as editor of the Bob Hope Specials

09:03

Arthur Schneider on getting his nickname "Jump Cut" while working on the Bob Hope Specials

03:01

Arthur Schneider on the production and editing process for the Bob Hope Specials

04:29

Arthur Schneider on editing his final Bob Hope Special, and on those being his favorites

04:19

Mel Shavelson

Writer Mel Shavelson on Bob Hope entertaining the troops during the Vietnam War

04:40

Jack Shea

Jack Shea on being hired for the "Bob Hope Specials" and "Jerry Lewis Specials" and on Jerry Lewis' personality and Bob Hope's interest in the quality of the writing staff

07:21

Jack Shea on how involved Bob Hope was in his TV specials

02:25

Jack Shea on producers and writers on Bob Hope's television specials

01:46

Sid Smith

Sid Smith on directing Bob Hope Specials

05:20

Sid Smith on his seventeen year association with Bob Hope, directing Bob Hope Specials

10:52

Sid Smith on directing guest stars on Bob Hope Specials

00:55

Sid Smith on selecting locations for Bob Hope Specials

01:39

Sid Smith on directing Bob Hope's Christmas Specials and other Bob Hope Specials, including USO Shows

02:20

Sid Smith on the atmosphere and staff on a Bob Hope set; on changes in his show's and specials over the years; on audience response to Bob Hope

05:41

Sid Smith on a photo from his travels for Bob Hope Specials

00:29

Ben Starr

Ben Starr on writing for Bob Hope

02:37

Gale Storm

Gale Storm on her memories of filming scenes with Bob Hope

02:00

Mel Tolkin

Mel Tolkin on writing for Bob Hope

07:07

Ret Turner

Ret Turner on costume design for Bob Hope's television specials

01:28