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.

    Thumbnail of Barbara Eden

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

    07:13
    Thumbnail of Sid Smith

    Sid Smith on directing Bob Hope Specials

    05:20
    Thumbnail of Jamie Farr

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

    01:33
    Thumbnail of Seaman Jacobs

    Seaman Jacobs on becoming involved with writing Bob Hope Specials

    03:21
    Thumbnail of Mitzi Gaynor

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

    01:01
    Thumbnail of Ben Starr

    Ben Starr on writing for Bob Hope

    02:37

    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 working with the writing staff of the Bob Hope Specials

    01:44

    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 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

    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 his seventeen year association with Bob Hope, directing Bob Hope Specials

    10:52

    Sid Smith on directing Bob Hope Specials

    05:20

    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

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