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

Sid Smith on directing Bob Hope Specials

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

Seaman Jacobs on becoming involved with writing Bob Hope Specials

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

Who talked about this show

Al Borden

Al Borden on Bob Hope's USO specials

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

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

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

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

Al Borden on Bob Hope's various guest stars

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

Cyd Charisse

Cyd Charisse on appearing on various Bob Hope Specials

Cyd Charisse on appearing on Bob Hope Specials

Phyllis Diller

Phyllis Diller on Bob Hope's comic sensibilities

Phyllis Diller on Bob Hope

Barbara Eden

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

Jamie Farr

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

Mitzi Gaynor

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

Seaman Jacobs

Seaman Jacobs on becoming involved with writing Bob Hope Specials

Seaman Jacobs on the longevity of Bob Hope

Seaman Jacobs on shooting several Bob Hope Specials on location

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

Mort Lachman

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

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

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

Mort Lachman on writing monologues for Bob Hope Specials

Mort Lachman on becoming a producer of the Bob Hope Specials

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

Mort Lachman on Jack Benny appearing on the Bob Hope Specials

Mort Lachman on Frank Sinatra appearing on the Bob Hope Specials

Mort Lachman on Phyllis Diller appearing on the Bob Hope Specials

Mort Lachman on Barbara Eden on the Bob Hope Specials

Mort Lachman on various sketches from the Bob Hope Specials

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

James Lipton

James Lipton on producing birthday specials for Bob Hope

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

Kent McCray

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Barney McNulty

Barry McNulty on working with Bob Hope on his TV specials

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

Barry McNulty on how Bob Hope felt about television

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

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

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

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

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

Tony Randall

Tony Randall on appearing on Bob Hope Specials

Larry Rhine

Larry Rhine on writing for the Bob Hope Specials

Herbert S. Schlosser

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

Arthur Schneider

Arthur Schneider on editing the Bob Hope Specials

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

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

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

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

Mel Shavelson

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

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

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

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

Sid Smith

Sid Smith on directing Bob Hope Specials

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

Sid Smith on directing guest stars on Bob Hope Specials

Sid Smith on selecting locations for Bob Hope Specials

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

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

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

Ben Starr

Ben Starr on writing for Bob Hope

Gale Storm

Gale Storm on her memories of filming scenes with Bob Hope

Mel Tolkin

Mel Tolkin on writing for Bob Hope

Ret Turner

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

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