When he wasn’t on the Road To… Morocco / Singapore / Rio / Zanzibar / Balie /Hong Kong and Utopia with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour, Bob Hope (1903–2003) was often on the plane to entertain U.S. troops.
Guitarist Tony Romano accompanies Frances Langford in an impromptu performance, 1944.
Beginning his tours for the dutiful on May 6, 1941, at March Field, California, Hope spent frequent trips in the following five decades on stage before members of the armed forces.
Sponsor card for Bob Hope’s Pepsodent Show, February-June 1942.
“When the time for recognition of service to the nation in wartime comes to be considered, Bob Hope should be high on the list,” wrote the author John Steinbeck, whilst working as a war corespondent for the New York Herald Tribune. “This man drives himself and is driven. It is impossible to see how he can do so much, can cover so much ground, can work so hard, and can be so effective. He works month after month at a pace that would kill most people.”
left to right: Hal Block, Bob Hope, Barney Dean, General George S. Patton, Frances Langford and Tony Romano. Sicily, August 21, 1943. Significance of photo: Bob Hope and his USO troupe arrived in Sicily three days after the Seventh Army took the key town of Messina. Patton asked Hope to tell his radio audience “that I love my men.” This was soon after Patton had slapped two hospitalized soldiers accusing them of cowardice. Patton was attempting to appear more compassionate during Hope’s visit.
On the Road to Vietnam. Chicago: Cadet Records, 1965.
How does a man travelling so often and so widely pack? Does he ever unpack? In 1969, in readiness for his “Around the World Tour”, Hope’s packing went like this. Golf clubs plus:
Bob Hope’s Packing List for a U.S.O. tour, 1969 Via
Transcript
MR. HOPE’S SUITCASE
PAJAMAS – ROBE
SLIPPERS
RAZOR
WATER-PIK
SOCKS (WOOL AND SILK FOR DRESS)
JOGGING SHOES
DRESS SHOES, SPORT SHOES
HANDKERCHIEFS (SILK AND WHITE)
HAIR BRUSHES (2)
ALKA SELTZER
NORELCO (02) CAPSULES
NAIL KIT
BRUT 33
TIES
SHIRTS (SPORT AND DRESS – MAKE SURE STAYS ARE IN COLLAR)
UNDERSHORTS AND UNDERSHIRTS
SWEATERS FOR GOLF
GOLF PANTS
SUITS
TUX (DRESS SHIRT, BLACK BOW TIE, CUFF LINKS, STUDS)—————–
SMALL BLACK CASE
MEDICINE
VITAMINS
MOUTH WASH
TOOTH PASTE
SHAVING BRUSH
GILETTE SHAVING CREAM
COMB
Via: Lists of Note
Would you like to support Flashbak?
Please consider making a donation to our site. We don't want to rely on ads to bring you the best of visual culture. You can also support us by signing up to our Mailing List. And you can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For great art and culture delivered to your door, visit our shop.
