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THANK YOU BOB HOPE for all of our memories. Especially mine.
The deep recesses of my heart. ^ | July 28, 2003 | Carlo3b, a sad and star struck FReeper

Posted on 07/28/2003 11:27:07 AM PDT by carlo3b

THANK YOU BOB HOPE for all of our memories. Especially mine.

Bob Hope, I will never forget you, because you touched my life at times that turned out to be some of my most important memories I have.

As a young boy while growing up in Chicago's Little Italy, we had a city wide art contest, that offered the finalists a chance to be awarded our prize on stage at the downtown, Chicago Theater. It wasn't an everyday opportunity to get a chance to go to the grand old palace, where you got to watch the biggest movies of the day, but also some of the greatest entertainers perform their crafts, live. That day, I won my scholarship and changed my life. I was awarded my ribbon during the intermission of, you guessed it, The BOB HOPE SHOW, and his ALL STAR cast.

When I went on stage to get my award I was escorted off through the back stage area, when I was greeted by the Man himself, a smiling gentleman, in what he made me believe, he was proud, so very proud, to shake my little hand. I'm not sure what had the biggest impact on me, that I won, or that it was possible to be thought of as important enough to honored by a genuine MOVIE STAR.

Fast forward %$^ years, and say hi to a shave tail, 2nd Lieutenant at Bunker Hill Air Force Base, a SAC base in Peru Indiana, when a plane landed with a gaggle of big deal Movie Stars, with the USO tour, that made an unscheduled stop on their way overseas. I was on duty, and was standing there when the doors opened and BINGO, there was BOB HOPE, smiling and cracking jokes as the beautiful girls walked down the latter. I can still hear the hoops and hollers as they walked around greeting those love starved red blooded American boys working the line miles for home. What a treat, I waited my turn to shake his hand as he made the rounds. With all the noise and laughter, it didn't seem like a place to remind him of our prior encounter, but it didn't matter, he was already my/our HERO.

That art scholarship enabled me to advance to a level that I could hone my skills as a costume designer, and get to the big show, Hollywood. There, I worked first as a wardrobe assistant, on some of the greatest variety shows of the golden age of TV. On one such show, The Red Skeleton Show, the guest star was none other than, BOB HOPE. What a moment, I was already in awe over meeting Mr. Red Skeleton, but when Mr. Hope walked in, bigger than life, I was almost paralyzed. I shook his hand and showed him to my little corner of the backstage area. As we walked, I mentioned that I had the pleasure of meeting him before.. he stopped and said, "don't tell me, you were the young boy that won the art contest in Chicago". Wellllllll, that did it! He made a big deal of this with the entire cast, and for that moment, I was instantly important, and however fleeting, he once again made an impression on me that was and is forever indelible... sigh.

Years later, and in a new and improved life outside of the Lights and Glitzy of Wonderland, I was the General Manager of a grand new hotel in downtown Chicago, when someone called my office, excited to say we had the pleasure of having BOB HOPE as a guest in one of our suites. I placed a call to the front desk and said if that suite requested anything that was out of the ordinary, I was to be alerted. I had a strict rule, that no one was to bother any dignitary, with request for autographs or anything, however tempting, without my prearranging an approval with someone in their entourage. So when the call came in to my room that Mr. Hopes suite was asking for a case of our finest Champagne, and hors d'oeuvers, to be immediately brought to his suite, it was about at about 9:30 PM at night, not a usual occurrence, I saw my chance drop in and say Hi, to an old friend... LOL.

I accompanied the order to his room, and I was shocked when he answered the door, and before I could catch my breath, and while I held out my hand to shake his, he grabbed it and pulled me inside and escorted me to the sofa in front of the TV. It was the moment that Astronaut Neil Armstrong, was about to take his historic step onto the surface of the moon. It turned out to be more that one small step for man it was a giant leap for my scrapebook.

Soooooo, can you believe it, I sat there in a suite with BOB HOPE, and watched the world change forever. That entire evening, I had the distinct pleasure of enjoying what turned out to be much more than an historic event, it turned out to be a wonderful memory in more than one way. It was indeed funny how he had a way of making you feel so special.

To you Mr. BOB HOPE, you gave us servicemen and servicewomen, a continued reason to believe that our country still loved us, even if it wasn't always clear, and you gave this lowly American a reason to think that even a devoted and still a star struck fan could fantasize enough to call you a dear friend. Thank you my dear  friend, for all the memories.. May God Bless you.



TOPICS: Announcements; Culture/Society; Editorial; Extended News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bobhope; moviestargrief; thanksforthememories; tribute; uso
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Sorry for the vanity..
1 posted on 07/28/2003 11:27:07 AM PDT by carlo3b
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To: carlo3b
My gosh! How lucky you were! Thank you for sharing that great story!
2 posted on 07/28/2003 11:29:47 AM PDT by JennysCool
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To: carlo3b
Sorry for the vanity..

Don't be - was well worth it.

3 posted on 07/28/2003 11:31:18 AM PDT by TomServo ("Krakatoa: East of Java." "Fentonville: East of Muncie.")
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To: jellybean; christie; stanz; Snow Bunny; TwoStep; VermiciousKnid; Victoria Delsoul; xJones; ...
Just a sad stroll down memory lane...
4 posted on 07/28/2003 11:31:42 AM PDT by carlo3b (http://www.CookingWithCarlo.com)
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To: carlo3b; Brad's Gramma; ohioWfan; Fawnn
What a wonderful vanity, carlo!

pings!

5 posted on 07/28/2003 11:32:06 AM PDT by homeschool mama
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Hearing that Bob had died last night made my heart hurt as well.

Yes Bob, thanks for the memories, the laughs, the good times. Thank you also for taking the time to kneel down and pat a towheaded little boy on the head and spend more than an hour talking and playing with him on the Tarmac in 1963 at Anderson AFB in Guam.

I feel as if a member of my family has passed away.

Rest in Peace Mr. Hope.. I'm sure God has a place for you entertaining those veterans who never had the chance to see you perform in life.

God Bless you and I pray that he watches after your family.
6 posted on 07/28/2003 11:33:19 AM PDT by Leatherneck_MT (Shoot Shovel and Shutup!!)
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To: Leatherneck_MT
Was that towheaded little boy, you? What a precious memory and tribute to Bob Hope. :o)
7 posted on 07/28/2003 11:34:48 AM PDT by homeschool mama
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To: carlo3b
Your life has been blessed. Thanks for saying what so many of us, that grew up laughing at his jokes and movies, would like to be able to verbalize.
8 posted on 07/28/2003 11:36:11 AM PDT by bedolido (please let my post be on an even number... small even/odd phobia here)
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To: carlo3b
Great story! Thanks!
9 posted on 07/28/2003 11:36:59 AM PDT by livius
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To: carlo3b
Thanks for those memories, Carlo.

Hope and Carlo - two class acts.

10 posted on 07/28/2003 11:36:59 AM PDT by Diver Dave
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To: carlo3b
Bob Hope was/is much beloved by just about everyone...thanks for telling your own story about a truly exceptional and good man...there's a heck of a reunion going on up in Heaven right now!
11 posted on 07/28/2003 11:37:20 AM PDT by 88keys
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To: carlo3b
What a story, carlo3b!

How lucky you were to meet the man!


RIP Bob.
12 posted on 07/28/2003 11:38:02 AM PDT by petuniasevan (Thanks for the memories...)
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To: carlo3b
Don't be sorry.
You had the fortune to meet a man who gave his best to the troops and this country.

Would that we all had your fortune.

To Bob Hope.
The memories you provided to me from a childhood of watching you on TV listening to you radio broadcasts on Armed Forces Radio and the gentility of your demeanor will never leave this gentleman.
You made the world a little less cynical, and showed the world how true Americans can be.

Our prayers are with the family, but Bob is doing his best act for Him.

13 posted on 07/28/2003 11:38:25 AM PDT by Pistolshot
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Comment #14 Removed by Moderator

To: homeschool mama
Yes it was. My father was Chief of Personel at Anderson at the time. That man was the most down to earth kind soul I have ever met anywhere in my life. The world will be worse off without him. There is no tribute anywhere that will ever equal what he gave to us.

Semper Fi Bob Hope
15 posted on 07/28/2003 11:39:18 AM PDT by Leatherneck_MT (Shoot Shovel and Shutup!!)
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To: carlo3b
WOW! How neat!! and how blessed and lucky you've been.

16 posted on 07/28/2003 11:39:42 AM PDT by eyespysomething (I don't need no stinkin' tagline!)
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To: carlo3b
Great story, Carlo!
17 posted on 07/28/2003 11:41:01 AM PDT by DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet
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To: carlo3b
Excellent vanity. Watching the July 20th Moon landing with Bob Hope. Amazing.

I remember where I was at that exact moment, and it wasn't anywhere near as cool as that! :-)
18 posted on 07/28/2003 11:43:58 AM PDT by Riley
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To: carlo3b
Great post! Add my thanks for the memories.
19 posted on 07/28/2003 11:44:59 AM PDT by Temple Owl
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To: carlo3b
Excellent vanity Carlos.....really great!
20 posted on 07/28/2003 11:46:04 AM PDT by wardaddy
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