Thanks for the Memories: Bob Hope memorabilia auction
Posted on May 21, 2008 at 11:14 am
Bob Hope’s daughter has announced that some of the memorabilia from her father’s collection will be auctioned off for charity. All of his papers will go to the Library of Congress and much of his collection is being given to museums, but these items are for the fans.
Mr. Hope‘s extraordinary career spanning Vaudeville, Broadway, radio, television and film, and his numerous USO tours to entertain U.S. military troops earned him the admiration of generations of fans around the world. Highlights in this historical auction include: A one page letter dated October 23, 1943 from Bette Davis to Mr. Hope; a red and white feathered Indian headdress worn by Mr. Hope on the cover of Life Magazine on May 11, 1962; a Movado watch inscribed “To Bob Hope in sincere appreciation — The Cleveland Press Christmas Show 1944”; and a turquoise western suit made by Nudies of North Hollywood, worn by Mr. Hope on several television shows including Barbara Mandrell, Mandrell Sisters Show and Ann Margaret Rhinestone Special. Highlights from Mr. Hope’s golf collection include; a complete set of golf clubs from various makers (woods 1- 6, irons 3- 9 and a brass head putter), his Dunlop Bogie Busters golf bag, a Tiffany and Company sterling silver golf club given to Mr. Hope for his 95th birthday by NBC, 24k gold plated golf tees, two Chrysler Classic ball markers bearing Mr. Hope’s image, a white, pink and blue stripped golf shirt, Izod cardigan sweater, a red sports jacket made by Arthur Cross, a light blue pair of dress pants with “Second Mile Golf Classic” embroidered on the back pocket and his Du Pont leather golf shoes.
Hope was born born Leslie Townes Hope in Eltham, England on May 29, 1903. After brief careers as a soda jerk, a shoe salesman, a pool hustler, and a boxer known as Packy East, he found his true calling as an entertainer in vaudeville. It took a while for the audience to catch on, but after he gave up trying to make it as a dancer and started announcing and telling jokes, he soon became an audience favorite. He was celebrated in every area of show business, radio, television, movies, even singing, and for his humanitarian work, especially his shows for the American armed forces stationed overseas. My favorites of his movies include the “Road” series with his close friend Bing Crosby.
These are some of his best films for families.
was on display at his father’s hardware store there for 25 years. While he did not always play the good guy, he is best remembered for the way he exemplified the American ideal of decency, integrity, and unpretentious authenticity. And he was a genuine hero, enlisting in the Air Force (the skinny actor had to gain five pounds to meet the minimum weight requirement) and serving on active duty. He became a colonel and earned the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Croix de Guerre and seven battle stars. In 1959, serving in the Air Force Reserve, he became a brigadier general.
In this gentle comedy Stewart plays Elwood P. Dowd, who explains his philosophy of life: “Years ago my mother used to say to me… She’d say ‘In this world Elwood, you must be oh-so smart or oh-so pleasant.’ Well, for years I was smart…. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.” Dowd has an invisible friend, an enormous rabbit-looking creature named Harvey, and Stewart’s interactions with Harvey (who is never shown) are so charming and convincing you may think you see him, too. You will certainly want to.
Stewart’s favorite of his own films (and also the favorite of director Frank Capra) is this Christmas classic about a man who thinks he has nothing until he finds out what the world would have been like if he had never existed.
Stewart and Capra again — this time Stewart plays an idealistic young man who is appointed to fill out a term in the U.S. Senate by corrupt politicians. 
Not as well remembered as some of Stewart’s classics, but this is one of my own favorites because it is the quintessential story of a multi-generational family vacation at the beach. Impossible relatives, sulky teenagers, and an even sulkier hot water heater in the rental house, this is an affectionate salute to the American family at play.
This fact-based murder trial has Stewart as a former prosecutor turned defense attorney, defending a solider who killed a man for allegedly raping his wife. Brilliant performances by the whole cast, including Ben Gazarra, Lee Remick, Eve Arden, and Arthur O’Connell, but especially real-life American hero Joseph Welch as the canny judge. Fans of “Law and Order” will love this one.
The other Stewart pairing with Kim Novak, Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo,” may be better remembered, but I think Stewart’s performance in this romantic comedy is often overlooked. Stewart is a publisher who falls for a sultry witch. Watch his eyes when he drinks the potion to break the love spell.
“You’ve Got Mail” was based on this charming romantic comedy about co-workers who think they are enemies because they do not realize that they have fallen in love with each other by letter. 
Stewart plays a young deputy sheriff who does everything he can to avoid using a gun in this classic Western.