Bob Hope Specials


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

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
07:13
Sid Smith on directing Bob Hope Specials
05:20
Jamie Farr on a memorable Bob Hope special in which he and Milton Berle wear the same dress
01:33
Seaman Jacobs on becoming involved with writing Bob Hope Specials
03:21
Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on a Bob Hope special the night her own special aired
01:01
Who talked about this show

Al Borden

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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

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Cyd Charisse on appearing on various Bob Hope Specials
00:58
Cyd Charisse on appearing on Bob Hope Specials
00:36

Phyllis Diller

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Phyllis Diller on Bob Hope's comic sensibilities
02:18
Phyllis Diller on Bob Hope
03:28

Barbara Eden

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Barbara Eden on touring with Bob Hope for the Bob Hope Specials
07:13

Jamie Farr

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Jamie Farr on a memorable Bob Hope special in which he and Milton Berle wear the same dress
01:33

Mitzi Gaynor

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Mitzi Gaynor on appearing on a Bob Hope special the night her own special aired
01:01

Seaman Jacobs

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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

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Mort Lachman on writing for the Bob Hope Specials and on learning the technical aspects of television
04:10
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 working with the writing staff of the Bob Hope Specials
01:44
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

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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

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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

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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

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Tony Randall on appearing on Bob Hope Specials
02:10

Larry Rhine

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Larry Rhine on writing for the Bob Hope Specials
06:11

Herbert S. Schlosser

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Herbert S. Schlosser on NBC's relationship with Bob Hope and Johnny Carson
07:00

Arthur Schneider

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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

Mel Shavelson

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Writer Mel Shavelson on Bob Hope entertaining the troops during the Vietnam War
04:40

Jack Shea

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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

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Sid Smith on directing Bob Hope Specials
05:20
Sid Smith on his seventeen year association with Bob Hope, directing Bob Hope Specials
10:52
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

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Ben Starr on writing for Bob Hope
02:37

Gale Storm

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Gale Storm on her memories of filming scenes with Bob Hope
02:00

Mel Tolkin

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Mel Tolkin on writing for Bob Hope
07:07

Ret Turner

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Ret Turner on costume design for Bob Hope's television specials
01:28

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