Bob Hope Show and Specials Library Footage
Bob Hope on Bob Hope Show and Specials Footage

Bob Hope

Bob Hope Show and Specials

1950-1994

Color & B/W Videotape

In his 2014 biography of Bob Hope, author Richard Zoglin declares the comedian "Entertainer of the Century" and it's hard not to agree with the appraisal. Born in England near the dawn of the hundred-year span in question, Hope emigrated to the United States as a child and grew to become arguably the single greatest goodwill ambassador of his adopted homeland.

Hope was a comedian who excelled at delivering topical monologues and performing vaudeville entertainment in all its facets. He was a fixture on radio NBC from 1937 to 1953 and began a prolific movie career with his role in "The Big Broadcast of 1938" - the film that introduced cinema audiences to not only the comedian's famous ski-nosed visage but his signature song "Thanks for The Memory."

Ultimately it was television, however, that provided the forum for Hope's greatest impact and longevity as he brought his own mix of comedy and music into American homes from the infancy of the medium until the final decade of his incredible century-long life. Retro Video takes great pride in representing this treasured collection of fantastic performance footage for clip licensing.

Bob Hope bridged the gap between movie and TV stardom with greater success than virtually any other performer in history. He hosted the Academy Awards an astounding 19 times! (more than twice as many as the next guy - Billy Crystal) and headlined his own variety specials year after year. In addition to his own inimitable joke delivery, Bob became known for his snappy repartee with fellow comics (George Burns, Milton Berle, Jack Benny, Phyllis Diller, Danny Thomas, Jimmy Durante, Jonathan Winters, Phil Silvers...) and big-name guest stars like Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Eleanor Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Steve McQueen, Ray Charles, Debbie Reynolds, Bobby Darin, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Joan Crawford, Fred MacMurray and Bob's longtime on-screen buddy and rival Bing Crosby.

Other hallmarks of his TV specials include his annual presentation of the AP All-American College Football Team, reprising "Silver Bells" (the Christmas standard that was introduced in Bob's 1951 movie The Lemon Drop Kid), trading soft-shoe steps with the likes of Sammy Davis Jr. and always engaging in playful, double-entendre-laced banter with the sexiest female starlets of the day. The list is near endless, but includes: Marilyn Maxwell, Jane Russell, Elke Sommer, Angie Dickinson, Anita Ekberg, Joey Heatherton, Jayne Mansfield, Kim Novak, Ann-Margret, Diana Dors, Brooke Shields, Connie Stevens, Gina Lollobrigida, Virginia Mayo, Tippi Hedren, Barbara Eden, Betty Grable, Janet Leigh, Inger Stevens, Joan Collins, Dyan Cannon and his old "Road Pictures" leading lady Dorothy Lamour.

Bob regularly featured contemporary pop music superstars on his television specials including Culture Club, The Beach Boys, Duran Duran, Peaches and Herb, Irene Cara, The Village People, John Denver, Garth Brooks, Taco, Bonnie Tyler, Diana Ross, America, The Jackson 5, Nancy Sinatra, Donny and Marie Osmond, Johnny Cash, Smokey Robinson, Olivia Newton-John and many, many more.

Some people incite conflict and others run from it. Then there's Bob Hope who spent decades seeking it out and flying to it. He traveled the globe, with a ever-changing troop of fellow dedicated performers (often including bandleader Les Brown and comic foil Jerry Colonna), to entertain American troops involved in every military action from WWII to the Gulf War. These legendary USO shows were the basis of his annual Christmas specials which - unlike other such seasonal offerings - aired in January and chronicled the previous month's overseas yuletide merrymaking.

It's highly unlikely that we'll ever see another comedian rise to the level of Bob Hope's fame and stature. Retro Video is pleased to be the exclusive footage licensing company of the Bob Hope television archive.

Bob Hope Show and Specials Television Library includes footage of:

Frank Sinatra Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Frank Sinatra

Michael Jackson Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Michael Jackson

Barbara Streisand Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Barbara Streisand

Dionne Warwick Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Dionne Warwick

Nancy Wilson Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Nancy Wilson

The Righteous Brothers Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

The Righteous Brothers

Sammy Davis Jr Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Sammy Davis Jr

Lou Rawls Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Lou Rawls

Brian Wilson Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Brian Wilson

John Denver Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

John Denver

Eleanor Roosevelt Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Eleanor Roosevelt

Bing Crosby Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Bing Crosby

Bonnie Tyler Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Bonnie Tyler

Culture Club Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Culture Club

The Jackson 5 Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

The Jackson 5

Ray Charles Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Ray Charles

Willie Nelson Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Willie Nelson

Randy Travis Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Randy Travis

Aretha Franklin Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Aretha Franklin

Diana Ross Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Diana Ross

Donny and Marie Osmond Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Donny and Marie Osmond

Charo Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Charo

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood

Julie Andrews Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Julie Andrews

Jack Benny Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Jack Benny

Roy Rogers Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Roy Rogers

Dolly Parton Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Dolly Parton

Glen Campbell Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Glen Campbell

The Carpenters Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

The Carpenters

Annette Funicello Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Annette Funicello

Duran Duran Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Duran Duran

Taco Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Taco

The Beach Boys Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

The Beach Boys

We Five Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

We Five

Jack Dempsey Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Jack Dempsey

Margaret Cho Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Margaret Cho

Clint Black Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Clint Black

Garth Brooks Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Garth Brooks

Jayne Mansfield Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Jayne Mansfield

Peggy Lee Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Peggy Lee

Nancy Sinatra Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Nancy Sinatra

America Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

America

Smokey Robinson Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Smokey Robinson

Rufus featuring Chaka Khan Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Rufus featuring Chaka Khan

Irene Cara Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Irene Cara

France Joli Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

France Joli

Andy Williams Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Andy Williams

Perry Como Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Perry Como

Bobby Darin Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Bobby Darin

Fabian Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Fabian

David Cassidy Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

David Cassidy

Andy Gibb Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Andy Gibb

The Captain and Tennille Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

The Captain and Tennille

Tom Jones Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Tom Jones

Ethel Merman Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Ethel Merman

Lassie Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Lassie

Dean Martin Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Dean Martin

Tony Bennett Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Tony Bennett

Shirley MacClaine Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Shirley MacClaine

Eddie Rabbit Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Eddie Rabbit

Johnny Cash Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Johnny Cash

Frankie Avalon Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Frankie Avalon

Neil Sedaka Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Neil Sedaka

Anthony Newley Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Anthony Newley

Tanya Tucker Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Tanya Tucker

Barbara Mandrell Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Barbara Mandrell

The Gatlin Brothers Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

The Gatlin Brothers

Gypsy Kings Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Gypsy Kings

Arnold Stang Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Arnold Stang

Dinah Shore Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Dinah Shore

Lana Turner Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Lana Turner

Nelson Eddy Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Nelson Eddy

David Niven Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

David Niven

Cass Daley Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Cass Daley

Betty Grable Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Betty Grable

Arthur Treacher Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Arthur Treacher

Del Rubio Triplets Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Del Rubio Triplets

Debbie Reynolds Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Debbie Reynolds

Carol Lawrence Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Carol Lawrence

Gail Davis Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Gail Davis

Julio Iglasias Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Julio Iglasias

Jack Jones Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Jack Jones

Juliet Prowse Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Juliet Prowse

Louis Prima Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Louis Prima

Scott Grimes Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Scott Grimes

Michael Crawford Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Michael Crawford

Sonny James Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Sonny James

Joey Heatherton Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Joey Heatherton

Joey Lawrence Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Joey Lawrence

Steve Lawrence Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Steve Lawrence

Tony Orlando Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Tony Orlando

Trini Lopez Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Trini Lopez

Village People Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Village People

Melissa Manchester Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Melissa Manchester

Paul Rodriguez Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Paul Rodriguez

Vic Damone Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Vic Damone

Englebert Humperdinck Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Englebert Humperdinck

Marie Osmond Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Marie Osmond

Olivia Newton-John Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Olivia Newton-John

Roy Clark Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Roy Clark

Pat and Debbie Boone Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Pat and Debbie Boone

Reba McEntire Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Reba McEntire

Robert Goulet Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Robert Goulet

Rosemary Clooney Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Rosemary Clooney

Pearl Bailey Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Pearl Bailey

Frank

Frank "Sugar Chile" Robinson

Pete Fountain Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Pete Fountain

Randy Sparks Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Randy Sparks

Patti Page Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Patti Page

Eydie Gorme Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Eydie Gorme

Phyllis Diller Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Phyllis Diller

Sergio Franchi Footage from Bob Hope Show and Specials

Sergio Franchi

A Bob Hope Comedy Special logo Footage Library

Era: , , ,

Genres: , , , , , ,

Guests Include:

  • Diana Ross
  • Dolly Parton
  • Dean Martin
  • The Beach Boys
  • Garth Brooks
  • Clint Black
  • Culture Club
  • Willie Nelson
  • Shirley MacLaine
  • Nancy Wilson
  • Jayne Mansfield
  • Debbie Reynolds
  • Joey Heatherton
  • Paul Rodriguez
  • Robert Goulet
  • Frankie Avalon
  • Eddie Rabbit
  • America
  • Natalie Wood
  • Duran Duran
  • Joey Lawrence
  • Robert Wagner
  • Annette Funicello
  • The DelRubio Triplets
  • Jack Jones
  • Olivia Newton-John
  • Tom Jones
  • Gypsy Kings
  • Donnie and Marie Osmond
  • The Village People
  • The Jackson 5
  • John Denver
  • Frank Sinatra
  • Perry Como
  • We Five
  • Gail Davis
  • Pearl Bailey
  • The Carpenters
  • Tony Orlando
  • Phyllis Diller
  • France Joli
  • Joey Heatherton
  • Ethel Merman
  • Randy Travis
  • Anthony Newley
  • Michael Crawford
  • Sonny James
  • Reba McEntire
  • Johnny Cash
  • The Captain and Teniile
  • Melissa Manchester
  • Bobby Darin
  • Julie London
  • Neil Sedaka
  • Taco
  • Andy Williams
  • Fabian
  • Rosemary Clooney
  • Jack Wagner
  • Glen Campbell
  • Andy Gibb
  • Eydie Gorme
  • Steve Lawrence
  • Louis Prima
  • The Gatlin Brothers
  • Bonnie Tyler
  • Juliet Prowse
  • Brian Wilson
  • Bing Crosby
  • Tony Bennett
  • Barbara Mandrell
  • Debbie Boone
  • Boy George
  • Rufus featuring Chaka Khan
  • Nancy Sinatra
  • The Bell Sisters
  • Charo
  • Pat Boone