‘Bob Everybody’s Hope’

Many boomers recall Bob Hope’s USO tours, with the comedian and other well-known stars entertaining U.S. troops. Televised performances allowed those of us at home to see the show and our troops. Patricia Ryan Lampl took her admiration a step further, including a childhood essay “Bob Everybody’s Hope” and a chance as an adult to meet him in person. She shares her nostalgic journey with Boomer readers.

My first grade teacher, Sister Mary Lourdette, went around the room one morning asking everyone what they wanted to be when they grew up. The girls answered “A nurse” “A teacher” and those who wanted brownie points answered “A nun.” When she got to me I answered, “I want to be Bob Hope and entertain the troops.” At a Catholic school in the 1960s this was not the right answer. I was sent to the principal’s office where I was asked to repeat my offense.

The principal called my mother. My mother laughed and said she didn’t think it was a bad idea. That was very impertinent for my very Catholic, very ladylike mother. Her last words to me leaving the house were always “Be a lady’’ And so my romance with Bob Hope continued.

I religiously watched his Christmas specials from Vietnam. The faces of the young soldiers laughing and in close-up when Silent Night closed the show moved me to tears. I fantasized about giving up my holiday to perform in a USO tour with him. I knew what kind of tap pants to wear and could set my hair in marcel waves. I would dance and be in a soft shoe duet with him and his golf club. The soldiers would applaud and whistle at me, their vision of the all-American girl next door.

I wrote to him once a week. What was Dorothy Lamour like? Did Bing Crosby sing between takes? Did anyone complain on the USO tours? I got the lead in the school play! Did you always want to be a comic? Why the golf club? My friends had posters of the Monkees on their bedroom walls but I found a poster of Bob Hope.

After several years of writing to him I received a letter in the mail with a signed photo. Well, the letter was from his secretary, but the photo was inscribed to me.

In the eighth grade there was a speech contest in our school. I wrote a speech titled “Bob Everybody’s Hope.” I won. I used the phrase “jaunty saunter” in it. Did I even know what that meant? I received a statue of St. Anthony for my effort. I don’t get the connection either.

After college, I became a television production person. Freelancing meant that you were only as good as your last job and your last job could be your last job. When I was in between jobs, I interviewed for a position on the 1987 Miss Universe Pageant.

I was hired as assistant to the producer. Sid Smith and I instantly formed a comfortable working relationship.

Sid and I worked so well together that he hired me on pageants in Miami, Texas, and Taiwan. Then he asked me if I would join his team for that year’s “Bob Hope Christmas Special.”

You would think I would have been over the moon about this. I felt anxious about meeting Bob Hope when the time came. I wanted to maintain the fantasy. There wasn’t a war at the time, so we were shooting at the NBC studios at Rock Plaza. I was working in the control room and kept myself busy. I didn’t go out onto the studio floor where Mr. Hope was rehearsing, and only saw him on the TV monitors.

Then, the control room door opened and Sid walked in. “Pat Ryan,” he said, “There’s someone here who wants to meet you.” And behind him stood Bob “Everybody’s Hope.” In that familiar voice I heard “Sid tells me you have some stories for me.”

He took a seat at the back of the room and motioned for me to sit with him. He held my hand. “Shoot, kid” he said. I verbally tap danced for Bob Hope. He laughed – at my 7 year old self wanting to entertain the troops, his jaunty saunter, the speech contest and the letters.

I made Bob Hope laugh.

FEATURE IMAGE, TOP: The Bob Hope Memorial at the USS Midway in San Diego, California. CREDIT: Mvogel

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Patricia Ryan Lampl is the co-author of “LOVE FOR GROWN-UPS: The Garter Brides’ Guide to Marrying For Life When You’ve Already Got a Life” – a relationship guide for women over 35 on how to meet Mr. Right, marry, and find life-long happiness. Her children’s book, “MY BLANKIE,” was voted one of the best of the year by Nick Jr. Magazine. She has written for Huffington Post, Newsday, Self Magazine, Nick Jr. Magazine and Adoption Today. Ms. Lampl is an accomplished television producer. She headed production supervision for Sesame Workshop and produced “Cookie Monster’s Best Bites,” “Big Bird Sings,” and “Big Bag” for the Cartoon Network. She co-produced HBO’s Emmy-nominated series “What Matters” and has worked with A&E, Great Performances, The Miss Universe Pageant and VH-1. She co-produced the NPR Radio series On The Aisle hosted by Leonard Lopate. Most recently, her work was included in the anthology “CARRIED IN OUR HEARTS,” published by Penguin. For fun, she reads cookbooks in bed. She lives in Port Washington, NY, with her husband, Mark.