PEARL HARBOR AVIATION MUSEUM SALES BOB HOPE ON HIS 123RD BIRTHDAY | News
The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum proudly salutes Bob Hope on his 123rd birthday and the 85th anniversary month of a historic moment in entertainment and military history: Hope’s first deployment to the Army from March Field in Riverside, CA.
Hope was born on May 29, 1903 in Eltham, England. He arrived in the United States with his family at the age of four, grew up in Cleveland and eventually became one of the world’s greatest entertainers and the most famous supporter of American troops.
“Bob Hope’s tireless dedication, along with the achievements of countless others, provided comfort and joy and a touch of home for America’s service members during World War II and beyond,” said John Hiltz, CEO of the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
“That’s why the museum is creating an exhibition called ‘Hope for Humanity,’ which will be the gateway to our new ‘America Responds’ galleries,” Hiltz said. “There, visitors will discover how Bob Hope’s USO tours and the support of other Hollywood stars such as Bing Crosby, Clark Gable and Bette Davis became a beacon of hope amid the turmoil of World War II, a legacy that remains relevant today.”
“Each month we will feature a ‘Star of the Month’ video from a different entertainer who performed for our troops and supported the war efforts in World War II, Korea and/or Vietnam,” Hiltz said. “But of all those who have performed for our troops over the years, none has had the impact of Bob Hope. His many tours have built morale by bringing hope and joy to our troops, and will be displayed on a large interactive map detailing the countless places Bob has entertained our troops around the world over five decades.”
“Hope for Humanity” is part of the museum’s $51 million “Remember Pearl Harbor” campaign, which aims to restore America’s World War II aviation battlefield and tell the story of the hangars, control tower and runway on Ford Island that were authentic witnesses to the December 7, 1941 attack that drew our country into World War II.
On May 6, 1941—seven months before the attack on Pearl Harbor—Bob Hope stepped before a group of Army Air Corps soldiers at March Field for what would lead to more than fifty tours for U.S. troops around the world, including more than two dozen Christmas tours. What started as a single radio broadcast grew into a six-decade commitment to American service members during World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Gulf War.
At the time of his broadcast at March Field, Hope was already a nationally recognized radio personality, starring on the #1 rated Pepsodent Show on NBC. His appearance was initially intended as a routine broadcast in the United States. Instead, the enthusiastic response from the soldiers present revealed a powerful truth: laughter was a strategic asset on the eve of a world war.
That day, Hope famously observed the unique energy of performing before a military audience, and his total dedication to supporting our troops from that moment on defined him as a true American patriot.
When the United States entered World War II following the events of December 7, 1941, Hope took his show on the road – bringing his group of “Gypsies” – including singer Frances Langford, comedian Jerry Colonna, guitarist Tony Romano and dancer Patty Thomas – and his unique brand of sharp, topical humor straight to operating bases in Europe, North Africa and the Pacific.
Over the next six decades, Hope performed for millions of American troops in remote jungles, frozen outposts, aircraft carriers, and desert areas. His dedication earned him the Congressional Gold Medal and a congressional designation as the first official “Honorary Veteran” of the United States Armed Forces.
The May 6, 1941 broadcast from March Field represents more than a nostalgic footnote. It marked the beginning of modern celebrity troop entertainment and the institutional partnership between Hollywood and the U.S. military that would later be formalized through organizations such as the United Service Organizations (USO).
Historians note that Hope’s March Field performance established a new tradition: using entertainment as a tool to keep morale high, strengthen unity on the home front and remind service members that they were not forgotten.
Eighty-five years later, the legacy of that one broadcast continues to resonate. It’s a testament to the enduring bond between America’s armed forces and the artists who support them — and from a comedian who understood early on that serving those who serve is both a privilege and a responsibility.
Thanks for the reminder, Bob.
Bob Hope’s memories of the broadcast:
“We had no idea that we would discover an audience so ready to laugh that what we did for a living would seem like stealing money,” Hope wrote in his 1990 book, “Don’t Shoot, It’s Only Me,” describing his performance at March Field, California in May 1941.
Hope’s opening monologue addressed the pilots of March Field and his audience across the country:
“How’s it going, ladies and gentlemen. This is Bob ‘March Field’ Hope – I say to you soldiers who have to shoot in the swamp or march through the brush: If they use Pepsodent, no one will ever have to drill into your mush… Well, here we are at March Field, one of the Army’s largest airfields, located near Riverside, California… and I want to tell you that I love being here. And what a wonderful welcome you gave me… as soon as I arrived at camp, I received a ten-gun salute…at least that’s what they told me on the operating table. These guys were happy to see me…a rookie came running up to me and said, “Are you really Bob Hope?”
Here is a link to the audio file of the Bob Hope Pepsodent Show from March Field on May 6, 1941. There is no known audio file of the entire show. This is the link to the best version available, which contains about 90 percent of the historic broadcast:
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0soo33lo14f0926fyrcvi/Bob-Hope-Pepsodent-Radio-Show-May-6-1941-from-March-Field.mp3?rlkey=8zuepoyu5tx5qhnvn2p37njoi&st=m9e0qtmr&dl=0
