Bob Hope: The Oscars’ legendary host

Bob Hope was a legendary comedian in the 40s and 50s, lifting the spirits of those dark World War II times. He was in the first-ever televised award ceremony in 1953 in the Pantages Theatre, Hollywood where he remarked,

“Isn’t it exciting to know that a lot of these glamorous stars are going to be in your home tonight? All over America, housewives are turning to their husbands and saying ‘Put on your shirt, Joan Crawford is coming.”

When Hope was a huge hit in 1940, he was asked to host the next three consecutive Oscars, taking a break in 1944 and making his return in 1945 with John Cromwell as his cohost and the following year James Steward.

From there he was a consecutive host from the years 1959 to 1962 and again from 1965 to 1968. Hope’s final Oscar night was in 1978, the 50th Academy Awards and what would be his 19th time on the stage.

Since then, many other celebrities have been asked to host the ceremony, but almost none have left behind the legendary track record of Bob Hope.

Bob Hope Wins an Oscar

He set the bar for the Oscars to come, making the job look effortless and easy and keeping the audience entertained. He won 4 honourary awards of his own, despite never being nominated, for his efforts and sense of humor, one of which lives in the New York Historical Society Museum and Library.

A brief history of Bob’s Hollywood Career

Bob was a British-born American comedian, actor, singer, and dancer whose career spanned over 80 years in one of the most interesting times to be in Hollywood. Hope is most noted for helping establish America’s stand-up comedy.

From being broadcasted via radio to being on the first televised Academy Awards, Bob was able to witness a huge shift in American media in only his lifetime, living until the age of 100 years old!