Today is Bob Hope's 100th birthday. Hearing about his life on NPR this morning reminded me of the time I met Mr. Hope when I was with Up with People. I could have my facts wrong, but I believe it took place in Burbank, CA. Many of us from the PACE building (I think) were asked to join some other Uppies to film a commercial for the 1968 Wolper UWP Extravaganza national television show. Anyway, we got in costume and boarded an UWP bus that was glistening clean and parked in an indoor studio.
I was at the front of the bus and about the same size as Mr. Hope so the director asked me to stand on the "X" where Hope was to stand to record the commercial. Lighting, sound takes, and camera focus' were done. Hope came on the set, shook my hand and said something like, "Oh, you're my stand in? Maybe you should do the commercial".
We chuckled then I got back in the bus, the windows were down so the cameras could see the smiling faces of the "cast".
"Rolling".
"Hi, this is Bob 'Up with People' Hope........" and he went on to tape the commercial in one take. He then walked off as quickly as he walked on, waving to the 'cast' as he left. I know he helped UWP in the early years, and I think he was an Honorary Board Member.
Any way Bob, "Thanks for the memories"!
(5-23-2003)
A clipping I found in my journal (I like the part about the cattle drive - lol);
