Bob Hope was born on May 29, 1903

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - One of America’s most beloved entertainers was born on May 29, 1903.

Bob Hope was the fifth of seven boys born to William Henry and Avis Townes Hope. Four years later, his father moved the family to Cleveland, Ohio.

Bob Hope started his career in vaudeville right after graduating from high school. By the 1930’s he was appearing in Broadway shows, including the musical “Roberta,” the “Ziegfeld Follies” (with Fanny Brice), and “Red, Hot, and Blue” (with Ethel Merman and Jimmy Durante).

By the end of that decade Hope had made the transition to radio. In 1938 he got his own show and was soon rated number one.

It wasn’t long until Hollywood was calling. Seven “Road” pictures with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour made him a box office star. He starred in more than 50 feature films.

His popularity made him a shoe-in to host the Academy Awards, which he did for years. He joked about not winning an acting Oscar, but he was recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with five awards, including the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award.

Hope’s work with the U.S.O. stole America’s hearts. He began traveling to entertain U.S. and allied troops in 1941, and the shows continued through the end of the century. He brought entertainers into war zones and hospitals, wherever military personnel needed a reason to smile.

The Guinness Book of Records calls Bob Hope the more honored entertainer in the world. He received more than 2,000 awards and citations for humanitarian and professional work, including 54 honorary doctoral degrees.

On May 29, 2003 Bob Hope turned 100-years-old. The City of Hollywood renamed the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Avenue as Bob Hope Square. Dubbed “the King of Comedy,” Hope died on July 27, 2003, just two month after that honor.