St. Augustine, Fla. (Aug. 25, 2014) – The Queen Mary is proud to host the traveling exhibit, “Bob Hope: An American Treasure,” created in partnership with the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum with support from the Bob Hope Legacy.
The 2,200-square-foot exhibit is officially open on the ship based in Long Beach, Calif., where Bob Hope performed his first routine of World War II. It will be on display through January 2015.
“The Queen Mary is the perfect location for this exhibition, because it held a special place in Dad’s heart,” said Linda Hope, daughter of the entertainer. “His performance on the Queen Mary showed Dad’s sense of duty and foreshadowed the involvement he would later have with so many U.S. war efforts. We hope visitors to the Queen Mary will learn that and so many more things about his incredible life.”
It was 75 years ago this September, in 1939, that Bob Hope performed his legendary routine on the Queen Mary. Hope and his wife Dolores were returning from Europe when war was declared. German U-boats were on the prowl, so the Queen Mary’s captain ordered all portholes painted, windows covered and running lights shut off. Finally to calm the nerves of frightened passengers the Captain leaned on Hope to perform and lighten the mood.
Hope obliged, performing the first of what would be hundreds of shows during World War II, singing “Thanks for the Memory,” in the First Class Lounge with the line: “Some folks slept on the floor, some in the corridor, but I was more exclusive, my room had ‘Gentlemen’ above the door.” He went on to joke that it was hard to dance in a life preserver.
“Bob Hope: An American Treasure” is a fun, interactive exhibition for guests of all ages that celebrates his life and achievements. Hope lived for 100 years, and in many ways his life mirrors the American story of the 20th century. With reproductions of more than 200 vintage photos, seven videos and more than 170 items, guests can laugh along with Hope as he performs on radio and later television, entertains the troops from World War II through the Persian Gulf War and cracks wise with U.S. Presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Bill Clinton.
The exhibit is full of Bob Hope’s famous one-liners, like when he played golf with one of his favorite Presidents and joke targets: “I love playing golf with Gerald Ford. He makes me feel like I’m back performing in a war zone.”
Some of the items on display from Hope, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1983, include an original vaudeville contract from 1922; his Ellis Island medal; the final set of golf clubs used in his life; Emmy and Honorary Oscar awards; an outfit he wore during USO tours; gifts and awards from Presidents and other celebrities; his Congressional Gold Medal awarded by President John F. Kennedy; and his “Honorary Veteran Citation” from Congress, which he called the most important honor of his life.
The exhibition, which has been on the road since 2011 with stops including the Gerald Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids, Mich., and the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, is back on the road after adding a new, educational series of panels called “Bob Hope in Real Time.” The series is intended to bring Hope into the 21st century for younger, student visitors to the exhibition by showing what it would have looked like if he had access to social media.
Visitors will be able to see what happens when Bob Hope posts to Facebook and Twitter, creates a Pinterest page and texts his friend Bing Crosby after seeing his first Mickey Mouse film.
“The Queen Mary is an excellent stop for the exhibition, given Bob’s history with the ship and that his family lived in the Los Angeles area for decades,” said Jack Peter, Chief Operating Officer of the World Golf Hall of Fame. “With the new ‘Bob Hope in Real Time’ upgrades, we are thrilled that guests of all ages can discover more about his life. As always, we thank the Bob Hope Legacy for continuing to support this exhibition.”
For more information, visit: www.QueenMary.com and WorldGolfHallofFame.org.
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About the Queen Mary
Located in the Port of Long Beach, the Queen Mary features a rich maritime history, authentic Art Deco décor, and stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Long Beach city skyline. At the time of her maiden voyage in May of 1936, she was considered the grandest ocean liner ever built. The Queen Mary features award-winning restaurants, historical attractions, numerous special event salons and 346 staterooms.
About the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum
The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum preserves and honors the history of golf and the legacies of those who have made it great. The Hall of Fame and Museum, located at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla., serves as a steward of the game through engaging, interactive storytelling and exhibitions featuring artifacts, works of art, audio, video and photography significant to the history of golf and its members.
The Hall of Fame is a 501(c)3 nonprofit institution and is allied with 26 national and international golf organizations, including The European Tour, LPGA, the Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The R&A and USGA. To learn more about the Hall of Fame or to lend support, visit www.WorldGolfHallofFame.org.
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As the Founding Partner of the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum and World Golf Village, Shell Oil Company played a lead role in supporting the development and growth of the institution, which opened in 1998. Since then, their continued involvement has led the way for others to join in support of the Hall of Fame & Museum’s mission.
