Bob Hope has always been credited with presenting his USO overseas shows free of charge, with never any payment for himself. He paid for America's top entertainment talent and the cost of travel for his own troupe out of his own pocket, during WW2, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. What we didn't know is that Bob Hope sold the film rights of all his overseas shows to the TV Networks, for a profit of MILLIONS, so folks at home could watch his tours. Yes, British-born Leslie Townes Hope was as great a businessman as he was a comedy man, and he lived to be 100! Hal
Not sure if the story is a bash on Bob Hope or the USO. What is the point of it? The USO provides help for our military personnel and if you want to see them in action, just go to any major airport and see the services they provide. At our airport, a service member can wait out their travel with a place to relax, phone home, use the internet, get a snack. They are open 7 days a week, from 0600 to 2200 hrs. A place where they are truely appreciated for what they do for our country. Sorry, sometimes I get a little carried away when this sort of story surfaces. I don't think he did the tours to get rich, but some only want to see the bad in people's actions.
"Not sure if the story is a bash on Bob Hope or the USO." I don't see it as a bash on anyone. I remember watching those TV shows and I enjoyed them, and loved the military audience looking so happy to be thought of. They deserved a break and to be entertained.
HEY TIM, Boy, did you get the wrong impression! Bob Hope has ALWAYS been one of my favorite entertainers! I loved all of his "road' movies with Crosby and Lamour. I enjoyed the USO tours when I was stationed overseas in 1961-62 in the US Army. Bashing? Far from it...enlightening is the word, friend! Hal
I have nothing at all bad to say about the USO or Bob Hope but when the show came to our area in Nam I decided not to go see the performance. I figured that watching a show filled with some very beautiful looking ladies wasn’t as important as making sure my 60’s and the mini’s were in operational condition for the very possible CA (combat assault) the next day. Long story short, I grabbed part of a case of beer and spent the entire day working on my UH1-C helicopter (gun ship). When my gunner got back from the show I got a play by play rendition of it and thanked myself as a very staunch introvert for not getting stuck in such a huge crowd.