Dear Diary,
I read today that Bob will have one day free in New York between the conclusion of his camp tour and his departure for England. For that one day, a crew of cameramen will go to New York to film a new ending to Bob’s next picture, “Let’s Face It.”
Dear Diary,
Excuse me if my head’s in the clouds. I’ve just survived forth – five lovely minutes of Bob Hope at his best. I don’t mean by that that he didn’t make a few slips of the tongue. To the contrary, he made more mistakes than usual. That’s the main reason he was so good. He’s in New York for quite a long stay, and according to Frances Langford, that won’t be so good for Bob. In response to the young gentleman’s “Why?” Frances said, “Because the rest of us will be seeing out clothes to a regular laundry now.” Xavier Cugat, better known as Cugi, provided the music, plus some enjoyable wit. After talking to him for a while, Vera Vague said, “Well, I’ll see you later. I’m going to join Hose Nose now.” Now I too join him–in my dreams. Good night!
Dear Diary,
Suzanne Spangler, Patsy Roache, and I went to the broadcast of “True or False” tonight. It was broadcast from Fair Park Auditorium, and will be back in New York next week. I knew there was some reason I wanted to be home by nine o’clock, so I rushed home and got here at five minutes to nine. I turned on the Lux Radio Theater just in time to hear Cecil B. de Mille announce next week’s show. It will be one “to take your mind off your troubles” – “My Favorite Blonde,” starring Bob Hope and Ann Southern. Before he announced the name of the show, but had described the type, I was almost on my ear. I got settled just in time to get on it again before he said, “Bob Hope.” He shouldn’t take such long pauses.
Dear Diary,
Dorothy Kilgallen said today that she would be in Hollywood next Tuesday, instead of New York. She added, “And my guest will be that handsome comedian, favorite of stage, screen, and radio, Madeleine Carroll’s favorite brunette–Bob Hope.” Believe me, he will be quite an improvement over the comedians she usually has as guests – such as Milton Berle Charlie Ruggles, etc. But I guess she can’t help it. After all, she’s in New York and Bob’s in Hollywood.
There are now only six more Hopeless Tuesday nights. Gosh, it seems like it’s been more than seven weeks since he left.
Dear Diary,
There was an article in this month’s Reader’s Digest about Jack White, co-owner of the Club 18 in New York. His policy is that the customer always wrong. He has insulted some of the best-known people in the country, and always gets the best of his verbal opponents. He called Bob Hope to the floor one night and challenged him to a verbal duel. Bob tried hard, and did as well as anyone had ever domes against White, but even Bob had to give up when White said, “Here, use my microphone. It’s funnier.” — And Jack White is without enemies! What a man!
Dear Diary,
Bob Hope was at the air corps training station at Mitchell Field, Long Island, tonight. Those boys at the field weren’t the only ones who were flying hight tonight, because Madeleine Carroll was Bob’s guest. Mady kissed Bob once, and Bob stood there stuttering and stammering so long that Mady finally said, “Oh come now, Bob, stop flattering me. You know that kiss didn’t affect you that much.” Bob said, “Oh, no, it didn’t affect me at all. I’m just waiting for my mind to come back from maneuvers!” Since he’s so near New York, Bob said, “I’m glad to be in the metropolitan area again. The metropolitan area—that’s anywhere Fiorello can reach by fire truck.” Bob mentioned something about his little brother, George, being in the army on the west coast now. One down, six to go. I wonder who’s next.
Dear Diary,
I heard on the radio today that Bob Hope has switched the location of his benefit golf match from New York to somewhere in New Jersey. It seems that the Little Flower wants to hold a big parade on that day, and he doesn’t want anything to detract from the crowd. So, little Bobbie, being big-hearted, agreed to shift scenery. Wasn’t that sweet of him?
Betty Lou and I took our second dancing lesson tonight. I enjoy those lessons more and more every time. I think I’ll take an advanced course after my eight lessons are over. By golly, I may learn to dance yet! (Optimistic, ain’t I?)
Dear Diary,
I cut out and pasted so many pictures of Bob Hope today that I think I’ll have the reflection in my eyes for days to come. I counted them too, but I was listening to the radio at the same time, and I didn’t do a very accurate job. As far as I can figure, though, I have something over six hundred pictures.
The radio program I heard was the radio celebration of the President’s sixtieth anniversary. A few minutes of the show originated from Dallas, but all that was done here was a short (overly eloquent) speech and one orchestral number. Other parts of the program came from New York, Washington, Hollywood, Detroit, and Oklahoma City. All those cities, along with Dallas, contributed the entire show. Got once, Bob Hope was not on a benefit show. Imagine!
Dear Diary,
From the Times Herald today: “Bob Hope is beginning one of his special vacations from Paramount, which means that he’ll really be working harder than if he were on the job at the studio.
Bob’s off across the country to try to make life a little happier for other people by the kind of appearances which cost him $100,000 last year.
He has numerous stops scheduled, including the American Legion convention in Milwaukee. He’ll also appear in Salt Lake City, Chicago, Cleveland, New York and elsewhere.
Nobody works harder than Bob Hope when hes on what’s supposed to be a vacation.”
Muriel Windham's Diary 