Special Data

Dear Diary,

Things were very fruitful in radio this month. I heard Bob five times in January, six times in February, and seven times in March. That can’t continue long. By December he’d be worn to a mere shadow. Say, maybe that wouldn’t be so bad at that! What am I saying? Anyway, Bob was on his own rat-race five times, Command Performance once, and also on Lionel Barrymoore’s show, The Mayor of the Town. I haven’t seen him in any pictures this month. (After all, I can take only so much. Seven times on the air is quite a bit. But not enough.)

Wednesday, March 31, 1943

Dear Diary,

Bob was on the Mayor of the Town program tonight. The play was a characteristic Hope murder mystery, with all the trimmings, including, of course, the body with a knife in it. On discovering the body, Bob screamed, and the mayor said, “Bob, are you sure he’s dead?” Bob replied, “He’s either dead or that’s the worst case of 4F I’ve ever seen.” Later a girl entered the picture. It was dark, so Bob struck a match. When she could see him, the girl said, “Oh, you look just like the stooge in those Bing Crosby pictures. I think he’s smooth. Is he really married?” Bob said, “Is he married? Those aren’t gremlins running around his house.”

Wednesday, March 24, 1943

Dear Diary,

Bob wasn’t on The Mayor of the Town tonight. Both Friday’s and today’s papers said he was to be on tonight, but he wasn’t. However, he was announced for next week. The announcer said, “Be sure to tune in next week, because the mayor is expecting a guest. He’s not a political character, or even an underworld character. He’s just a character. Next week Bob Hope will be the mayor’s guest.”

Even though he will be on next week, it was quite a disappointment not to have heard him tonight. I was so comfortable in bed, and ready for anything, but nothing happened.

Friday, March 19, 1943

Dear Diary,

I saw in the paper today that Bob will be on Lionel Barrymoore’s show, The Mayor of the Town, next Wednesday. I guess it had to happen, since Bing was on it not so long ago, and neither of them can do anything without the other’s trying to do something twice as good. I think Bing must have had a head-start on Bob as far as the stork is concerned, though.

Meanwhile, I have no radio. Daddy took mine to have slight repairs made, and dropped it on the sidewalk. So I’m borrowing his portable until, and if, my own radio gets patched up.