The latest Histories of Anchorage column by ANC_Historian: At the peak of his powers, legendary comedian Bob Hope made multiple visits to Alaska
Bob Hope, the 39-year old entertainer stopped in Fairbanks while on a 1942 USO trip to Alaska, accompanied by comic Jerry Colonna, singer-actress Frances Langford and guitarist Tony Romano. This photo is on display in the offices of KFAR radio/TV in Fairbanks, Alaska. on Alaska history by local historian David Reamer. Have a question about Anchorage or Alaska history or an idea for a future article? Go to the form at the bottom of this story.
Unfortunately, Hope and his traveling troupe were trapped aboard an airplane circling overhead, unable to land because of dense fog. Said Hope, “I was a little concerned. Oh, boy. The fog ran right down to the ground and there we were flying over the town and couldn’t get into the airport. We were flying at 13,000 feet and it was blowing sleet. It looked really bad, brother ... We were afraid we would crack into the hills at any minute.
Bob Hope movies played at the Empress and Fourth Avenue theaters while his shows were constants on radio and television, but the man himself returned to Anchorage in 1956. Confirmation came late with a single month’s advance notice. Hope and company would perform at Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson in Anchorage, as well as Ladd and Eielson Air Force Bases outside Fairbanks.
A “Welcome Bob Hope” banner was strung across Fourth Avenue. Upon arrival, the performers good-naturedly endured an hour-long ceremony outside city hall in subzero temperatures, stamping their feet to keep warm on a makeshift stage. When the crowd applauded their appearance, Hope joked, “Thank you, thank you, it’s nice of you to take your hands out of your pockets.
The show began with a Bob Hope monologue. He hit on the military early on, saying, “They have all kinds of servicemen up here, in Alaska. They have the Army, Navy and Air Force. It’s a new unified command, and it’s working out beautifully. It’s the biggest crap game you ever saw. I don’t know what stakes they play for, but I was looking around Anchorage this morning, and it’s the first time I ever saw a B-47 jet transport in a hock shop window.
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