May 14, 2003 Library of Congress Pays Tribute to Bob Hope

The Library of Congress celebrates the 100th birthday of Bob Hope with "The Bob Hope Revue," a specially-written variety revue featuring some of the songs, dances, skits, and comedy routine with which Bob Hope entertained millions during his extraordinary 75-year career. The event takes place at 8 p.m. on May 22 in the Library's Coolidge Auditorium, 10 First Street S.E., Washington, D.C. The program has been made possible by a special gift from the Hope family.

The host for the evening will be a comedian whose own work has been strongly influenced by Bob Hope, and who has been one of his greatest admirers: Dick Cavett. Cavett will be joined by three award-winning performers from the Broadway stage -- Sally Mayes, Kirby Ward and Danny Gurwin. The trio will perform many of the great songs first introduced by Bob Hope and will also treat the audience to renditions of a few of the lesser-known songs some of America's greatest songwriters wrote for Mr. Hope.

The evening's performances will reprise Bob Hope's career on stage, in broadcasts, and in motion pictures. In a special segment planned by the American Folklife Center's Veterans History Project, Tony Hope, with famous dancers Fayard Nicholas and Patty Thomas, as well as director Jack Shea, will share with the audience memories of the tours they made with Bob Hope to entertain American armed forces during World War II and the wars in Korea and Vietnam.

The Library of Congress acquired the Bob Hope Collection in 1998 and opened the permanent "Bob Hope Gallery of American Entertainment" in the Thomas Jefferson Building in May 2000. With its dynamic displays and innovative use of electronics -- including the 88,000-plus-page Bob Hope Joke Files -- the gallery provides a unique window into the traditions of vaudeville that form the cornerstone of the best of today's entertainment. The exhibit may be viewed on the Library's Web site at www.loc.gov/exhibits/bobhope/.

Note on Press Coverage: Members of the media who are interested in covering this SOLD-OUT event should contact Helen Dalrymple or Sheryl Cannady at the Library of Congress, or Frank Strong at Susan Davis International (see phone numbers and e-mails above), in advance. No photography will be permitted during the performance, but arrangements may be made for interviews the day of the event.