Source: The Pratt Union
Dec.7, 1944
Bob Hope Here
Three thousand GI's stationed at Pratt Army Air Field laughed until they cried Friday night as Bob Hope, and his troupe of three entertainers presented a laugh-packed fun-fest which lasted a full hour and twenty minutes. The show, staged atop huge crates used for shipping bomber motors, was held in the field's Maintenance Hangar with the receptive GIs using the cement floor for orchestra seats.
Even without the usual stage paraphernalia of curtains, floodlights, and make-up, Hope and his entertainers put on a never-to-be-forgotten show for the fun-hungry soldiers. From the moment Bob stepped up to the microphone until he bid his audience farewell, there was an almost continual roar of laughter shaking the rafters of the vast hangar. Opening with remarks typical of the droll comedian, the show rolled along smoothly with Hope's introduction of Tony Romano, who has been with the troupe for almost three years.
Singing to his own guitar accompaniment, Romano opened with a current favorite, “Come Out”. The reception for this number was such that Tony was required to sing three encores before Hope could get him off the stage. Bob's next performer, Frances Langford, could have pleased the men by just appearing and taking a bow, that however, was not the extent of her evening's chores.
Singing in that slow dreamy way which is as characteristic of Langford as the dimple in her chin, Frances had the GIs hanging from the ropes with her interpretation of “I'll Walk Alone”. Here again, one number was not nearly enough to fill the song-starved cavities of the Gis. With Tony accompanying her on the guitar, Frances gave out with encores until her voice was nearly ready to give out.
No one could steal the show from Bob Hope, but to say that Jerry Colona took a back seat Friday night would be a misrepresentation of the truth. That in itself is one of the reasons that Bob Hope has become the serviceman's pin-up boy, he plays up his co-workers as much as he does himself. The highlight of the show was a routine pulled by Hope and Colona topped off by a barbershop trio which included the versatile Romano.
The Hope unit has given as many as 150 shows in one eight-week tour, they never give less than three shows a week. Their heaviest schedule found them presenting thirty shows in one week, almost four shows a day. In his own words, “Picture work was interfering with the schedule we had for appearances before the servicemen so I just had to cut our making movies”. That is probably one more reason why Bob Hope has become the favorite entertainer of GIs the world over.
Transcribed by Madeline Martin 02/19/2009