By Tim Saunders on
A charity auction featuring over 800 items belonging to the late great Bob Hope was held over the weekend.
More than US$600,000 was raised in the auction, which will be distributed to charities that were important to the comedy actor, who died in 2003.
An autographed photo of Lucille Ball – complete with blacked out teeth – was sold alongside a signed photo of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, cufflinks from Richard Nixon, and a handwritten letter from Bing Crosby. But the most interest was reserved for the executive desk that sat in Hope’s Toluca Lake office for more than 50 years.
“Presidents sat in front of it, Mr. Hope conducted countless meetings from behind it,” said Darren Julien from Julien’s Auctions. “Everyone cheered when it sold. It wasn’t the most expensive item, but it was the most exciting sale.”
One of the eager bidders at the auction was comedian George Lopez.
“They were both fanatical golfers,” said producer Ann Lopez, George’s wife. “George hosted the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic for two years. He wants to wear the hats on the course to keep Mr. Hope out there in spirit, still golfing.”
A large proportion of the proceeds will go to the United Service Organization. Hope was a huge supporter of the USO, and headlined over 60 USO tours for American troops stationed overseas.
Copyright © 2008 Look to the Stars
