Special Exhibition Gallery

Exhibit -"So Ready for Laughter: The Legacy of Bob Hope" tells the story of Hope’s unique place in World War II history and beyond, and how the contributions he made still reverberate more than 70 years later.

Exhibit Partners -"So Ready for Laughter: The Legacy of Bob Hope" was produced by The National WWII Museum and supported by the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation.

Events & Programming -Explore the related events and programming for "So Ready for Laughter" held at the National Museum.

Exhibit Sponsor -The Army Historical Foundation (AHF), the official foundation of the National Museum of the United States Army, is proud to be the supporting sponsor for this traveling exhibit. Learn more about AHF and their mission.

Laughs -By entertaining U.S. troops, especially those on the battlefronts in World War II, Bob Hope found a new audience that was desperate for a few moments to escape the hardship of war, to remember home and to laugh. Bob Hope with his most treasured audience in New Caledonia, 1943. Courtesy of the Bob & Dolores Hope Foundation.

Legacy -The leadership of one entertainer came to define the nature of such shows, fulfilling a significant need for troops abroad and establishing an enduring legacy that continues to present day.

Artifacts -Coconut Correspondence Not every piece of fan mail came in an envelope. This coconut was addressed and mailed to Hope in 1944, stamped with only 17 cents of postage. Loan courtesy of the National Naval Aviation Museum.