Singer, Philanthropist and Humanitarian. Widow of legendary entertainer Bob Hope. In the 1930s she found work as a singer in New York, playing in bars and night clubs under the stage name Dolores Reade. While working at the Vogue Club in 1933, Dolores first met a young comedian named Bob Hope, who had come with pal George Murphy to see her sing. Dolores was quoted as saying it was "love at first song" as she sang "It's Only a Paper Moon." In the following nights Bob waited for her outside of the club. Their courtship led to marriage on February 19, 1934. She ended her career as a club singer, and joined Bob in his vaudeville act. She left show business to focus on motherhood. The Hopes adopted four children: Nora, Linda, Tony, and Kelly. She would return to the stage helping her husband perform at his USO shows. She performed for the troops from World War II until Operation Desert Storm in 1991. She would make history as the only female entertainer allowed to perform in Saudi Arabia. Bob and Dolores also donated time and money to various charities throughout the world. In 1993, at the age of 83 Dolores recorded her first album, "Now and Then." In 1997, she would return to the stage performing for two weeks with her good friend Rosemary Clooney. In February 2003 Bob and Dolores celebrated 69 years of marriage. The well-loved comedian celebrated his 100th birthday that May, but passed away on July 27, 2003. She would lose son Tony the following year. In 2009, Dolores Hope too became a centenarian. In the years following her husband's death Dolores focused her attention on philanthropic work with the Bob and Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation. Dolores Hope died at the Toluca Lake home she shared with Bob at age 102.
Singer, Philanthropist and Humanitarian. Widow of legendary entertainer Bob Hope. In the 1930s she found work as a singer in New York, playing in bars and night clubs under the stage name Dolores Reade. While working at the Vogue Club in 1933, Dolores first met a young comedian named Bob Hope, who had come with pal George Murphy to see her sing. Dolores was quoted as saying it was "love at first song" as she sang "It's Only a Paper Moon." In the following nights Bob waited for her outside of the club. Their courtship led to marriage on February 19, 1934. She ended her career as a club singer, and joined Bob in his vaudeville act. She left show business to focus on motherhood. The Hopes adopted four children: Nora, Linda, Tony, and Kelly. She would return to the stage helping her husband perform at his USO shows. She performed for the troops from World War II until Operation Desert Storm in 1991. She would make history as the only female entertainer allowed to perform in Saudi Arabia. Bob and Dolores also donated time and money to various charities throughout the world. In 1993, at the age of 83 Dolores recorded her first album, "Now and Then." In 1997, she would return to the stage performing for two weeks with her good friend Rosemary Clooney. In February 2003 Bob and Dolores celebrated 69 years of marriage. The well-loved comedian celebrated his 100th birthday that May, but passed away on July 27, 2003. She would lose son Tony the following year. In 2009, Dolores Hope too became a centenarian. In the years following her husband's death Dolores focused her attention on philanthropic work with the Bob and Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation. Dolores Hope died at the Toluca Lake home she shared with Bob at age 102.
Bio by: The Perplexed Historian
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