Bob Hope asked the evening be a tribute to the U.S.O.
Bob Hope is honored with a special three-hour program. This show was taped at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. and some 25 celebrities performed. There will be clips from Hope's films, newsreel footage from his Christmas shows overseas, and a tribute to Bob's friendship with Bing Crosby.
Making appearances on the program will be Ann-Margret, Johnny Carson, Kathryn Crosby, Elliott Gould, Dorothy Lamour, and Red Skelton.
Musical numbers are slated to feature Pearl Bailey, Lynn Anderson, Lucille Ball, Charo, Mac Davis, Sammy Davis Jr., K.C. and the Sunshine Band, Carol Lawrence, Tony Orlando, Donny and Marie Osmond, and David Soul.
There will be comedy provided by the Muppets, Redd Foxx, Alan King, Charles Nelson Reilly, Don Rickles, Shields and Yarnell, Danny Thomas, and Fred Travalena.
While Hope was in Washington, he was honored by a special session of Congress, which he later said was one of the proudest moment of his life.
Although the broadcast took up three hours of prime time air (including commercials), some acts were left on the cutting room floor from the actual show. Via remote, Don Rickles plugged NBC's already canceled "CPO Sharkey." Fred Travalena's three appearances on the show were trimmed to one. His imitations of Frank Sinatra and Clint Eastwood were omitted, but his Jimmy Carter survived the cut.
Of those celebrities performing, Lucille Ball had appeared with Bob Hope, George Burns, Sammy Davis Jr., Pearl Bailey, Elliott Gould, Dorothy Lamour, Donny and Marie Osmond, Charles Nelson Reilly, Elizabeth Taylor, John Wayne, and Danny Thomas.