LPWire: Hyperion to Publish Book by Bob Hope in Celebration of His 100th Birthday

Hyperion to Publish Book by Bob Hope in Celebration of His 100th Birthday

Hyperion announced today plans to publish a compilation of Bob Hope's best jokes in honor of his 100th birthday, which is May 29th. The book, to be entitled Bob Hope: My Life in Jokes, will be edited and include an introduction by Hope's daughter, Linda Hope. It is scheduled for publication in May 2003.

Bob Hope is one of the few stars to obtain success in six major entertainment media: vaudeville, Broadway stage, personal appearances, radio, film, and television. He delighted audiences in every decade of the past century -- from doing Charlie Chaplain impersonations in front of the firehouse in Cleveland at the age of eight until his last television special in 1996. Hope spent much of World War II traveling the world to entertain Allied troops, a service he also performed during later wars in Korea, Vietnam, and the Middle East.

The announcement was made by Hyperion president Bob Miller. Of the deal Miller said: "Twentieth-century America gave the world Mickey Mouse, jazz, and Bob Hope. We're thrilled to honor Mr. Hope's 100th year by publishing this autobiography in joke form. He is by far our funniest national treasure!"

Says Bob Hope himself, "Nice to know my jokes are still working ... thanks to Hyperion."

Bob Miller negotiated the deal with Dixon Dern, the Hope family's attorney. Associate Editor Mark Chait will edit the book for Hyperion.

Hyperion, which was founded in 1991, publishes general-interest fiction and non-fiction hardcover, trade, and mass-market paperback books for adults and includes the Talk Miramax, ESPN Books, ABC Daytime Press, Hyperion East, Theia, and Hyperion AudioBooks imprints. Hyperion is the adult trade book publishing unit of ABC, Inc.

--Posted March 3, 2003
Source: Hyperion