Bob Hope was born in a town called Eltham in England, on the 29th May, 1903. His father William Henry Hope was a stonemason, his mother Avis Townes Hope was a concert singer. They named him Leslie Townes Hope; he was five of seven sons. In 1907, the family left England for Cleveland, Ohio. It was at age four, when he already had a love to sing and dance and was skilled at mimic. Growing up in Cleveland, he was made fun of because of his English accent. The kids in his neighborhood called him "Hopelessly" from his name Hope, Leslie. He fought them easily, developing some boxing skills. He also sold two-cent newspapers to help with the family's income.

At age sixteen, Hope dropped out of school and did numerous part time jobs. He worked as a delivery boy, soda jerk, shoe salesman, and a poor hustler. He often...