Antiques and Memorabilia from the Estate of Bob Hope at Julien’s Auctions

Over his career Hope appeared in over 70 films and shorts including a series of “Road” movies co-starring Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour.  He hosted the Academy Awards a record fourteen times and appeared in numerous stage productions and hosted a long running television special. He was the author of fourteen books and participated in the sports of golf and boxing.  He also owned a small stake in his hometown baseball team, the Cleveland Indians.       

Dolores Reade married Bob Hope in 1934 after meeting him at the Vogue Club, in Manhattan where she was singing.  As Bob used to say, “it was love at first song.”  They would spend 69 years together during which time they raised four children.   She dedicated her life to supporting Bob, her family and various charitable causes. She began helping her husband on his tours entertaining the U.S. troops overseas in the 1940s which she continued for over fifty years.  At age 83 she recorded her first compact disc, “Dolores Hope: Now and Then” which she followed with three additional albums and also recorded a Christmas CD with Bob entitled “Hopes for the Holidays.”  She was 102 when she died in 2011. 

The Collection of Bob and Dolores Hope includes an impressive assortment of antiques, career memorabilia and personal property from their residence in Toluca Lake and their landmark Palm Springs home which was designed by renowned architect John Lautner. The intrigue of both homes lies with the long list of celebrity entertainers and friends, dignitaries and world leaders who would often visit the Hopes.  With a career that spanned the 20th century, the collection covers an impressive history of Bob Hope’s personal and professional achievements and some of Hollywood’s most memorable and cherished moments.  

“There has never been anyone who has entertained more people in more places than the legendary Bob Hope,” said Martin Nolan, Executive Director of Julien’s Auctions.  “This collection represents over 60 years of Hope’s illustrious career. It takes us back to his vaudevillian days and all the way through his time on the golf course. I can picture him now standing on stage with that iconic grin telling one of his famous jokes or stepping out with some of the world’s most famous celebrities. There will never be anyone else like him and we are thrilled to be able to offer such an exclusive collection of true Hollywood history.”                                                                                              

Fans and collectors will have the exclusive opportunity to bid on items from Hope’s celebrated collections of golf and clown themed artifacts, including paintings, figurines, putters, tees, and tournament memorabilia.  Highlights include a Bob Hope golf tournament chain (Estimate: $1,000-$2,000), a group of Bob Hope Desert Classic Golf Items (Estimate: $800-$1,200), a set of Graham Hunter Bob Hope Golf Cartoons (Estimate: $600-$800), two Bob Hope caricature aluminum putters (each, Estimated: $800-$1,000), and Mr. Hope’s personal golf cart. Some of the clown collection highlights include a Red Skelton clown painting (Estimate: $2,000-4,000), a Dan Lutz painting (Estimate: $800-$1,200), and multiple lots of collectible ceramic figurines (Lladro, others Italian, most estimated at $200-$400).

Some of the very sought after Bob Hope memorabilia in the auction include signed Presidential books and photographs, award plaques, trophies, figurines and novelty items from political luminaries and celebrities. Also included are mementos from the Hope’s charitable causes, military and veterans honorary awards, along with exotic international decorative items acquired from his legendary USO tours.   

These highlights include a Bob Hope gold belt buckle (Estimate: $600-$800), a Bob Hope People’s Choice Award (Estimate:  $1,000-$2,000), numerous signed Presidential books (estimates ranging from $200-$1,200), an Astronaut signed Lunar Globe (Estimate: $800-$1,200), and many engraved or inscribed crystal awards that solidify Bob Hope’s place in Hollywood history.                                       

Among the collection of fine antiques and furnishings from Hope’s famed residences are stately traditional Baroque and Georgian furnishings intermixed with Asian porcelain and Oriental rugs.  Vintage collectible McGuire bamboo furniture suites, Karl Springer acrylic accent pieces, and Walter Lamb patio furniture are also included.  

Antique highlights include: a George I Bureau cabinet (Estimate: $50,000-$70,000), three Turkish carpets (estimates ranging from $6,000-$30,000), a Renaissance style majolica wall plaque (Estimate: $3,000-$5,000), a carved Baroque style giltwood tester bed (Estimate: $1,800-$2,500), and a variety of 18th and 19th century Chinese export porcelain tureens and urns (estimates ranging from $1,000-$7,000). 

Collectors will also get excited with the multiple McGuire bamboo furniture suites in the Gothic and Clover styles (estimates ranging from $400-$1,800) to be offered as well as Hope’s Karl Springer style lacquered vellum executive desk (Estimate: $3,000-$4,000), two pair of Karl Springer acrylic table lamps (Estimated each at $2,000-$3,000), and three lots of Walter Lamb designed Brown Jordan patio furniture (Estimated each at $2,000-$4,000).  There are also numerous fine art paintings from a number of 20th century artists, including pieces from Marion Pike and Jetta Stoltz.                                                         

Bob Hope’s career was legendary. He remains Hollywood royalty. No other entertainer of his time has left such a mark on show business.  He was an entertainer for everyone and often could be found hanging with Hollywood elite or entertaining troops in far-away places. His jokes are timeless, his appearances always a ratings hit and his golf game one to admire.                                                                                               

Highlights of the auction take us back to the Hollywood hey-day of Bob Hope and include his personal Yamaha Grand Piano (Estimate: $4,000-$6,000), his leather director’s chair back with a caricature of Bob Hope’s face in profile (Estimate: $200-$400), an NBC embroidered Peacock pillow (Estimate: $100-$200), a Tony Bennett watercolor on paper, signed (Estimate: $2,000-$3,000), a Bob Hope Television Academy Hall of Fame Award (Estimate: $1,000-$1,500), a John F. Kennedy inscribed photo to Bob Hope (Estimate: $4,000-$6,000) and a variety of mementos from the Hope’s many celebrity friends.

All of the property in the auction will be featured in a full color limited edition catalogue available for purchase at www.juliensauctions.com.

Property From The Estate of Bob and Dolores Hope Exhibition Dates

Monday, September 9th - Thursday, September 19th

(10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Daily - Closed Sundays)

Property From The Estate of Bob and Dolores Hope Auction

Friday, September 20th

• Session I: 10:00 a.m. P.S.T.
• Session II: 2:00 p.m. P.S.T.

Saturday, September 21st                       

• Session I: 10:00 a.m. P.S.T.
• Session II: 2:00 p.m. P.S.T.

Exhibition and Auction Location

Julien’s Auctions Beverly Hills

9665 Wilshire Blvd.

Suite 150

Beverly Hills, CA  90210    

Registering to Bid: Registration is required to bid in this live auction and can be done in person at the exhibition and auction, or online before the sale at the JuliensAuctions.com Registration page to bid by phone, proxy or in person, or online at JuliensLive.com to bid live online, or by calling (310) 836-1818.

Placing Bids: There are four ways to bid in this sale:

1. Bid through Julien's Auctions Online Live in Real Time at JuliensLive.com.
2. Place bids in the room by attending the auction.
3. Bid over the telephone through an auction house representative, who sits in the room and conveys the bid to the auctioneer.
4. Enter Absentee bids. Absentee bid forms are included in the back of each catalogue, and are also available by calling Julien's Auctions or online at www.juliensauctions.com.

ABOUT JULIEN’S AUCTIONS: With expertise specializing in entertainment and sports memorabilia, Julien’s Auctions has quickly established itself as the premier auction house in high profile celebrity and entertainment auctions. Julien’s Auctions presents exciting, professionally managed and extremely successful auctions with full color high quality auction catalogues unlike any other auction company. Previous auctions include the collections of Cher, U2, Barbara Streisand, the estate of Marilyn Monroe and many more. Official website is www.juliensauctions.com.