KMAX: News of the West

Hollywood rededicates Hope's star as his 100th birthday nears

By ANTHONY BREZNICAN
AP Entertainment Writer

LOS ANGELES (AP) Bob Hope, whose 100th birthday is next month, was too frail to attend the rededication of one of his stars Tuesday on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but comedian Dennis Miller said Hope probably wouldn't have come anyway.

``I know if he was up-and-about he would have made a bee-line for Iraq to entertain our brave men and women over there,'' said Miller, one of several celebrities at the gathering who paid tribute to the comic.

``Frasier'' star Kelsey Grammer said Hope's ``laughter has helped us through some very difficult days and helped us relish the good ones.''

``Bob Hope's contribution to this country and our society is invaluable and it will last for centuries to come,'' he said.

At the event, an embedded plaque describing Hope as ``citizen of the century'' was unveiled on the star. Others in attendance included Hope friends Phyllis Diller, Eva Marie Saint and Cindy Williams, and his daughter, Linda Hope.

The ceremony coincided with the release by Universal Studios Home Video of the ``Bob Hope 100th Birthday Tribute Collection,'' 12 DVDs featuring 17 of his movies, including ``The Big Broadcast of 1938'' and ``College Swing'' on one disc, and several of his comedies with Bing Crosby, such as ``The Road to Utopia'' and ``The Road to Zanzibar.''

On Hope's birthday, May 29, the intersection of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street will be named Bob Hope Square. In Washington, D.C., that day, a reception will be held at the Bob Hope Gallery of Entertainment at the Library of Congress.

Also on May 29, the expanded Bob Hope Hollywood USO at Los Angeles International Airport will be dedicated, and streets will be named after him in Toluca Lake, where he lives, and Cleveland, where he grew up.

The Cleveland Indians will celebrate ``Bob Hope Day'' at Jacobs Field.

Hope and his wife, Dolores, spend their days mainly at his suburban golf estate just across the Los Angeles River behind Universal Studios. He stopped making public appearances about two years ago.

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On the Net:

Hollywood Walk of Fame: http://www.hollywoodcoc.org/walkoffame

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