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Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions

Bob Hope was known for his machine gun style of firing off jokes and did so with a talented team of writers as well as his own ad libs. These rehearsals allow an intimate look behind the scenes of this comic genius.

Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions

20 old time radio show recordings
(total playtime 21 hours, 39 min)
available in the following formats:

1 MP3 CD
or
19 Audio CDs


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Play a sample episode from February 01, 1942:

"Feb 1 Audition"



... or click here to save the Mp3 file to your computer
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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

Bob Hope in shape
Bob Hope PepsodentGreat comedy appears effortless, even to the point of seeming like a mistake. Of course, comedy is a lot of work, and while some people have a natural sense of comedic timing, the best bits are usually the result of a good deal of work and cooperation between the writer, the comic and the straight man.

Jack Benny, in spite of the stinginess of his character, was known for having the best paid writing staff in Hollywood. Another well loved comedian who knew the value of great writers was Bob Hope. In 1938, Lever Brothers hired Bob to host The Pepsodent Show. The first thing Bob did was hire eight writers who were paid out of his own $2,500 per week salary. In time, the writing staff grew to fifteen, who were all needed to keep up with Bob's machine gun style of firing off jokes.

Eight to fifteen funny guys working together can come up with some really funny stuff, especially with a boss like Bob Hope. However, they can come up with some real stinkers as well. One method to separate the good material from the stinkers was to preview it for a live audience.

The Pepsodent Show was a half hour of genuine fun every Tuesday night for listeners. These rare recordings are all just over an hour long. They are obviously some sort of rehearsal or preview recording. Although we the very genuine laughs of an appreciative audience, we also hear a lot of things that we would never hear on broadcast program. There are several instances of Bob and the other players repeating a joke several times, or trying different jokes, to see what gets the best reaction. Naturally, such a format begs for the ad libs that Bob Hope was so well known for.

The grueling rehearsals would not have been the only reason that the The Pepsodent Show would have been difficult to work on. In May of 1941, producer Al Capstaff came up with the idea of doing a remote broadcast from March Field, using the servicemen there as a special audience. The show was a hit with the troops, but the concept really resonated with Bob.

Bob had been crossing the Atlantic aboard the Queen Mary in September, 1939, when the Nazis invaded Poland, beginning World War Two. He spoke to the captain and volunteered to do a show for the passengers, so Bob had always known the value of a song and a joke during times of stress.

Of the 150 or so episodes of the Pepsodent Show broadcast during the War Years, perhaps nine were actually broadcast from their home studio, the rest were on the road, playing for the troops.
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Text on OTRCAT.com ©2001-2024 OTRCAT INC All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is prohibited.

These classic recordings are available in the following formats:

  • Show Rating

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    COMMENTS

    It will play on my Toshiba DVD PLAYER/, no problem. I remember the days of those rehearsal / run-throughs, with audiences. This one is a beaut!! Overall better than the Bob Hope rehearsal shows.

    Paul Verified Purchase

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  • MP3 CDs are delivered by mail. These archival quality MP3 CDs are playable in your computer and many MP3 player devices.



    20 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00. Total playtime 21 hours, 39 min
    20 recordings on 1 MP3 CD for just $5.00
    total playtime 21 hours, 39 min
    Add MP3 CD Collection to Cart

    1. 20 shows - total playtime 21 hours 39 minutes
    2. Bob Hope Preview 411103.mp3
    3. Bob Hope Preview 411110.mp3
    4. Bob Hope Preview 411116.mp3
    5. Bob Hope Preview 411130.mp3
    6. Bob Hope Preview 411228.mp3
    7. Bob Hope Preview 420104.mp3
    8. Bob Hope Preview 420118.mp3
    9. Bob Hope Preview 420201.mp3
    10. Bob Hope Preview 420208.mp3
    11. Bob Hope Preview 420215.mp3
    12. Bob Hope Preview 420222.mp3
    13. Bob Hope Preview 420302.mp3
    14. Bob Hope Preview 420308.mp3
    15. Bob Hope Preview 420315.mp3
    16. Bob Hope Preview 420405.mp3
    17. Bob Hope Preview 420413.mp3
    18. Bob Hope Preview 420419.mp3
    19. Bob Hope Preview 430307.mp3
    20. Bob Hope Preview 430405.mp3
    21. Bob Hope Preview 430411.mp3
  • MP3 downloads are available instantly after purchase!



    20 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00. Total playtime 21 hours, 39 min
    20 recordings on 1 MP3 Collection Download for just $5.00
    total playtime 21 hours, 39 min
    Add Instant Download Collection to Cart

    1. 20 shows - total playtime 21 hours 39 minutes
    2. Bob Hope Preview 411103.mp3
    3. Bob Hope Preview 411110.mp3
    4. Bob Hope Preview 411116.mp3
    5. Bob Hope Preview 411130.mp3
    6. Bob Hope Preview 411228.mp3
    7. Bob Hope Preview 420104.mp3
    8. Bob Hope Preview 420118.mp3
    9. Bob Hope Preview 420201.mp3
    10. Bob Hope Preview 420208.mp3
    11. Bob Hope Preview 420215.mp3
    12. Bob Hope Preview 420222.mp3
    13. Bob Hope Preview 420302.mp3
    14. Bob Hope Preview 420308.mp3
    15. Bob Hope Preview 420315.mp3
    16. Bob Hope Preview 420405.mp3
    17. Bob Hope Preview 420413.mp3
    18. Bob Hope Preview 420419.mp3
    19. Bob Hope Preview 430307.mp3
    20. Bob Hope Preview 430405.mp3
    21. Bob Hope Preview 430411.mp3
  • Standard Audio CDs are delivered by mail on archival quality media with up to 60 minutes on each CD and play in all CD players



    20 recordings on 19 Audio CDs. Total playtime 20 hours, 18 min
    20 recordings on 19 Audio CDs
    total playtime 20 hours, 18 min

    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A001

    1. Bob Hope Preview 411103

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A002

    1. Bob Hope Preview 411110

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A003

    1. Bob Hope Preview 411116

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A004

    1. Bob Hope Preview 411130

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A005

    1. Bob Hope Preview 411228

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A006

    1. Bob Hope Preview 420104

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A007

    1. Bob Hope Preview 420118

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A008

    1. Bob Hope Preview 420208

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A009

    1. Bob Hope Preview 420215

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A010

    1. Bob Hope Preview 420222

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A011

    1. Bob Hope Preview 420302

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A012

    1. Bob Hope Preview 420308

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A013

    1. Bob Hope Preview 420315

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A014

    1. Bob Hope Preview 420405

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A015

    1. Bob Hope Preview 420413

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A016

    1. Bob Hope Preview 420419

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A017

    1. Bob Hope Preview 430307

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A018

    1. Bob Hope Preview 430405

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00
    Bob Hope Pepsodent Auditions Disc A019

    1. Bob Hope Preview 430411

    Add Audio CD to Cart - $5.00

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