When his father was naturalized in December 1920, Hope became a United States citizen. During these years, he changed his name from Leslie to "Lester," tired of jokes about his first name. and worked as a lineman for the Cleveland Illuminating Company. Hope also filled out stock orders at CHANDLER-CLEVELAND MOTORS CORP. During his Cleveland childhood, Hope held a wide variety of jobs, including selling newspapers for the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, serving as delivery boy for Heisey's Bakery and Standard Drugstore, working as a taffy puller at Humphrey's store, selling shoes at Taylor's Department Store (see WILLIAM TAYLOR SON & CO.) and flowers at LUNA PARK, and working at his brother Fred's stall at the CENTRAL MARKET. Hope took dancing lessons at Sojack's Dance Academy on Central Avenue, proving to be so talented that he soon was teaching classes. Hope's father also worked on the Lorain-Carnegie Bridge and helped to carve the Guardians of Traffic figures (see HOPE MEMORIAL BRIDGE).Īs a child, Hope displayed an aptitude for music and dance, singing in the choir at the Church of the Covenant and winning several Charlie Chaplin imitation contests. The family, though originally Anglican, attended the Presbyterian CHURCH OF THE COVENANT on Euclid Avenue, the site of William Hope's first stonemasonry job in the Cleveland area (Hope would convert to Catholicism in his later years). Hope attended Fairmount Elementary School before moving on to Fairmount Junior High and East High School, leaving school at the age of sixteen. The family settled in the DOAN'S CORNERS neighborhood, first living at Standiforth Court on EUCLID AVENUE and East 105th Street (the family would later occupy residences at 1913 East 105th and 2029 East 105th). Hope spent the first few years of his life in England before moving with his family to Cleveland in March 1908. Hope was the fifth of seven sons, born in Eltham, England, a London suburb, to stonemason William Henry Hope and aspiring concert singer Avis Townes Hope. HOPE, LESLIE TOWNES (BOB) (May 29, 1903-July 27, 2003) was a popular actor and comedian who appeared in vaudeville, radio, film, and television, and was also known for the prominent role he undertook in United Service Organization (USO) tours to entertain American troops.
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