I Love Betty Hutton!

Betty Hutton, that blond fireball that fueled wartime America in joy and song, is the most underrated, and almost forgotten, singing superstar from Hollywood's bygone era.

Entertainer of movies from the 40s and 50s, she was the biggest female star on the Paramount lot. Her exuberant singing style and comic interpretation of songs has not yet been duplicated. She costarred with all the big names: Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire and gave them all a run for their money in the laugh department. Her most memorable role may have been in Irving Berlin's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (1950).

ANNIE was her most sought-after role, but, as it turned out, it was the heartbreak of her life. Judy Garland was originally cast as Annie, but was removed from the role due to her addictions. The cast and crew, inexplicably, never "forgave" Betty for replacing Judy and made her stay intolerable.

She continued performing into the television era, with less and less enthusiasm and ambition.

Betty's later years were spent fighting addictions herself. Four failed marriages, loss of her millions, dispirited of life, Betty suffered a nervous breakdown in 1973. Restored to emotional well-being by Catholic Father Peter Maguire, Betty became a Catholic and gave her life wholeheartedly to the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing mattered anymore - she felt love and acceptance then, more than she ever received in Hollywood's heyday. She died in 2007, after enjoying renewed acclaim of her work.

In choosing her best song, I'm stymied! She's so talented in all the clips I've seen, how can you pick the best? Well, let's begin somewhere anyway.

Here's my initial all-time favorite that got me hooked on Hutton. Listen to the way she performs Cole Porter's lip-acrobatic-lyrics, "Let's Not Talk About Love" from LET'S FACE IT (1943).





Here's my other all-time favorite: "That's Loyalty" from RED, HOT AND BLUE (1949). Look at the way she uses every part of her body to tell the story, moving from graceful femininity to comic exuberance in a wink.



Finally, my third all-time favorite: "Doctor, Lawyer, Indian Chief" from THE STORK CLUB (1945). She is so enjoyable to watch, I could view these videos over and over again.




BONUS TRACK: Ay, what the hey. Here's another favorite: "His Rocking Horse Ran Away" from AND THE ANGELS SING (1944).




It's great to know that "this vitamin pill with legs," as Bob Hope called her, is in the Lord's presence now. (For more on Betty Hutton, go to her satinsandspurs website).

HOPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

One of the timeless joys of Christmastime I had growing up is something that today's youth no little of: a televised Christmas show with Bob Hope.

Quite often it might be a comedy special with noted celebrities, or it might be a performance before our servicemen during the Vietnam war.

I don't know if there's any modern-day entertainer who can rival Bob Hope for all that he's done for America. Jerry Lewis comes to mind, but he's the last from an era not to return again. In times of crisis, as this nation is presently in, where are the Bob Hopes? It seems that every major entertainer is critical of our nation and openly hostile to her.

If we ever needed a Bob Hope -- it's right now. So, it's time to recall Hope's legacy again. Even Bill O'Reilly last night ran a segment on Bob here.

The following is a segment from 2003's 100 YEARS OF HOPE AND HUMOR, celebrating Hope's centennial. Hope would die a few months after this airing.

This segment highlights Bob's heroism and sacrificial tours of duty for our armed forces.




The second part is a bit more sentimental and worth viewing. But it's probably a sign of the times that we don't have any noted celebrity that receives the kind of honor given Bob. Today's entertainers can learn a thing or two from him.

BOB HOPE STAMP

How I miss legendary comedian and entertainer Bob Hope, who died five years ago at age 100. Bob's career spanned the 20th century, having triumphed in every form of entertainment. His allegiance to the United States servicemen, entertaining them for half a century from World War II to Desert Storm, led Congress to award him an "honorary veteran" in 1997.

His memory is still with us, as the U.S. Post Office is set to unveil a first class commemorative stamp for Bob Hope today at Ellis Island. The stamp will be issued next Spring.

Linda Hope, Bob's daughter, will be among those gathered at the ceremony which will also rename Ellis Island Research Library to the Bob Hope Memorial Library. That's certainly a fit honor for Bob, who though he was as American as apple pie actually emigrated here from England.

Above is my autographed picture of Bob Hope, that I got when I sent him a fan mail when I was a young fellow.

Hope had the best delivery of any comedian and even as a boy I enjoyed his quick retorts and ad libs. I wanted to put this video up on election day to influence the election, but I forgot. Had I put it up, perhaps McCain-Palin would have won. Well, better late than never. Here's Bob in a great movie line with Paulette Goddard, Charlie Chaplin's third wife.