Bob Hope and Bing Crosby made several movies together. Their “Road to…” movies were popular in the 1940’s including during World War II.  Dorothy Lamour usually appeared with the comedian and crooner in the films.  In 1942, “Road to Morocco” was released and in 1945 “Road to Utopia” came to theaters.

During the war, many stars toured the country to promote war bonds. Bob Hope was performing across the country and overseas, becoming well known for his dedication to entertaining the troops.

Bing Crosby and Bob Hope came to Brookhaven in 1943 for a golf match fundraiser. The match was held at Capital City Club, formerly known as Brookhaven Country Club, to benefit the Red Cross Ambulance Corps.  Bing Crosby and Ed Dudley played as a team against Bob Hope and Johnny Bulla on a Sunday afternoon in May.  

Johnny Bulla was a former professional golfer who had become an Eastern Air Lines pilot. Ed Dudley was the current president of the PGA. Bulla performed trick shots at 2:30 p.m. and the golf match started at 3 p.m.

Both Hope and Crosby usually shot in the 70’s. Bob Hope had been busy putting on shows for various military camps, but practicing golf whenever possible. Crosby qualified and played in the National Amateur tournament at Winged Foot, Mamaroneck, New York a couple of years previous. (Atlanta Constitution, “Dudley, Bulla to Share Spot on Bill Today,” May 30, 1943)

Golf fans and movie fans showed up to watch the match at Capital City. Over $300,000 in Bonds were sold after the match.  Bing Crosby sang “White Christmas” which helped fans open their wallets and donate. There was also an auction of Bing Crosby’s records and golf balls used during the match. Bing was two under par on the front nine and even on the back. (Atlanta Constitution, May 31, 1943, “More Than 10,000 See Crosby and Dudley Win”)

Over ten thousand spectators showed up for the golf match. Plenty of shots ended up landing among the spectators during the golf match.  At the end of the day, Bob Hope and Johnny Bulla won 2 to 1.

Service men were able to buy tickets to the golf match for half price, 55 cents. The list of places where tickets could be purchased included many of the big retail establishments at the time, such as Davison-Paxon, Rich’s, Reeder-McGaughey, Zachry’s, J. P. Allen’s, George Muse Clothing Company.  Tickets could also be purchased at the Capital City Club and Atlanta Athletic Clubs, as well as the Georgian Terrace, Biltmore, Ansley, Henry Grady, Piedmont, Robert Fulton and Atlantan hotels.

In 1944, it was Bob Hope and Johnny Bulla versus Bobby Jones and Watts Gunn to benefit the Sixth War Loan Drive. The Tuesday night before the fundraiser golf match Bob Hope performed and broadcast his regular Tuesday night television show from Fort McPherson. The Atlanta Constitution reported $1 million in bonds sold following that match.

Bob Hope was at Lawson General Hospital in Chamblee in December of 1944. He wrote about his visit for the Atlanta Constitution. Many patients at Lawson were amputees and one of those patients asked Hope to autograph his legs. The young man’s legs had been amputated above the knee. Hope realized the young soldier was asking him to sign his artificial legs “on the leather part so it would not rub off.” (Atlanta Constitution, December 3, 1944, “One Spin About Lawson, says Hope and One Needs No Plea to Buy Bonds.”)

Hope was moved by the young men at Lawson, saying “The spirit of these boys is unbelievable. They haven’t stopped fighting. I wish the whole country could take a spin around Lawson General hospital and they would never have to be pleaded with to invest in their own country.”

Read about Dorothy Lamour’s 1942 war bond appearance in Decatur here.