Bob Hope Indians Button - What is this?
 

I recently picked up this button picturing Bob Hope in a Cleveland Indians uniform, I assume from when he was a part owner. Have any of you seen one of these before? Do you know what it is? I can tell you that the yellow part is plastic, and the picture is behind ribbed clear plastic. The picture and the clear plastic can be removed from the yellow rim.

Thanks.

Paul

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Bob Hope was a part owner of the Indians in the early '50's
his pal Bing Crosby was a part owner of the Pirates in the late 40's

Hi Paul,

I have one with a green rim that I picked up about 15 years ago. I always assumed it was a giveaway or a cheap trinket sold at NBC's or Paramount's gift shop.

These were actually 1951 "Magic Moving Picture Eye" cereal premiums packed into boxes of Kellogg's Pep (who sponsored The Adventures of Superman, Mark Trail, and Tom Corbett Space Cadet on the radio). There were purportedly 16 in the set although only fourteen are known to exist. The set includes an odd assortment of airplanes and celebrities, including Clyde Beatty, Bobby Riggs, William Holden and Mark Trail's Dog. The Hope piece is worth $35 in mint condition.

Thanks, Rick, that's great to know.

I was never a fan of the corny one liner Hope, but he liked him a lot in his 1930s-40s movies.

Bob Hope and Bing Crosby...
 

Police Gazette Cover August 1953

Seems like the appropriate time!
 

1940s card sent to Cleveland newspaper's radio critic:

http://s915.photobucket.com/albums/a...EXMASCARD1.jpghttp://s915.photobucket.com/albums/a...EXMASCARD2.jpg

Thank you Rick. There seems to be no end to the information available around here.

I had the same opinion until I saw him in person in the mid 1970s. He was incredible...quick ad libs, fantastic timing, not at all like the heavily-edited tv specials where he obviously read his cue cards. It's a shame they didn't have the HBO-style filmed performances back then so more people could appreciate his real talent today...but believe me, he was a fantastic comedian.

1963 SI Bob Hope
 

While we're on the subject, here's the 1963 SI issue with Bob Hope on the cover.

Can't . . . help . . . myself
 

Had to post my 1952-style Hope-Crosby creation . . .

Attachment 11992

Attachment 11993

I've also done 1953 style individual Hope and Crosby cards. You can find them by checking out my Photobucket albums linked below.

Thats a really cool card sir.

Bob.....you GOTTA get Topps to print those as inserts in one of their projects. They are just TOO good.

Thanks for the kind words . . .
 

. . . but if Topps used it for an insert, then EVERYBODY could get one. There are fewer than 18 of these ever made.

I like it Bob!
 

Hi Bob - being a fan of Hope and Crosby from their 'road' movie era - I think ya did a superb job - very nice.

Thanx for sharing.

http://s915.photobucket.com/albums/a...dtix/003-7.jpg "We approve, Mr. Lemke!"

Kellogg's pep "magic moving picture eyes"
 

Meant to post earlier but better late than never! From a 1951 comic book...

http://s915.photobucket.com/albums/a...orts/002-1.jpg

Good timing....I just sold one of the Bob Hope's on the B/S/T thread.

That's what reminded me, Dan...and I think that was a good price! I would still like to know whether they really issued 14 or 16 in the set.

I picked it up at the flea market yesterday, and probably would have overlooked it had I not remembered this thread. It was the only one in the guy's case. I've never seen any others and google is no help. I also own two books on premiums put out by Ted Hake and there are no Magic Eyes listed in either book.

Apparently the two in question...never seen...are the Gene Kelly and Jane Powell in the ad I posted. In later ads, they were replaced by William Holden and your Bob Hope.

Dan,
 

Dan,
Could you please let me know how much you sold it for and if you dont mind how much you bought it for...
Thanks
Travis

Travis, I sold it for $20....and bought it for much less.