The US: The only person missing from Bob Hope's official 100th birthday celebrations in Los Angeles yesterday was the great 20th-century entertainer himself.
Nearly deaf and partly blind, Hope has not been seen in public for three years. But true to form he came up with a new one-liner, telling relatives: "I'm so old they've cancelled my blood type."
The family organised a small party at his suburban Toluca Lake home for former colleagues, followed by a quiet dinner with his wife Dolores (94) and their four children and four grandchildren.
Dolores Hope came up with a one-liner herself, saying: "Yes, there will be a birthday cake with 100 candles, with a fireman standing by with a fire extinguisher."
As he marked the day quietly, Hollywood's mayor, Mr Johnny Grant, designated the intersection of Hollywood and Vine "Bob Hope Square", and a fleet of second World War vintage aircraft flew overhead.
Up to 40 US states, including California, proclaimed yesterday "Bob Hope Day" and Los Angeles declared the British-born master of repartee to be "Citizen of the Century."
All day there were affectionate tributes and reruns of classic film scenes on television, and cards and flowers piled up at his home from regular fans such as Queen Elizabeth II and Henry Kissinger.
Many tributes came from retired members of the military whom Hope entertained in the second World War, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War.
His daughter, Linda, said: "We are overwhelmed by the outpouring of love, admiration and best wishes given Dad by the American public."
The comedian's last public appearance was in 2000 when he opened the Bob Hope Gallery of American Entertainment in Washington. Since then he has suffered gastro-intestinal bleeding and pneumonia.
A friend of 11 US presidents, Hope was once approached to run for president himself.