Time Machine: January 19 in regional history
![Bob Hope was a big attraction in Augusta in 1949. [New York Public Library Collection.]](/gcdn/authoring/2020/01/18/NAUG/ghows-GA-d9ac5271-1b29-450c-adef-c05371c2074a-c1a87eb8.jpeg?width=456&height=328&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
JAN. 19, 1949
When comedian Bob Hope appeared at Augusta's Municipal Auditorium, a crowd packed in to see him.
A big crowd.
"Shortage of seats finds Hope audience clogging fire exits," The Augusta Chronicle reported the next morning. "Hundreds of persons who purchased tickets ... were unable to get seats due to the great crowd, which packed the place. It was easily the largest crowd to ever assemble at the auditorium."
They filled the aisles and jammed fire exits to see not only Hope, but also actress Doris Day, Les Brown and his band and an actress named Irene Ryan who would later gain fame as "Granny" on “The Beverly Hillbillies” TV show.
Hope had come to town as part of an earlier appearance on Broad Street to help raise money for the March of Dimes.