U.S. Marines escorted the ladies down the Red Carpet. A huge Dragonfly and Dragon Knight on stilts walked among the crowd. Pattie Daly-Caruso interviewed the guests and celebrities as they arrived. The three young, beautiful Classic Girls were in fabulous gowns and posed for photos and always in the right order, BOB is Heather Hastings-Gorski, HOPE is Ashley DeWitt and CLASSIC is Jamie Lynn Strzelczyk.

The Rat Pack impersonators, “Frank Sinatra,” “Sammy Davis Jr.” and “Dean Martin,” greeted and posed for photos with the guests. A band played music focusing on nostalgic tunes from the Sinatra era. The Rat Pack entertained, one at a time and then all together. Emcee Tom Dreesen got on stage and joined them in a few songs. The guests all crowded around the stage to listen. They sounded and acted just like the original Rat Pack.

Arnold Palmer was the host for this 50th Golden Anniversary. He and his lovely wife Kit walked among the crowd and visited with everyone. Another mainstay to the Gala and the golf tournament is Hall of Fame legend Yogi Berra. Other celebrities playing in the golf tournament that attended the Gala were John O'Hurley, "Mr. Peterman” from the “Seinfeld” series and “Dancing with the Stars” fame, Mogul Skier Olympian Toby Dawson, Don Felder from the Eagles and Bob Hope Chrysler Classic golf winner, PGA pro Doug Saunders. Several members of the Bob Hope family also came to the Gala including son, Kelly Hope.

A lavish, brilliant fireworks display signaled the Gala’s start and the end of the cocktail party. All eyes were on the sky for the colorful explosion of light.

Master of Ceremonies Tom Dreesen got the party started. He introduced Tournament President John Foster. A video was shown with photos of previous years of the golf tournament.

Palmer narrated another video slideshow about the HOPE and Chairman of the Board and President Emeritus Ernie Dunlevie. Palmer and Dunlevie walked on stage where Palmer presented an inscribed watch to Dunlevie for his many years of service to the HOPE. Dunlevie gave a speech that had the audience in stitches. What a sense of humor he has. I wonder if he picked a lot of that up from the world’s best comedian, Bob Hope. They were friends for the many years of the tournament. Dreesen teased him about being the next comedian, Sheckey Dunlevie. Palmer was introduced as the man that made golf an everyman’s game. Palmer loved golf, but golf loved Palmer too and was grateful to have Palmer as its ambassador for the game. Palmer and Hope forever changed the game.

The evening’s entertainment was the "Blue-Eyed Soul" singer and songwriter, formerly a member of the Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald. He had several hits as a solo artist and recently performed at Morongo Casino. During his performance, he asked that anyone who would like to dance to come up and enjoy the music. Dancers were seen in front of the stage and on another dancing platform to the side.

This gala is at the same time as the Palm Springs International Film Festival’s closing party. The Hope Gala was sold out as it is always so well done and the place to be. Many thanks go to those that put it all together. Co-chairs Travis Erwin and Joan Lizza, Shari Keely Events, and the indispensable Pat Bennett deserve a great deal of credit for making this the success it is.

Special thanks go to the staff and management of the Renaissance Esmeralda for their assistance.

For more Pat Krause photos of the Gala, click here.

For more information about the Bob Hope Classic, click here.

For more information about Michael McDonald, click here.

For more information about the Renaissance Esmeralda, click here.