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Hope laid to rest

Bob Hope, who performed for millions of people in his career, was buried Wednesday after a private funeral Mass attended by about 100.

"There was a short Scripture reading at the cemetery, then all of us gave one final standing ovation and we left," said Johnny Grant, the honorary mayor of Hollywood, who accompanied Hope on countless United Service Organizations tours to entertain U.S. troops overseas.

Details of the funeral were a closely guarded family secret. Daughter Linda Hope joked Monday that her father was recently asked by his wife, Dolores, where he wanted to be buried and the wisecracking Hope responded, "Surprise me."

The 100-year-old comedian, who triumphed in vaudeville, radio, television and films, died Sunday of pneumonia.

After a 6 a.m. Mass celebrated at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, a few blocks west of Hope's Toluca Lake estate, a hearse led a procession to the San Fernando Mission Cemetery.

SEE HOPE'S "ROAD PICTURES' AND MORE: TV offers plenty of tributes today to Bob Hope.

Turner Classic Movies (TCM): 11 a.m.: The Road to Hong Kong (1962); 1 p.m.: A Global Affair (1964); 2:30 p.m.: Call Me Bwana (1963); 4:15 p.m.: I'll Take Sweden (1965); 6 p.m.: Bachelor in Paradise (1961).

American Movie Classics (AMC): 7:10 a.m.: Bob Hope: The Road to the Top (1998 TV special); 8:10 a.m.: How to Commit Marriage (1969); 10:05 a.m.: Paris Holiday (1958); 12:15 p.m.: Road to Bali (1953); 2:10 p.m.: The Seven Little Foys (1955); 4:05 p.m.: Son of Paleface (1952); 6:05 p.m.: The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell (1968).

Hundreds of thousands of revelers gathered Wednesday at a star-studded outdoor bash, headlined by the Rolling Stones, aimed at showing Toronto is free of SARS and ready to rock.

Organizers estimated the crowd at approximately half a million people, and Mick Jagger told reporters before hitting the stage it would be the band's largest gig, ever, in its rollicking 40-year history. "It's a big day for Toronto," the rocker said.

More than 400,000 tickets at $16 each were sold for the 11-hour show. Hundreds spent the night outside the former military airfield north of downtown Toronto and rushed in when gates opened to be near a huge stage.

Organizers hope the concert will revive tourism in Canada, particularly in Toronto, where two springtime outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome devastated the crucial industry.