Grand Rapids was buzzing with excitement back in 1981 leading up to the September 18, 1981 dedication of the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum.
On the night before the official dedication ceremony, an All-Star Celebration Gala was held at the DeVos Performance Hall with Bob Hope serving as master of ceremonies. The event was taped and shown later as a Bob Hope Special for NBC on October 22, 1981. The list of entertainers that took part in the television tribute to Gerald Ford included Pearl Bailey, Debby Boone, Foster Brooks, Glen Campbell, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Orlando, Mark Russell, and Danny Thomas. For a complete list, visit imbd.com.
Here is a video of the opening segment of that special. It features the University of Michigan Marching Band…
If you’d like more information on visiting the museum, here is the official website.
Source: Scott Winters, “Dedication of the Gerald Ford Museum Festivities”, WFGR, September 17, 2018.