A Foy Boy in Handmedowns!

Before television, movies, and even universal radio, Eddie Foy (1856-1928) became popular as a Vaudevillian actor who toured the U.S. entertaining thousands. After many years of a very successful one-man show, he eventually made the tough decision to add his two girls and five boys to his national traveling tour. His beautiful and talented, Italian wife had died in 1910. With that, he decided the best way to care for his children was to take them along the road with him. With patience and hard work, he discovered they were all very talented.

The multi-talented Bob Hope took on Foy's persona in the 1955 musical, The Seven Little Foys. This real life story of Eddie Foy was an instant hit. 

In one memorable scene, Foy, his boys and girls were traveling by train to the next stop on one of their tours. He had procured a sleeper car for the kids. One scene had the boys getting ready for bed. As any youngest child knows, hand-me-downs from older siblings are accepted as a way of life. And so it was for the smallest tot of the Foy family.

In getting everyone down for the night in night clothes and with brushed teeth .... 

 

....Foy's littlest boy soon appeared, coming to him for help. The tyke needed assistance getting changed into his well worn union suit. His four older brothers, no doubt, wore and wore out the long underwear before the garment was given to him! 

His union suit rear flap needed serious attention! 

 

Dad was flummoxed. The button wouldn't stay buttoned... 

 

Never fear! The oldest brother came to the rescue. He'd help. 

That boy, most likely, had been the first to wear the now scruffy union suit to sleep in.

 

Finally, all buttoned up, the boys finally made it to their quarters for a good night's sleep. The show would go on.  

Special thanks to Hope Enterprises and Paramount Pictures and to the streaming services who provide this and other entertaining Bob Hope Movies, documentaries, and televisionshows.