Hope is dead

And not in the metaphorical sense
The news just came in about an hour ago. Bob Hope, legendary entertainer, has finally passed away, at the ripe old age of 100.

I guess we all knew it was coming. On his birthday, he reportedly said to his family: "I'm so old, they've cancelled my blood type." After George Burns had managed to hang on to see his 100th birthday, I had wondered if Bob would do the same. The recent birthday celebrations they held in his honour were something to watch. Though I cynically wondered if many of those wishing him well were of the opinion that he was just an old fogey, not worth their time.

It's a sad thing, but a lot of people don't seem to appreciate or realise that Bob Hope was timeless in the truest sense of the word. It didn't matter if you were a contemporary, a child of the 30's, 40's, 50's, 60's, 70's, or whatever. Bob Hope could make you laugh. He was incredibly quick witted, and had masterful delivery.

When I was very young, maybe 4 or 5, I remember thinking even then that so-called comedy fare, (in Black and White) like Laurel and Hardy or the 3 Stooges or the little rascals, or Charlie Chaplin, or Harold Lloyd, just left me cold. I didn't think they were funny at all. But Bob Hope and Bing Crosby in the Road movies were accessible to me, even at a very young age.

When I was older, in my teens, I saw a lot of his movies again, and appreciated them on a whole new level. In fact, all through my life it has been a constant for me, that if I see a Hope movie on the telly, I'll sit down and watch it and laugh.

One of my prize possessions is a collection of old Radio shows which were broadcast on the AFN during the war. (That's WWII for those who don't know.) And while shows like "The Whistler" our "You Bet Your Life" still have a certain charm and a few good moments not all of which are nostalgic, it is the Bob Hope shows that I listen to most regularly.

I know Bill Hicks used to joke that his father compared him to Bob Hope. "Bob Hope doesn't have to use the F-Word." "Yeah Dad, well Bob Hope doesn't have to play the shitholes that I do." I'd like to think that young comedians today still had some respect for their legendary elders. Not because they are old, but because in some cases they have earned it in spades. He's earned more awards than any other entertainer in history. Except he never received the one he most wanted - an Oscar for acting. I think the Oscars next year will feature him extensively. Too little too late, IMO.

I remember that when he was hosting it in 1968, he joked: "Welcome to the Academy Awards. Or as it's known in my house - Passover."

I'm a big fan of comedy. I don't think there's enough laughter in the world. And it doesn't matter if it's Richard Pryor, Bill Hicks, Sam Kinison, Groucho Marx, George Burns or Bob Hope. Intelligent witty humour should never go out of style.



posted by Manchild at 3:50 PM