To comedians, 'material'--their jokes--has always been precious, worthy of protecting and preserving. On stage, a good vaudeville routine could last years as it was performed on tour across the country. On radio, a year's vaudeville material might be fodder for one week's broadcast. Bob Hope used new material not only for his weekly radio series, but also for the several live charity appearances he made each week. Organized by the stages of his life, accompanied by black-and-white photographs, this book gives readers a chance to enjoy the very best of Hope's jokes, from his early years in vaudeville, his top-rated radio show in the '30s and '40s, his legendary television appearances, and much more.
Bob Hope was never a great favorite of mine. And this though like every American movie- going and later television- watching child of my time I spent a lot of time watching him fool around with Bing and Dotty Lamour. Bob was a bit of a wise- guy and a bit cold somehow. He lacked the warmth of favorites like Uncle Miltie and Jack Benny and Amos and Andy. But as the years went by I began to appreciate him a bit more. And this especially when he became much older and became almost the sole survivor of a whole generation of American comedians. This joke- book compiled by his daughter gives jokes, decade by decade, ten chapters for ten decades of his one- hundred year old life. While there is not much laughing out-loud material there are quite a few smiles to be gotten out of this collection. There is also the story of a self- made hardworking kid who really made it big in America and appreciated it very much. And did work hard to give it back. Thanks for the memories, Mr. Hope.
The forest gump of bob hope
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
Having met Bob Hope, I was really pleased how this one turned out. It was the biography of Bob through his jokes. It was really funny and well done. The cool thing about it was going through each stage and found the 10 year jokes were just great. If you ever watched Forest Gump then this is what it was like for me. There were things happening during each stage that Bob joked about that told the story of the time but also about how people lived during those times. Great book.
This book puts a smile on your face.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
BOB HOPE: MY LIFE IN JOKES by Bob Hope with Linda Hopewas written just before the great comedian's death . . . it presents his best jokes and comic anecdotes, organized by the stages of his life.Each of the ten chapters corresponds to a decade in his amazing career . . . I liked the fact that the jokes were often preceded by mini-blurbs about what was happening during that time and, also, that there were pictures of Hope in front of each of chapter (showing how he looked over the years).Hope's jokes rarely made me laugh out loud . . . though, thatsaid, they did put a smile on my face as I read them--and doagain as I share the following with you:I was really good to my mother. Whenever there was any woodto be chopped . . . I'd run right out and sharpen her axe.Bowling has one advantage over golf. You rarely lose a ball.I play golf in the eighties. Any hotter I won't play.You'll like this book [his autobiography, HAVE TUX, WILL TRAVEL]. It starts out by telling all my good points, all my achievements, and gives the entire history of my education. . . . The second page is good, too.Well, the [1992] election campaign in the country is picking up speed. The voters are yawning faster. All the candidates are talking about health care now. Don't they realize that it's their campaign speeches that make us sick? . . . You know, we could wipe out the federal deficit if there was a tax on campaign promises.Age is only a number. However, in my case, it is a rather largenumber.The best way to look young is to hang out with older people. . . . For met, that's getting harder and harder to do.
GREAT BOOK!!
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
this is a great book. it tells bob hope's life story and tells you many of his jokes as well which only ads to his already fascinating rags to riches story.
Best History of the Twentieth Century I Ever Read.
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
Bob Hope came with a bunch of pretty girls and good musicians to play for me and about a jillion other lonesome GI's so I am predisposed to like the man and this review might not be perfectly objective. He told us jokes that hit right straight home. This book is full of those jokes and each chapter is headed by a little history just to set things straight. He just about covers the whole last century right down the the exposed wire. There is no prejudice or meanness... just the naked truth. He never overlooked any of the facts of the matter. It is, indeed, the best history of the twentieth century I ever read. Thank's for the memories, kind sir... and happy birthday.
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