There is no small irony in the fact that the song “Thanks for the Memory” is so closely linked to the remarkable career of Bob Hope. That is what the comedian, star of movies and television, and Oscar host has become: a memory, and a distant one at that.
In his useful and informative book The Bob Hope Films, James L. Neibaur reflects that, at one time, conventional wisdom held that Hope (1903–2003) would prove as enduring in the popular imagination as Elvis Presley or Charlie Chaplin. “However,” Neibaur admits, “there are indeed young people during the 21st century who may not have heard of Bob Hope.” Hope’s fate is closer to that of, say, Jack Benny or Will Rogers, performers whose many talents and obvious charm have been lost on recent generations.
Comments