Bob Hope: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Bob Hope's rapid-fire monologue was built in Cleveland amateur nights, Midwest vaudeville circuits and network radio before it became film, television and seven decades of USO stages. This mix traces the vaudeville monologists and silent clowns he learned from, the Crosby partnership that defined his songbook, and the hosts and comics who inherited his timing.

The Kynda mix for Bob Hope

• Key Influence · The Kid by Charlie Chaplin (1921). As a Cleveland teenager Hope entered — and by his own frequent telling won — a Charlie Chaplin imitation contest, one of his first paid appearances before any professional booking. The Tramp was the model for a generation of American stage comics, and Hope's early vaudeville work leaned on physical mimicry and dance before his talk took over. The Kid is Chaplin at the hinge of slapstick and sentiment, the mix Hope later worked in film.ersatz none.-
• Influencia Obscura · The Show of Shows by Frank Fay (1929). Frank Fay is the forgotten father of stand-up: the first big-time vaudeville headliner to walk out with no props, no costume and nothing but conversational patter and withering self-regard. Hope, working the same circuits, absorbed that cool, unhurried address to the house. Fay hosts Warners' all-star revue The Show of Shows in exactly that style — the clearest surviving film record of the technique Hope and Jack Benny both industrialized.
• Local Roots · Of Mice and Men by Burgess Meredith (1939). Meredith grew up in Cleveland in the same years Hope was selling papers, boxing as "Packy East" and dancing in amateur shows — two Cleveland boys who reached Hollywood by opposite routes, one through the Group Theatre, the other through tab vaudeville. Hope always identified as a Clevelander despite the Eltham birth certificate. Meredith's George is the dramatic face of that same Depression-era Midwestern pipeline into pictures.
• Beyond the Medium · Guys and Dolls by Damon Runyon (1931). Runyon's Broadway stories codified the wise-guy American vernacular — present tense, gambler's slang, cowardice dressed as swagger — that Hope's radio writers mined for his monologue voice and that the Road pictures turned into dialogue. The hustler who talks big and folds fast is a Runyon type before it is a Hope type. These stories are the prose source of the idiom that fed Broadway, Hollywood and network comedy alike.
• Peer · The Jack Benny Program by Jack Benny (1932). Benny and Hope were the two titans of network radio comedy, both graduates of big-time vaudeville, both running writers' rooms that manufactured a persona — Benny's vanity and cheapness against Hope's cowardice and bragging. They guested on each other's shows for decades and traded insult routines on television. Benny's program is the other model of how a vaudevillian turned a character into a broadcasting institution.
• From the Canon · Thanks for the Memory by Bob Hope (1938). The Ralph Rainger and Leo Robin song Hope sang with Shirley Ross in The Big Broadcast of 1938 won the Academy Award and became his lifelong theme — played on every radio show, every television special and every USO closing for sixty-five years. It also reveals the half of Hope people forget: a light, conversational singer who could play a lyric for rue rather than laughs. The career's signature artifact.
• Key Collaborator · White Christmas by Bing Crosby (1942). The partnership began with a 1932 Capitol Theatre stage bill in New York and ran through seven Road pictures, countless radio crossovers, golf benefits and specials — the most productive double act in American show business. Hope's bragging coward only works against Crosby's unbothered ease. This Irving Berlin record is the other man's monument, the best-selling single ever made, and the measure of the voice Hope spent decades heckling.
• Legacy · Play It Again, Sam by Woody Allen (1972). Allen has named Hope repeatedly as the comic who shaped his own screen persona, even assembling a Hope film-clip compilation for a Lincoln Center tribute and admitting his early performances were close to imitation. The cowardly, boastful, romantically hopeless wisecracker Allen plays here is a direct transplant of the Road pictures' Hope into 1970s Manhattan, right down to the fantasy conversations with an idealized tough guy.

What influenced Bob Hope

• Charlie Chaplin. Hope performed a prize-winning impersonation of Chaplin. (also via The Kid, The Great Dictator) “He entered numerous dancing and amateur talent contests as Lester Hope, and won a prize in 1915 for his impersonation of Charlie Chaplin .” (Wikipedia)
• The Kid by Charlie Chaplin (1921). The Kid (Charlie Chaplin) — titan for Bob Hope “He entered numerous dancing and amateur talent contests as Lester Hope, and won a prize in 1915 for his impersonation of Charlie Chaplin.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Guys and Dolls. Guys and Dolls (Damon Runyon) — culture for Bob Hope “Subsequent remakes include Sorrowful Jones (1949) with Bob Hope and Lucille Ball; 40 Pounds of Trouble (1962) with Tony Curtis, and Little Miss Marker (1980) with Walter Matthau, Julie Andrews, Bob Newhart and Curtis.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Anything Goes by Cole Porter. Anything Goes (Cole Porter) — culture for Bob Hope “Red, Hot and Blue (1936), featuring Merman, Jimmy Durante and Bob Hope, ran for 183 performances and introduced "It's De-Lovely", "Down in the Depths (on the Ninetieth Floor)", and "Ridin' High".” (en.wikipedia.org)
• A Connecticut Yankee by Will Rogers (1931). A Connecticut Yankee (Will Rogers) — titan for Bob Hope “Bob Hope is the best known political humorist to follow Rogers's example.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Show of Shows by Frank Fay (1929). The Show of Shows (Frank Fay) — ghost for Bob Hope (themoviedb.org)
• Whoopee! by Eddie Cantor (1930). Whoopee! (Eddie Cantor) — titan for Bob Hope
• The Cook by Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle (1918). The Cook (Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle) — ghost for Bob Hope
• The Great Dictator by Charlie Chaplin. The Great Dictator (Charles Chaplin) — culture for Bob Hope

Peers and kindred spirits

• Bing Crosby. Critic notes Hope and Crosby starring together in the film The Road to Hong Kong. (also via Thanks for the Memory, White Christmas) “Hope and Crosby teamed not only for the "Road" pictures, but for many stage, radio, and television appearances and many brief movie appearances together over the decades [ 38 ] until Crosby died in 1977.” (Wikipedia)
• Dolores Hope. Dolores co-starred with Hope in Roberta. “Dolores Hope became famous for singing during her husband’s shows, notably a 1966 Christmas show in Vietnam where her version of “Silent Night” brought many to tears.” (United Service Organizations)
• Brooke Shields. Shields is named among Hope's Silver Bells duet partners. “I think it was around in 82 when I started working with Mr. Hope and and he started only every school break, every Christmas special, every birthday show, every tour.” (American Masters Digital Archive)
• Dorothy Lamour (1914). Establishes Dorothy Lamour as recurring co-star with Hope and Crosby in the Road film series. (also via The Jungle Princess) “As a film star, Hope was best known for such comedies as My Favorite Brunette and the highly successful " Road " movies in which he starred with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour .” (Wikipedia)
• Lucille Ball. Lucille Ball collaborated with Bob Hope on two feature films before I Love Lucy. “And I mean, and what other world would I have gotten to work with Lucille Ball?” (American Masters Digital Archive)
• Tony Bennett (1926). Bob Hope discovered Bennett, gave him his stage name, and boosted his career. “Hope decided to take Benedetto on the road with him and shortened his name to Tony Bennett.” (Wikipedia)
• Grace Louise Troxell. Troxell was Hope's vaudeville partner. “Erie County Courthouse documents indicate Hope wed vaudeville partner Grace Louise Troxell on Jan. 25, 1933” (Deseret News / Associated Press)
• Johnny Carson. Carson appeared as the villain in Hope's special Joys!. (also via The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson) “Likely the most unusual of his television specials was Joys! , a parody of murder mystery narratives, where the audience discovers at the end of the broadcast that Johnny Carson was the villain.” (Wikipedia)
• Olivia Newton-John (1948). Newton-John is named among Hope's Silver Bells duet partners. “Olivia performs I Honestly Love You and a Silver Bells duet with Bob Hope” (Only Olivia)
• Zsa Zsa Gabor. Gabor appeared as a guest on Bob Hope specials. “Why have you come to see me, Bob? Is it about my being on your radio show?” (Vintage Radio Vault)
• Phyllis Diller (1917). Bob Hope was Diller's mentor and co-star. (also via Boy, Did I Get a Wrong Number!) “became famous after co-starring with her mentor Bob Hope , who described her as "a Warhol mobile of spare parts picked up along a freeway."” (Wikipedia)
• The Facts of Life. Bob Hope co-stars with Lucille Ball in The Facts of Life. “a new movie which co stars Bob Hope” (Evening Star (Washington, D.C.))
• The Jack Benny Program by Jack Benny (1950). The Jack Benny Program (Jack Benny) — peer for Bob Hope “He also made several appearances on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast in his final 18 months, roasting Ronald Reagan, Johnny Carson, Bob Hope and Lucille Ball, in addition to himself being roasted in February 1974.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Red Skelton Show by Red Skelton (1951). The Red Skelton Show (Red Skelton) — peer for Bob Hope “When his announcer Rod O'Connor and he began talking about Fred Allen being censored the previous week, they were silenced for 15 seconds; comedian Bob Hope was given the same treatment once he began referring to the censoring of Allen.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• White Christmas by Bing Crosby (1942). White Christmas (Bing Crosby) — collaborator for Bob Hope “musical comedy films with Bing Crosby as his partner.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Lloyd Durbin. Hope and Durbin formed a performing partnership. “Hope then formed a partnership with Lloyd Durbin, a friend from the dancing school.” (Wikipedia)
• George Byrne. Byrne performed with Hope in the Dancemedians. “Within a year, Hope had formed an act called the "Dancemedians" with George Byrne and the Hilton Sisters , conjoined twins who performed a tap-dancing routine on the vaudeville circuit.” (Wikipedia)
• Hilton Sisters. The Hilton Sisters performed with Hope in the Dancemedians. “Within a year, Hope had formed an act called the "Dancemedians" with George Byrne and the Hilton Sisters , conjoined twins who performed a tap-dancing routine on the vaudeville circuit.” (Wikipedia)
• Fanny Brice. Hope appeared with Brice in the 1936 Ziegfeld Follies. “Stints in the musicals Say When , the 1936 Ziegfeld Follies with Fanny Brice , and Red, Hot and Blue with Ethel Merman and Jimmy Durante followed.” (Wikipedia)
• Ethel Merman. Hope appeared with Merman in Red, Hot and Blue. “Stints in the musicals Say When , the 1936 Ziegfeld Follies with Fanny Brice , and Red, Hot and Blue with Ethel Merman and Jimmy Durante followed.” (Wikipedia)
• Jimmy Durante. Hope appeared with Durante in Red, Hot and Blue. “Stints in the musicals Say When , the 1936 Ziegfeld Follies with Fanny Brice , and Red, Hot and Blue with Ethel Merman and Jimmy Durante followed.” (Wikipedia)
• W. C. Fields. Hope and Fields starred in The Big Broadcast of 1938. “Hope moved to Hollywood when Paramount Pictures signed him for the 1938 film The Big Broadcast of 1938 , also starring W. C. Fields .” (Wikipedia)
• Shirley Ross. Hope sang Thanks for the Memory as a duet with Ross. “The song " Thanks for the Memory ", which later became his trademark, was introduced in the film as a duet with Shirley Ross , accompanied by Shep Fields and his orchestra.” (Wikipedia)
• Shep Fields. Hope collaborated with Fields on radio broadcasts. “Serving as the master of ceremonies for these Rippling Rhythm Revue radio broadcasts, Hope collaborated with the big band leader Shep Fields during this period of transition from vaudeville to radio.” (Wikipedia)
• Jerry Colonna. Colonna was a regular on Hope's radio series. “Regulars on the series included Jerry Colonna and Barbara Jo Allen as spinster Vera Vague.” (Wikipedia)
• Barbara Jo Allen. Allen was a regular on Hope's radio series. “Regulars on the series included Jerry Colonna and Barbara Jo Allen as spinster Vera Vague.” (Wikipedia)
• Mel Shavelson. Shavelson was on Hope's original radio writing staff. “He hired eight writers and paid them out of his salary of $2,500 a week. The original staff included Mel Shavelson , Norman Panama , Jack Rose , Sherwood Schwartz , and Schwartz's brother Al .” (Wikipedia)
• Norman Panama. Panama was on Hope's original radio writing staff. “He hired eight writers and paid them out of his salary of $2,500 a week. The original staff included Mel Shavelson , Norman Panama , Jack Rose , Sherwood Schwartz , and Schwartz's brother Al .” (Wikipedia)
• Jack Rose. Rose was on Hope's original radio writing staff. “He hired eight writers and paid them out of his salary of $2,500 a week. The original staff included Mel Shavelson , Norman Panama , Jack Rose , Sherwood Schwartz , and Schwartz's brother Al .” (Wikipedia)
• Sherwood Schwartz. Schwartz was on Hope's original radio writing staff. “He hired eight writers and paid them out of his salary of $2,500 a week. The original staff included Mel Shavelson , Norman Panama , Jack Rose , Sherwood Schwartz , and Schwartz's brother Al .” (Wikipedia)
• Joan Collins. Collins starred in a Road film with Hope. “After an 11-year hiatus from the "Road" genre, he and Crosby reteamed for The Road to Hong Kong (1962), starring the 28-year-old Joan Collins in place of Lamour, whom Crosby thought was too old for the part.” (Wikipedia)
• Don Ameche. Hope co-starred with Ameche in A Masterpiece of Murder. “Although he retired from starring in feature films after Cancel My Reservation , he made several cameos in films and co-starred with Don Ameche in the television film A Masterpiece of Murder (1986).” (Wikipedia)
• Tony Danza. Danza helped Hope present his final television special. “His final television special, Laughing with the Presidents , was broadcast in November 1996, with host Tony Danza helping him present a personal retrospective of presidents of the United States known to Hope, a frequent White House visit…” (Wikipedia)
• Ann-Margret. Ann-Margret accompanied Hope on a USO tour. “However, during the highly controversial Vietnam War , Hope had trouble convincing some performers to join him on tour, but he was accompanied on at least one USO tour by Ann-Margret .” (Wikipedia)
• Elizabeth Taylor. Hope and Taylor cohosted a benefit. “In February 1986, he joined Elizabeth Taylor , to cohost a benefit for American Foundation for AIDS Research and the Arizona AIDS Fund Trust in Scottsdale, AZ .” (Wikipedia)
• Barbara Mandrell. Mandrell is named among Hope's Silver Bells duet partners. “Hope's Christmas specials were popular favorites and often featured a performance of " Silver Bells "—from his 1951 film The Lemon Drop Kid —done as a duet with an often much younger female guest star such as Barbara Mandrell , Olivia Ne…” (Wikipedia)
• Barbara Eden. Eden is named among Hope's Silver Bells duet partners. “Hope's Christmas specials were popular favorites and often featured a performance of " Silver Bells "—from his 1951 film The Lemon Drop Kid —done as a duet with an often much younger female guest star such as Barbara Mandrell , Olivia Ne…” (Wikipedia)
• Mickey Rooney. Shields names Rooney among the performers she worked with on Hope’s shows. “And, I mean, in what other world would I have gotten to work with Lucille Ball, you know, I mean, Mickey Rooney, you know, all these, so many people just by being on his shows.” (American Masters)
• Duck Soup by Groucho Marx (1933). Duck Soup (Groucho Marx) — peer for Bob Hope “Marx was scheduled to appear on a radio show with Bob Hope.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Jungle Princess by Dorothy Lamour (1936). The Jungle Princess (Dorothy Lamour) — collaborator for Bob Hope “As a film star, Hope was best known for such comedies as My Favorite Brunette and the highly successful "Road" movies in which he starred with Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour.” (en.wikipedia.org)

…and 4 more on the map above.

Who Bob Hope influenced

• Woody Allen. Zoglin reports that Allen repeatedly named Hope as his foremost influence. (also via Play It Again, Sam) “I had more pleasure looking at Hope's films than making any film I've ever made,” (TIME)
• Sleeper. Zoglin connects the characters in Sleeper to Hope's comic persona. “Part of what I like about him is that flippant, Californian, obsessed-with-golf striding through life. His not caring about the serious side at all. That's very seductive to me. I would feel fine making a picture like Sleeper tomorrow” (TIME)
• Richard Pryor (1940). Article states Bob Hope was among Pryor's influences. “Red Skelton , Abbott and Costello , Jerry Lewis , Dean Martin , Jack Benny , Bob Hope ,” (Wikipedia)
• George Carlin (1937). Carlin names Bob Hope as a childhood aspirational model. “my dream was to be like Danny Kaye in the movies or to be like Bob Hope in the movies.” (Fresh Air (NPR/WHYY))
• Play It Again, Sam by Woody Allen (1972). Play It Again, Sam (Woody Allen) — legacy for Bob Hope “== Influence == In an interview on NPR, Terry Gross said, "Woody Allen and Conan O'Brien are two of the people who have referred to Bob Hope as influences.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson by Johnny Carson (1962). The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (Johnny Carson) — legacy for Bob Hope “Likely the most unusual of his television specials was Joys!, a parody of murder mystery narratives, where the audience discovers at the end of the broadcast that Johnny Carson was the villain.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Mr. Saturday Night by Billy Crystal (1992). Mr. Saturday Night (Billy Crystal) — legacy for Bob Hope “His nine times is second only to Bob Hope's 19 in most ceremonies hosted.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Stephen Colbert. Colbert paid tribute to Hope by using Hope's characteristic stage prop. “In an homage to Hope, comedian/TV host Stephen Colbert carried a golf club on stage during the week of USO performances he taped for his TV show The Colbert Report during the 2009 season.” (Wikipedia)
• Conan O'Brien (1963). O'Brien cites Hope as an influence after recognizing Hope's contribution to Allen's comic persona. “Conan O'Brien also cited Hope as an influence saying, "I loved Woody Allen. And Woody Allen says, oh, I love Bob Hope, he really influenced me. And I thought, what are you talking about? How did Bob Hope influence you in any way?...Then …” (Wikipedia)
• Dan Aykroyd. Aykroyd drew on classic ghost comedies as inspiration. (via The Ghost Breakers) “Bob Hope ( The Ghost Breakers , 1940) and the Bowery Boys ( Ghost Chasers , 1951)” (Wikipedia)