July 31 2003 -
Bob Hope - Jul 31st 2003, From The Economist print edition,
Leslie Townes (Bob) Hope, comedian, died on July 27th, aged 100, THE
song most associated with Bob Hope was “Thanks for the Memory”, which he
first sang in a film called “The Big Broadcast” in 1938. He made it his
theme tune, adapting its originally bittersweet words to the needs of
the time. So in the second world war he was introducing his act with,
“Thanks to our brave allies/ You gallant Russian bear/ You British
everywhere...” As Russians became less gallant and British influence
shrank, the words were changed. Topicality was always one of his
strengths. But Bob Hope himself seemed to remain the same...
TOP
