March 10, 2000

A lot of Hope over the years - THE COMMENTARY

By Joseph Planta

VANCOUVER -- Bob Hope is a legend. Film and television were his niches and comedy was his trade. Bob is living now in Palm Springs, hell he must be 98 by now and although his public appearances are seldom, his presence in the entertainment industry is unparalleled.

When we think of the Oscars, one of the things we think of immediately is the host. Later this month, Billy Crystal will host for his, I think, 7th appearance. Hope has appeared on the Oscar telecast more times than... anyone. He’s a comedy legend. Born in England, Hope is probably the only living American to have the United States Navy name a ship after him, receive five Oscars for humanitarian and service and be knighted by The Queen. He’s got a golf tournament named after him, plus he’s been palling around with every president since Roosevelt.

The one story that I remember and that exemplifies him the most, is one from the Oscars about nine years ago. If you’ll remember that far, the Gulf War was up and running in the Middle East, and as such the United States was involved. The Oscars, of all places was subject to having metal detectors and demeaning scanners for everyone attending to go through. Bob Hope was given official dispensation by the Department of Defence, saying Bob Hope is an institution like the American flag, and that no one puts Old Glory through a metal detector.

Bob Hope is a fixture at Christmas, with his Christmas shows, doing USO tours in Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East, wherever American boys and girls were stationed. His contributions to the United States in terms of show business and in the embedded culture of that country, have been uncountable, that you’d be silly to start now. Bob Hope is one of the best and if I was wearing a hat right now, I’d take it off to him. Not only me, but everyone.

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