Why Is He Reviled By So Many?
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scamper67 — 16 years ago(August 01, 2009 12:38 AM)
This post really isn't just about Bob Hope, it's about anyone famous who has had trash written about them (truth or not).
If Hope did have an affair, I would say that the only one who has a right to call him on that would be his wife, or do extramarital affairs only happen to the rich and famous and not to us common ordinary everyday folk? I am not defending his actions, but rather his right to a private life.
As for the comments on rudeness, we only hear things out of context that are all to often set in a different tone, depending on how bad or good the person telling it wants it to sound. There are many actors and actresses out there that I am a big fan of but I don't live in a fantasy world and expect them to be perfect and always on their best behavior, that is more than what I can accomplish so I have no right to ask/demand it of anyone else.
So I encourage anyone who was once a fan of Mr. Hope or anyone else but have been put off by rumors, let them be and just enjoy the talent the man had that brought a smile or some laughter to your life, because when it's all said and done, that's all that really counts right?
To you Bob Hope, though you are no longer with us, thanks for the laughter, the memories, and to all your selfless work to entertain our troops, I salute you. -
physics101 — 15 years ago(August 13, 2010 11:54 AM)
Here's a very simple answer. Many of us born in the 50's and 60's, perhaps even the 40's, were forced to watch his shows. We didn't understand his significance to our parents and resented it.
Add in politics, and you have it.
Some people may have known about his alleged "disrespect" to pursuing fans, but frankly, you can't expect someone of his fame to sign autographs for everyone or to stop and talk to everyone. Celebrities simply do not have to accommodate the public every second of the day.
The mention above from the waiter claiming Hope was cheap in tipping is a common complaint from waiters in general - and completely anonymous, by the way. Hope was born in what? 1903 or 04? You don't suppose he had different values than people in the 50's? What did people tip in the 20s? 5%? 10%? 1%? I'm a little tired of waiters complaining that people don't tip, to be quite truthful. Customers owe them nothing to begin with. So to complain that someone doesn't tip "enough" is hypocritical. (And don't every waiter in the world complain, TIPS - to insure prompt service - was simply a way to get an advantage over other customers when it started. It got translated into a "right" in some f5b4olks minds. Like the time I went to a brunch buffet with my family of 4 and we all served ourselves and then had a 15% "tip" tacked onto the bill (no notice of that in any manner, by the way) for the "service" we had received. Not paid. It isn't a "right".) -
generalusgrant — 15 years ago(August 27, 2010 11:42 AM)
I can't believe that so many people here still choose to turn a blind eye to Bob Hope's actual behavior. I am the poster who related that he sat at my station in a restaurant countless times in the 80's. I lived this and I am not embellishing or tarring Bob Hope with a black brush when I say he was a rotten guy.
This was not an isolated incident. I was Hope and Linda's waiter (Linda was his daughter), at least 25 times. He always sat in the same rear booth and he was my call party. Because he was such a horrific tipper I was never amused to see him, after his initial visit. I might add he also stiffed the valet parking attendants, when a tip of $5.00 was then customary.
I said he was "profane." Someone asked for details. Well, I will be specific. He used the word "mother f-" constantly and this was to his daughter. He littered his conversation with expletives. When the bus boys would clear his utensils, he would frequently swear at them and say, "get these fing dishes outta here." It was almost unbelievable, almost like a skit from SNL.
How was he sullen? I spent many hours serving him, he never smiled, cracked a smile or seemed happy. He was simply rude and cheap.
As for being hypocritical that he tipped $1.00 on a $34.00 tab what planet are you living on? Frank Sinatra routinely tipped $500 for a piece of pie. Ernie Borgnine came in every Sunday for years and would tip $200 for an average breakfast. Hope was a billionaire with a "B." The service he received in the established was of the highest class. My beef is that he was incredibly wealthy and still saw fit to tip an insultingly cheap amount. -
SimplemindedSociety — 14 years ago(May 30, 2011 12:27 PM)
Monica
That's just it: the labor board gives restaurant owners a free pass to pay their servers BELOW mininum wage(which they have to still report to IRS) and have to rely on tips,exploiting both their employees and the customer. -
metalman091 — 14 years ago(June 08, 2011 07:06 PM)
According to Charles Thompson's biography, Bob rarely had a feud with a co-worker, and was very well known for his generosity. That doesn't mean he wasn't all those other things, but there are many who remember him fondly. He got along well with Bing Crosby, Judy Garland, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, Jane Russell, Dorothy Lamour, Jack Benny, Jimmy Durante, George Burns, Danny Kaye, James Cagney, George Murphy, Fred MacMurray and John Wayne.