About this item
Born in 1903, and until his death in 2003, Bob Hope was the only entertainer to achieve top-rated success in every major mass-entertainment medium, from vaudeville to television and everything in between. He virtually invented modern stand-up comedy. His tours to entertain US troops and patriotic radio broadcasts, along with his all-American, brash-but-cowardly movie character, helped to ease the nation’s jitters during the stressful days of World War II. He helped redefine the very notion of what it means to be a star: a savvy businessman, pioneer of the brand extension (churning out books, writing a newspaper column, hosting a golf tournament), and public-spirited entertainer whose Christmas military tours and tireless work for charity set the standard for public service in Hollywood.
About the Author
Richard Zoglin (born c. 1950) is an American journalist and author. He has covered entertainment for Time for over 20 years, and is now a senior editor there. In 2008, he published Comedy at the Edge: How Stand-up in the 1970s Changed America, describing Lenny Bruce and the influence of the generation of stand-ups who followed him and elaborated on his style.
