Jack Benny in Bob Hope biography

[mackdaddyg]

Today I found two Bob Hope biographies, and decided that reading one would suffice. In reading reviews online, I decided to pass on Lawrence Quirk's "Bob Hope: The Road Well-Traveled" because practically nobody liked it.

However, before putting it back, I flipped to the index to read about any Jack Benny references, and the author flat out states that Jack was gay and Hope could not stand him because of it.

Now, granted (and I hate making any kind of Seinfeld reference) there would be nothing wrong with Jack if that was the case, but aside from what I perceive as lighthearted jabs towards the way he walked, I have never read anything even remotely suggesting this. The author goes as far to say that Mary was kept around only to help cover up the fact that Jack was gay.

Is there even any remote truth to this? The way the author presented it (meaning very gossipy in tone) made me even more assured that the book ain't worth reading. Again, I would think no less of Jack if that was the case, but it is a very bold accusation, and it's one I've never heard before.

By the way, the book I ended up choosing was "Bob Hope: A Life In Comedy" by William Faith. Here's hoping it's worth the time.

[Yhtapmys]

the author flat out states that Jack was gay and Hope could not stand him because of it.

And the author's source is?

Anyone can write anything.

The impression I've been left with all these ears is Jack had a roving eye for the ladies and Mary put up with it to varying degrees.

And I don't know any gay men who walks like Jack Benny did on stage.

Yhtampys

[helloagain]

I have read about his alleged affairs with certain women, but never any men. Jack often made jokes himself about his walk, etc. In his book, 'The Jack Benny Show', Milt Josefsberg adamantly denies any validity to the gay rumors. As you said, people can write anything, especially about someone who is deceased.

[speedy]

The statement that Bob Hope couldn't stand Jack seems utterly ridiculous. They appeared on each other's shows many times, and appeared together on many specials, talk shows, etc. Hope was one of the co-hosts of the special "A Love letter to Jack Benny" that was aired several years after Jack's death. He delivered the eulogy at Jack's funeral for crying out loud! If the statement of dislike was even remotely true, then wouldn't he have avoided appearing with Jack? He certainly didn't need the money. One of the silliest things I've seen in quite some time.

[PfarrerJay]

It's pretty ridiculous to state Bob Hope couldn't stand Jack.

As to the gay rumors, it's no surprise Josefsberg would adamantly deny them, as he wrote in the late 70s/early 80s. If I remember correctly, he also denied Jack having any affairs. Gay rumors circulated about Jack during his heydey, because he was a bit "swish." Any truth to them? Probably not. But we'll never know.

[Maxwell]

The writer of the Hope biography also implied in a biography of James Stewart, with absolutely no corroborating evidence presented, that Stewart was bisexual and hinted at affairs with Josh Logan and Henry Fonda.

[helloagain]

Yes, we can all write 'tell all' books about dead celebrities. We can make up any lies we want. Who's going to sue? I'm going to start writing one tomorrow about Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy. You know, they did work very closely together...

[mackdaddyg]

I'm in agreement with all you fine folks. The lack of substantial evidence doesn't give the author any credibility.

Really, the most shocking accusation was that Bob Hope couldn't stand Jack. Granted, time softens a lot of harsh realities, but the general impression I've always had is that Jack was one of the most well-liked celebrities of his time. That is mighty impressive!!!

[Maxwell]

Yeah, if Hope disliked Jack so much, then why did he appear so many times on Jack's show after Jack moved to CBS? For the money?

[mackdaddyg]

Just a followup regarding the book by William Faith...

I finally found the time to finish reading the book. Overall a pretty good read and fairly informative for a book that has to cover 100 years of somebody's life. It tended to downplay the darker sides of Hope, which was fine by me since I was interested in the entertainment aspect of his life.

Still, I feel for Dolores Hope, his wife. It apparently wasn't much of a secret that he was fooling around with other women for decades. She's a much more devoted spouse than I would have been if I was in her situation. He was lucky to have somebody who, for whatever reason (although I think it had to do with her religious beliefs), was willing to be there for him despite his outside liaisons.

Anybody wanting to read up on ol' Ski Nose should keep an eye out for this book.