The Musical Comedian: Bob Hope in the Road to Series and Son of Paleface

Typically when scholars or fans discuss male stars of the musical, they focus on the great dancers, turning most often to Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly. Or they look at the enduring singers, such as Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby. Rarely do they examine the work of the major comedians who starred in musicals: Eddie Cantor, Danny Kaye, Red Skelton, and the subject of this essay, Bob Hope. In particular, I examine how Hope’s often-inept trickster persona, a signature of his comedy roles, works in ...