Remembering the many TV specials of Bob Hope, America's Goodwill Ambassador...
“Thanks for the Memories: The Bob Hope Specials Deluxe Collection” is a DVD box set containing 39 TV specials on 19 discs, including 20 shows not seen since their original broadcast. The Bob Hope specials spanned five decades with Bob providing comedy, music, dancing and big-name guest stars. The shows are culled from over 250 network specials, several in support of the U.S. Armed Forces.<br /><br />Bob Hope’s career in show business covered stage, radio, motion pictures and television.  He made a series of popular “Road” pictures with Bing Crosby between 1940 and 1962, appeared regularly on radio beginning in 1934, was one of the first radio performers to embrace the new medium of television in 1950, and performed extensively for the troops at American army bases and those serving overseas.<br /><br />This set features guest stars John Wayne, Bing Crosby, Raquel Welch, Desi Arnaz, Jack Benny, Don Rickles, Barbra Streisand, George Burns, Dean Martin, Ann-Margret, Lucille Ball, Steve McQueen, Lola Falana, Tom Jones, Carol Burnett, Angie Dickinson, Andy Williams, Lana Turner, Jayne Mansfield, Redd Foxx, Zsa Zsa Gabor, and many others.<br /><br />Though there are other DVD releases featuring Bob Hope specials, this is the most complete collection available. A highlight of the shows is Bob’s memorable monologues, which often riffed on contemporary news and personalities, but never were overly political. Noel Coward once wrote in a song lyric about “a talent to amuse.” The phrase can aptly apply to Bob Hope.
Rating: 5 stars