BOB HOPE

I didn't think I could actually get through his people to actually meet him. It was a long shot but I didn't have anything to loose. He was surrounded by a wall of people.

Last time I told you I would talk about meeting Bob Hope...

MEETING BOB HOPE In 1980 I was taking photographs for the college newspaper.  I went to Curtis Hixon Hall in Tampa on assignment to get a photo of Bob Hope where he was performing that night.  With my nose-bleed ticket, even my 105mm lens wasn’t enough to get the job done because I was too far away.  After asking around, I found out that Mr. Hope was leaving directly after the show via St Pete airport.  I drove straight there and waited.  

Bob Hope, 1980,

Renato Rampolla

Finally his entourage arrived. Everyone was dressed in casual business suits and I wore ragged jeans, long hair and a beard. I hid behind my Nikkormat and pretended I was shooting thinking they wouldn’t see me.  I felt safe behind the camera. As Mr. Hope came closer, I started actually taking pictures. He smiled and I smiled and I kept shooting.

He sat down to answer questions and I took a few more shots. Mostly, the group asked political questions which were over my head at the time due to my lack of interest in politics back then. There was a pause in the questions and Mr. Hope looked at me square in the eyes and said, “How about you young man. Do you have any questions for me?” …

I felt so stupid at that moment because my mind went blank. I had no expectation that he was going to single me out because other people still had their hands raised and were trying to ask questions. We were experiencing a recession in 1980 and the only thing that popped in my mind was, "Do you think we are going to have another Depression?"

He whole-heartedly denounced that question with the type of confidence displayed by his generation. "No. We are not going to have a Depression." He went on to talk about hyperbole and the media. At first I felt even more stupid for asking that question because of the zeal in which he denounced the possibility. Upon reflection I realized that his zeal and confidence was indicative of his generation as it was how they faced adversity.

I have something really exciting to share in my next update.  Please stay tuned…