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You Know You’re Getting Old When…

October 1, 2013 by 2 Comments

 

… you remember Bob Hope, George Burns, and Jack Benny.

 

“You know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.” — Bob Hope (1903-2003)

Bob Hope, 1940, in a trailer for The Ghost Breakers. Hope began his career on the radio and in the movies in 1934. He started his regular TV specials in 1954 and hosted the Academy Awards fourteen times from 1941 to 1978.

Bob Hope, 1940, in a trailer for The Ghost Breakers. Hope began his career on the radio and in the movies in 1934. He started his regular TV specials in 1954 and hosted the Academy Awards fourteen times from 1941 to 1978.

Hope continued doing USO tours into the 1980s and appeared on television into the 1990s. When asked on his deathbed where he wanted to be buried, Hope, always with the one -liners, replied, "Surprise me."

Hope continued doing USO tours into the 1980s and appeared on television into the 1990s. When asked on his deathbed where he wanted to be buried, Hope, always with the one -liners, replied, “Surprise me.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“You know you’re getting old when you stoop to tie your shoelaces and wonder what else you could do while you’re down there.” — George Burns (1896-1996)

George Burns, in the 1980s. Gracie died in 1964 at the age of 69, but Burns, like Hope, lived to be one hundred years old. He was interred with his wife, the crypt's marker reading "Gracie Allen & George Burns --Together Again."

George Burns, in the 1980s. Gracie died in 1964 at the age of 69, but Burns, like Hope, lived to be one hundred years old. He was interred with his wife, the crypt’s marker reading “Gracie Allen & George Burns –Together Again”.

George Burns and Gracie Allen, 1955. They were vaudeville partners before they married in 1926 , and they got their start in the movies in the early thirties. Their television show aired in the fifties.

George Burns and Gracie Allen, 1955. They were vaudeville partners before they married in 1926 , and they got their start in the movies in the early thirties. Their television show aired in the fifties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” — Jack Benny (1894-1974)

Benny returned to films with a cameo in 1963 in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. In 1974, he was roasted on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast. His roasting of Lucille Ball several months later was his last public performance.

Benny returned to films with a cameo in 1963 in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. In 1974 he was roasted on The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast. His roasting of Lucille Ball several months later was his last public performance.

Benny, 1933. Benny was already the host of NBC's weekly radio program The Jack Benny Show. In character, he would claim to be 39 years old, as he is here, regardless of his actual age.

Benny, 1933. Benny was already the host of NBC’s weekly radio program The Jack Benny Show. In character, he would claim to be 39 years old, as he is here, regardless of his actual age.

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