“Years ago, we had Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Steve Jobs” (joke)

American comedian and actor Bob Hope died on July 27, 2003. American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash died on September 12, 2003. American information technology entrepreneur Steve Jobs died on October 5, 2011, and a joke almost immediately went viral:
 
“Ten years ago, we had Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Steve Jobs. Now we have no cash, no hope and no jobs.”
 
Steve Jobs is often listed first and Johnny Cash last in the list. “PLEASE don’t let Kevin Bacon die!!” (referring to American actor Kevin Bacon) was added within the same week in October 2011. “Ten years ago” soon became “twenty years ago.” The joke has been printed on many images.
 
Some variations did exist before Steve Jobs died. “USA: Steve Jobs, Bob Hope, Johnny Cash. AUSTRIA: No jobs, no hope, no cash” was posted on Twitter on October 22, 2009. “20 yrs ago we had Ronald Regan, Bob Hope, Johnny Cash, and Steve Jobs. Today we have B. Obama, No Hope, No Cash, and soon No Jobs” was posted on Twitter on August 26, 2011.
 
   
Wikipedia: Johnny Cash
John R. “Johnny” Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, actor, and author,[2] who was widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century and one of the best-selling music artists of all time, having sold more than 90 million records worldwide. Although primarily remembered as a country music icon, his genre-spanning songs and sound embraced rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honor of multiple inductions in the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Gospel Music Halls of Fame.
 
Wikipedia: Bob Hope
Leslie Townes “Bob” Hope, KBE, KC*SG, KSS (May 29, 1903 – July 27, 2003) was an American comedian, vaudevillian, actor, singer, dancer, athlete, and author. With a career spanning nearly 80 years, Hope appeared in over 70 films and shorts, including a series of “Road” movies also starring Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. In addition to hosting the Academy Awards 19 times (more than any other host), he appeared in many stage productions and television roles and was the author of fourteen books. The song “Thanks for the Memory” is widely regarded as Hope’s signature tune.
 
Wikipedia: Steve Jobs
Steven Paul “Steve” Jobs (/ˈdʒɒbz/; February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011) was an American information technology entrepreneur and inventor. He was the co-founder, chairman, and chief executive officer (CEO) of Apple Inc.; CEO and majority shareholder of Pixar Animation Studios; a member of The Walt Disney Company’s board of directors following its acquisition of Pixar; and founder, chairman, and CEO of NeXT Inc. Jobs is widely recognized as a pioneer of the microcomputer revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, along with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.
   
Twitter
Uwaga! Skoops
‏@skoops
USA: Steve Jobs, Bob Hope, Johnny Cash. AUSTRIA: No jobs, no hope, no cash
11:20 AM - 22 Oct 2009
 
Twitter
Paul Rahn
‏@digitalturbo
20 yrs ago we had Ronald Regan, Bob Hope, Johnny Cash, and Steve Jobs. Today we have B. Obama, No Hope, No Cash, and soon No Jobs.
3:01 PM - 26 Aug 2011
 
Twitter
Rondo
‏@Rondochef
20 yrs ago Reagan was president ,Bob Hope Johnny Cash and Steve Jobs were alive Now Obama is president there’s no hope, cash or jobs
6:56 PM - 5 Oct 2011
 
Twitter
Un gars à Edogawa
‏@1GAE
We still have Kevin BACON RT @warpedgaijin In 84 we had Johnny Cash, Bob Hope, and STEVE JOBS…Today we have no cash, no hope, and no JOBS.
1:38 AM - 6 Oct 2011
 
Reddit
10 years ago we had Steve Jobs, Bob Hope and Johnny Cash - Now we have no Jobs, no Hope and no Cash. (self.reddit.com)
submitted October 6, 2011 by LiamMyers to /r/reddit.com
 
7 October 2011, Indianapolis (IN) Star, “Let it out,” pg. E1:
America was made great by the likes of Bob Hope, Johnny Cash and Steve Jobs. Now there is no hope, no cash and no jobs.
 
Democratic Underground
NYC Liberal
Sat Oct-08-11 07:00 PM
10 Years Ago We Had Steve Jobs, Bob Hope, and Johnny Cash…
...now we have No Jobs, No Hope, and No Cash.
 
Twitter
JB
‏@bobechi
Now we have no Bob Hope, no Johnny Cash, no Steve Jobs… BUT we still have Courtney Love, Kevin Bacon, Anthony Head, John Andrew Boehner…
6:34 PM - 10 Oct 2011
 
Twitter
El Santo Madrazo
‏@ElSantoMadrazo
PLEASE don’t let Kevin Bacon die!! “10 years ago we had Steve Jobs, Bob Hope and Johnny Cash - Now we have no Jobs, no Hope and no Cash.”
10:51 AM - 11 Oct 2011
 
Google Books
Amazing Words
By Richard Lederer
Portland, OR” Marion Street Press
2012
Pg. ?:
While we’re on the topic of spot-on appropriate surnames, it wasn’t that long ago that Steve Jobs, Johnny Cash, and Bob Hope were alive. But now we have no Jobs, no Cash, and no Hope.
 
Google Books
5,000 Sidesplitting Jokes and One-Liners
Compiled by Grant Tucker
New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing
2013
Pg. 151:
Ten years ago we had Steve Jobs, Bob Hope and Johnny Cash. Now we have no Jobs, no Hope and no Cash.
 
Crave
THE 30 BEST “STEVE JOBS, BOB HOPE, AND JOHNNY CASH” JOKES ON THE INTERNET
The best way to deal with a joke that’s been overdone is to parody it.
by Rob Fee May 31st, 2013
If you’ve ever stumbled upon a Twitter parody account you’ve probably seen this old joke posted about a million times:
 
Ten years ago we had Steve Jobs, Bob Hope, and Johnny Cash. Now we have no jobs, no hope, and no cash.
 
Profound and moving, I know. It has since taken on a life of its own and mocking the overdone joke has become a joke format or a meme in itself. There is even a fake parody account, KattWillFerrell,that does nothing but post different variations of the same joke much to the disapproval of those following who aren’t in on the joke. Here are 30 of the best variations of the not-so classic joke: ...
   
Google Books
Off The Top Of Fred’s Head
By Fred Lavner
Lulu Books (Lulu.com)
2015
Pg. 136:
Twenty years ago we had Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Steve Jobs. Now we have no Cash, no Hope and no Jobs. Please don’t let Kevin Bacon die.
 
YouTube
Jokes - 20 years ago we had Johnny Cash, Bob Hope, and Steve Jobs. Now we have no cash, no hope, and
jokesus
Published on Aug 19, 2015
Joke :
20 years ago we had Johnny Cash, Bob Hope, and Steve Jobs. Now we have no cash, no hope, and no jobs.
 
Reddit
20 years ago we had Johnny Cash, Bob Hope and Steve Jobs.
submitted September 19, 2016 by Mustaka
Now we have no cash, no hope and no jobs.
God please don’t kill Kevin Bacon.