Fun City Bowl
"Fun City" is a New York City nickname that originated with Mayor John Lindsay (1921-2000) on his first week in office in January 1966. The nickname was satirically used and quickly lost…
Archive for 05/2016
Rabbit Town (Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village)
The first building of Manhattan's Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village residential complex opened in 1947. The buildings became so attractive to new families that the development was nicknamed…
“If I had my life to live over, I’d live over a saloon”
American actor Lew Parker (1910-1972) was credited in 1951 with the line: "If I had my life to live over, I'd live over a saloon." The jocular line has been usually credited since…
“Hard to find four innocent people in New York”
American humorist Will Rogers (1879-1935) wrote in January 1923: "Another innocent bystander was shot in New York yesterday. You just stand around this town long and be innocent and…
“Why don’t football players wear glasses?”/“Because it’s a contact sport.”
A joke about "contact" sports is: Q: Why don't football players wear glasses?A: Because it's a contact sport. "It seems wrong to wear glasses in a contact sport" was…
CNN Effect
CNN (Cable Network News) provided live coverage of the 1991 Gulf War, including Operation Desert Storm (17 January 1991 – 28 February 1991). Many Americans watched CNN for the latest…
“A lawyer prevents somebody else from getting your money”
"A lawyer is a man who prevents anyone else from getting your money" is a jocular saying about lawyers that has been cited in print since at least 1955. The Chicago (IL)
“A lawyer helps you get what’s coming to him”
"A lawyer helps you get what’s coming to him" is a jocular saying of unknown authorship that has been cited in print since at least December 1948. American composer and comedian Oscar…
“Why experiment on animals with so many lawyers out there?”
"Why experiment on animals when there are so many lawyers out there?" is a jocular saying about lawyers. "Why experiment on animals with so many lawyers out there" was cited in…
“What do hillbillies drink out of?”/“Hiccups.”
A joke about hillbillies/rednecks ("hicks") is: Q: What do hillbillies drink out of?A: Hiccups (hick cups). The pun was cited on Twitter on October 8, 2014. A similar "hiccup"…
“I got a bottle of scotch for my wife…” (joke)
New York-based comedian Henny Youngman (1906-1998) did a liquor commercial in 1972: “I got a case of Hoffman’s for my wife...that’s not a bad trade.” The line has had many variations.…
“What’s a vampire’s favorite ice cream?”/“Veinilla.”
A popular children's Halloween pun is: Q: What's a vampire's favorite ice cream?A: Veinilla. The "veinilla" (vein + vanilla) joke has been cited in print since at least…
“Why are there only 239 beans in Irish bean soup?” (joke)
Beans have a reputation of making people fart, and there's a joke: Q: Why are there only 239 beans in Irish bean soup?A (Irish accent): Because one more and it would be too farty. The joke was…
“Look at the orange mama laid” (orange marmalade)
A pun on "orange marmalade" is: Q: What did the chick say when it saw an orange in the nest? A: Look at the orange mama laid. The joke has been cited in print to at least 1902, when it…
“What do you call a shoe store with only one owner?”/“A sole proprietorship.”
The business concept of a "sole proprietorship" has a pun: Q: What do you call a shoe store with only one owner?A: A sole proprietorship. The joke was cited in Stan Kegel's…
“Two banks with different rates have a conflict of interest”
"Two banks with different rates have a conflict of interest" is a jocular banking one-liner. The pun appeared in Stan Kegel's "'Puns of the Weak' 11/10/00" on the…
“Waiter! Do you have frogs’ legs?”/“No, I always walk this way.”
"Waiter, do you have frogs' legs?" is an old joke. The diner wants to know if the restaurant has frogs' legs on the menu, but the joke refers to the waiter's legs.…
“What vegetable makes birds fart?”/“A sparrow gas.”
Asparagus isn't featured in many jokes, but there is a pun: Q: What vegetable makes birds fart"A: A sparrow gas. Pun Gents published the pun on June 12, 2009. Pun Gents :: Original Pun of…
“What makes music on your head?”/“A head band.”
A head band (or "headband") is not like a rock band or a jazz band, but there's a pun: Q: What makes music on your head?A: A head band. The joke has been cited in print since at…
“What’s a vampire’s favorite fruit?”/“A necktarine.”
The nectarine isn't featured in many jokes, but there is a pun: Q: What's a vampire's favorite fruit?A: A necktarine. The pun was cited with other Halloween jokes on the newsgroup…