White Light Belt (Broadway)
Broadway is known for its bright lights, and has been called the "Bulb Belt," "Great Bright Way," "Great White Way," "Incandescent District," "Lane of…
Archive for 11/2018
Bird Circuit (Manhattan gay bars with bird names)
The "bird circuit" of gay bars existed in Manhattan, along Third Avenue around the lower East 50s, after World War II. The bars had such names as the Blue Parrot (on East 53rd Street),…
“Greenwich Village, home of short-haired women and long-haired men”
Greenwich Village's gay community has been well known since at least the early 1900s. The Village has been called the home of "long-haired men" (gays) and "short-haired…
Gay Set
The term "gay set" originally meant people who like the nightlife scene. "Gay set in Paris" was cited in an 1893 newspaper article titled "French Society; American Women…
“What do zombies eat while on a hike?”/“Entrail Mix.”
"Trail mix" shouldn't be confused with "entrail mix," but there are jokes. "What's the Devil Fish's favorite mid-afternoon snack? ENTRAIL MIX!" was…
“What do they teach you in pre-K?”/“The first 10 letters.”
"Pre-K" means "pre-kindergarten," but a riddle was posted on Reddit -- 3amjokes on November 6, 2018: Q: What do they teach you in pre-K?A: The first 10 letters. Reddit --…
“Condoms prevent minivans”
"Condoms prevent minivans" -- that is, condoms prevent children that would necessitate a larger vehicle -- is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images (especially bumper…
“How do you get rid of a fat ghost in a house?”/“You exercise it.”
There are many "exercise" and "exorcise" puns. "We had a fat ghost haunting our house so I got our local gym instructor to exercise him" was posted on Twitter by Matt…
“My doctor told me to take up an activity that gets me out of the pub. So I’ve started smoking”
Most pubs do not allow smoking. A joke was posted on the Sickipedia website on January 30, 2012: "My doctor said I need to do something that gets me out of the pub. So I've started…
“Squirrels—Nature’s little speed bumps”
"Squirrels -- Nature's little speed bumps" is a jocular saying that has been printed on many images. Squirrels get run over frequently by cars. "Squirrels - Nature's little…
“If driven carefully, please report stolen” (bumper sticker)
"If driven carefully, please report stolen" is a jocular bumper sticker saying on many vehicles. "Seen on back of white van: 'If driven carefully, please report as…
“Where do pianists go for vacation?”/“The Florida Keys.”
The Florida Keys aren't piano keys, but there's a riddle: Q: Where do pianists go for vacation?Q: The Florida Keys. The joke has been cited in print since at least 2005. Wikipedia:…
“If people aren’t laughing at your dreams, your dreams aren’t big enough”
"If people aren't laughing at your dreams, your dreams aren't big enough" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "If people aren't laughing at your dreams,…
“I announce loudly to my family that I’m going for a jog, then don’t go. It’s a running joke”
A "running joke" was posted on Reddit -- Dad Jokes on October 25, 2018: "Every morning for the past six months, I announce loudly to my family that I’m going for a jog, and then I…
“Sweater weather is better weather”
"Sweater weather is better weather" is a fall saying that has been printed on many images. "Sweater weather is the better weather" was posted on Twitter by Nando Rossi on…
“Don’t eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn’t recognize as food”
"Don't eat anything your great-grandmother wouldn't recognize as food" is a saying that has been printed on many images. American author Michael Pollan said this in an interview…
“Be stronger than your strongest excuse”
"Be stronger than your strongest excuse" is an inspirational saying that has been printed on many images. "Be STRONGER than your strongest EXCUSE" was posted on Twitter by…
“Autumn came, with wind and gold”
"Autumn came. with wind and gold" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "Autumn came with wind and gold" was posted on Twitter by Xena Olivia on April 5, 2013. The…
Buffalo: Spaghetti Parm (Spaghetti Parmesan)
"Italienne Spaghetti, Parmesan Cheese ... 15c." was printed in the Boston (MA) Sunday Globe on April 20, 1890. "Spaghetti Parmesan" was printed in the San Francisco (CA)…
“Excuses are like armpits. Everyone has them, and they all stink”
"Excuses are like armpits. Everyone has them, and they all stink" is a saying that has been printed on many images. "All excuses are like armpits: We all have them and they call…