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March 22, 2021
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why can’t skeletons play church music?”/“They have no organs.”

A skeleton riddle is: Q: Why don't skeletons play music in church?A: They have no organs. The popular Halloween riddle has been cited in print since at least 1992. The joke was used in the…

March 19, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why did the bunny go to the dance?”/“To do the bunny hop!”

The bunny hop was a popular dance in the 1950s. This Easter bunny riddle is from at least 1966: Q: What's the Easter rabbit's favorite dance?A: The bunny hop. A slightly different form of…

October 20, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why did the chicken cross the road?”/“To get away from the bagpipe recital.”

"Why did the chicken cross the road?"/"To get to the other side" is a classic riddle from the 19th century. A bagpipe version is: Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?A: To get…

November 7, 2020
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why did the composer spend all his time in bed?”/“He wrote sheet music.”

"Sheet music" has nothing to do with bed sheets, but there are jokes. "Why did the composer spend all his time in bed? He wrote sheet music" was printed in the Home News Tribune…

October 26, 2016
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why did the moron jump from the building?”/“He wanted to make a hit on Broadway.”

"Broadway" often means "show business" rather than just the street itself, but there's an old "Little Moron" riddle from August 1942 that involves both meanings:…

January 15, 2018
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why did the musician give his daughters the same name?”/“So he could yell ‘Anna 1, Anna 2!’”

American bandleader Lawrence Welk (1903-1992) often started his music with, "And a 1! And a 2!" "Anna one, anna two..." is a jocular version that has been cited in print since…

October 1, 2016
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why did the stand-up comedian get a job at Domino’s?”/“He needed to work on his delivery.”

A stand-up comedian has to have a good "delivery." Several "delivery" jokes involve pizza delivery, postal delivery and an obstetrician's baby "delivery."…

October 27, 2016
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why didn’t the skeleton go to the dance?”/“He had no body to dance with!”

Skeletons have "no body" (nobody), and a July 1953 newspaper riddle went: Q. Why didn't the skeleton go to the ball?A. Because he had nobody to go with. A November 1953 newspaper…

August 29, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why do bagpipers walk when they play?”/“To get away from the noise.”

Entry in progress -- B.P. TwitterDoobieDawg‏ @DoobieDawgWhy do bagpipers walk when they play.... to get away from the noise! (It's a long way to the top if you want to Rock &…

July 28, 2016
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why do Baptists forbid kissing standing up?”/“It might lead to dancing.”

A joke about Baptists (or other denominations) is: Q: Why do Baptists forbid having sex while standing up?A: It might lead to dancing. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1983. Google…

March 2, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why do cannibals go to the movies alone?”/“No outside food is allowed.”

A cannibal riddle was posted on Reddit -- Jokes on March 2, 2017: Q: Why do cannibals go to the movies alone?A: No outside food is allowed. Forms of the joke had been posted earlier. "How do…

March 16, 2015
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why do choruses travel so often?” (joke)

Choral groups and musicians travel a lot, leading to the joke: Q: Why do choruses travel so often? A: Keep assassins guessing. The joke has been cited in print since at least 1997. Jeff…

August 14, 2016
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why do cows go to New York City?”/“To see the moosicals.”

A cow riddle about New York City is: Q: Why do cows go to New York CIty?A: To see the moosicals. "Q: What type of moo-vie do cows like best? A: Moo-sicals" was cited in 1994. "What…

February 4, 2018
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why do we tell actors to ‘break a leg’?”/“Because every play has a cast.”

"Break a leg!" is a theatrical saying meaning -- somewhat oddly -- "Good luck!" A joke was posted on Twitter by Ralph Tetta on July 5, 2011: "In showbiz, they tell you to…

March 10, 2020
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why don’t escalators and stairs have music like elevators?”

There is "elevator music," but usually no music for escalators or stairs. "Why dont escalators and stairs have music like elevators" was posted on Twitter by Sean on January 18,…

October 30, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why don’t skeletons play music in church?”/“They have no organs.”

A skeleton riddle is: Q: Why don't skeletons play music in church?A: They have no organs. The popular Halloween riddle has been cited in print since at least 1992. The joke was used in the…

March 15, 2015
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why is a violist like a terrorist?” (joke)

"Bowing" (how the bow is used on an orchestral stringed instrument) sounds the same as "Boeing" (the name of a company that manufactures airplanes). There is a joke about it: Q:…

October 19, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why is it easy to give a speech to an audience of strippers?” (joke)

"Imagine the audience naked" is a saying about performing or giving a speech. A joke on this saying was posted on Reddit -- 3amjokes on October 19, 2017: Q: Why is it easy to give a…

June 7, 2017
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why is Microsoft so bad at writing music?”/“Because they can only use OneNote!”

Microsoft OneNote is a digital note-taking app. A riddle was posted on Reddit -- Jokes on June 6, 2017: Q: Why is Microsoft so bad at writing music?A: Because they can only use OneNote! Wikipedia:…

October 31, 2020
Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus

“Why isn’t there any music in skeleton church?”/“No organs.”

A skeleton riddle is: Q: Why isn't there any music in skeleton church? A: No organs. The riddle was posted on Twitter by Halloweeniverse on October 31, 2011.…

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BARRY POPIK is a contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary, Dictionary of American Regional English, Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Yale Book of Quotations and Dictionary of Modern Proverbs. Since 1990 he has also been a regular contributor to Gerald Cohen's Comments on Etymology.

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