“I had a pleasure trip—took my mother-in-law to the airport”
A popular mother-in-law joke was told in “The Lockhorns” comic strip in 1972:
“JUST RETURNED FROM A PLEASURE TRIP—DRIVING MY MOTHER-IN-LAW TO THE AIRPORT.”
The joke is usually associated with comedian Henny Youngman (1906-1998), who said in 1977:
“I just came back from a pleasure trip—took my mother-in-law to the airport.”
Wikipedia: The Lockhorns
The Lockhorns is a United States single-panel cartoon created in 1968 by Bill Hoest and distributed by King Features Syndicate to 500 newspapers in 23 countries. It is continued today by Bunny Hoest and John Reiner.
Wikipedia: Henny Youngman
Henry “Henny” Youngman (original Yiddish surname Yungman; 16 March 1906 – 24 February 1998) was a British-born American comedian and violinist famous for his mastery of the “one-liner”. His best known one-liner was “Take my wife…please”.
In a time when many comedians told elaborate anecdotes, Youngman’s routine consisted of telling simple one-liner jokes, occasionally with interludes of violin playing. These depicted simple, cartoon-like situations, eliminating lengthy build-ups and going straight to the punch line. He was known as “The King of the One Liners”, a title conferred to him by columnist Walter Winchell. A stage performance by Youngman lasted only fifteen to twenty minutes but contained dozens of jokes in rapid-fire succession.
10 January 1972, Cherokee (IA) Daily Times, “The Lockhorns” comic strip, pg. P9, col. 7:
“JUST RETURNED FROM A PLEASURE TRIP—DRIVING MY MOTHER-IN-LAW TO THE AIRPORT.”
20 February 1977, San Diego (CA) Union, “Take Henny Youngman” by Jim Willse (AP), pg. E-10, col. 1:
“I just came back from a pleasure trip—took my mother-in-law to the airport.”
Google News Archive
2 July 1978, The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, WA), “My Favorite Jokes” by Henny Youngman, Parade magazine, pg. 19, col. 1:
“I just got back from a pleasure trip—did I tell you? I just took my mother-in-law to the airport.”
Google Books
Take My Life, Please!
By Henny Youngman with Neal Karlen
Thorndike, ME: Thorndike Press
1992
Pg. 167:
You want to know why mother-in-law jokes are funny? Here. I’ll show you. “I just got back from a pleasure trip. I drove my mother-in-law to the airport.”
Google Books
Hilarious Roasts, Toasts & One-Liners
By Gene Perret and Terry Perret Martin
New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
2001
Pg. 77:
I’m just back from a pleasure trip. I took my mother-in-law to the airport. — Henny Youngman
Google Books
The Snark Handbook: Parenting Edition:
Morning Sickness, Potty Training, Rebellious Teens, and Other Joys
By Lawrence Dorfman
New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing
2013
Pg. 123:
I just got back from a pleasure trip: took my mother-in-law to the airport. — HENNY YOUNGMAN
Twitter
Jewish Comedians
@JewishComedians
Henny Youngman: Just got back from a pleasure trip a I took my mother-in-law to the airport. | #Quotes
4:23 PM - 5 Jan 2016