“Shakespeare walks into a bar…” (bar joke)

“A guy walks into a bar…” is a typical form of what has been called the “bar joke.” One version involving William Shakespeare (the Bard of Avon) is:
 
“Shakespeare walks into a bar, and the bartender says, ‘We can’t serve you—you’re bard here.’”
 
The “bard barred from a bar” joke has been cited in print since at least 1997 and 2001. “Charles Dickens walks into a bar…” is another bar joke that involves an English author.
 
   
Wikipedia: William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (/ˈʃeɪkspɪər/; 26 April 1564 (baptised) – 23 April 1616) was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world’s pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England’s national poet, and the “Bard of Avon”. His extant works, including collaborations, consist of approximately 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.
       
Google Groups: alt.tasteless.jokes
William Shakespeare
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
10/25/97
William Shakespeare walks into a bar. The barman shouts at him:
“OY! YOU’RE BARD!!!”
 
Google Groups: alt.sports.soccer.everton
My turn now!
_-=Dan=-_
5/26/01
Shakespeare walks into a bar…
he asks the barman for a beer.
“I can’t serve you” says the barman… “You’re bard!”
 
Google Books
Man Walks into a Bar:
Over 6,000 of the Most Hilarious Jokes, Funniest But-Busting One-Liners
By Stephen Arnott and Mike Haskins
Berkeley, CA: Ulysses Press
2007
Pg. 117:
Shakespeare walks into a bar and asks the bartender for a beer. “I can’t serve you,” says the bartender. “You’re bard!”
 
Twitter
Soen
‏@Soeno
William Shakespeare walks into a bar and the barman says “Out! You’re bard.”
4:08 PM - 22 Jun 2007
 
Down by the River
Shakespeare walks into a pub …
Posted on May 23, 2008
… and the landlord says, ‘I’m not serving you.’
Shakespeare says, ‘ Wherefore, prithee?’ (or something of the kind)
And the landlord says, ‘You’re bard!’
 
Google Books
Still Time:
A Novel
By Jean Hegland
New York, NY: Arcade Publishing
2015
Pg. ?:
“Shakespeare walks into a bar, and the bartender says, ‘We can’t serve you—you’re bard here.’”
 
Twitter
Capten31
‏@Capten31
Shakespeare walks into a bar and asks for a beer. “I can’t serve you.” says the bartender “You’re Bard!”
1:54 AM - 2 Feb 2016