“What’s the difference between the circus and the Rockettes?” (joke)

The Rockettes dance company is known for performances at Manhattan’s Radio City Music Hall. A Rockettes trademark is a chorus line of eye-high leg-kicking performers.
 
A popular dirty joke goes:
 
Q: What’s the difference between the circus and the Rockettes?
A: The circus has a cunning array of stunts.
 
The linguistic spoonerism has been cited in print since at least 1962. A version with The Rockettes has been cited in print since at least 1994.
 
   
Wikipedia: The Rockettes
The Rockettes are a precision dance company founded in 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri and since 1932 have performed out of Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan, New York City. During the Christmas season, the Rockettes present five shows a day, seven days a week. Perhaps their best-known routine is an eye-high leg kick in perfect unison in a chorus line, which they include at the end of every performance. Their style of dance is a mixture of modern dance and classic ballet. Auditions to become a Rockette are always in April in New York City. Women who audition must show proficiency in several genres of dancing, mainly ballet, tap, modern, and jazz. Normally, four hundred to five hundred women will audition yearly.
 
The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is performed annually at Radio City Music Hall. There are other numerous shows performed in American and Canadian cities by a touring company of Rockettes. It is one of the most-watched live shows in the United States, with over 2 million viewers per year. The Rockettes have performed annually at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade since 1957. The NBC Rockefeller Center Tree-Lighting Ceremony also traditionally includes a performance by the dance troupe.
       
Google Books
Journal of American folklore
Volume 75
1962
Pg. 221:
What’s the difference between a circus and a burlesque? A circus is a cunning array of stunts.
 
Google Groups: rec.humor
Difference
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1/3/90
Q.  What’s the difference between a chorus line of girls and a magician?
A.  A magician has a cunning array of stunts.
 
Google Groups: alt.tasteless.jokes
more jokes
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4/9/94
(...)
Q: What do a circus and the Rockettes have in common?
A: The circus is a cunning array of stunts.
             
Google Groups: rec.humor
What’s the difference?
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
4/16/94
What’s the difference…
(...)
...between a circus and a chorus line?
At the circus you will see a cunning line of stunts, while most chorus lines offer a stunning line of cunts.
 
Google Groups: alt.tasteless.jokes
Difference
Robert Nykvist
3/2/95
(...)
41. What’s the difference in a circus and the Rockettes?
The circus is a cunning line of stunts.
The Rockettes are a stunning line of cunts.
 
Google Groups: aus.jokes
A good clean joke
Dorothy-Joy East
2/10/96
(...)
Q:  What’s the difference between a circus and the rockettes?
A:  One is a cunning array of stunts!!
 
everything2
cunning stunts
(idea) by knarph Sun Apr 02 2000 at 14:07:11
Q:Whats the difference between the circus and the Rockettes?
A:Well, one is a cunning array of stunts…......
     
Google Groups: alt.usage.english
Tongue twisters
Mark Raymond
5/28/01
(...)
What’s the difference between a magician and the Rockettes?  A magician has a cunning array of stunts ...
 
Google Groups: alt.humor.jewish
MAY-OFFEND: Puns of the Weak 02/15/02
Stan Kegel
2/16/02
(...)
What’s the difference between a magician and the Rockettes chorus line?
A magician has a cunning array of stunts.  (Richard Lederer)
 
Tribe.net—Word Freaks
Re: Spoonerisms Wed, March 10, 2004 - 4:49 PM
(...)
Q: What’s the difference between The Rockettes and a circus?
A: One features a cunning array of stunts.
 
Twitter
Jodi
‏@VsDarkDreamer
@GamsLikeGrable I know I’m going to regret this. *sighs* What’s the difference between the Barnum and Bailey Circus and the Rockettes?
5:18 PM - 11 Apr 2011
 
Twitter
Craig Lambertus
‏@Delakid
What’s the difference between Cirque du Soleil and The Rockettes? One is a cunning display of stunts…
12:23 PM - 27 Jul 2011
 
Twitter
Xela Cumbadger
‏@XelaCumbadger
What’s the difference between the Rockettes and a troop of acrobats? One is a cunning array of stunts.
10:52 PM - 22 Nov 2012