“Whiskey is by far the most popular of all remedies that won’t cure a cold”

“Whiskey is by far the most popular of all remedies that won’t cure a cold” is a jocular line that has been credited to American singer and actor Jerry Vale (1930-2014) since 1972, but he probably didn’t originate it. Earl Wilson’s syndicated newspaper column in November 1962 had, “WISH I’D SAID THAT: Of the many remedies that absolutely won’t cure a cold, whiskey is by far the most popular.” The syndicated newspaper cartoon “The Old Timer,” in January 1963, contained the caption, “Of the many remedies that won’t cure a cold whiskey is by far the most popular.” An Earl Wilson column in 1964 credited American comedian and singer George Kirby (1923-1995).
 
“Whiskey” is replaced with “advice” in some versions of the joke. “Four out of five doctors agree that among the many remedies that won’t cure a cold, advice is the most popular” was cited in print in October 1963.
     
 
23 November 1962, Delaware County (PA) Daily Times, Earl Wilson entertainment column, pg. 7, col. 2:
WISH I’D SAID THAT: Of the many remedies that absolutely won’t cure a cold, whiskey is by far the most popular.
   
3 January 1963, Akron (IA) Register-Tribune, “The Old Timer” (cartoon), pg. 8, col. 8:
“Of the many remedies that won’t cure a cold whiskey is by far the most popular.”
 
20 October 1963, The Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR), TV sec., pg. 9, col. 3:
“Four out of five doctors agree that among the many remedies that won’t cure a cold, advice is the most popular.”—Changing Times.
 
13 August 1964, Aberdeen (SD) American-News, “Earl Wilson’s New York,” pg. 4, col. 5:
REMEMBERED QUOTE: “Of the many remedies that won’t cure a cold, whiskey is by far the most popular” (George Kirby).
 
23 January 1966, Boston (MA) Sunday Advertiser, Bert Bacharach column, pg. 3, col. 22:
Health Note: Of all the remedies that won’t cure a cold, whiskey is probably the most popular!
 
29 September 1968, Aberdeen (SD) American-News, “Earl Wilson’s New York,” pg. 4, col. 5:
EARL’S PEARLS: Of all the remedies that won’t cure a cold, by far the most popular is whiskey.
 
17 February 1972, Kingsport (TN) Times, “Daily Cryptoquote,”
Yesterday’s Cryptoquote: WHISKEY IS THE MOST POPULAR OF ALL THE REMEDIES THAT WON’T CURE A COLD.—JERRY VALE
 
Google Books
14,000 Quips & Quotes:
For Speakers, Writers, Editors, Preachers, and Teachers
By E. C. McKenzie
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House
1990, ©1980
Pg. 327:
Among the most popular remedies that won’t cure a cold is advice.
   
Google Books
The 2,548 Wittiest Things Anybody Ever Said
Edited by Robert Byrne
New York, NY: Touchstone
2012
Pg. ?:
1,154
Among the many remedies that won’t cure a cold, the most common is advice. — Unknown
1,155
Whiskey is the most popular of the remedies that won’t cure a cold.—Jerry Vale
 
Twitter
Andrew Sheridan
‏@aj_sheridan
I can relate to this quote from Jerry Vale…“whisky is by far the most popular of remedies that won’t cure a cold”
11:29 AM - 11 Aug 2013