"Why did the chicken cross the…

“Why did the chicken cross the road?” is an old joke from the 19th century. The punchline is usually “to get to the other side,” but another version is:

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: Because Colonel Sanders was chasing him.

Colonel Sanders (1890-1980) was the legendary founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (now KFC). The joke has been cited in print since at least 1968.

Wikipedia: Colonel Sanders
Colonel Harland David Sanders (September 9, 1890 – December 16, 1980) was an American businessman, best known for founding fast food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (now known as KFC) and later acting as the company’s goodwill ambassador and symbol. His name and image are still symbols of the company.

6 December 1968, Charleston (WV) Gazette, “The Gazetteer” by James Dent, sec. 2, pg. 21, col. 1:
GOLDEN oldie (somewhat updated): “Do you know why the chicken crossed the road?”

“No, why?”

“To get away from Col. Sanders.”

22 March 1969, Newark (OH) Advocate, “Old Jokes arm Chant” by Minnie Hite Moody, pg. 17, col. 3:
The kids like this one, which is a switch on a joke that is older than time.

’‘Do you know why the chicken crossed the road?”

“Okay, tell me why.”

“To get away from Colonel Sanders.”

Google News Archive
21 June 1969, Pittsburgh (PA) Post-Gazette, “Pickin’ Good: Jose Displays Musicianship At Arena” by Donald Miller, pg. 24, col. 1:
At about that time (Jose—ed.) Feliciano started telling stories (Why did the chicken cross the Road? To get away from Col. Sanders) ...

Google Books
New York
Volume 3
1970
Pg. ?:
Q. Why did the chicken cross the road?
A. 1, Because the road reneged on its promise. 2. Because it was there. 3. To get away from Colonel Sanders.

Google Books
June 1973, Boys’ Life, “Think and Grin,” pg. 74, col. 1:
Henny: Why did the chicken cross the road?
Penny: Because Colonel Sanders was chasing him! — Kathy Allgeier, Big Creek, Calif.

Google Books
Make ‘em Laugh:
Life Studies of Comedy Writers
By William F. Fry and Melanie Allen
Palo Alto, CA: Science and Behavior Books
1975
Pg. 192:
You take a standard bit like this one: “Why does the chicken cross the road?” “To get to the other side.” Now, the switch. “Why does the chicken cross the road?” “To get away from Colonel Sanders.”

Google News Archive
15 May 1981, Spartanburg (SC) Herald, “The Stroller” by Seymour Rosenberg, pg. 1, col. 1:
So a group of Converse College students turned the tables on Dr. Coleman and came up with this corn: “Why did the chicken cross the road? To get away from Col. Sanders.”

Google Groups: rec.humor
New Answers to an Old Question
Christopher Jon Petit
12/16/92
Answers to “Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?”
(1992 version)
1. To get away from the meltdown.
2. To do the chicken on the other side.
3. So it could make a movie about its journey.
4. To escape from Col. Sanders.

Google Groups: rec.humor
Why did the chicken…..
Adrienne Brown
2/1/94
(...)
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: Colonel Sanders was after him.

Google Groups: rec.humor
Canonical List of Chicken/Road jokes ver 1.0
Grumpy
5/9/94
(...)
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: To get away from Col. Sanders.
(...)
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: Colonel Sanders was after him.

Google Groups: seattle.test
Why did the chicken cross the road?
Mickey Mouse
10/21/95
Because Colonel Sanders was chasing him!

Google Groups: alt.tasteless.jokes
CHICKENS
G.P.
5/26/98
(...)
Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: To get away from Col. Sanders.

Twitter
Cat Russell
‏@ganymeder
#dailyvegantip: another #vegan joke! Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because Colonel Sanders was chasing him. :D
11:26 AM - 14 Apr 2016

“Why did the chicken cross the road?”/“Because Colonel Sanders was after him.”