“Why do kittens make good announcers?”/“Because they have wee paws for station identification.”
“We pause for station identification” has been said by radio announcers for many years. A riddle has been cited in print since at least 1940:
Q: Why does a radio announcer have small hands?
A: Wee paws for station identification.
The joke often includes cats or dogs in the “paws”/“pause” pun. “Why they keep kittens in radio studios—wee paws for station identification” was printed in the Los Angeles (CA) Times on August 30, 1954.
26 February 1940, Muncie (IN) Evening Press, “In the Press Of Things,” pg. 14, col. 4:
THIS IS TOO MUCH.
The Royerton High School Review comes through with this one:
“Why does a radio announcer have small hands?”
“I dunno, why?”
“Because he always says ‘We pause (wee paws) for station identification.’”
11 July 1940, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “By the Way” with Bill Henry, pt. 2, pg. 1, col. 1:
Suggested as all-time low pun of the week—Q. by radio humorist—“Why do radio announcers have small hands?”... A. “Wee paws for station identification.”
Google Books
November 1943, Boys’ Life, “Think and Grin” edited by Frank Rigney, pg. 35, col. 1:
HANDY
Q.: Why do radio announcers have to have small hands?
A.: Wee paws for station identification.
Google Books
July 1947, Boys’ Life, “Think and Grin” edited by Frank Rigney, pg. 36, col. 4:
SMALL HANDS
“And you say radio announcers have small hands!”
“Sure. Wee paws for station identification.”
30 August 1954, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “Ham on Ryon” by Art Ryon, pt. 2, pg. 5, col. 1:
Which is just about as silly as Sam Weissmann, who has just learned why they keep kittens in radio studios—wee paws for station identification.
26 April 1962, Miami (FL) News, “Punjabs”(comic strip) by gumpertz, pg. 14C, col. 7:
(A dog is shown announcing.—ed.)
WEE PAWS FOR STATION IDENTIFICATION.
Google Books
Writing Television and Radio Programs
By Edgar E. Willis
New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
1967
Pg. 292:
“A radio announcer has small hands because he needs wee paws for station identification” is an example of a forced pun.
Google Books
The Official Cat Lovers Dog Lovers Joke Book
By Larry Wilde
New York, NY: Pinnacle Books Windsor Pub. Corp.
1978
Pg. 31:
Why do kittens make good television announcers?
Because they have wee paws for station identification.
Twitter
Jeffrey Spencer
@RevJSS
@evilgenius12 we pause for station identification - brought to you by our kittens & puppies (cause they have wee paws).
8:59 PM - 11 Jun 2010
Twitter
Hey, Beaker
@GakBird
Wee paws for station identification http://plixi.com/p/55219230
10:18 PM - 5 Nov 2010
Google Books
Bob Wolff’s Complete Guide to Sportscasting:
How to Make It in Sportscasting With or Without Talent
By Bob Wolff
New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing
2011
Pg. ?:
In one (a spot about the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at New York City’s Madison Square Garden—ed.), I appeared on camera and told the TV audience that I was about to reveal, for the first time ever, what was really meant by those words always heard on broadcast sports events, “We pause for station identification.” Then I pulled a miniature Chihuahua from under my tuxedo coat and held the little dog right in fron tof the camera. “Here they are, friends, exhibited for the first time, ‘wee paws’—for station identification.”
Twitter
Jim Lott
@LotJim
Announcers have small hands because wee paws for station identification.
7:33 PM - 26 Feb 2011
Twitter
Steve Wexler
@wexscripps
Q: Do you know why announcers have small hands?
A: “Wee Paws” for station identification.
#somebodythoughtthiswashysterical
6:50 PM - 18 Apr 2013
Reddit—Jokes
Why do radio announcers have to have small hands? (self.dadjokes)
submitted October 2, 2014 by IranRPCV
Wee paws for station identification!
Reddit—Jokes
Why did the DJ have such small hands?
submitted March 2, 2016 by youdubdub
Wee paws for station identification.
Reddit—Dad Jokes
Why do radio announcers need to have small hands? (self.dadjokes)
submitted February 6, 2018 by IranRPCV
Wee Paws (we pause) for station identification!