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The Shaggy Dog Rides Again

I see that a great deal of what is left in my Old Joke Quizbook are the shaggy dog stories. Bennet Cerf once explained, in one of his joke collections, where this phrase came from, but it didn’t make a lot of sense, which is the essence of a shaggy dog story. I justContinue reading “The Shaggy Dog Rides Again”

Drips In Love

Not long ago, we blogged together in this space about the mishaps of lovers who had to operate under the watchful eyes of a parent or two True to the belief that the course of true love runs never smooth, postcard cartoonists were cheerfully willing to admit that those who got out into theContinue reading “Drips In Love”

The Flipside

Once upon a time at the Book Fair, I would get calls from potential donors asking whether we’d be interested in a donation of old postcards. And perhaps half the time, I would be told all the postcards were in really great condition because “I threw away all the ones that had messages onContinue reading “The Flipside”

And a Bag of Quips

We honestly do, alas, creep closer and closer to the last jokes in my Old Joke Quizbook. Yes, I heard some of you sigh with relief, but reflect on this, Turnip Taco. I have already decided which of my books I will serialize next. We can hold that sorry fate off only so longContinue reading “And a Bag of Quips”

Parental Guidance

Once upon a time, rutabaga meringue, a young man courting a young lady faced complications far more difficult to confront than they are today. A lot of this had to do with opportunity. Especially in rural areas, people went out in the evening less than they do now. Even in the cities, there wereContinue reading “Parental Guidance”

Junior Comedy

So here it is Monday again and it is time for our Old Joke Quiz. What? Wednesday? Well, yes, I know that, but I didn’t want to break with tradition. Anyway, the old jokes are two days older now, so you’re getting your money’s worth. This week, we return to fine traditional gagsContinue reading “Junior Comedy”

He Is Us, Pt. 3

Oh, very well. If you have to hear how the story finishes up, we can put the joke column off until Wednesday. How the millions of joke column fans will…what was that? Don’t be rude. I hope everyone who read the first two installments has tuned in for the conclusion and was notContinue reading “He Is Us, Pt. 3”

He Is Us, pt. 2

As you may recall from our last episode, we are glancing in the direction of immigrants to the United States through the experiences of the Ruppels, four Hessians in their mid-teens to early twenties, making their way out of the country ahead of the Hessian draft officials, in the distant year of 1843. WhenContinue reading “He Is Us, pt. 2”

He Is Us

Eons ago, a lot of jokes in this country dealt with The Other, people who were outside the norm, who had different clothing, different ways, and different language. This became known as “ethnic humor”, and is now largely considered passe, if not downright evil. I don’t have much interest in debating the question: someContinue reading “He Is Us”

Leisure Pleasure

So we arrive, once again, at Monday. If you did not spend your weekend at the Newberry Library Book Fair, well, you missed it. It was a post-pandemic affair, a bit watered-down from previous concoctions, but there were still books for sale at popular prices. If you were unable to tear yourself away forContinue reading “Leisure Pleasure”