Hey Blog Fans!

How’s this for a hilarious joke:

Q: What's the difference between a rowing boat and Joan of Arc?
A: One is made of wood and the other is Maid of Orleans!

No, I didn’t make it up (I wish). It comes from two recently discovered books of Victorian era jokes that haven’t seen the light of day since the late 1800’s.  Apparently the books have been passed through generations of a British family who didn’t even realize they were jokes.  I guess the whole typhus epidemic wasn’t as hilarious as we thought.

In any event, if you’re lucky enough to live in or near Blackpool, UK, you can see the whole collection read for the first time in over 130 years this Thursday at the Blackpool Grand Theatre.

To celebrate the occasion, I penned a few Victorian era jokes of my own.  Do have a gander:

Q: How many noblemen does it take to change a lightbulb?
A:  The lightbulb won’t be invented until 1879, so I am not sure how to respond to your curious inquiry!

Q: When is a mare not a mare?
A: When it’s a steed!

Gentleman #1:  Knock, knock…
Gentleman #2:  Who’s there?
Gentleman #1:  Cholera
Gentleman #2:  Cholera who?
Gentleman #1:  Cholera pagan again and I’ll boil up your ears and eat them for my supper, good sir!

If you know (or feel like making up) any old-timey jokes of your own, please deposit them in ye olde comment bin below.  Now made of lead!