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“Hot Soup” recorded “The Heebie Jeebie Blues.” Ain’t they sweet?

 

To the Editor:

Paul,

Thought you would be interested in the origin of this joke. See attachment below from the Huffington Post. Humor at it’s best.

Came to mind when I saw Eileen’s recipe for chicken soup. It’s an old saying and ties in with your observation that it can ease the symptoms of a cold. Keep the comfort food recipes coming. Your blog is most informative and enjoyable.

PAULIE D.

Part time resident of Ocean Grove, heading south

Feb. 7, 2016

Editor’s note:    Paulie D.  As I read this joke, in my mind, I hear a Catskill Mountain (Borscht Belt) comic telling the joke.  It has to be told only by a Jewish comedian and with just the right timing and a shpritz of body language—perhaps a shrug or a frown or a raised eyebrow.  Think of Zero Mostel  singing “If I Were a Rich Man” with the following line:

“Dear God, you made many, many poor people. I realize, of course, that it’s no great shame to be poor……. but it’s no great honor, either.”

The humor has a rhythm and a style which has cultural roots that go back generations.  There was Yiddish theater in Eastern Europe, then on 2nd Avenue in New York,  and then into the “mountains” of the Borscht belt at those fabulous resort hotels such as Grossingers, The Concord,  and Kutschers.

The latter was known for sports, and Lew Alcindor was a bellhop there.  I went with the basketball team from the Hotel Nemerson to play Team Kutscher.   It was a blowout!  I felt like my head was spinning around, from one end of the court to the other.  No mercy for their fellow Jews, although Kareem Abdul Jabbar was hardly Jewish.

There was even an official comedian at those hotels.  The guy who walked around the resort telling jokes and organizing fun activities for the guests was called a “tummler.”  He was sort of a rabble-rouser with jokes.

When I worked for two summers at The Hotel Nemerson in South Fallsburg, NY, I was on the athletic staff by day and then  I manned the spotlight in the nightclub  at night, getting to hear an almost endless array of Catskill comics.  So many great comedians received their basic training  there including Jerry Lewis, Marty Alan, Shecky Greene, Jackie Mason, Buddy Hackett, Mel Brooks. Jerry Stiller, Sid Caesar and many more. That was where they all went to comedy college and  learned to “do shtick.”

That’s why I can hear Paulie D’s joke being told in my head by one of them or even by a funny uncle. You simply can’t just read it, and only Jewish comics can “do shtick” properly.

So Paulie—-thanks for the joke, and take my wife (—-pause)  please.

Here’s a song about a funny honey by Renee Zellweger from  Chicago

 

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Posted in Blogfinger Presents | Tagged Jokes on Blogfinger | 4 Comments

4 Responses

1. on February 10, 2016 at 12:58 pm Blogfinger

   Thanks Paulie, but that idea is not in our game plan. We did try a Grovers telling jokes on their porches series, but that idea landed flatter than a latke on Hanukkah. Only one Grover actually appeared in a video, and I had to supply him with the joke. You know who that modern day Henny Youngman is.

   
   
2. on February 10, 2016 at 12:14 pm Paulie D

   Mike O- I too worked part time in a family-run clothier while in college and also enjoyed the constant banter with the customers. Similar situational jokes and always enjoyed guessing which joke Max or Irv would deploy, depending upon the customer. Each shopper for a Bar Mitzvah suit would be regaled with: “Today I am a man and tomorrow I will be an eighth grader.”

   Blogfinger likes good situational humor and a “stump the Blogman” feature is suggested, in which readers would have to guess the punchline or a more advanced version in which the punchline is supplied and the joke must be told. See how that plays in OG. It isn’t exactly the Borscht Belt but hopefully enough readers would enjoy the humorous side of the blog. If Blogfinger runs out of material, which is most unlikely, I have resources that could supply material.

   
   
3. on February 9, 2016 at 7:56 pm Mike O

   While in college I had a part time job selling mens suits with a full time career Jewish suit salesman, it was quite the experience! A few times a 20 something year old groom to be would come in to buy a suit with his mom for the big day. “Paul” would tell the young man that he has been happily married for over 30 years and asked him if he wanted to know the secret to a happy marriage? Of course the young man replied, “yes”, and Paul said:
   “We go out for drinks, dinner and dancing, 2 times per week” (then a pause)
   “I go on Tuesday’s and she goes on Thursdays!”

   
   
4. on February 8, 2016 at 9:56 am Paulie D

   Paul,

   Totally agree with your observation on timing. Jack Benny had impeccable timing. One of his best routines, based upon his penchant for frugality goes like this:
   A robber puts a gun to his back and says “Your money or your life”. Jack says nothing and after a long silence the robber impatiently says “well” to which Jack replies “I’m thinking, I’m thinking.

   I still can’t figure out why the “borscht” belt lost its allure. Today, people travel long distances in cramped planes to experience less than what they had within a two hour drive from NYC.
   Go figure!

   
   

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