# Jokes that, nowadays, need explaining **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** comedian-jokes\ **Created:** [September 25, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466 "2020-09-25T02:53:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 51
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1002 "2021-01-24T18:57:41Z")
> [@digs](#): > > Shhh… nobody tell Trinopus about the three shells. The fun part is that I have three sea shells mounted on a plaque just above my bathroom door. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1003 "2021-01-24T23:01:48Z")
Altho there is no true answer, my totally WAG is that they control various water jets for cleaning your ass. I did see a toilet with two controls for this, so three isnt a stretch. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1004 "2021-01-24T23:08:30Z")
I wondered if it was related to an old joke about an automated toilet system with 3 buttons. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2021, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1005 "2021-01-24T23:35:27Z")
I love the SDMB! There is NO topic we will shy from! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1006 "2021-01-25T03:07:12Z")
Oi! Thanks for reviving that memory for me! 😖 ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2021, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1007 "2021-01-25T12:44:09Z")
**SIGENE** posted this in a thread titled “In the dustbin of our cultural history.” _Jokes that no longer work…relegated to the dustbin in their own right._ _Cashier: Do you collect stamps?_ _Customer: No, I build model airplanes._ The joke has to do with trading stamps. The cashier wants to know if the customer wants their trading stamps from their purchase. The customer is thinking the question is about their hobbies - like collecting stamps from the post office. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1008 "2021-01-27T12:16:26Z")
Sam and Dianne are attempting to fool the rest of the bar, so Dianne agrees to lock herself in Sam’s office. Before entering, Sam asks her “S’aright?” She replies “S’aright,” and Sam shuts the door. That’s a reference to Señor Wences, a Spanish ventriloquist who would talk to somebody in his box after he opened it, then before closing it would ask “S’aright?” The voice in the box would reply “S’aright” before Wences shut the box. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2021, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1009 "2021-01-27T13:15:22Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > That’s a reference to Señor Wences, a Spanish ventriloquist who would talk to somebody in his box after he opened it, then before closing it would ask “S’aright?” The voice in the box would reply “S’aright” before Wences shut the box. To elaborate, it was [a disembodied head in a box.](https://youtu.be/AJiYZ6QIAtY?t=92) Sr. Wences was one of the most surreal acts ever. I loved him when he came on Ed. Sullivan. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2021, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1010 "2021-01-28T02:19:27Z")
> [@Knowed\_Out](#): > > That’s a reference to Señor Wences, a Spanish ventriloquist who would talk to somebody in his box after he opened it, then before closing it would ask “S’aright?” The voice in the box would reply “S’aright” before Wences shut the box. _“Easy for you, for me ees very deefeecult!”_ ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1011 "2021-02-11T00:54:09Z")
One more on this topic, from 30 years ago: What do you call a Sandinista with a 976 number? A PARTY LINER! ---
**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1012 "2021-02-11T09:04:46Z")
You had to put _dimes_ in them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1013 "2021-02-11T14:08:10Z")
Are you serious? Many of my doctors still mail them out as reminders of appointments. Same with insurance companies. ---
**Author:** ![BwanaBob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bwanabob/32/2985_2.png) [@BwanaBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BwanaBob)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1014 "2021-02-11T14:10:47Z")
Pennsylvania license plates in the late 1950’s had “PA” on them, predating the postal abbreviation. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1015 "2021-02-11T14:26:44Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > Are you serious? Many of my doctors still mail them out as reminders of appointments. Same with insurance companies And my veterinarian. Sometimes I mail a postcard myself. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1016 "2021-02-11T14:29:57Z")
> [@BwanaBob](#): > > Pennsylvania license plates in the late 1950’s had “PA” on them, predating the postal abbreviation… PA was a traditional abbreviation for Pennsylvania long before the postal codes were introduced, which is probably why it was selected instead of PE. But longer abbreviations also were used. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1017 "2021-02-11T14:39:28Z")
I get plenty of postcards from doctors and insurance companies and places offering me 10% off on my next purchase- but it’s been over 30 years since I got a postcard from a friend or relative. It’s been a similarly long time since I got a letter ( other than a Christmas letter) from a friend or relative. Email and text or other messages have replaced them. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1018 "2021-02-11T14:42:22Z")
There was an absolutely hysterical _Beverly Hillbillies/ Petticoat Junction_ crossover story arc in which Jed Clampett is negotiating some sort of deal regarding a rural airfield with a local Hooverville character named Howard Hewes, and Drysdale thinks he’s _ **the** _ Howard Hughes . > **["The Beverly Hillbillies" The Clampett-Hewes Empire (TV Episode 1970) - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0522587/)** > > The Clampett-Hewes Empire: Directed by Robert M. Leeds. With Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, Max Baer Jr.. The Clampetts are rumored to be merging their interests with a rich tycoon. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1019 "2021-02-11T15:05:19Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > There was an absolutely hysterical _Beverly Hillbillies/ Petticoat Junction_ crossover story arc in which Jed Clampett is negotiating some sort of deal regarding a rural airfield with a local Hooverville character named Howard Hewes, and Drysdale thinks he’s _ **the** _ Howard Hughes . I don’t know if that was deliberate or a typo, but I probably should add to the Obvious things about a creative work thread that I was just struck by the similarity of Hooterville, the mythical setting of Green Acres and Petticoat Junction and Hooverville, a shantytown built by people left homeless by the Great Depression. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1020 "2021-02-11T15:27:34Z")
I kind of remember that one. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2021, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466/1021 "2021-02-11T15:53:22Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > > [@BwanaBob](#): > > > > Pennsylvania license plates in the late 1950’s had “PA” on them, predating the postal abbreviation… > > PA was a traditional abbreviation for Pennsylvania long before the postal codes were introduced, which is probably why it was selected instead of PE. But longer abbreviations also were used. Chuck Berry used the abbreviation P.A. in his 1958 song _Sweet Little Sixteen_. _They’re really rockin’ in Boston In Pittsburgh, P.A. … Cause they’ll be rockin on bandstand In Philadelphia P.A._ [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466.md?page=50) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jokes-that-nowadays-need-explaining/921466.md?page=52)