Vend-a-Joke
In 1971, Ussery Industries debuted a vending machine that for 10 cents would play a joke by Henny Youngman as well as dispense a candy bar.
Sample jokes: "My mother-in-law got a mud pack. For two days she looked nice. Then the mud fell off."
"Let me tell you about my brother-in-law. I wish he would go to trade school so I would know what kind of work he is out of. He tells people he's a diamond cutter; mows the lawn at Yankee Stadium."
The vend-a-joke machine apparently didn't do very well. But two years later Youngman was featured on one of the first dial-a-joke lines in New York City, and that did much better.
Sample jokes: "My mother-in-law got a mud pack. For two days she looked nice. Then the mud fell off."
"Let me tell you about my brother-in-law. I wish he would go to trade school so I would know what kind of work he is out of. He tells people he's a diamond cutter; mows the lawn at Yankee Stadium."
The vend-a-joke machine apparently didn't do very well. But two years later Youngman was featured on one of the first dial-a-joke lines in New York City, and that did much better.
The Odessa American - Jan 28, 1971
Comments
I'm surprised this guy wasn't sued by (the company owning) Bazooka Joe.
Posted by Yudith on 06/28/18 at 07:01 AM
I don't recall seeing any of these vending machines. Interesting concept, but would a kid buying a candy bar hang around to listen to Henny Youngman?
Posted by KDP on 06/29/18 at 09:32 AM
"Jokes, like candy, get stale." These jokes were stale from the get-go.
Posted by ges on 06/30/18 at 10:32 PM
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Category: 1970s | Jokes