A Midweek Editorial on a Matter of Some Considerable Import

While the general reaction to this blog has been positive, I have been getting a few complaints about the 1930 jokes I reprint (these are usually quoted, as opposed to the rest of the blog which I summarize). Stuff like “I don't get it.” “Huh?” “Wha???”

What some of you may not realize is that these jokes are an important part of the finely tuned immersive experience that is this blog. When these jokes start making sense to you, then and only then will you really comprehend what it was like to be around in 1930.

Or ... maybe you just had to be then. Note: That great line was stolen from Nade on the Octopus Overlords message boards: http://www.octopusoverlords.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=68342 where they also had a helpful discussion of one of the 1930 jokes. The original joke:

“Got a sweetheart yet, Tillie?” “Yes, and he's a regular gentleman.” “You don't say so.” “Yes, he took me to a restaurant last night and poured tea into a saucer to cool it; but he didn't blow it like common people do – he fanned it with his hat.”

If this isn't immediately funny to you, then as silverjon points out, it may help to visualize both of the women speaking as Eliza Doolittle types, pre-Henry Higgins. If this still doesn't help, LawBeefaroni has been kind enough to provide a complete translation to 2009 English:

“Got a man yet, Tylyy?” “Yeah and he's totally like, really smooth.” “Right?” “Yeah, he took me to a movie last night and in the middle he pulled out his iPhone; but he didn't talk on it like those jackasses do – he just texted and read me some tweets.”