“What are unhappy cranberries called? Blueberries.” The cranberries joke—included in many Thanksgiving joke collections—has been cited in print since at least 1986.
Google Books
The Purple Turkey and Other Thanksgiving Riddles
By David A. Adler; Marylin Hafner
New York, NY: Holiday House
1986
Pg. ?:
What are unhappy cranberries called? Blueberries.
22 March 1994, Indiana (PA) Gazette, “Mighty Funny’s Mini Jokes,” The Mini Page by Betty Debnam, pg. 3, col. 2:
WHAT ARE UNHAPPY CRANBERRIES CALLED?
BLUEBERRIES!
Google Books
May 1995, Boys’ Life, “Think & Grin,” pg. 65, col. 1:
Jill: What are unhappy cranberries called?
Jack: What?
Jill: Blueberries!
— Gena Trimarco, Weed, Calif.
Google Books
The Little Giant Book of Giggles
By Charles Keller
New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
2003
Pg. 225:
What are unhappy cranberries called?
Blueberries.
Twitter
Twyla Verhelst
@twylav16
THANKSGIVING JOKE: What are unhappy cranberries called? Blueberries. #lamejoke #happythanksgiving
5:30 PM - 7 Oct 2011
Google Books
Courage for Beginners
By Karen Harrington
New York, NY: Little, Brown and Company
2014
Pg. ?:
“Do you know what you call unhappy cranberries? Blueberries.”
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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