“What kind of key opens a haunted house?”/“A spoo-key.”

A plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

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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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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Entry from November 01, 2016

“What kind of key opens a haunted house?”/“A spoo-key.”

A popular Halloween haunted house riddle is:

Q: What kind of key opens the door of a haunted house?
A: A spoo-key.

The joke was included in the book Holiday Howlers: Jokes for Punny Parties (2004).

“How do you unlock a haunted house?”/“With a skeleton key” is a similar riddle.

Google Books
Holiday Howlers:
Jokes for Punny Parties
By Peter Roop and Connie Roop
Pictures by Brian Gable
Minneapolis, MN: Carolrhoda Books
2004
Pg. 14:
Q: How does a ghost open the door of a haunted house?
A: She uses a spoo-key.

Straight Dope Message Board
Am I missing something with this Laffy Taffy joke?
Marlitharn
09-30-2007, 07:48 AM
Actually, they have “How do you unlock a haunted house? With a spoo-key!”. Which isn’t as painful as “What kind of car does a ghost drive? A boo-ick!” but it comes close.

Twitter
Aaron Newcomer
‏@937aaron
@circasurvive what kind of key opens a haunted house? a spookey
3:32 PM - 29 Oct 2009

Twitter
The Real Mish M.
‏@elektra88
Only 24 kids in 2 hours so far. Bored. Reading Laffy Taff: What kind of key opens a haunted house? A spoo-key!
9:57 PM - 31 Oct 2009

Facebook
Angie Rivera Lippy
‎to JuWanna the Clown
October 6, 2014 ·
Halloween jokes!!! :O)
(...)
Q. What key opens a Haunted House?
A. A spooKEY!

Google Books
The House on Spooky Street
By Laurie S. Sutton
North Mankato, MN: Stone Arch Books
2015
Pg. 108:
How did Scooby-Doo escape the haunted house?
a. He played on the run-down piano until he found the right key!
b. He unlocked the door with a spoo-key!

Twitter
Jule’s Lifestyle Co.
‏@juleslifestylec
What kind of key opens a haunted house? .... a spooKEY #HappyHalloween
4:15 PM - 31 Oct 2016

Posted by Barry Popik
New York City • Buildings/Housing/Parks • Tuesday, November 01, 2016 • Permalink

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