“A guy walks into a bar…” is a typical form of what has been called the “bar joke.” A version involving prolific inventor Thomas Edison (1847-1931) is:
 
“Thomas Edison walks into a bar and orders a beer. The bartender says, ‘Okay, I’ll serve you a beer, just don’t get any ideas.’”
 
The joke was cited on Twitter on December 7, 2009.
 
     
Wikipedia: Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison (February 11, 1847 – October 18, 1931) was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and the long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. Dubbed “The Wizard of Menlo Park”, he was one of the first inventors to apply the principles of mass production and large-scale teamwork to the process of invention, and because of that, he is often credited with the creation of the first industrial research laboratory.
 
Edison was a prolific inventor, holding 1,093 US patents in his name, as well as many patents in the United Kingdom, France, and Germany. More significant than the number of Edison’s patents was the widespread impact of his inventions: electric light and power utilities, sound recording, and motion pictures all established major new industries world-wide. Edison’s inventions contributed to mass communication and, in particular, telecommunications. These included a stock ticker, a mechanical vote recorder, a battery for an electric car, electrical power, recorded music and motion pictures.
 
Twitter
The Bunch on Mix94.5
‏@thebunch
Thomas Edison walks into a bar and orders a beer. The bartender says, Ok, I’ll give you a beers, just don’t get any ideas!
6:19 PM - 7 Dec 2009
 
Twitter
mcafowler
‏@mcafowler
Thomas Edison walks into a bar and orders a beer. The bartender says, “Okay, I’ll serve you a beer, just don’t get any ideas.”
11:44 AM - 9 Dec 2009
 
Google Books
1001 Amazing Jokes
By Jack Goldstein
Andrews UK Limited (andrewsuk.com)
2013
Pg. ?:
Thomas Edison walks into a bar… The bartender says, “I’ll serve you a beer, just don’t get any ideas.”
 
reddit
Thomas Edison walks into a bar, Nikola Tesla did it first. (self.circlejerk)
submitted October 15, 2013 by Prcrstntr
 
Facebook
3 Guys Walked Into A Bar
August 14, 2015 ·
So, Thomas Edison walks into a bar and orders a beer.
The bartender says, “Okay, I’ll serve you a beer, just don’t get any ideas.”
 
Google Books
From Where I Sit
By Bob Rockwell
Lulu Publishing (lulu.com)
2016
Pg. 140:
So, Thomas Edison walks into a bar and orders a beer. The bartender says, “Okay, I’ll serve you a beer, just don’t get any ideas.”