If an astronomer watches the night skies, does that make him a night watchman? A riddle has been cited in print since at least 1986:
Q: What is an astronomer?
A: A night watchman with a college education.
Google Books
Einstein Anderson Makes Up for Lost Time
By Seymour Simon
Illustrated by Fred Winkowski
New York, NY: Puffin Books
1986
Pg. 42:
“Are you thinking of becoming an astronomer?” he asked.
“I might,” Einstein said. “Of course you know that an astronomer is a night watchman with a college education,” he continued. “
Google Books
The Science Zone:
Jokes, Riddles, Tongue Twisters & Daffynitions
By Gary Chmielewski
Chicago, IL Norwood House Press
2008
Pg. 4:
ASTRONOMER
Night watchman with a college education.
Twitter
Bollywood Sargam
@bollywoodsargam
Space jokes - 8785 Joke: What is an astronomer? A night watchman with a college education. .... http://tinyurl.com/quetd8
9:04 AM - 21 May 2009
Twitter
Morten Stenbaek
@mobitwix
What is an astronomer?A night watchman with a college education.
2:15 AM - 22 Dec 2009
Google Books
The Mammoth Book of Really Silly Jokes:
Humour for the whole family
By Geoff Tibballs
London, UK: Constable & Robinson Ltd
2011
Pg. 313:
What is an astronomer?
A night watchman with a college education.
Google Books
Sensible Nonsense.. Frank’s Comic Pack:
Humour Pack Series
By Frank Paul
BookBaby
2014
Pg. ?:
What is an astronomer? A night watchman with a college education.
Twitter
Lucky Score
@LuckyScoreNet
What is an astronomer?
A night watchman with
a college education.
#Joke from #SpaceJokes in #Jokes, #Humor and #Satire
9:34 PM - 29 Dec 2017
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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“How it feels to click the tongs twice before you start grilling” ("I have the power!") (3/19)
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Entry in progress—BP (3/19)
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Entry in progress—BP (3/19)
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“Coffee—A tasty cup of caffeinated sanity in an uncertain world” (3/19)
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More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps.
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.
This site is edited by Barry Popik.