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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Entry from September 14, 2021
“What’s the difference between a violinist and a dog?”/“The dog knows when to stop scratching.”

A riddle has been told about a violist (someone who plays the viola), a violinist (someone who plays the violin) and a DJ.
 
The violist version was printed in the Gasbag (University of Michigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society) in September/October 1991:
   
Q: What’s the difference between a violist and a shaggy dog?
A: A shaggy dog knows when to stop scratching.

 
The violinist version was printed in The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ) on May 13, 1995:
   
Q: What’s the difference between a violinist and a dog?
A: The dog knows when to stop scratching.

 
The DJ version was posted on Twitter by Mick_Shrimpton on December 31, 2008:
   
Q: What’s the difference between a DJ and a dog?
A: The dog knows when to stop scratching.

 
     
Google Books
September/October 1991, Gasbag (University of Michigan Gilbert and Sullivan Society), “Viola II” administered by David Goldberg, pg. 19, col. 3:
Q: What’s the difference between a violist and a shaggy dog?
A: A shaggy dog knows when to stop scratching.
     
Google Groups: alt.music.filk
2 of 3: obnoxious jokes
Joe Bethancourt
Apr 10, 1992, 11:07:46 AM
(...)
What’s the difference between a violin and a dog?
The dog knows when to stop scratching…..
   
Google Groups: rec.humor
Canonical List Of Music Humor 2/3
Two More Ron’s Don’t Make A Wright
Aug 3, 1994, 7:40:06 AM
(...) 
What is the difference between a dog and a viola?
The dog knows when to stop scratching.
 
Newspapers.com
10 August 1994, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “On TV, Music Comes Fresh From the Can” by Tom Hensley. pg. E2, col. 2:
I have never publicly stated that the difference between a violist and a dog is that the dog knows when to stop scratching.
 
Newspapers.com
13 May 1995, The Arizona Daily Star (Tucson, AZ), “StarNet—Music jokes,” pg. 2A, col. 3:
What’s the difference between a violinist and a dog?
 
The dog knows when to stop scratching.
   
Google Books
The Musician’s Joke Book:
Knowing the Score

By Nancy J. Groce
London, UK: Schirmer Trade Books
1996
Pg. ?:
What’s the difference between a violist and a dog? A dog knows when to stop scratching.
 
Google Groups: alt.humor   
Drummer Jokes
Rick Keller
Oct 24, 1999, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
What’s the difference between a violist and a dog?
The dog knows when to stop scratching.
   
18 January 2004, Sunday Herald-Sun (Melbourne, Victoria), “Folk” by Bryan Patterson, pg. E14:
HOW do you tell the difference between a fiddle player and a dog? The dog knows when to stop scratching.
 
Twitter
Mick_Shrimpton
@Mick_Shrimpton
What’s the difference between a DJ and a dog? ...The dog knows when to stop scratching…
6:25 PM · Dec 31, 2008·Twitter Web Client
 
Twitter
rui da silva
@ruidasilva
What’s the difference between a violist and a dog? The dog knows when to stop scratching.
10:24 AM · Jul 1, 2009·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
YesYechYes
@sriharsha73
How do you tell the difference between a violinist and a dog?
The dog knows when to stop scratching.
2:20 AM · Aug 25, 2009·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
DJNEGRITONY
@DJNEGRITONY
What’s the difference between a DJ and a dog? The dog knows when to stop scratching!
3:34 PM · Apr 21, 2010·Twitter Web Client
   
Twitter
The Punfisher
@ThePunfisher
What’s the difference between a DJ and a dog? The dog knows when to stop scratching #LOL
12:04 PM · Sep 26, 2017·The Social Jukebox
 
Twitter
MusicianHumor
@JokesBoutMusic
How do you tell the difference between a violinist and a dog?
The dog knows when to stop scratching.
11:53 AM · Sep 12, 2021·twittbot.net
 
Twitter
Lorraine Jo King
@lahlahbean
#tuesdaytitters
How do you tell the difference between a violinist and a dog?
The dog knows when to stop scratching.
6:05 AM · Sep 14, 2021·Twitter for iPhone

Posted by Barry Popik
New York CityMusic/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus • Tuesday, September 14, 2021 • Permalink


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