“Humpty Dumpty” is an English nursery rhyme from the 1790s. American actor George L. Fox (1825-1877) played a clown Humpty Dumpty character at New York City’s Olympic Theatre in the 1860s.
 
A popular Humpty Dumpty riddle was first printed in Boys’ Life magazine in January 1967:
 
Q: Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall?
A: To make up for a miserable summer.
   
   
Wikipedia: Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty is a character in an English nursery rhyme, probably originally a riddle and one of the best known in the English-speaking world. He is typically portrayed as an anthropomorphic egg, though he is not explicitly described so. The first recorded versions of the rhyme date from late eighteenth-century England and the tune from 1870 in James William Elliott’s National Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Songs. Its origins are obscure and several theories have been advanced to suggest original meanings.
 
The character of Humpty Dumpty was popularised in the United States by actor George L. Fox (1825–77).
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Lyrics and melody
The rhyme is one of the best known and most popular in the English language. The most common modern text is:
 
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king’s horses and all the king’s men
Couldn’t put Humpty together again.
 
Wikipedia: George L. Fox
George L. Fox (July 3, 1825 – October 24, 1877) was an American actor and dancer who became known for his clown roles and who based the characterisations on his inspiration Joseph Grimaldi.
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In 1866 Fox became stage manager at the Olympic Theatre on the Eastside of Broadway near Houston Street. There he played Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and his signature role as the clown in Humpty Dumpty, the first American pantomime to be performed in two acts, which some feel has never been equaled since.
 
Google Books
January 1967, Boys’ Life “Think and Grin,” pg. 72, col. 4:
Quiz: Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall?
Whiz: To make up for a miserable summer. — Terry Post, Madison, Wis.
 
11 October 1968, Omaha (NE) World-Herald, “High School Press,” pg. 25, col. 3:
The Anselmo-Merna (Neb.) High Coyote takes a backward look at vacation time and asks: “Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall?
 
“Answer: To make up for a miserable summer.”
 
24 May 1970, The Pantagaph (Bloomington-Normal, IL), pg. D-8, col. 6 classified ad:
JOKE OF THE WEEK!
GARY: Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall?
PAUL: TO make up for a miserable summer.
 
5 July 1970, Ogden (UT) Standard-Examiner, “Day by Day” by Iris Syndergaard, pg. 12A, col. 5:
My daughter’s latest joke:
“Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall?” “To make up for a lousy summer.”
 
21 February 1971, The Sun (Baltimore, MD), “Sunday Punch,” The Sun Magazine, pg. 26, col. 1:
Question: Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall?
Answer: To make up for a lousy summer.
 
15 April 1975, Austin (TX) American-Statesman, “Fun Time—The Riddle Box,” pg. 15, col. 6:
Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall?
To make up for a rotten summer.
   
Google Books
Biggest Riddle Book in the World
By Joseph Rosenbloom
Illustrated by Joyce Behr
New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
1976
Pg. 217:
Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall?
To make up for a bad summer.
 
Google Books
Super-Duper Good Clean Jokes for Kids
By Bob Phillips
Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers
2000
Pg. 79:
Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall?
To make up for a terrible summer.
   
Twitter
Katherine White
‏@Musicella
Appropriate for Ireland: Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall? To make up for a bad summer. #doylejoke
11:39 AM - 24 Apr 2009
 
Google Books
A Prairie Home Companion
Pretty Good Joke Book (6th Edition)
Introduced by Garrison Keillor
Prince Frederick, MD: HighBridge
2015
Pg. ?:
Why did Humpty Dumpty have a great fall?
He wanted to make up for a lousy summer.