A skeleton riddle is:
Q: Why didn’t the skeleton want to go to school?
A: Because his heart wasn’t in it.
The Halloween joke has been cited in print since at least 1987.
Google Books
Holiday Entertaining
By Jean Paré
Edmonton, Alberta: Company’s Coming Pub.
1987
Pg. 111:
The little skeleton didn’t want to go to school. His heart wasn’t in it.
Google Books
Funny You Should Ask:
How to Make Up Jokes and Riddles with Wordplay
By Marvin Terban
New York, NY: Clarion Books
1992
Pg. 58:
Why did the skeleton quit his job?
Because his heart wasn’t in it.
10 February 1992, Vancouver (BC) Sun, “There’s still time for fun in the snow,” pg. C6:
Q: Why didn’t the skeleton want to go to school?
A: Because his heart wasn’t in it.
2 May 1992, The Vidette-Messenger (Valparaiso, IN), “Mighty Funny’s Mini Jokes,” The Mini Page, pg. 1, col. 3:
Q: Why did the skeleton flunk?
A: Because his heart wasn’t in it.
(Sent in by Ingrid Tommassoni)
Google Books
Big Bad Classroom Jokes
By Sandy Ransford
London, UK: Robinson Children’s Books
1998
Pg. ?:
Why didn’t the skeleton do well at school?
His heart wasn’t in it
Google Groups: alt.humor.puns
[Fwd: Submit: Halloween Riddles]
Stan Kegel
10/30/00
(...)
Why didn’t the skeleton want to go to school??
Because his heart wasn’t in it. (Irene A. Mystery)
Google Books
School Jokes
By Joseph Rosenbloom
New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
2003
Pg. 9:
Why did the little skeleton flunk out?
His heart wasn’t in it.
Google Books
The Super, Epic, Mega Joke Book for Kids
By Whee Winn
Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderkidz
2016
Pg. ?:
Why didn’t the skeleton want to go to school?
His heart wasn’t in it
Twitter
Team Propeller
@propeller_learn
Why didn’t the skeleton want to go to school?
His heart wasn’t in it! 💀 #HappyHalloween
3:15 AM - 31 Oct 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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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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