A popular Halloween riddle about ghosts and goblins is:
Q: Why is a ghost a messy eater?
A: Because he is always a goblin.
The joke has been cited in print since at least 1997.
Google Groups: maus.talk.english
Halloween Jokes
Karl-Heinz Wachtendorf
11/2/97
(...)
Q. Why is a ghost such a messy eater?
A. Because he is always a goblin.
30 October 1998, The Star Democrat (Easton, MD), “Spooktacular Fun,” pg. 7B, col. 3:
Q. Why is a ghost such a messy eater?
A. Because he is always a goblin.
Google Groups: alt.oyp.norp
from a friend to a friend to us
Seb Np
10/30/99
(...)
Q. Why is a ghost such a messy eater?
A. Because he’s always a goblin.
Google Groups: alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer
Ghost Puns
Stan Kegel
8/23/00
(...)
Why is a ghost such a messy eater? Because he is always a goblin.
Google Groups: alt.humor.puns
Halloween Puns of the Weak 10/19/01
Stan Kegel
10/19/01
(...)
Why is a ghost such a messy eater?
Because he is always a goblin. (Joke of the Day)
Google Books
Fun Campfire Ghost Stories
By John Bradshaw
LuLu Press (Lulu.com)
2009
Pg. 113:
Why was the ghost such a messy eater?
Because he was always a goblin!
Google Books
The Funniest Spooky Joke Book Ever
By Joe King
Kondon: Andersen Press
2013
Pg. ?:
Why is a ghost such a messy eater?
Because he is always goblin
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.
Recent entries:
•
“The Milky Way is a hard place to be if you’re galactose-intolerant” (6/5)
•
“Since nobody reads the 5,000 page bills. let’s slip in ‘term limits‘“ (6/5)
•
“Since nobody reads the 5,592 page bills, let’s slip in ‘term limits‘“ (6/5)
•
“I’m moving from the Milky Way to the Soymilky Way galaxy. I’m galactose intolerant” (6/5)
•
Entry in progress—BP (6/5)
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.