The nation of “Greece” is often used as a joke for the word “grease.”
“Why is a map of Turkey-in-Europe like a dripping pan? Because there is Greece at the bottom” was printed in The Waterford News and General Weekly Advertiser (Waterford, Ireland) on December 30, 1853. “WHY is the map of Turkey in Europe, like a frying-pan? Because it has Greece at the bottom” was printed in the book Witty Sayings by Witty People (1878) by William Hardcastle Browne.
“Turkey” is sometimes removed from the joke. “Why is Europe like a frying pan? Because it has Greece at the bottom” was printed in the book The Usborne Book of Silly Jokes (2003) by Laura Howell.
Newspapers.com
30 December 1853, The Waterford News and General Weekly Advertiser (Waterford, Ireland), pg. 3, col. 5:
Why is a map of Turkey-in-Europe like a dripping pan? Because there is Greece at the bottom.
Google Books
18 September 1867, Bow Bells, pg. 191, col. 1:
The reason why the map of Turkey-in-Europe is like a dripping-pan is because there is Greece at the bottom.
Newspapers.com
13 October 1875, Lebanon (PA) Daily News, “Brevities,” pg. 1, col. 6:
Why is Europe like a frying pan—because Turkey and Greece are in it.
Google Books
Witty Sayings by Witty People
By William Hardcastle Browne
Philadelphia, PA: David McKay, Publisher
1878
Pg. 296:
WHY is the map of Turkey in Europe, like a frying-pan? Because it has Greece at the bottom.
Google Books
The Speaker’s Garland nd Literary Bouquet
Philadelphia, PA: The Penn Publishing COmpany
1905
Pg. 189:
Why is the map of Turkey in Europe, like a frying-pan? Because it has Greece at the bottom.
Google Books
The Usborne Book of Silly Jokes
By Laura Howell
London, UK: Usborne
2003
Pg. 10:
Why is Europe like a frying pan? Because it has Greece at the bottom.
Reddit—Jokes
Posted by u/FinalCaveat June 11, 2019
Why is Europe similar to cooking bacon?
Because they both have Greece on the bottom.
Reddit—3amjokes
Posted by u/GhostbusterJeffrey February 15, 2021
Why is Europe like a frying pan?
It has Greece on the bottom
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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