A few days ago I was on the internet when I surfed across a YouTube video featuring one of my favorite actors Jimmy Stewart telling “The Funniest Joke I ever heard.”
Jimmy Stewart is more than an actor, he is an American Icon. By the beginning of World War II he had already established an impressive film career with films like Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, Destry Rides Again and The Philadelphia Story just to name a few.
After the bombing of Pearl Harbor he was drafted into the Army but rejected because his weight was too low for his height. He decided that he wouldn’t be deterred from serving his country, so he worked to put on weight and joined the Air Corps as an enlisted man. He had already become an accomplished pilot as a civilian so he set his sights to be accepted into officer’s candidate school. It helped that he had a degree (Architecture) from Princeton. He was accepted and became a flight instructor in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
In the fall of 1943 he was sent to England and became the commanding officer of the 703d Bomb Squadron and flew over 20 combat missions. During the war he received several promotions, and he stayed in the Air Force reserve while he made some of the best movies ever made like: It’s a Wonderful Life, Harvey, Rear Window, Strategic Air Command, Vertigo, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and Shenandoah.
In 1959 he became a Brigadier General, a rank he held until he retired in 1968. Stewart didn’t marry until he was in his forties when he married Gloria Hattrick McLean. They remained partners until her death in 1994 just three years before the passing of Jimmy Stewart in 1997.
I thought a little background was in order to offer context.
Now back to the subject. I saw a video Jimmy Stewart did in 1984 where he told “The funniest joke I ever heard.” This is generally the joke he told:
“A couple was having breakfast when Margaret asked John: ‘If I were to die would, would you get married right away after my death?’
“John said: ‘…here it is a beautiful morning and we’re sitting here having this nice breakfast and you bring up this terrible thing up. Just forget about it.’
“But she didn’t forget about it. She brought it up again that night. And John said the same thing.
“She brought it up for about three days asking ‘If I would die would you get married?’
“Finally John gave up and when she asked ‘If I would die, would you get married again?’ He said: ‘Yes.’ Then went on and said: ‘Is that settled?’
“Marge went on. ‘If you got married again, would you sell the house?’
“He said: ‘No, no, I wouldn’t sell the house.’
“Marge said: ‘Would you sell our bed?’
“John Said: ‘No, I don’t see any reason to sell the bed.’
“Marge said: ‘You certainly wouldn’t let her touch my golf clubs.’
“John said: ‘No, no…. she’s left handed.’”
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