There are a number of humor templates that go in and out of style (mostly out). Most of those from my youth have disappeared. Feel free to rain down your examples, or any genres I may have missed.

Are you smarter than the Internet? One Sunday in the spring of 1975, when I still read the New York Times religiously (in essence, as a wire-service reporter, I was paid to read it), the New York Times Magazine featured a whole page of these jokes; maybe by William Safire. Don’t send the letter to the editor. That’s easy to find.

One choo-choo joke that I am certain was on that list was the result of a talkative Indian religious leader coming to church:  “Pardon me, goy, is that the chatty guru’s new pew?”

These jokes often require a long shaggy-dog story to make complete sense, but here’s a few that I think stand alone.

“Pardon me, (James)Bowie, is that the captain who's accused you?”

“Pardon me, Roy (Rogers), is that the cat who chewed your new shoes?”

A luxury store offers Native American Moccasins so a customer inquires of a young clerk,  “Pardon me, boy, is this the tag on Gucci's Sioux shoe?”

A few weeks later, a letter to the editor of the Times asked, “Pardon me. Oy! Is this the rag to turn for news to?”

Next Week: Walked Into A Bar