The Aristocrats

Indeed. Allegedly the joke was humourous in the vaudeville days. The gag teller would go through a long rigmarole explaining the appalling stage act that was being presented to an agent, and then finishing with the name of the act ("The Aristocrats"). An ironic name if that's not an oxymoron when discussing an American joke. In those days people might actually have been shocked to think that their so-called social betters (ie aristocrats) would get up to such things.

Now its just an excuse for self indulgent nonsense. An in-joke for yank comedians.
 
Back
Top