March 26, 2003

N.B.: I posted twice yesterday, in an attempt to make up for a lost day. At some point in the near future, I’ll post twice again, and be completely caught up.

On April 4, 1996, the world suffered a tragic loss in the death of Larry LaPrise, known to all and sundry as the author of “The Hokey Pokey.”

The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in . . . and then the trouble started.

Okay, I admit it, that’s just about the stupidest thing ever, and probably you’ve already all seen it, but I never had and it made me laugh hysterically.

Of course, Larry LaPrise was only one of three men who held the copyright to “The Hokey Pokey” (the other two being Charles Macak and Tafit Baker), and the three of them almost certainly stole the song from somewhere else. (Earlier variants have shown up elsewhere, with names like “The Okey Cokey” and, alas, “The Hinkum Booby.”)

But I couldn’t quite figure out how to convey the accurate information and still maintain the integrity of the joke.

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2 Responses to N.B.: I posted twice yesterday,

  1. Tin Man says:

    I’d never heard this joke before, and I think it’s hysterical too.

    Also creepy.

    Reply
  2. bob says:

    Ah, the old ones are the best ones.

    Reply

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