These Are The Jokes People Told In 1973

A very political year
These Are The Jokes People Told In 1973
Add Cracked to Google

1973 was not a great year for the US of A, thanks to President Nixon and his crime spree. But the comedy does not stop - sorta like now. Except then there were far less comedians and far fewer outlets for them to tell their jokes. The early 70s were an era when the old guard like Bob Hope were still around but figures that emerged from the counterculture like George Carlin were pushing the boundaries of what jokes could be and what people found funny.

Whether it's for an almost anonymous one-liner, a whole standup routine, or a five-minute monologue on The Tonight Show, these are the jokes people told in 1973. Some hold up, some don't, but here they are.

Allen Version 73

Jokes From 1973 I failed to make the chess team because of my height -Woody Allen date adidas CRACKED

The 1970s, New York, and Woody Allen are synonymous.

Watergate Year

Jokes From 1973 McGovern knew something suspicious was going on when he picked up a grapefruit and got a dial tone - Mark Russell CRACKED

Watergate was a serious issue, but a series of unfortunate events gave comedians freedom to make fun of the government.

Bob Hope's Selection

Jokes From 1973 Everybody in Washington is under suspicion after Watergate. I passed the Lincoln Memorial and noticed that he was wearing dark glasses. With his fingers crossed. - Bob Hope CRACKED

At the end of 1973, Bob Hope picked what he thought were the best jokes of the year, celebrating the humor in the middle of disappointing politics.

The Tonight Show

Jokes From 1973 I think everybody's entitled to make five to nine mistakes in a row. What's all the fuss about? The tape was accidentally erased many times. It could happen, like Germany accidentally invaded Poland twice. -Johnny Carson CRACKED

Johnny Carson wasn't used to delving into too much politics, but this was too juicy to miss out on.

Old Jokes

Jokes From 1973 The stock market is so bad that three of my stocks dropped off the financial page and landed in the help-wanted column - Bob Hope CRACKED

All about politics and finance, not like today's jokes.

Immortal Rodney

Jokes From 1973 When I was born, the doctor came out to the waiting room and said to my father, 'I'm very sorry. We did everything we could... but he pulled through. -Rodney Dangerfield CRACKED

He was the best in 1973.

Phyllis Diller

Jokes From 1973 Housework can't kill you, but why take a chance? - Phyllis Diller CRACKED

It wasn't easy being a woman comedian in the '70s, but making fun of yourself was the best way to start.

Pat Paulsen for President

Jokes From 1973 The military budget should be used to buy off enemies instead of funding war -Pat Paulsen CRACKED

He'd win today, easy.

Not Your Typical Housewife

Jokes From 1973 I hate housework. You make the beds, you do the dishes, and six months later you have to start all over again. - Phyllis Diller CRACKED

Phyllis Diller always catches you by surprise.

Are you there, God?

Jokes From 1973 Why is it that when we talk to God we're said to be praying, but when God talks to us we're schizophrenic? -Lily Tomlin CRACKED

Religion, like politics and capital, was a common subject of many jokes in the '70s.

Energy Crisis

Jokes From 1973 STANDARD The energy crisis convinces me this is going to be a long cold winter, but friendly. Why couldn't this have come earlier-before I had an energy crisis of my own? - Bob Hope CRACKED

No boring month in 1973.

Featured Guests

Jokes From 1973 I never knew what happiness was until I got married, and then it was too late. -Joan Rivers CRACKED

The Tonight Show featured a lot of great comedians of the time.

Carlin Method

Jokes From 1973 Fighting for peace is like for virginity. - George Carlin CRACKED

The best to ever do it.

Good ol' Irish Jokes

Jokes From 1973 The Irish have just invented a new parachute...opens on impact! - Bernard Manning CRACKED

Nothing wrong with that. In 1973.

The Johnny Carson Incident

Jokes From 1973 You know, we've got a lot of problems in this country, but the latest one is the toilet paper shortage. I am not kidding. Honest-to-God. I heard that they actually have a shortage of toilet paper. -Johnny Carson CRACKED

Johnny Carson said this during one of his monologues, and people believed him although he was making it up. The next day, everyone got out to stock up on toilet paper, and a real shortage happened.

Scroll down for the next article

Must Read

VIRAL ON CRACKED

A WEEKLY
NEWSLETTER OF
JOKES + TRIVIA

Forgot Password?