While searching the newspaper archives for interesting saxophone stories from the early part of the 20th century, I happened to come across some interesting quips about our instrument. I offer them here for your consideration and pondering.These saxophone quips are of course a reflection of their time, but I’m not so sure that a couple of them couldn’t be found in the routines of stand-up comics today.
The first is from Dubuque, Iowa’s The Telegraph-Harold. The year is 1936, and the day is New Year’s.
A famous musician tells us that the saxophone arouses evil passions, but you can say that about the auto horn.
The next is also from 1936. This comical exchange as well, could easily find itself in the repertoire of a stand-up comic.
“I’m happy because I’ve just done away with a saxophone player.”
“Good heavens, what will you get?”
“Sleep.”
Source: Youngstown Vindicator, May 13, 1936.
I could have seen the late Phyllis Diller delivering that joke. After all she also played saxophone, and she could play her Buescher True Tone curvy very badly—especially when she needed to… 😈
This last saxophone quip is a bit more obscure. It is from 1930, and will most likely leave you pondering the relative worth of saxophones versus other instruments.
A young man has been arrested in Kansas for stealing a saxophone. What’s the country coming to, anyway? Next thing we know it will be considered a misdemeanor to assault a ukelele player.
Source: The Daily Times, January 28, 1930.
Getting back to one-liner saxophone jokes, here’s one for you…
Is that a wooden Xaphoon in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?
Ba dump bump… I really do need a my own drummer. 
Source: Springdale Music on eBay.com
Hi Helen,
Well that was fun.
As for Phyllis Diller, I’d like to hear someone of her talent playing tenor—
ten or twenty miles away from here, that is.
ba-dum, ching!
😆 😆
Hi Helen, I’m still enjoying the Martelle that you endorsed about a year ago and writhe to remind you of a book you mentioned around the same time I think. “The Devil’s Horn”. I’m just about through it and have found it an education in all regards. From the early days of novelty, through the manufacturers’ issues, through the growth of popularity and the early jazz explorers, I have found it an engaging read. Presently the book describes the classical performers and writers. I’d recomment this book to anyone who wants to see some of the whole picture of saxophone culture by only reading one book.
Thanks for the tip. I hope that you have had a chance to read it since your post.
Keep up the blog, I’m faithful.
John in Montreal
Hi there John.
It’s funny that you should stop by. I was just thinking of you the other day. I was wondering if you were still playing that JK alto. I’m glad to hear that you still liking it.
As for The Devil’s Horn, sadly it’s still on my reading list. (Along with a bunch of others.) My colleague, Uwe Ladwig, wrote: SAXOFONE – Ein Kompendium, and I’ve been reading it whenever I read any saxophone history. As the title suggests, it is in German. Because I use Uwe’s raw research data for this book, and translate it into English for use on my site, that takes a lot of time because I also fill it in with other research I conduct, and illustrate my pages with photos. I am currently working on a bunch of new pages for my site, on European saxophone manufacturers.
I should just order the books I want to read, and just make a point of including them into my day.
Thanks for the visit John. Take care. Do drop in from time to time, and let me know how things are going. Or if your prefer, feel free to drop me an email. You can use the Contact Me links in the footer of this blog.
Warm regards,
Helen