Being old enough to remember a time when, unlike now, the bartenders knew none of the drinks but all of the jokes, I love this, and I think you've nailed the proper dynamic. But the roots of the tradition stretch a little farther back. Here, appropriately, is an anecdote regarding the great pioneer of the American bar, Orsamus Willard, published in the sporting paper, The Spirit of the Times, in 1835:
"A Hoosher from Indiana walked into the hotel one day, and stepping up to the bar, called for a glass of brandy and water. Willard, with his customary suavity, immediately handed him the decanter and a tumbler, and the gentleman helped himself. He filled the tumbler nearly full of 'strong water,' with a small sprinkle of the Manhattan [i.e., city water--DW], and emptied the whole at a draught. Willard looked aghast. The Hoosher forked up his shilling [i.e., 12 cents--DW] and was astonished when returned him a sixpence and three cents change.
'Hollo, Stranger! You don't go to pretend to say they only charge three cents a glass for liquor at the City hotel?'
'No,' answered Willard--'we retail it at a shilling a glass, but when we sell it wholesale we make a discount!'
The Hoosher wilted like a baked apple, and evaporated."
Okay, clunky, and the dynamic is reversed from what it would rapidly become, where the customer gets the win, but the elements are there. By the 1850s, you start to see these pretty frequently, only with the customers getting over. I can't figure out how to post images here, and that's enough transcribing for me, but look up the one (widely repeated, as you describe) from 1855 where a guy keeps going into a bar and buying another pint of rum, telling the bartender it's "for mechanical purposes." The punchline goes against the bartender. I've got a few others in my files which I'm happy to send on.
I've been saving this kind of random shit for, like, 20 years. I can't always--often it seems like can't ever--find it when I need it, but I'm happy to take a look, enjoy moonshots, and will gladly share what I've got.
Customer: "Bartender, the guy next to me is masturbating."
Bartender: "Just ignore him."
Customer: I can't. He's using my hand."
And by the way, great piece Wayne!
Occasionally it’s a historic type of drinking establishment:
A three-legged dog walks into a saloon in the old west… “I’m looking for the man who shot my paw.”
Cheers, and out
Being old enough to remember a time when, unlike now, the bartenders knew none of the drinks but all of the jokes, I love this, and I think you've nailed the proper dynamic. But the roots of the tradition stretch a little farther back. Here, appropriately, is an anecdote regarding the great pioneer of the American bar, Orsamus Willard, published in the sporting paper, The Spirit of the Times, in 1835:
"A Hoosher from Indiana walked into the hotel one day, and stepping up to the bar, called for a glass of brandy and water. Willard, with his customary suavity, immediately handed him the decanter and a tumbler, and the gentleman helped himself. He filled the tumbler nearly full of 'strong water,' with a small sprinkle of the Manhattan [i.e., city water--DW], and emptied the whole at a draught. Willard looked aghast. The Hoosher forked up his shilling [i.e., 12 cents--DW] and was astonished when returned him a sixpence and three cents change.
'Hollo, Stranger! You don't go to pretend to say they only charge three cents a glass for liquor at the City hotel?'
'No,' answered Willard--'we retail it at a shilling a glass, but when we sell it wholesale we make a discount!'
The Hoosher wilted like a baked apple, and evaporated."
Okay, clunky, and the dynamic is reversed from what it would rapidly become, where the customer gets the win, but the elements are there. By the 1850s, you start to see these pretty frequently, only with the customers getting over. I can't figure out how to post images here, and that's enough transcribing for me, but look up the one (widely repeated, as you describe) from 1855 where a guy keeps going into a bar and buying another pint of rum, telling the bartender it's "for mechanical purposes." The punchline goes against the bartender. I've got a few others in my files which I'm happy to send on.
I knew I should checked with you first! Thank you for updating my flawed chronology.
I've been saving this kind of random shit for, like, 20 years. I can't always--often it seems like can't ever--find it when I need it, but I'm happy to take a look, enjoy moonshots, and will gladly share what I've got.
Now I'm going to need to create a new cocktail recipe just so that I can call it "A Drink Named Steve."
Great piece.
Thanks! I look forward to a tot of Steve.