A popular Halloween riddle about skeletons is:
Q: How did the skeleton know it was going to rain?
A: He could feel it in his bones.
The joke has been cited in print since at least 1976.
Google Books
Biggest Riddle Book in the World
By Joseph Rosenbloom
Illustrated by Joyce Behr
New York, NY: Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.
1976
Pg. 58:
How did the skeleton know it was raining?
He could feel it in his bones.
14 May 2001, Los Angeles (CA) Times, “The Kids’ Reading Room; Reading by 9; Jokes & Riddles,” pg. E7:
How did the skeleton know it was going to rain? He could feel it in his bones. (Jazmin, 10, Rio San Gabriel Elementary, Downey)
Google Books
The Sleepover Joke Book
By Sandy Ransford
New York, NY: Puffin Books
2003
Pg. ?:
How did the skeleton know it was going to rain?
He could feel it in his bones.
Twitter
Mutant
@Mutant
All Hallows Eve: How did the skeleton know it was raining? He could feel it in his bones!
6:59 AM - 31 Oct 2007
Twitter
GoL Wobenzym
@Wobenzym4Life
Q: How did the skeleton know it was going to rain?
A: He could feel it in his #bones! Build better bones at http://www.growbone.com
11:36 AM - 10 Aug 2009
Google Books
The Funniest Spooky Joke Book Ever
By Joe King
New York, NY: Andersen Press
2013
Pg. ?:
How did the skeleton know it was going to rain?
He could feel it in his bones.
Google Books
Super Hot Jokes For Cool Kids!
By Various Authors
London: Buster Books
2014
Pg. ?:
How did the skeleton know it was going to rain?
He could feel it in his bones.
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
This site is edited by Barry Popik.