The Irish chiropodist
What is one? I think I get it, and at the risk of looking ridiculous... Fate - feet? Hey, I have an excuse: I'm Finnish. Besides, I bet everyone doesn't get it.
shareThat line was referring to a 1929 Fats Waller song called "My Fate Is In Your Hands". I don't think the Irish pronunciation of "fate" matters much, he could have said any natonality chiropedist and come back with "My feet is in your hands". It's just funnier to specify the man was Irish. Particularly since the Irish were the usual target of jokes about racial stereotypes... "Play the song about the Jewish chiropedist!" would have worked just as well, in my opinion.
The audience laughs at something like that before they can analyze the joke and find out it doesn't quite work... Get the timing just right and you can say anything and get a laugh - you're laughing but thinking "I don't get it..."
Spaulding: "Play the song about Montreal."
Ravelli: "Montreal?"
Spaulding: "I'm a Dreamer, Montreal."
One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I'll never know.
"Play the song about the Jewish chiropedist!" would have worked just as well, in my opinion.
I think they said "Irish chiropedist" because the Irish pronounciation of "feet" sounds very much like "fate".
Now he's got more women than you could shake a stick at, if that's your idea of a good time share
The Montreal line had to do with another popular song of the day: "I'm A Dreamer (Aren't We All?)" was from 1929 movie, "Sunny Side Up."