Water Closet Classic
W.C. misinterpretation - Water Closet or Wayside Chapel?
[This is THE joe-k that caused Jack Paar to walk off The
Tonight Show on February 10, 1960 - one of the early classic moments in
television censorship (pre-Johnny Carson, and post-Steve Allen). He came back a
few days later, only
after many meetings with the NBC honchos. The censor had barred him from telling
that
joe-k, and he was incensed. As I recall, they never did let him tell it, but
somehow talked him into coming back to the show...]
An English lady, while visiting Switzerland, was looking for a room, and she
asked the schoolmaster if he could recommend any to her. He took her to see
several rooms, and when everything was settled, the lady returned to her home to
make the final preparations to move. When she arrived home, the thought suddenly
occurred to her that she had not seen a "W.C." [water closet - a euphemism for
bathroom] around the place. So she immediately wrote a note to the schoolmaster
asking him if there were a "W.C." around.
The schoolmaster was a very poor student of English, so he asked the parish
priest if he could help in the matter. Together they tried to discover the
meaning of the letters "W.C." and the only solution they could find for the
letters was for ‘Wayside Chapel’. The schoolmaster then wrote to the English
lady the following note:
Dear Madam:
I take great pleasure in informing you that the W.C. is situated nine miles from
the house you occupy, in the center of a beautiful grove of pine trees
surrounded by lovely grounds. It is capable of holding 229 people and it is open
on Sunday and Thursday only. As there are a great number of people and they are
expected during the summer months, I would suggest that you come early: although
there is plenty of standing room as a rule. You will no doubt be glad to hear
that a good number of people bring their lunch and make a day of it. While
others who can afford to go by car arrive just in time. I would especially
recommend that your ladyship go on Thursday when there is a musical
accompaniment. It may interest you to know that my daughter was married in the
W.C. and it was there that she met her husband. I can remember the rush there
was for seats. There were ten people to a seat ordinarily occupied by one. It
was wonderful to see the expression on their faces. The newest attraction is a
bell donated by a wealthy resident of the district. It rings every time a person
enters. A bazaar is to be held to provide plush seats for all the people, since
they feel it is a long felt need. My wife is rather delicate, so she can't
attend regularly. I shall be delighted to reserve the best seat for you if you
wish, where you will be seen by all. For the children, there is a special time
and place so that they will not disturb the elders. Hoping to have been of
service to you, I remain,
Sincerely,
The Schoolmaster.