We think the answer to that is very simple. The best jokes are jokes that you’ve enjoyed in the past but have forgotten you know (followed by funny jokes you haven’t heard before, followed by that one about the magician who gets hit in the head with a sledgehammer).

With that in mind, we decided to dust off a chestnut and have some fun with a fondly remembered crank call from our childhood. Here’s a transcript.

Call #1

Prank Victim: Hello?
Old Yorker: Um, yes, hello. Uh, do you have Prince Albert in a can?
Prank Victim: No.
Old Yorker: Oh.

Call #2

Prank Victim: Yello.
Old Yorker: Hi. Do you have Prince Albert in a can?
Prank Victim: What?
Old Yorker: Do you have Prince Albert in a can?
Prank Victim: I don’t understand. Do I have what in what?
Old Yorker: Prince Albert. In a can.
Prank Victim: Prince Albert in a can?
Old Yorker: Yes.
Prank Victim: Why would I have Prince Albert in a can?
Old Yorker: Never mind.

Call # 3

Prank Victim: Hello?
Old Yorker: Do you have Prince Albert in can?
Prank Victim: Que?
Old Yorker: Do you have Prince Albert in a can?
Prank Victim: No entiendo. (calling to someone) Maria!
Prank Victim #2: Hello?
Old Yorker: Yes, do you have Prince Albert in a can?
Prank Victim #2: I think you have wrong number.

Call #4

Prank Victim: Larchmont Tobacco Shop.
Old Yorker: Do you have Prince Albert in a can?
Prank Victim: I’m afraid not.
Old Yorker: Are you sure you don’t have Prince Albert in a can?
Prank Victim: Yes. We used to but we don’t carry it any more. There’s hardly any demand. In fact, I’m not even sure if they still make it. It’s sad really, how few men smoke a pipe these days. If you’d like to come in, we have a lot of other pipe tobacco just not Prince Albert in a can. Are you a pipe smoker yourself?
Old Yorker: Blow job!