Obviously in 1911, there were no late night TV shows, email or blogs to spread jokes. But shortly after the theft, the newspapers were full of one liners and witticisms that were considered knee-slappers back in the day. Here are a few of the many that I found.
The Indianapolis Star:
Where is 'Mona Lisa at?" "We don't know where she's at, but we know where she ain't.”
Syracuse Herald:
Aren’t there enough live painted women in the world without a man having to run away with the Mona Lisa?
The Philadelphia Inquirer:
The News Palladium, Benton Harbor, MI:
The stealing of the Mona Lisa has advertised the painting so well that everybody knows now that it is not a baking powder, a hair dye or some new kind of perfume.
The Mansfield News, Mansfield, Ohio:
The Mansfield News, Mansfield, Ohio:
Perhaps that ineffable smile of "Mona Lisa" is only the grimace of a woman who saw some other woman wearing a prettier hat or more stunning gown.
The Lowell Sun, Lowell MA:
In the opinion of many the world will survive even if the Mona Lisa be lost without recall.The manner of the disappearance of the Mona Lisa is still inscrutable as her smile.
It is believed now that two women stole the Mona Lisa from the French gallery. We never believed that any impressionable young man could want it.
There were even topical jokes about JP Morgan who was suspected of being behind the theft (See August 31 blog)
The Evening Telegram, Elyria, Ohio
The famous Mona Lisa picture has been stolen from the Louvre at Paris. This is about the only way of assuring a work of art from final resting place in J. P. Morgan's back parlor.
The Washington Post:
For goodness sake, can't you let the artist keep "Mona Lisa" long enough for him to make an original for Mr. Morgan?
And by October, there were these lines:
Syracuse Herald
Mona Lisa's enigmatic smile must be-rather getting on the nerves of the man who stole her by this time.
Olean Evening Times, Olean NY
The French detectives are unlike Mona Lisa. Their smile has come off.
But not all jokes were one liners:
Cleveland Plain Dealer:
For hours the French sleuth had followed tbe man through devious highways and byways. The unsuspecting fellow slouching along with his canvas roll held tightly under his arm.
"Aha." hissed the smiling detective, "I have heem at ze last!"
He came a little closer. Spots of paint were distinctly visible on the
canvas roll. The sleuth sprang forward and snatched away the package.
"I ar-r-rest you." he dramatically cried, "for ze theft of ze gr-r-reat Mona Lisa!"
The suspect stared at the sleuth, and the sleuth stared at the unrolled canvas. "Monsieur." said the suspect calmly. "I will thank you to return to me my overalls!" And taking the canvas garment from the detective's nerveless fingers he continued along the road ...
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