Illustration of a baker kneading dough on a table over a light green background with red and black text; the baker is wearing a plaid red and white shirt, blue pants, and white hat and apron.

According to John Pollack, the 1995 O. Henry Pun-Off World Champion, "the most common type of pun is the humorous use of a word in such a way that because of its sound, you can interpret it in more than one way." "Call Me Baker, I Always Need Dough" is a pun on the word "dough," which means both flour dough and money. Puns and wordplay have a long history of use, notably with Shakespeare in the 18th century (Shakespeare is known to have used over 3,000 puns across all of his plays!). The exact date of the first pun used is lost to time, but scholars think puns can be traced as far back as the 8th century BC.

Punning can be seen throughout the classic epic of Gilgamesh. In Tablets 11 and 12, when Utnapishtim tells the people that they will have a bountiful harvest full of bread and wheat, he is making a cruel pun relating to their fate; in Akkadian, the ancient language in which Gilgamesh was written, the word for "bread" is nearly identical to the word for "darkness," while the word for "wheat" is nearly identical to the word for "misfortune."

According to Pollack, puns enable us "to pack more meaning, or more layers of meaning, into fewer words [and] to convey complex ideas."

A young white woman with short blonde hair and a blue blouse in front of a red background. 

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Illustration of a baseball with eyes, nose, and legs on a cream colored background with read and blue text. 

According to John Pollack, the 1995 O. Henry Pun-Off World Champion, "the most common type of pun is the humorous use of a word in such a way that because of its sound, you can interpret it in more than one way." "Call Me Horsehide, I’m On the Ball" is a pun relating to the use of horsehide leather to make sports balls. Puns and wordplay have a long history of use, notably with Shakespeare in the 18th century (Shakespeare is known to have used over 3,000 puns across all of his plays!). The exact date of the first pun used is lost to time, but scholars think puns can be traced as far back as the 8th century BC.

Punning can be seen throughout the classic epic of Gilgamesh. In Tablets 11 and 12, when Utnapishtim tells the people that they will have a bountiful harvest full of bread and wheat, he is making a cruel pun relating to their fate; in Akkadian, the ancient language in which Gilgamesh was written, the word for "bread" is nearly identical to the word for "darkness," while the word for "wheat" is nearly identical to the word for "misfortune."

According to Pollack, puns enable us "to pack more meaning, or more layers of meaning, into fewer words [and] to convey complex ideas."

An older woman looking a man in a suit in front of red text on a white background and black rim. 

The phrase, "Ah… Men," epitomizes the 20th century’s love of risqué wordplay. Its exaggerated pause—mocking the solemnity of "Amen"—hints at lustful undertones or perhaps even a lament, paired with a cartoonish illustration revealing its true meaning hinting at an older woman thinking of a man. Designed in bold, sans-serif type with a red or blue border, this gag mirrors the burlesque humor of the day, joining buttons like "Holy Smoke!" in poking fun at piety.

In the 1940s, a series of risqué pinback buttons became infamous as gumball machine and carnival prizes. These small novelties boasted bold, comic-style lettering and cheeky illustrations, often framed by red or blue borders. Their humor relied on double entendres and mild innuendo, pushing the era's boundaries of decency while remaining tame by today's standards. 

Blue text and graphic image of a figure holding a baseball bat on a white background

“The Sox” refers to the MLB team the Chicago White Sox. The Chicago White Sox have been in the major leagues since 1901. The slogan “The Sox are back” refers to a new season beginning. Today the season begins in March and the post-season ends in late October. The logo on the button was used by the team between 1976 and 1990. 

A zeppelin flying in front of a cloudy blue-green sky with small buildings visible below. 

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White text on a red background with a white circle around the rim

The Button, also known as The Button on the Beach, was a bar located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The bar was a destination for spring break tourists and sailors visiting Port Everglades. The bar had a reputation for holding risqué events, such as wet T-shirt contests. These events got the bar temporarily shut down on at least one occasion. 

Another Button location existed in Hallandale, Florida. The Museum has a similar button for that location here. 

Illustration of a red box of sugar with arms, legs, and a face on a peach-colored background with red and blue text; the sugar box is wearing a skirt and has a dainty, "refined" expression on its face

According to John Pollack, the 1995 O. Henry Pun-Off World Champion, "the most common type of pun is the humorous use of a word in such a way that because of its sound, you can interpret it in more than one way." "Call Me Sugar, I’m Refined" is a pun on the word "refined," also meaning "elegant" and "cultured." Puns and wordplay have a long history of use, notably with Shakespeare in the 18th century (Shakespeare is known to have used over 3,000 puns across all of his plays!). The exact date of the first pun used is lost to time, but scholars think puns can be traced as far back as the 8th century BC.

Punning can be seen throughout the classic epic of Gilgamesh. In Tablets 11 and 12, when Utnapishtim tells the people that they will have a bountiful harvest full of bread and wheat, he is making a cruel pun relating to their fate; in Akkadian, the ancient language in which Gilgamesh was written, the word for "bread" is nearly identical to the word for "darkness," while the word for "wheat" is nearly identical to the word for "misfortune."

According to Pollack, puns enable us "to pack more meaning, or more layers of meaning, into fewer words [and] to convey complex ideas."

Graphic illustration of a smiling man wearing a white suit and a blue tie, holding out a perfectly folded collard shirt, on a blue circular background with blue text and white background around the rim 

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Illustration of a red fez adorned with Masonic imagery on a white background

Shriners are a masonic society, self described as "a fraternity based on fun, fellowship, and the Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth." The organization was founded in 1872, and originally called the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Shriners are know for their philanthropic work, including a network of children's hospitals, as well as for wearing distinctive red fezzes. They often refer to their members a nobles, with the phrase "Welcome Nobles" commonly being used to welcome new members.