Story about searching for the origin of a joke

March 14, 2015 1:26 PM

I remember reading a short story years ago where a guy tries to find the origin of a joke, who told who told who etc. He ends up in this hidden valley in the Rockies where there is a secret society busy making jokes and letting them loose into the world. Because he found them, he gets to join... Any MeFi know what the name and/or author is? Mucho Thanks
posted by drinkmaildave to Writing & Language (5 answers total)

Best answer: Richard Matheson, The Splendid Source
posted by crazy with stars at 1:43 PM on March 14, 2015

There was definitely also a sitcom episode that had this as its premise, although it could have been a spoof of the short story.

I'm embarrassed to say, I think it was Family Guy
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 2:39 PM on March 14, 2015

And in the Not-The-Answer-But-Vaguely-Related File: there is a loosely similar sub-plot in Will Ferguson's novel Happiness, which is hilarious.
posted by ovvl at 5:37 PM on March 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

And a recent SMBC comic.
posted by CrystalDave at 9:11 PM on March 14, 2015 [1 favorite]

Ah ha.
posted by i_am_a_fiesta at 8:14 PM on October 5, 2015