"Rubber Chicken"

Posted by R. Berg on December 03, 2001

In Reply to: "Rubber Chicken" posted by Barney on December 03, 2001

: : : : In current comedy the phrase "rubber chicken" is occaisionally used. Can anyone provide insight into the meaning (I suspect vulgar!) or origin of this phrase please?

: : : Sometimes a rubber chicken is just a rubber chicken. Anyone have a different take on the subject? There are rubber chicken "novelty items," although what's funny about that escapes me. Then, isn't there an expression, "the rubber chicken circuit"? A lecture tour, etc., where the presenter has to dine at a series of banquets featuring rubbery chicken?

: : A rubber chicken is ALWAYS funny, like a spit take, bodily noises, and the word "pickle." It's gold, Jerry, pure gold. As for banquets on the rubber chicken circuit, yes, they exist too, and they're NEVER funny.

: Strange to relate, I've encountered a number of rubber chickens in my time and have noted two facts; none had feathers but all came complete with head wings and feet. Now I don't know about anybody else but I find a bald chicken singularly unfunny however many odd and 'un-chicken-like' noises it may make. On rubber chickens I vote a resounding 'Not A Bit Funny'.

: The rubber chicken circuit is very real with the chicken appearing under all guises but always sharing the characteristics of inedible rubber.

The rubber chicken was a traditional prop in two-man vaudeville comedy acts. One comedian would hit the other with it. It can still be had at joke shops.