Woody Allen Routine On Moose Hunting Recalled

MICHELE NORRIS, host:

Now that we've gotten a take on moose hunting from an Alaskan, let's hear from a Brooklyn-born moose hunter. This comes from a young standup comic named Woody Allen on stage in the 1960s.

(Soundbite of Woody Allen standup comedy routine)

Mr. WOODY ALLEN (Actor; Comedian): I shot a moose once. I was hunting upstate New York, and I shot a moose. And I strapped him onto the fender of my car. And I'm driving home along the West Side Highway, but what I didn't realize was that the bullet did not penetrate the moose. It just creased the scalp knocking him unconscious. And I'm driving through the Holland Tunnel. The moose woke up.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. ALLEN: So, I'm driving with a live moose on my fender.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. ALLEN: The moose is signaling for a turn, you know. And there's a law in New York state against driving with a conscious moose on your fender Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. ALLEN: And I'm very panicky, and then it hits me. Some friends of mine are having a costume party. I'll go. I'll take the moose. I'll ditch him at the party. It wouldn't be my responsibility.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. ALLEN: So, I drive up to the party, and I knock on the door. The moose is next to me. My host comes to the door. I say, hello, you know the Solomons(ph)?

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. ALLEN: We enter. The moose mingles, did very well, scored.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. ALLEN: Some guy was trying to sell him insurance for an hour and a half. Twelve o'clock comes. They give out prizes for the best costume of the night. First prize goes to the Berkowitzs(ph), a married couple dressed as a moose.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. ALLEN: The moose comes in second. The moose is furious. He and the Berkowitzs lock antlers in the living room.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. ALLEN: They knock each other unconscious. Now, I figure, here's my chance, I grab the moose, strap him on to my fender and shoot back to the woods. But, I've got the Berkowitzs.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. ALLEN: So, I'm driving along with two Jewish people on my fender. There's a law in New York state...

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. ALLEN: Tuesdays, Thursdays, and especially Saturday.

(Soundbite of laughter)

Mr. ALLEN: The following morning, the Berkowitzs wake up in the woods in a moose suit. Mr. Berkowitz is shot, stuffed, and mounted at the New York Athletic Club. And the joke is on them, because it's restricted.

NORRIS: Woody Allen back in his standup days. That routine comes from his album, "Woody Allen Volume 2." Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.