Classic Memes From a Time Before The Internet

It's easy to believe that memes are a novel invention of the 21st century. After all, we're so evolved and living in the future; it's no wonder we pioneered this compelling new art form. 

Unfortunately, we did not invent memes. Not even close. If you look into any newspaper or humor magazine from the early 20th century, you will see cartoons, illustrations, and jokes utilizing the exact same format memes on Memebase use today. Modern people are not as creative as we thought, and everything we've done has been done before by now-dead humorists. 

Pawing through old newspapers at an archive or library is just as fun as it sounds. You have to search extremely hard to get to the good stuff, and even then, it's usually not that good. That's why I'm glad that there are hardworking Twitter users that will do the work of finding funny headlines for us! You go, @yesterdaysprint !

Author image for Emmy Ward Emmy Ward
Advertisement

Stay entertained and up to date by following us on Facebook and Instagram!

Tags

funny cat memes old memes old dogs news dog memes comics funny dog memes womens memes funny cats cartoons men vs women women newspaper cat memes
Scroll down for the next article

Also From Memebase

Trending Now

33-year-old gets excluded from her friend's bachelorette party while 5 members of their friend group of 20 years attended without question: 'I feel humiliated. Like a spare part in a friendship I thought I was still part of.'

33-year-old gets excluded from her friend's bachelorette party while 5 members of their friend group of 20 years attended without question: 'I feel humiliated. Like a spare part in a friendship I thought I was still part of.'

01
Parents accrue $60000 debt in 22-year-old daughter's name, complain when she reports them for ruining her credit score: 'They never gave me access to the mailbox'

Parents accrue $60000 debt in 22-year-old daughter's name, complain when she reports them for ruining her credit score: 'They never gave me access to the mailbox'

02
35+ of the Freshest and Funniest Tweets of the Week (May 3, 2025)

35+ of the Freshest and Funniest Tweets of the Week (May 3, 2025)

03
Restaurant manager brings baby into kitchen while he works, ignores chef requesting the child be removed from the workspace: 'He jumps on the cook line, baby still attached'

Restaurant manager brings baby into kitchen while he works, ignores chef requesting the child be removed from the workspace: 'He jumps on the cook line, baby still attached'

04
25+ Nostalgic Throwbacks From the 80s and 90s That Are Firmly Pre-Millennium

25+ Nostalgic Throwbacks From the 80s and 90s That Are Firmly Pre-Millennium

05
Mom bans her 6-year-old son's friend from coming over for play dates because the friend is still not fully potty trained: 'He told me he needs me to wipe'

Mom bans her 6-year-old son's friend from coming over for play dates because the friend is still not fully potty trained: 'He told me he needs me to wipe'

06
Advertisement