“I have the Source heart of a small boy. > > I keep it in a jar on my desk.”
This macabre witticism creates an instant reaction. It begins with a sweet, sentimental sentiment. Then, it delivers a gruesome punchline. Writers call this technique paraprosdokian humor. The first half sets a gentle tone. Suddenly, the second half twists the meaning entirely. Fans of scary stories love this dark wit. However, a major mystery surrounds this famous line. Most readers attribute the quote to Stephen King. He is the modern face of horror, after all. Yet, history tells a different story. The true author is actually Robert Bloch. Bloch wrote the classic novel Psycho. This article traces the fascinating journey of this legendary joke.
The True Origin Story
We must look back to the mid-20th century to find the source. Source Robert Bloch – The Official Site was a prolific writer during this era. He frequently contributed to Weird Tales magazine. This publication defined the genre’s golden age. In 1942, Bloch sent a letter to the magazine. He wanted to update readers on his style. Specifically, he explained his shift toward comedy. .
In that letter, he described his own personality. He claimed to be a lovable person. Then, he dropped the famous line about the jar on his desk. This 1942 appearance serves as the foundational proof. Therefore, Bloch owns the credit. He did not stop there, however. He continued to use the joke for years. For instance, a 1945 review in the San Francisco Chronicle quoted him. The reviewer praised Bloch’s “grisly gag-sense.” Additionally, Bloch used the line on a book jacket in 1947. He wrote a bio for his novel The Scarf. In it, he listed his hobbies. He jokingly mentioned collecting currency. Then, he repeated the line about the boy’s heart. Clearly, this was his signature catchphrase.
The Stephen King Connection
Why do so many people credit Stephen King? The answer lies in King’s massive popularity. King frequently used the line in public appearances. He admired Bloch greatly. In fact, they were friends. Consequently, King often quoted Bloch to explain his own dark imagination. We can see this in a 1983 video recording. King spoke at a library in Massachusetts. He discussed why he writes horror. During the talk, he explicitly cited Robert Bloch. He told the audience that Bloch used the line to answer critics. Thus, King initially gave proper credit.
However, the attribution eventually became muddy. King used the phrase again in 1990. He spoke to an audience in Portland, Maine. This time, newspaper reports did not mention Bloch. King simply delivered the joke as his own. Perhaps he forgot to cite his friend that day. Or, perhaps the reporter omitted the context. Regardless, the damage was done. Later, reference books compounded the error. For example, a 1992 book on writing advice credited King directly. It failed to mention Bloch entirely. As a result, a generation of fans learned the wrong origin.
Other Famous References
The quote traveled far beyond just these two authors. It became a cultural meme of its time. Bennett Cerf was a famous publisher and humorist. He helped spread the joke in 1959. Cerf wrote a syndicated newspaper column. In one edition, he defended Bloch against critics. He repeated the line about the jar. Because of Cerf’s reach, the quote gained national fame.
Additionally, the cartoonist Gahan Wilson utilized a variation. Wilson was famous for his macabre drawings. In 2004, a book collection of his work appeared. The introduction compared Wilson to Bloch. It stated that Wilson also kept a heart in a jar. This reference honored the original author while applying the humor to a new artist.
Correcting the Record
Fortunately, scholars have recently fixed the historical record. Accuracy matters in literary history. The Yale Book of Quotations updated its entry in 2021. It now properly lists Robert Bloch as the author. It cites the 1945 newspaper review as evidence.
In summary, while Stephen King popularized the saying, he did not invent it. The credit belongs solely to Robert Bloch. He crafted the perfect mix of sentiment and shock. He used it to define his public persona. Today, we can appreciate the wit of both men. However, we must remember whose desk the jar actually sits on.