“Ah ha ha ha!” you will undoubtedly say. “Hee hee hee!” you might add. No refunds. J. Milton Winner, Rhoda Elizabeth Mulcahy, and James J. Gaffey were just three of the merry pranksters on Slate’s Official April Fools’ Day Judging committee.

Seeking the Greatest Prank of All Time

It’s April Fools’ Day once again, and brands across the country are participating in the tradition. But which prank can claim the title of the greatest April Fool’s Day joke of all time? To find out, Slate turned to a unique panel of comedy experts: schoolchildren convened by the Baltimore Sun in the spring of 1912.

A Look Back at 1912's Humor

Tastes in comedy have certainly evolved since then—and some of these pranks are, by today’s standards, questionable. However, that’s a consequence of relying on the perspectives of children from over a century ago. Here are the best April Fools’ Day pranks ever, as published in the Baltimore Sun on March 31, 1912.

The Unexpected Phone Call

One young prankster recounted being tricked by a friend. After being called to the phone, the individual rushed to answer, only to be met with the words “April Fool!” at the other end of the line. The entire household shared a laugh at their expense.

The Dummy Party

A family decided to play a joke on their father on his 40th birthday. They created a party with 12 clothed mannequins as guests, borrowing the figures from a friend’s clothing store. They prepared the dining room, dimming the lights and waiting for their father’s reaction.

However, upon their father’s return, they discovered he had arrived with 12 actual friends, who were already enjoying the prepared feast. The dummies had mysteriously disappeared, turning the prank back on the pranksters.

Confetti Surprise

While visiting a sister, a prank was planned on her husband. The pranksters sewed up the wristbands of his shirt and filled the sleeves with finely cut paper, anticipating a shower of confetti when he raised his arms.

However, their sister’s warning of “April Fool!” was misinterpreted as a cry of “Fire!” The husband rushed out of his room, attempting to put on his shirt and receiving the confetti shower, resulting in two jokes instead of one.

The Spicy Candy Trick

A nine-year-old played a prank on their mother by offering her a piece of red pepper candy. After her reaction, the child was sent to the pantry to retrieve potatoes, only to be locked inside by their mother as a retaliatory “April Fool!” The prank resulted in a missed dinner and a valuable lesson.

A Darkly Humorous Afternote

While these pranks may not be considered hilarious today, the story concludes with a darkly humorous observation: the adults who were victims of these childhood pranks ultimately sent millions of young people to their deaths in World War I. Happy April Fools’.