A jocular one-line saying about gambling is:
“Gambling sure brought our family together. We had to buy a smaller house!”
The saying was cited in the Chicago (IL) Tribune in July 1972 and is of unknown authorship.
“Gambling has brought our family together. We had to move to a smaller house” has been credited to British comedian Tommy Cooper (1921-1984), but it’s uncertain if he said it as early as 1972.
19 July 1972, Chicago (IL) Tribune, “Tower Ticker” by Bob Wiedrich, sec. 1, pg. 14, col. 1:
Overheard at the Magic Pan Creperie: “Gambling sure brought our family together. We had to buy a smaller house!”
26 July 1972, Akron (OH) Beacon Journal, “Town Crier” by Kenneth Nichols, pg. D19, col. 1:
FROM THE NEXT table at the Bread ‘n’ Thread: “Gambling sure brought our family together. We had to buy a smaller house.”
25 August 1972, The News and Courier (Charleston, SC), “Doing the Charleston” by Ashley Cooper, pg. 1-B, col. 1:
Kenneth Nichols reports, “Gambling sure brought our family together. We had to buy a smaller house.”
Exeter (UK) Express and Echo
Top 26 funniest jokes of all time: from Tommy Cooper to Tim Vine
By Exeter Express and Echo Exeter Express and Echo | Thu 05 Mar 2015
(...)
21. Gambling has brought our family together. We had to move to a smaller house.
The Telegraph (UK)
03 Jun 2016
Tommy Cooper: his 25 funniest jokes
(...)
“Gambling has brought our family together. We had to move to a smaller house. “
Twitter
Just Like That!
@TheTCooperShow
☆JOKE☆
“Gambling has brought our family together. We had to move to a smaller house!” #Tommy Cooper #LongLiveTC
http://www.jlt.hambledonproductions.com
6:54 AM - 14 Dec 2016
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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