A plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at west 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

Above, a plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at west 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

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The Big Apple. A series of citations, quotations, and evidence on the true origins of a New York City nickname, with additional material on other words and terms associated with the city. A web site by Barry Popik.


Above, the header from the newspaper column of John J. Fitz Gerald. Click to see a portion of the column which includes his use of "Big Apple." Part of a second column is also available.


Above, a cartoon representing the idea of the "big apple" from the 1920s. Click to see the full version.

SUMMARY: "Why is New York called the Big Apple?"