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

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.

Recent entries:
“Shoutout to ATM fees for making me buy my own money” (3/27)
“Thank you, ATM fees, for allowing me to buy my own money” (3/27)
“Anyone else boil the kettle twice? Just in case the boiling water has gone cold…” (3/27)
“Shout out to ATM fees for making me buy my own money” (3/27)
20-20-20 Rule (for eyes) (3/27)
More new entries...

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z


Entry from February 13, 2016
Arkansas: Land of Opportunity (nickname)

Entry in progress—B.P.
 
Wikipedia: Land of opportunity
The land of opportunity is a phrase used to suggest that a place presents many possibilities for people to earn a prosperous living, and succeed in their economic or social objectives.
 
It is often used with reference to the United States of America, and is similar to the concept of the “American dream”. It became popular among immigrant populations who left the “old world” in search of a better life. It is also the state nickname of Arkansas.
   
The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture
State Nicknames
aka: Official State Nickname

(...)
In the early 1940s, a group of Little Rock (Pulaski County) businessmen known as the Committee of 100 began vigorous efforts to promote economic development and, consequently, stem the tide of outmigration in search of good jobs. Changing the state’s image was central to the group’s efforts. Committee of 100 promotional material referred to Arkansas as “Land of Opportunity,” a phrase more dynamic and perhaps less quaint than the older cognomen. In 1941, the tag phrase appeared for the first time on Arkansas auto license plates. In 1953, the Arkansas General Assembly took note of the committee’s efforts: House Concurrent Resolution 26 explicitly jettisoned “Wonder State,” noting that it did not “command the popular appeal that it once had,” and adopted “The Land of Opportunity” as Arkansas’s new nickname, alluding to a bright outlook for the development of business, industry, and agriculture.
 
During the 1980s, Arkansas’s outreach to tourists became more aggressive than before, reflecting a maturing understanding of tourism as a growth industry. In the mid-1980s, the Arkansas parks system began promoting Arkansas as “the Natural State” and the nickname proved popular, largely eclipsing the older “Land of Opportunity” in public esteem and currency.
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Our aim, 10,000 population by 1910 Siloam Springs, Ark. : a popular health and pleasure resort : center of a rich fruit, poultry, stock and agricultural country : the land of opportunity for business men, investor, manufacturers and those seeking a climate perfect for health and comfort : a growing city and country, with superior advantages for home-seekers and homebuilders
Author: Ten Thousand Club.
Publisher: Siloam Springs, Ark. : Ten Thousand Club, 1907.
Edition/Format:   Print book : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Arkansas—land of opportunity
Author: Craig Campbell
Edition/Format:   Article : English
Publication: Daughters of the American Revolution magazine. Vol. 88, no. 2, whole number 715 (Feb. 1954)
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Welcome to Hamburg, Arkansas : a town of opportunity in the Land of Opportunity.
Author: University of Arkansas (Fayetteville campus). City Planning Division.
Publisher: [Fayetteville, Ark.] : The Division, [1964]
Edition/Format:   Print book : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Arkansas : the land of opportunity
Author: Waddy William Moore
Publisher: Fenton, Mich. : McRoberts Pub. Co., 1975.
Edition/Format:   Print book : English
 
OCLC WorldCat record
Arkansas, an illustrated history of the Land of Opportunity
Author: C Fred Williams; Starr Mitchell; Arkansas State Capitol Association.
Publisher: Northridge, Calif. : Windsor Publications, 1986.
Edition/Format:   Print book : English : 1st ed

Posted by Barry Popik
Other ExpressionsOther States • Saturday, February 13, 2016 • Permalink


Commenting is not available in this channel entry.