The Big Apple: “Big Apple” in Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s Slaughterhouse-Five (1969)

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

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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan.

Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Oct. 17, 1931, Turf Play, p. 7.

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.

This site is edited by Barry Popik. Technical matters are handled by Grant Barrett of Double-Tongued Word Wrester Dictionary.

Entry from July 05, 2004

“Big Apple” in Kurt Vonnegut Jr.’s Slaughterhouse-Five (1969)

Just before Charles Gillett's campaign revived "Big Apple" in the 1970s, there is one important citation. The New York-Historical Society liked it enough to put it on its web page.

From Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s Slaughterhouse-Five, or The Children's Crusade: A Duty-Dance With Death (1969; Delta Trade Paperbacks 1999), pg. 265:

"You've been time-traveling again. I can always tell."

"Um."

"Where did you go this time? It wasn't the war. I can tell that, too."

"New York."

"The Big Apple."

"Hm?"

"That's what they used to call New York."

"Oh."

Posted by Barry Popik
1960s: Fun City • (0) Comments • Monday, July 05, 2004 • Permalink