The Big Apple: “Coney Island Bloodhounds” (hot dogs) & “A Midget from Harlem” (small chocolate soda)

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

Recent entries:
• “Buckle up your guts” (5/16)
• “There are three good reasons to be a teacher: June, July and August” (5/16)
• “If you want it bad, you will get it bad” (5/16)
• Gentleman’s C (5/15)
• Grexit (Greece/Greek + exit) (5/15)
More new entries...

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 June 24, 2006

“Coney Island Bloodhounds” (hot dogs) & “A Midget from Harlem” (small chocolate soda)

Soda jerk slang in New York City (1900-1940) contained some regional terms. "Coney Island bloodhounds" were hot dogs. A "midget from Harlem" was a small chocolate soda.

The slang is no longer used and is of historical interest today.

1 March 1936, New York Times, "Lexicon of the Soda Jerker" by Helen Dallis, pg. X10:
More of the geographical influence finds expression in "a midget from Harlem," which is a small chocolate soda, and "Coney Island bloodhounds" for frankfurters.

Posted by Barry Popik
Food/Drink • (0) Comments • Saturday, June 24, 2006 • Permalink