Entry from October 10, 2004
Meet Me at/under…
New York City has had several famous "meet me" phrases. Judy Garland told everyone to Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), and that title is from an authentic period song written for the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. However, some of New York's "meet me" phrases are even older.
"Meet Me at the Fountain" - The Siegel-Cooper Big Store used this phrase, from 1896.
"Meet Me at the Waldorf" - This Waldorf Hotel phrase should be from 1900, if not before.
"Meet Me at the Hyphen" - Said of the Waldorf-Astoria.
"Meet Me at the Astor Bar" - This comes from just after Prohibition, in 1935.
"Meet Me Under the Biltmore Clock" - F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a short story about this, and this was later filmed for PBS.
"Meet Me Between the Lions" - This modern phrase is now used for the New York Public Library.
13 September 1896, New York Times, pg. 16:
BIG STORE THROWN OPEN
(...)
One of the partners of the firm, in talking of the efforts to accommodate all, buyers or curiousity-seekers, said:
"Yes, it's a scheme that will operate without any aid. I suppose that very shortly appointments all over the city will be made saying: 'Meet me at the Republic Fountain.' Well, the more the merrier, I say."
The Republic statue is 13 feet high and is of marble and gilded bronze. It cost $15,000 and is a duplicate, by Daniel C. French, of the statue made by him which stood in the Court of Honor at the Columbian Exposition.
10 June 1897, New York TImes, pg. 12:
THE BIG STORE
SIEGEL-COOPER CO.
SIXTH AVE.
18TH & 19TH STS.
MEET ME AT THE FOUNTAIN
23 December 1935, New York Times, pg. 2:
NOW ALL NEW YORK IS SAYING:
"Meet me at the ASTOR BAR"
HOTEL ASTOR
TIMES SQUARE
9 May 1954, New York Times, pg. 9:
a captivating clock print is the big news in this year's edition of our lovable cottons...blending with solid colors...in bewitching little dresses that say "meet me under the clock at the Biltmore" so sweetly!
(B. Altman ad - ed.)
15 July 1951, New York Times, pg. X7:
Also scheduled to be put on film recordings within the next three weeks are "Stage Struck," a comedy show featuring Phil Silvers; "Rogues Gallery," detective adventure stories, with Chester Morris in the leading role; and "Meet Me at the Waldorf," a variety-music show which will originate from the Flamingo Room of that hotel and feature Lanny Ross and a still-to-be-selected girl singer.
30 September 1956, New York Times, pg. SM6:
In 1897, the Astoria and the hyphen were added. (A prime jape of the day was to say "Meet me at the Hyphen," and, in fact, a somewhat popular song written on that theme.)
"Meet Me at the Fountain" - The Siegel-Cooper Big Store used this phrase, from 1896.
"Meet Me at the Waldorf" - This Waldorf Hotel phrase should be from 1900, if not before.
"Meet Me at the Hyphen" - Said of the Waldorf-Astoria.
"Meet Me at the Astor Bar" - This comes from just after Prohibition, in 1935.
"Meet Me Under the Biltmore Clock" - F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote a short story about this, and this was later filmed for PBS.
"Meet Me Between the Lions" - This modern phrase is now used for the New York Public Library.
13 September 1896, New York Times, pg. 16:
BIG STORE THROWN OPEN
(...)
One of the partners of the firm, in talking of the efforts to accommodate all, buyers or curiousity-seekers, said:
"Yes, it's a scheme that will operate without any aid. I suppose that very shortly appointments all over the city will be made saying: 'Meet me at the Republic Fountain.' Well, the more the merrier, I say."
The Republic statue is 13 feet high and is of marble and gilded bronze. It cost $15,000 and is a duplicate, by Daniel C. French, of the statue made by him which stood in the Court of Honor at the Columbian Exposition.
10 June 1897, New York TImes, pg. 12:
THE BIG STORE
SIEGEL-COOPER CO.
SIXTH AVE.
18TH & 19TH STS.
MEET ME AT THE FOUNTAIN
23 December 1935, New York Times, pg. 2:
NOW ALL NEW YORK IS SAYING:
"Meet me at the ASTOR BAR"
HOTEL ASTOR
TIMES SQUARE
9 May 1954, New York Times, pg. 9:
a captivating clock print is the big news in this year's edition of our lovable cottons...blending with solid colors...in bewitching little dresses that say "meet me under the clock at the Biltmore" so sweetly!
(B. Altman ad - ed.)
15 July 1951, New York Times, pg. X7:
Also scheduled to be put on film recordings within the next three weeks are "Stage Struck," a comedy show featuring Phil Silvers; "Rogues Gallery," detective adventure stories, with Chester Morris in the leading role; and "Meet Me at the Waldorf," a variety-music show which will originate from the Flamingo Room of that hotel and feature Lanny Ross and a still-to-be-selected girl singer.
30 September 1956, New York Times, pg. SM6:
In 1897, the Astoria and the hyphen were added. (A prime jape of the day was to say "Meet me at the Hyphen," and, in fact, a somewhat popular song written on that theme.)
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