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.

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Entry from March 15, 2010
“Where else can I park in New York City for two weeks for under $20?” (parking joke)

A popular New York City parking joke dates in print to at least 1997. A man (or woman—the versions vary slightly) enters a bank and asks for a loan of $2,000 for a trip to Europe. The loan officer asks for collateral, so the man points to his Rolls Royce parked outside. The bank takes the keys to the car and parks it in its underground parking lot. The man returns from his vacation and repays the $2,000, plus a minimal amount of interest (less than $20). The loan officer says, “Sir, while you were away we found that you’re a millionaire. Why did you need to borrow such a small sum of money?” The man replies, “I didn’t. Where else in New York City can I park my Rolls Royce for two weeks for less than $20?”
 
Several things don’t quite check out or make sense. No bank goes through the trouble of making a loan to earn less than $20. The bank doesn’t check out the person’s net worth before the loan is made, but does the check while the person is on vacation. The bank accepts the vehicle as collateral and conveniently has a free parking spot. Nevertheless, the joke illustrates a scheme to escape New York City’s high parking fees.
 
     
Google Groups: alt.humor
Newsgroups: alt.humor
From: “Keith E. Sullivan”
Date: 1997/06/22
Subject: Loans
 
GETTING A LOAN IN NEW YORK
Before going to Europe on business, a man drove his Rolls-Royce to a downtown NY City bank and went in to ask for an immediate loan of $5,000.  The loan officer, taken aback, requested collateral.  “Well, then, here are the keys to my Rolls-Royce,” the man said.  The loan officer promptly had the car driven into the bank’s underground parking for safe keeping, and gave him $5,000.
 
Two weeks later, the man walked through the bank’s doors, and asked to settle up his loan and get his car back.  “That will be $5,000 in principal, and $15.40 in interest,” the loan officer said.
 
The man wrote out a check and started to walk away.
 
“Wait sir,” the loan officer said, “while you were gone, I found out you are a millionaire.  Why in the world would you need to borrow $5,000?”
 
The man smiled.  “Where else could I park my Rolls-Royce in Manhattan for two weeks and pay only $15.40?”
 
David A. Rinke II


     
Google Groups: alt.tasteless.jokes
Newsgroups: alt.tasteless.jokes
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (FredBhere)
Date: 1997/08/26
Subject: lots of jokes
 
Before going to Europe on business, a man drove his Rolls-Royce to a downtown New York City bank and went in to ask for an immediate loan of $5,000.
 
The loan officer, taken aback, requested collateral and so the man said, “Well then, here are the keys to my Rolls-Royce.”
 
The loan officer promptly had the car driven into the bank’s underground parking for safe keeping, and gave him $5,000.
 
Two weeks later, the man walked through the bank’s doors, and asked to settle up his loan and get his car back. “That will be $5,000 in principal, and $15.40 in interest”, the loan officer said. The man wrote out a check and started to walk away.
 
“Wait sir”, the loan officer said, “while you were gone, I found out you are a millionaire. Why in the world would you need to borrow $5,000?”
 
The man smiled. “Where else could I park my Rolls-Royce in Manhattan for two weeks and pay only $15.40?
 
Google Books
Friars Club encyclopedia of jokes
By H Aaron Cohl
New York, NY: Black Dog & Leventhal
1998
Pg. 191:
Before going to Europe on business, a man drove his Rolls-Royce to a downtown New York City bank and went in to ask for an immediate loan of $5,000. THe loan officer, taken aback, requested collateral and so the man said, “Well then, here are the keys to my Rolls-Royce.” The loan officer promptly had the car driven into the bank’s underground parking for safe keeping, and gave him $5,000.
 
Two weeks later, the man walked through the bank’s doors, and asked to settle up his loan and get his car back. “That will be $5,000 in principal, and $15.40 in interest”? the loan officer said. The man wrote out a check and started to walk away. “Wait sir,” the loan officer said, “while you were gone, I found out you are a millionaire. Why in the world would you need to borrow $5,000?”
 
The man smiled. “Where else could I park my Rolls-Royce in Manhattan for two weeks and pay only $15.40?”
 
Google Groups: alt.business
Newsgroups: alt.business
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (Ezcrdt)
Date: 1998/02/02
Subject: $$$ Thought Of The Day $$$
     
Before going to Europe on business, a man drove his Rolls-Royce to a downtown, New York City bank and requested a loan for $5,000. 
 
The dutiful loan officer following his job description ask for some form of collateral to protect the $5,000 requested.
 
“Would my Rolls-Royce do,” asked the man handing over both the keys and title to the loan officer.  The deal was quickly set and the loan was granted. 

Immediately the agent for the loan had the car sent into the bank’s secure underground parking lot.  He was a little suspicious and decided to check into this man.  Into his second week of checking, the man returned, entered the bank, and asked to settle the loan. 
 
The loan officer, a bit surprised informed that in addition to the $5,000 principle there was the matter of two weeks interest of $15.40.  The man quickly paid and started to walk out for his car.
 
“Pardon me sir,” blurted the loan officer, “While you were away I did some checking.  You’re a millionaire.  I was wondering why you would need to take a loan for a mere $5,000?”
 
The millionaire turned back and smiled.  “It’s very simple,” said the man, “Where else could I park my Rolls-Royce in Manhattan for two weeks, get Fort Knox protection, and pay just over a dollar a day?”

Google Groups: alt.weemba
Newsgroups: alt.weemba
From: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Date: 1998/08/25
Subject: A New York Story
 
A rumpled man walks into a bank in NYC and asks for a loan officer.  He says he is going to Europe on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000.  The bank officer says the bank will need some collateral for such a loan.  So the man- clearly an eccentric hands over the keys to a new Rolls Royce parkedon the street in front of the bank.  Everything checks out and the bank agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan.
 
An employee drives the Rolls into the bank’s underground garage and parks it there.  Two weeks later, the man returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest of $15.41.  The loan officer says, “We are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction worked out very nicely, but we are puzzled.  While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a millionaire.  “What puzzles us is why would you bother to borrow $5,000?” The man replies, “Where else in New York can I park my car for two weeks for 15 buck!!”
 
Side note:  If you’ve EVER been in NYC - you know you can’t park your car for a 1/2 hour for under $15.00!!!!
   
Google Books
Knowledge management:
Learning from knowledge engineering

By Jay Liebowitz
CRC Press
2001
Pg. 1:
A man goes into a New York City bank and asks for a $2000 loan to take a two-week trip to Europe. THe loan officer asks the man what collateral he has. The man points to his Rolls Royce parked in front of the bank and gives his car keys to the loan officer. The man gets the loan and comes back two weeks later after returning from Europe to pay back the loan. He asks the loan officer how much he owes. THe loan officer replies it will be $2000 for the principal plus $15.46 for interest. “And by the way,” the loan officer continues, “I checked your background and noticed you are a millionaire. Why did you need a loan for such a small amount of money?” The man replies, “Where else can I park in New York City for two weeks for only $15.46?!”
 
Google Books
Our Friend Jimmie
By James D. Sweat
BookSurge
2006
Pg. 46:
“It’s a great New York joke. Lady goes into a bank and says she needs to borrow $5,000 for a week because she’s going on a trip. Loan officer tells her they’ll need collateral. She stands and says,‘Follow me.’ She leads them to the bank window and says, ‘See that Rolls parked in front? Will that do?’ He says, ‘Sure.” THe bank does the paperwork, she gets the loan and he drives her Rolls to the basement and parks it. She returns the following week, pays off the loan and pays the $19.41 interest. The manager asks her, ‘Why did you need the loan? We did further checking after you left and discovered you’re a millionaire.’ She says, ‘Where can you park in New York for a week under $20?’”
 
TopSpeed
Car joke of the day: How to park for cheap in New York
Posted on 03.24.2008 20:10 by Shrawan Raja
A Chinese man walks into a bank in New York City and asks for the loan officer. He tells the loan officer that he is going to China on business for two weeks and needs to borrow $5,000.

The bank officer tells him that the bank will need some form of security for the loan, so the Chinese man hands over the keys of his new Ferrari parked on the street in front of the bank. He produces the title and everything checks out.

The loan officer agrees to accept the car as collateral for the loan.
 
The bank’s president and its officers all enjoy a good laugh at the Chinese man for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral against a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drives the Ferrari into the bank’s underground garage and parks it there.
 
Two weeks later, the Chinese man returns, repays the $5,000 and the interest, which comes to $15.41. The loan officer says, “Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out and found that you are a multi-millionaire. What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?”
 
The Chinese man replies: “Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $15.41 and expect it to be there when I return?”
   
Cyburbia Forums
kjelsadek
2010-01-31, 09:43 PM
Redneck Bank Loan
A Redneck from Sweetwater , Texas walked into a bank in New York City and asked for the loan officer. He told the loan officer that he was going to Paris for an
international redneck festival for two weeks and needed to borrow $5,000 and that he was not a depositor of the bank.
 
The bank officer told him that the bank would need some form of security for the loan, so the Redneck handed over the keys to a new Ferrari. The car was parked on the street in front of the bank. The Redneck produced the title and everything checked out. The loan officer agreed to hold the car as collateral for the loan and apologized for having to charge 12% interest.
 
Later, the bank’s president and its officers all enjoyed a good laugh at the Redneck from the south for using a $250,000 Ferrari as collateral for a $5,000 loan. An employee of the bank then drove the Ferrari into the bank’s private underground garage and parked it.
 
Two weeks later, the Redneck returned, repaid the $5,000 and the interest of $23.07. The loan officer said, ‘Sir, we are very happy to have had your business, and this transaction has worked out very nicely, but we are a little puzzled. While you were away, we checked you out on Dunn & Bradstreet and found that you are a Distinguished Alumni From Texas A&M, a highly sophisticated investor and Multi-Millionaire with real estate and financial interests all over the world. Your investments include a large number of wind turbines around Sweetwater, Texas . What puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow $5,000?
 
The good ‘ole Texas boy replied, ‘Where else in New York City can I park my car for two weeks for only $23.07 and expect it to be there when I return?

Posted by Barry Popik
New York CityNames/Phrases • Monday, March 15, 2010 • Permalink


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