The Big Apple: “Service with a smile”

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 May 28, 2006

“Service with a smile”

It's not known when the "service with a smile" slogan was first used, but it appears in an ad for the Abraham & Straus (A&S) store as early as 1915.

28 November 1915, New York Times, pg. X1 ad:
Abraham and Straus
Brooklyn
(...)
Service With a Smile
to make your Christmas shopping easy.

5 December 1915, Atlanta Constitution, pg. 8 ad:
Jacob's Pharmacy
(...)
SERVICE WITH A SMILE
to make your Christmas shopping easy.

19 February 1925, Life, pg. 5:
"Service with a Smile"
(It's the slogan of all up-to-date stores, but what will be the effect on the clerks? This?)

Posted by Barry Popik
Businesses • (0) Comments • Sunday, May 28, 2006 • Permalink