“West Broadway” is a 19th century restaurant slang term for “pork and beans.” The New York City slang was cited in print in 1874, but was seldom used by 1900.
“Stars and stripes” is another 19th century restaurant slang term for pork and beans.
7 March 1874, Pomeroy’s Democrat (New York, NY), “Eating House Slang.” pg. 2:
“Then there’s pork and beans which am ‘Stars and Stripes,’ ‘West Broadway,’ or ‘One Day Ahead.’”
Old Fulton NY Post Cards
17 April 1875, The New York Clipper (New York, NY), supplement, pg. 2, col. 7:
There come whispers for a plainer and less expensive fare. “Two Sleeve-buttons,” “Two on Horseback,” “Boston Woodcock,” “Mystery,” “West Broadway,” “Links of the Atlantic Cable,” and the like.
Chronicling America
11 October 1886, Springfield (OH) Globe-Republic, “Restaurant Lingo,” pg. 2, col. 7:
“One West Broadway brown, an’ have her extra br-o-wn!”
(...)
West Broadway’ means pork and beans and ‘have her brown an’ extra brown’ signifies that the beans are to be well warmed over.
(...)
Order ‘stars and stripes’ and you’ll get pork and beans.
(...)
—New York Commercial Advertiser.
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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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
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.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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