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 December 15, 2015
“What are you waiting for? Christmas?”

Christmas is a big business season, and many children patiently wait for Christmas Day presents. Someone who is waiting for someone else to do a task might say, “Do I have to wait all year for this?” or, more directly to the other person who hasn’t done the task, “What are you waiting for? Christmas?”
 
“What are you waiting for? Christmas?” was cited in 1918 and 1943. The expression was frequently used in Christmas shopping ads beginning in the 1960s.
 
 
21 December 1918, New Castle (PA) News, “Hints and Dints,” pg. 4, col. 4:
The Croton Drum Corps is still short a few dollars for the pants. You chaps who think well of the boys should come across. What are you waiting for? Christmas?
 
6 December 1943, The Daily Olympian (Olympia, WA), “Hold Everything,” pg. 5, col. 3:
(A comic illustration shows Santa Claus ringing an elevator. A woman in the open elevator urges him to stop ringing and come in the elevator.—ed.)
“Well, let’s go! What are you waiting for—Christmas?”
 
2 April 1944, Sunday Oregonian (Portland, OR), “The Kibitzer: Horse Sense Bridge” by Sam Gordon, sec. 3, pg. 3, col. 8:
What are you waiting for—Christmas?
 
Google News Archive
16 August 1964, Daytona Beach (FL) Sunday News-Journal, pg. 4C, col. 1 ad:
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR—
CHRISTMAS?
(Atlas Travel Service.—ed.)
 
Google News Archive
17 June 1966, The Deseret Times (Salt Lake City, UT), pg. 9A, col. 1 ad:
What are you waiting for, Christmas?
(Polaroid cameras.—ed.)
 
Google Books
A Trip around Lake Huron
By David McFadden
Toronto, ON: Coach House Press
1980
Pg. 110:
He talked a lot to the drivers too, or rather shouted.
 
‘What are you waitin’ for, Christmas ... This ain’t a peep show ... What’s the matter with you? Can’t you see a hand signal?”
 
Google News Archive
21 December 1980, New Sunday Times (Malaysia), pg. 25, col. 1 ad:
What are you waiting for? Christmas?
(Apple Computer.—ed.)
 
Google Books
A Christmas Dream
By Janet Elaine Smith
Otsego, MI: PageFree Publishing
2002
Pg. 93:
“What are you waiting for? Christmas?”
 
Urban Dictionary
What are you waiting for, Christmas?
Question asked of someone that’s taking their sweet time doing something. Like people that sit at green lights forever, as though they’re waiting for something to say it’s okay for them to go.
Man, the light turned green 10 seconds ago and this guys still sitting there. Come on, go! What are you waiting for, Christmas?
by anonymous November 25, 2004
 
YouTube
what are waiting for, Christmas
HappYpupValento
Uploaded on Oct 20, 2011

Posted by Barry Popik
New York CityWork/Businesses • Tuesday, December 15, 2015 • Permalink


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