“When you’re in, you’re a guest; when you’re out, you’re a pest”

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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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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Entry from May 06, 2015

“When you’re in, you’re a guest; when you’re out, you’re a pest”

“When you’re in, you’re a guest; when you’re out, you’re a pest” is a popular police saying that may have originated with the New York Police Department. An officer in service is a “guest,” but one who has retired is a “pest.”

William J. Caunitz wrote in One Police Plaza (1984):

“When you’re in, you’re a guest; when you’re out, you’re a pest. Remember that.”

Google Books
One Police Plaza
By William J Caunitz
New York, NY: Bantam
1984
Pg. 272:
“When you’re in, you’re a guest; when you’re out, you’re a pest. Remember that.”

Malone scoffed. “I’ve heard that one from a lot of old-timers who were getting out.”

Google Books
Three Complete Novels:
Black Sand; Suspects; One Police Plaza
By William J. Caunitz
New York, NY: Wings Books
1994
Pg. 813:
“When you’re in, you’re a guest; when you’re out, you’re a pest. Remember that.”

Malone scoffed. “I’ve heard that one from a lot of old-timers who were getting out.”

Google Groups: nyc.announce
postings from the NYPD restricted www site
A496612321
11/1/98
(...)
Hey Proud, thanks for the information. Its seems each contract the retirees lose a little more of our benefits. This is caused by the lack of representation by the line organizations. Regarding retiremnet…..I remember an oldtimer saying “When you’re in the Job you’re a Guest. When you’re out of the Job, you’re a Pest.” stay safe, Its a jungle out there

Google Books
Where the Dead Lay
By David Levien
New York, NY: Doubleday
2009
Pg. 8:
Like the cop saying went: “When you’re in you’re a guest, when you’re out you’re a pest.”

TV.com
The Unit: Change of Station
Original International Air Dates: Slovakia: August 12, 2009 on JOJ
Mack: When you’re in you’re a guest, when you’re out you’re a pest.

GoLocalProv (Providence, RI)
Giannini: Things My Mother Taught Me…Happy Mothers Day
Wednesday, May 06, 2015
Joanne Giannini, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
(...)
There’s an old saying in politics, when you’re in you’re a guest, when you’re out you’re a pest. I’ve found that to be very true but that won’t stop me for advocating for change.

Posted by Barry Popik
New York City • Government/Law/Military/Religion /Health • Wednesday, May 06, 2015 • Permalink

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