Entry in progress—B.P.
(Oxford English Dictionary)
negative, adj., adv.2, and int.
colloquial (originally U.S.). Preceding a forename beginning with N, forming a generic name for a person who is (habitually) negative, critical, or pessimistic. Esp. in negative Nelly and (in later use) negative Nancy.
Perhaps influenced by earlier uses, Nervous Nellie n. at nervous adj. and n. Compounds 2 and Nice Nelly n.
1934 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 20 Aug. (Daily Mag. section) 1/8 ‘Another beauty of not going visiting,’ observed Negative Ned, ‘is that you don’t have to use those tom-thumb guest towels.’
1971 Berkshire Eagle (Pittsfield, Mass.) 11 Dec. 15/6 We’ve been swamped in a barrage of talk about what’s wrong with America, harangued by negative Nellies.
1999 Re: Did Anyone see This? in rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.misc (Usenet newsgroup) 13 May Be prepared for one or two ‘negative-Nancies’ to try to pick apart your post.
Newspapers.com
20 August 1934, Oakland (CA) Tribune, “The Conning Tower” by F.P.A. (Franklin P. Adams), pg. 19, col. 8:
“Another beauty of not going visiting,” observed Negative Ned, “is that you don’t have to use those tom-thumb guest towels.”
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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