The Big Apple: “A fairy tale is a horror story to prepare children for the newspapers”

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.

Recent entries:
• “You can’t leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution” (6/1)
• “You simply cannot leave those who created the problem in chare of the solution!” (6/1)
• “Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier…” (6/1)
• “You can’t just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution” (6/1)
• Entry in progress—BP (6/1)
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps.

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.

This site is edited by Barry Popik.

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Entry from November 21, 2012

“A fairy tale is a horror story to prepare children for the newspapers”

Newspapers often headline stories about wars and murders. “A fairy tale is a horror story to prepare children for the newspapers” is a definition that has been cited in print since at least 1985 and is of unknown authorship.

Google Books
Fundamentals of Voice & Diction
By Lyle Vernon Mayer
Dubuque, IA: William C. Brown
1985
Pg. 117:
A fairy tale is a horror story to prepare children for the newspapers.

Google Groups: alt.sex.bondage
Strawberry Jammer
1/17/90
(...)
Fairy Tale, n.:
A horror story to prepare children for the newspapers.

Google Groups: rec.humor
Simos Hadjiyiannis
5/13/91
(...)
Fairy Tale, n.:
A horror story to prepare children for the newspapers.

Google Books
Dictionary Of Proverbs
By Grenville Kleiser
New Delhi: A.P.H. Publishing Corporation
2005
Pg. 54:
Fairy tale: A horror story to prepare children for the newspapers.

Amazon.co.uk
Fairy Tale: A horror story to prepare children for the newspapers. - Funny Printed Coffee Mug [BLK4732]
by Mugz Game
Date first available at Amazon.co.uk: 14 Sep 2011

Twitter
Cornelia France
‏@Corneliafrance
Fairy Tale: A horror story to prepare children for the newspapers.
6:31 PM - 23 May 12

Posted by Barry Popik
New York City • Media/Newspapers/Magazines/Internet • Wednesday, November 21, 2012 • Permalink