“Scared money never wins” is an old gambling adage. “A scared nickel never made a dime” is a business adage. If someone is unwilling to risk a little, then one won’t win a lot.
“‘A scared nickel never made a dime,’ Merle Robbins, a barber from Reading, told his daughter-in-law, Kathy” was printed in the Cincinnati (OH) Enquirer on August 17, 1980. Merle Robbins (1911-1984) created the card game UNO.
Newspapers.com
17 August 1980, Cincinnati (OH) Enquirer, pg. H-1, col. 1:
BECOMING NUMBERO UNO
A few years back, Merle Robbins was a Reading barber who liked to play cards with his family. Now he is the creator of one of the most popular games around—Uno.
By DONNA VONDERHAAR
Their patent lawyer told them the odds were 40,000-to-1 against their invention ever getting off the ground and in the black.
Their manufacturer wanted $8,000 up front.
“A scared nickel never made a dime,” Merle Robbins, a barber from Reading, told his daughter-in-law, Kathy.
Newspapers.com
15 November 1996, Cincinnati (OH) Enquirer, “Making the Big Deal: UNO, the world’s best-selling card game, was created 25 years ago on a dining room table in Reading” by John Johnston, pg. E7, col. 5:
Sis says Merle like to remind her that “a scared nickel never made a dime.”
Twitter
Don Cummins
@dantheslayer
You need to take risks in life. A scared nickel never made a dime, and a scared pussy never got any. ~Dan Cummins wisdom of the day~
8:41 PM · Mar 10, 2014·Twitter for Android
Twitter
RL
@RbL2110
A scared nickel never made a dime
3:19 PM · Jun 13, 2014·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Justin Amos
@TheFamousAmos13
A scared nickel never made a dime
12:59 PM · Jun 10, 2015·Fenix for Android
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:
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“You can’t leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution” (6/1)
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“You simply cannot leave those who created the problem in chare of the solution!” (6/1)
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“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier…” (6/1)
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“You can’t just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution” (6/1)
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Entry in progress—BP (6/1)
More new entries...
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.
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