"A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in” is a saying that has been printed on many images. The saying was credited to American humorist Robert Orben in Reader’s Digest magazine in 1993.
Wikipedia: Robert Orben
Robert Orben (born March 4, 1927) is an American professional comedy writer, although he also worked as a magician. He has written multiple books on comedy, mostly collections of gags and “one-liners” originally written for his newsletter, Orben’s Current Comedy, and has also written books for magicians. Later, Orben moved into politics, and in 1973 he became head speechwriter to Vice President Gerald R. Ford.
Google Books
The Reader’s Digest
Volume 143, Issues 856-860
1993
Pg. 7:
A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in. —Robert Orbcn
10 October 1993, Waterloo (IA) Courier, advertising sec., pg. ?:
A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.
12 June 1994, The Times Leader (Wilkes-Barre, PA), “Exploring the Mountain” by Dianne Deming, pg. 4B, col. 3:
“A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.”—Robert Orben.
Google Groups: alt.arts.storytelling
Chicken Little story?
B. Hursta
6/26/96
(...)
“A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.”
~Robert Orben
Twitter
Viscape.com
@Viscape
A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in. ~Robert Orben
11:32 AM - 12 Jan 2009
Google Books
You Can’t Ruin My Day:
52 Wake-Up Calls to Turn Any Situation Around
By Allen Klein
New York, NY: Viva Editions
2015
Pg. 159:
A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in. —ROBERT ORBEN, comedy writer
Twitter
Johanna Hussey
@Jollelol
A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in. - Robert Orben
8:06 AM - 19 Jul 2018
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.
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.