The Big Apple: Actors Stewdio (Jim Downey’s Steak House nickname)

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.

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 October 17, 2021

Actors Stewdio (Jim Downey’s Steak House nickname)

Wikipedia: Actors Studio
The Actors Studio is a membership organization for professional actors, theatre directors and playwrights at 432 West 44th Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City. It was founded on October 5, 1947, by Elia Kazan, Cheryl Crawford and Robert Lewis, who provided training for actors who were members. Lee Strasberg joined later and took the helm in 1951 until his death on February 17, 1982.

Newspapers.com
5 November 1957, Philadelphia (PA) Inquirer, “Best of Broadway” by Burt Broyar, pg. 15, col. 4:
Downey’s Bar & Grill on Eighth Avenue, the theatrical hangout unofficially known as the Actors’ Stewdio.

Newspapers.com
13 June 1959, The Tablet (Brooklyn, NY), pg. 16, col. 5 ad:
JIM DOWNEY’S STEAK HOUSE
44th STREET AND EIGHTH AVENUE
HEART OF THE THEATRE DISTRICT
MEMBER DINERS’ CLUB

Posted by Barry Popik
New York City • Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus • Sunday, October 17, 2021 • Permalink