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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Entry from August 01, 2004
“Big Apple” in the 1940s-1950s
After the 1937 "Big Apple" dance crazed died, World War II came along in the 1940s. There's not much linguistic activity for "the Big Apple" during this period, but here are some citations.

13 January 1945, Saturday Evening Post, pg. 20, col. 3:
At this time, however, the struggle involved New York, the big apple.

19 July 1949, Independent Record (Helena, Montana), pg. 6, col. 3:
Today the blue-eyed, fuzzy cheeked youngster who will be 19 on Oct. 31 is the rage of the metropolitan New York tracks - known to turf people as the "Big Apple."

8 November 1950, Washington Post, Walter Winchell column, pg. B17:
Peter Lawrence (the Big Apple's latest Horatio Alger story) produced "Peter Pan" and the upcoming "Let's Make an Opera." Not long ago he was a Long Island bit-player.

25 January 1951, Washington Post, Walter Wnichell column, pg. B13:
Elmer Rice wrote "Not for Children" 16 years ago and vowed it would never be seen on The Big Apple.

15 March 1951, Washington Post, Walter Winchell column, pg. B17:
The John (Herald Trib) Crosbys sweethearting along The Big Apple.

13 June 1951, Washington Post, Walter Winchell column, pg. B13:
Gypsy Rose Lee and her groom (reported rifting recently) Very Sweetheartish along The Big Apple.

6 July 1951, Washington Post, Walter Winchell column, pg. 19:
Those charity-coin-collectors infesting the Big Apple change the name brands on the cans.

29 October 1953, Washington Post, pg. 18:
The probable favorite is C. V. Whitney's Fisherman, the champion of New York's big apple.

23 February 1954, San Francisco Chronicle, pg. 18, cols. 1-2:
Loads of Jazz Talent Concentrating in S. F.
by Ralph J. Gleason

They call New York "The Big Apple" in the music business because Broadway is the main stem and that's where all the action usually is. THe only thing wrong with this is that periodically Broadway seems to lose its starts to other places and now and again throughout the year San Francisco is one of the places they congregate.

...And if this isn't enough talent at one time don't overlook the George Shearing Quintet at the Blackhawk, Earl Hines...at the Hangover, etc. etc. Right now New York may be "The Big Apple," but the action's out here at the Golden Gate.

7 April 1954, Salisbury (MD) Times, pg. 18, col. 3:
Yet New York remains racing's Big Apple, with the greatest distribution of money and the most stakes carrying prestige.

3 May 1955, Zanesville (Ohio) Signal, On Broadway by Walter Winchell, pg. 4?, col. 2:
"Fall River, Mass.: Dear Sire: Why do you call N. Y. 'The Big Apple'? One of my curiousities is nicknames and why they are given. Dorothy Bergerson."

Broadway is called The Big Apple. Meaning, Main Drag, Main Stem, Top Banana - Head Man - Mr. Big - Number One!

9 February 1957, Washington Post, Walter Winchell column, pg. D13:
The Big Apple's big buzz is about Ruth White of "The Happiest Millionaire."

13 July 1962, Los Angeles Times, pg. C4:
NEW YORK - Mercurial Maury Wills, who literally stole the All-Star game from the American League with his flying feet, has completely captivated the Big Apple.

Here are two trademarks.


Word Mark BIG APPLE SUPER MARKETS
Goods and Services (EXPIRED) IC 042. US 101. G & S: RETAIL GROCERY STORE SERVICES. FIRST USE: 19390817. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19390817
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 050905
Serial Number 72222903
Filing Date July 8, 1965
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Registration Number 0813654
Registration Date August 23, 1966
Owner (REGISTRANT) ALTERMAN FOODS, INC. CORPORATION DELAWARE 933 LEE ST. SW. ATLANTA, GA.
Disclaimer THE WORDING "SUPER MARKET" IS DISCLAIMED APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN.
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15.
Live/Dead Indicator DEAD

Word Mark BILL JOHNSON'S BIG APPLE
Goods and Services IC 042. US 100. G & S: RESTAURANT SERVICES. FIRST USE: 19561128. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 19561128
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 030701 030703
Serial Number 72442472
Filing Date November 30, 1972
Current Filing Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1A
Registration Number 0989754
Registration Date July 30, 1974
Owner (REGISTRANT) BILL JOHNSON'S RESTAURANTS CORPORATION ARIZONA 2906 W, FAIRMONT PHOENIX ARIZONA 85017
Attorney of Record FRANK J. MCGUE
Type of Mark SERVICE MARK
Register PRINCIPAL
Affidavit Text SECT 15. SECT 8 (6-YR). SECTION 8(10-YR) 20040520.
Renewal 2ND RENEWAL 20040520
Live/Dead Indicator LIVE


Posted by Barry Popik
1940s-1950s: Assorted Big Apple citations • Sunday, August 01, 2004 • Permalink


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