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:
“Be the tequila, not the lime” (3/28)
“I am the tequila, not the lime” (3/28)
“You are the tequila, not the lime” (3/28)
Crun (croissant + cinnamon bun) (3/28)
“Don’t be a chaser, be the one who gets chased. You are the tequila, not the lime” (3/28)
More new entries...

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z


Entry from July 31, 2013
“Drive slow, see our city; Drive fast, see our judge”

“Drive slow and see our city; Drive fast and see our judge” is a jocular road sign. “Drive slow and see the city. Drive fast and see the judge” was cited in a Canadian newspaper in June 1924. “Drive slowly and see our city.Drive fast and see our police judge,” describing a sign in Saratoga, New York, was cited in November 1924
   
 
26 June 1924, Lethbridge (Alberta) Daily Herald, “Many Splendid Auto Camps Provided Through B. C., Washington and Idaho For Tourists, Says Commissioner Meech,” pg. 7, col. 1:
At Sandpoint, on entering the city one is greeted with the notice, “Drive slow and see the city. Drive fast and see the judge.”
 
10 November 1924, Oakland (CA) Tribune, “My Favorite Stories” by Irvin S. Cobb, pg. 8, col. 8:
Just outside Saratoga, New York, there was another highly significant statement:
 
“Drive slowly and see our city.
“Drive fast and see our police judge.”
 
25 June 1925, Rockford (IL) Republic, “Many Rockford speeders pay Clinton cops,” pg. 8, col. 2:
A sign says “Drive slow and see our city—drive fast and see the judge.”
 
20 February 1930, Boston (MA) Herald, “Anti-Litter Jingles,” pg. 18, col. 2:
The American couplet, while not unfamiliar to us, and composed to retard another weakness of motorists, namely overspeeding, is worth reproducing:
 
Drive Slow, See Our Town.
Drive Fast, See Our Judge.
 
18 May 1953, Dallas (TX) Morning News, “Big D” by Paul Crume, sec. 1, pg. 1, col. 1:
Hempstead sign: “Drive Slow—See Our City. Drive Fast—See Our Judge.” Hey, fellows, some guys drive when they can’t see.
 
8 January 1956, Marietta (GA) Daily Journal, “Yards of Yarns” by Joyce Howard, pg. 3, col. 3:
SLOGANS—Safety posters were the project of the day for second graders at Lockheed School and teacher, Mrs. Al Strang was looking over the work when she came upon a gem. Although the art work was less than spectacular, the slogan left little to be desired.
 
From a seven-year-old came:
“Drive Slow And See Our City,
Drive Fast And See Our Judge.”
 
22 July 2002, Fort Worth (TX) Star-Telegram, “Pithy street signs have their limits ,” Metro, pg. 3:
In the 1950s, motorists on U.S. 290 north of Houston were greeted with a humorous but stern warning: “Speed limit 30. Drive slow, see our city. Drive fast, see our judge,” the sign read.
 
San Diego (CA) Union-Tribune
Photo contest reveals ridiculous road signs of summer
By Mark Maynard
WHEELS EDITOR
November 10, 2007
Hagerty Insurance holds a summer contest for its customers to take photos of wacky road signs while on their vacations. From the recent travel season, almost 250 photos were submitted over two months, and the winners were recently announced.
(...)
9. “Drive slow, see our village: Drive fast, see our judge.”

Posted by Barry Popik
New York CityTransportation • Wednesday, July 31, 2013 • Permalink


Commenting is not available in this channel entry.