People who drink alcohol are “hard” drinkers (as opposed to those who like “soft” drinks). A classic joke was printed in the New York City humor magazine Puck on September 18, 1895:
The Philanthropist—In giving you that quarter, sir, I’m afraid I’ve befriended a hard drinker.
The Beneficiary—You’re mistaken this time, sir; drinking is one of the easiest things I do.
15 September 1895, Kansas City (MO) Star, pg. 12, col. 6:
Groundless Fears.
From Puck.
The Philanthropist—In giving you that quarter, sir, I’m afraid I’ve befriended a hard drinker.
The Beneficiary—You’re mistaken this time, sir; drinking is one of the easiest things I do.
Google Books
18 September 1895, Puck (New York, NY), pg. 70, col. 1 illustration:
GROUNDLESS FEARS.
THE PHILANTHROPIST.—In giving you that quarter, sir, I’m afraid I’ve befriended a hard drinker.
THE BENEFICIARY.—You’re mistaken this time, sir; drinking is one of the easiest things I do.
22 July 2001, New York (NY) Times, “At a ‘Crazy Little Theater,’ Mixing Bessie Smith and Penguins” by Alvin Klein, pg. WE12, col. 3:
Sample: “They say I’m a hard drinker, but it’s one of the easiest things I do.”
Google Groups: alt.support.stop-smoking
OT: Drunk Jokes
Stardust
4/8/06
(...)
* Ever hear the expression “hard drinker” ? Never made much sense to me, drinking’s one of the easiest things in the world to do.
Twitter
❤️ FizzyDuck ❤️
@FizzyDuck
Ever hear the expression “hard drinker” ? Never made much senseto me, drinking’s one of the easiest things in the world to do.
4:06 PM · Apr 1, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
vanessa_willims
@vanessa_willims
Ever hear the expression “hard drinker” ? Never made much sense to me, drinking’s one of the easiest things in the world to do.
12:35 PM · Oct 31, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Facebook
I swear to Beer I did’nt drink GOD
May 22, 2011 ·
Ever hear the expression “hard drinker” ? Never made much sense to me, drinking’s one of the easiest things in the world to do
Twitter
Lorraine Jo King
@lahlahbean
#wednesdaywit
Ever hear the expression “hard drinker?” It never made much sense to me,“ said paddy “drinking’s one of the easiest things in the world to do.”
3:10 AM · Aug 21, 2019·Crowdfire App
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:
•“The ‘W’ in Wednesday stands for wine” (4/24)
•Entry in progress—BP18 (4/24)
•Entry in progress—BP17 (4/24)
•Entry in progress—BP16 (4/24)
•Entry in progress—BP15 (4/24)
More new entries...
Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
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. These are the Cookies and Privacy Policies.