“Herroner” (“her honor”) is the feminine equivalent of “hizzoner” (“his honor”). While “hizzoner” dates back to 1880s Chicago, “herroner” has seldom been used—cited in print from at least 1972. When someone suggested in May 2008 that New York Senator Hillary Clinton might possibly run for mayor of New York City, the Gothamist blog titled its post: “Herroner? The Hillary for NYC Mayor Idea.”
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Hizzoner
created by Quizro
Fri Mar 22 2002 at 0:31:39
Pronounced “his honor”, an irreverent slang term referring to a holder of the office of mayor - as in, “His Honor the Mayor.” Though not necessarily insulting, it’s use can imply that the mayor in question may be unworthy of the position, or perhaps esteems himself too highly in the role.
Though there are plenty of women serving as mayors, this reader has yet to come across the term “Herroner”, and boggles at the prospect of coming up with a gender-neutral version of the term.
14 January 1972, Oelwein (Iowa) Daily Register, pg. 10, col. 1:
Marie is still the object of good-natured ribbing. It’s usually the familiar patter: “What do we call you? Hizzoner or Herroner?”
15 January 1988, San Jose (CA) Mercury News, pg. 1F:
... San Jose Museum of Art’s next show, “Anne Frank in the World, 1929-1945,” opening Jan. 24—something about which hizzoner and herroner can agree.
17 February 1989, St. Paul (MN) Pioneer Press, pg. 6A:
That’s why gratitude is due KTCA-TV and the Citizens League, who teamed up to bring us Hizzoner/Herroner hopefuls locked in less-than-mortal combat on ...
Gothamist.com
May 13, 2008
Herroner? The Hillary for NYC Mayor Idea
As Senator Hillary Clinton ignores calls to drop out and gets ready for a likely West Virginia primary victory, Politico’s Ben Smith reveals one funny suggestion from a NYC politician: Clinton should run for mayor in 2009.
The politician’s reasoning is that though it’s not being leader of freed world, “it’s a big executive job, comes with a media spotlight and a mansion.” Smith asked Koch for a comment (Koch yelled at Smith for “wasting his time”) and the former mayor who supports Clinton for president said, “She’s not going to run for mayor of New York City, and if she did, I don’t think she could win.”
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. 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.
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