“Midwest Madness” is an infrequently used name for the annual high school basketball tournament that is held in Indiana in February/March. The article “Midwest Madness,” by John R. Tunis, was published in Esquire magazine in April 1947.
February/March basketball has also been called “Hoosier Hoopla,” “Hoosier Hysteria,” “Indiana Insanity” and “March Madness.”
13 March 1947, Bremen (IN) Enquirer, “On the Side,” pg. 1, col. 1:
In Indiana, we talk about Hoosier hysteria. Some of us are a bit boastful about it, while some are a little ashamed. But the April issue of Esquire really takes us apart. John R. Tunis, writing on “Midwest Madness,” makes us appear to be something only slightly above the grade of moron.
Google Books
Esquire
Volume 27
1947
Pg. 70
Midwest Madness
By John R. Tunis
1 October 1967, Chicago (IL) Tribune, “Basketball Frenzy Begins Annual Buildup,” sec. 10, pg. 7, col. 2:
Hoosier hysteria, Indiana insanity, midwest madness!
Call it what you will, but color it basketball.
26 March 1979, The Vidette-Messenger (Valparaiso, IN), editorial, pg. 4, col. 1:
‘Midwest Madness’
Now that Hoosier Hysterian has subsided—except in Muncie—we can devote our full attention to Midwest Madness, which still has a few hours to run, thanks largely to a Mr. Bird and a Mr. Johnson.
It may be presumptuous and provincial to term it Midwest Madness, but the Midwest has been a dominant force in the NCAA basketball championships.
16 March 1998, Indianapolis (IN) Star, pg. 1, col. 2 headline:
MIDWEST MADNESS!
(The Midwest Regional of the NCAA basketball tournament.—ed.)
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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