The Big Apple: Jints (Giants)

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.

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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan.

Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Oct. 17, 1931, Turf Play, p. 7.

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 another 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.

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Entry from November 06, 2005

Jints (Giants)

Ben Zimmer of the American Dialect Society added this "Jints" comment on the ADS listserv in November 2005.

One for Barry (surprised it's not already on his site)...

Someone on alt.usage.english asked about the nickname "Jints", now occasionally used for the New York football Giants (or the Jersey Giants, as we say across the Hudson), but previously applied to the New York baseball Giants. Turns out that it was used for the Cuban Giants, the first professional black baseball team, back in 1889.

Posted by Barry Popik
Sports/Games • (0) Comments • Sunday, November 06, 2005 • Permalink