“Old soldiers never die—they just fade away” is an old saying that was popularized by General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) in his farewell address to Congress on April 19, 1951. Many parodies of the saying have been made.
“Old card players never die—they just shuffle away” has been printed on many images. “Did you know old bridge players never die...they just shuffle away?” was printed in the Waterloo (IA) Sunday Courier on May 3, 1970. “Old card players never die—they just shuffle away” was printed in the Salinas (CA) Californian on July 1, 1971.
3 May 1970, Waterloo (IA) Sunday Courier, “Bridge League President Deals Winning Recipes” by Bettie Ferguson, pg. 41, col. 4:
Did you know old bridge players never die...they just shuffle away?
1 July 1971, Salinas (CA) Californian, pg. 26, col. 4:
OLD CARD PLAYERS NEVER DIE—THEY JUST SHUFFLE AWAY
Thanks to
Kathryn Perry
Rehoboth, Mass.
31 May 1972, Alamogordo (NM) Daily News, “The Wailing Wall” by Weepin’ Willie, pg. 1, col. 1:
Laugh Lines
Old card players never die. They just shuffle away.
17 December 1980, St. Albans (VT) Daily Messenger, “Barbs” by Phil Pastoret, Supplement, pg. 5, col. 1:
Old card players never die—they just shuffle away.
3 May 2008, The Advertiser (Adelaide, Australia), “Mouthing Off” by Marty Smith, pg. 66:
Old-timer: Old card players never die, they just shuffle away.
Twitter
Seamonster
@Seamonster
Old card players never die, they just shuffle away.
11:18 AM - 19 Jan 2009
Twitter
PabloPicasso
@EastOfAsteroid
RT @JackInChicago: Old card players never die, they just shuffle away. ~Author Unknown 
#1liners #sparklingsunday
12:02 PM - 15 Mar 2009
Twitter
MomentsFramedPhotography
@MomentsFramed
“Old card players never die, they just shuffle away.” - Unknown.
#Poker #pokerface #pokerstars #pokerlife #pokeronline #PokerNight #pokerplayer #PokerChips #pokergames #pokerrun… https://www.instagram.com/p/BwkvJsRJh-v/?utm_source=ig_twitter_share&igshid=rm8yvrm4q6ae …
6:07 PM - 22 Apr 2019
Twitter
The Poker Bot
@The_Poker_Bot
Old card players never die, they just shuffle away. ― Author Unknown #quotes #poker
2:30 AM - 3 Jul 2019
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:
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“Never let someone who has done nothing tell you how to do anything” (6/6)
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Entry in progress—BP (6/6)
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Entry in progress—BP (6/6)
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“Never let people who have done nothing tell you how to do anything” (6/6)
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Entry in progress—BP (6/6)
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps.
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.