A “saleabration” or “sale-a-bration” (sale + celebration) is an event that retailers often hold featuring discounted products. “SALEabration” has been cited in print since at least 1937, with retail grocers first using the term.
Another term for a “sale celebration” is “sellabration.” Similar sales terms include “saleathon” and “sellathon.”
6 April 1937, Altoona (PA) Mirror, pg. 9, col. 1 ad:
In SALEabration
of NATIONAL RETAIL
GROCERS WEEK
(Gable’s grocery—ed.)
30 June 1938, Bakersfield (CA) Californian, p.g 7, col. 3 ad:
This Fourth of July SALE-abration is a price-shattering burst of food values that you won’t want to miss.
(Food City—ed.)
30 July 1938, Albuquerque (NM) Journal, pg. 5 ad:
Come one...come all to our Food Fair—a store-wide SALEabration featuring scores of blue ribbon winners in ECONOMY!
(Barber’s Food Stores—ed.)
23 January 1950, Baytown (TX) Sun, pg. 4, col. 1 ad:
BAYTOWN BIRTHDAY SALEabration
(W. M. House Jewelry—ed.)
23 June 1963, Springfield (MA) Sunday Republican, pg. 13A ad:
SALE-A-BRATION PRICED
(Zayre department stores—ed.)
Google News Archive
7 March 1979, Tuscaloosa (AL) News, “Cookie Sale Tops Last Year’s Mark,” pg. 2, col. 1:
The 1979 cookie sale ended recently with a “Cookie Sale-A-Bration” at Tuscaloosa High School.
Google News Archive
10 November 1983, The Ledger (Lakeland, FL), pg. 5D, col. 3 ad:
THE 1984 SALE-A-BRATION AT REGAL IS
ONE TREMENDOUS SALE
(Regal car dealership—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.
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.