The Big Apple: Staten Island Tuxedo

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. 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.

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Entry from August 10, 2011

Staten Island Tuxedo

A “Staten Island tuxedo” has been described as a velour track suit, often worn by Italian men from Staten Island. The “Staten Island tuxedo” term has been in the Urban Dictionary since 2007 and was included in a glossary of a 2010 book, but has otherwise been little-used.

Urban Dictionary
staten island tuxedo
usually worn by old italian men and mostly in staten island (hence “staten island tuxedo”, it consists of a velour track suit and bright white sneakers
hey look at the old guy who looks like he’s in the mob, he’s really rocking that staten island tuxedo.
by italianbella Jun 12, 2007

Google Books
Fuhgeddaboudit!:
From Fist-Pumping to Family Restaurant - 101 Ways to Tell If You’rea Real Guido
By Andrea Renzoni and Eric Renzoni
Avon, MA: Adams Media
2010
Pg. 25:
Staten Island tuxedo a velour track suit

Jack Fortune’s Diary
Lemon Creek
Written by Jack Fortune
May 16, 2010 at 5:14 pm
On a nice evening like this I used to go drinking in my Staten Island tuxedo it was called. A nice navy velour track suit. And a baseball cap to match the white sneakers.

Posted by Barry Popik
New York City • Names/Phrases • (0) Comments • Wednesday, August 10, 2011 • Permalink