The Big Apple: “When I was a kid “the server is down” meant your waiter was depressed”

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 November 12, 2022

“When I was a kid “the server is down” meant your waiter was depressed”

"When I was a kid “the server is down” meant your waiter was depressed” is a jocular saying that has been printed on several images.

“Ha! RT @CancerIsAwesome: When I was a kid ‘The Server Is Down’ meant your waiter was depressed” was posted on Twitter by Ashley Neo Phogojane on April 9, 2012. The account @CancerIsAwesome is no longer on Twitter, and the original tweet is no longer available. The saying was popularized on an ecard.

Twitter
Ashley Neo Phogojane
@realAshleyNeo
Ha! RT @CancerIsAwesome: When I was a kid “The Server Is Down” meant your waiter was depressed.
3:05 PM · Apr 9, 2012·Twitter for BlackBerry®

Twitter
Just Rob
@BigRobNelson
When I was a kid “The Server Is Down” meant your waiter was depressed.
10:50 PM · Apr 9, 2012·Twitter for Android

Twitter
Kaylss
@K_Dieno14
When I was a kid “The Server Is Down” meant your waiter was depressed.
10:08 AM · Apr 10, 2012·Twitter for BlackBerry®

Twitter
Dave Nopski
@Nopski
When I was a kid “The Server Is Down” meant your waiter was depressed.
10:49 AM · Apr 10, 2012·Twitter for BlackBerry®

Twitter
Eddie
@enginz
When I was a kid “The Server Is Down” meant your waiter was depressed.
1:08 PM · Apr 10, 2012·Echofon

Twitter
Nick Janicki
@TheJanicki
“The Server Is Down” - Restaurant guest whose waiter is depressed
12:49 PM · Nov 26, 2012·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Shawn Shapard
@Shapard21
When I was a kid ‘your server is down’ meant your waiter is depressed
6:49 AM · Nov 27, 2012·MOTOBLUR

Twitter
Steve chop
@Tiatemsu
When I was a kid “The Server Is Down” means the waiter was depressed…
7:12 AM · Jul 25, 2019·Twitter Web App

Twitter
Adriano🔥
@adrianpeter254
When I was a kid “The Server Is Down” meant the waiter is depressed.😃
11:02 AM · Jun 14, 2016·Twitter SMS

Twitter
Penelope Conway ☀️
@PositiveWithMS
When I was a kid “The Server Is Down” meant your waiter was depressed.
2:36 PM · Oct 31, 2020·Twitter Web App

Facebook
Dave Margalotti
October 11, 2022 at 7:07 AM ·
When I was a kid, “The Server Is Down” meant your waiter was depressed.

Twitter
Bob Kostic
@causticbob
When I was a kid “the server is down” meant the waiter was depressed.
7:19 PM · Nov 12, 2022·Twitter Web App

Posted by Barry Popik
New York City • Restaurants/Bars/Coffeehouses/Food Stores • Saturday, November 12, 2022 • Permalink