rich@wlbr.UUCP (Richard Pettit Jr.) (01/22/85)
[ Beware the Jabbernet my son; the jaws that bite, the claws that catch ...]
Due to a number of requests that I recieved regarding the question about
the origin of "The Big Apple", I now post the excellent answers that I
recieved. The names were removed to protect the integrity of the authors.
Richard L. Pettit, Jr.
@ Eaton, Inc. Information Management Systems Division
Westlake Village CA
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ANSWER #1:
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The answer to the question:
>What is the origin of the nickname of New York City: "The Big Apple" ?
is obtained from a knowledge of early 20th Century jazz musicians. The term
"apple" was applied to any town in which a performance was scheduled. Since
New York City was and is the biggest city on the east coast, it was given the
moniker of "The Big Apple".
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ANSWER #2:
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According to "The Straight Dope", by Cecil Adams, I quote;
Of the many theories advanced, the most reasonable seems to be that
the phrase originated in show-biz circles. "There are many apples on
the tree", an old saying supposedly runs, "but only one Big Apple."
Recognixing the inescapable wisdom of this sentiment, vaudevillians,
jazzman, and other wormy entertainment types dubbed New York, the
most important performing venue of them all, the Big Apple.
Go to your local book store and get this book. It has lots of other
neat (and sometimes useless) stuff in it.
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ANSWER #3:
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According to Steward Berg Flexner, "In the 1930s New York City
became 'the Big Apple' [meaning] full of opportunity, ripe for
plucking...."
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ANSWER #4:
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I think the "Big Apple" phrase was the invention
of the NYC Chamber of Commerce.
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ANSWER #5:
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Sorry I can't provide any references about this, but the way I heard it
was like this.
Way back in the days when horses were the main means of transpotation,
they would as everyone knows leave dropings whereever they wanted. This
happened to be all through the streets on New York. Horse dropings ( as
anyone who grew up in the country will tell you ) are also called horse
apples or just apples. Thus it came to be that New York was known as
"The big apple".
I seem to remember this story going over the net some months ago. I'm
sure if the original author is out there they will reply again.
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ANSWER #6:
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Well, what they really said was "Big A**hole", but it got misquoted.
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ANSWER #7:
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I have to begin by saying that in reality I don't know. But I can tell you
this much. I grew up in a place called Clifton, New Jersey. Just 14 miles
from the Lincoln Tunnel. I never heard the expression "The Big Apple" Until
the current mayor, Ed Kotch (sp) used it. My assumption has always been that
he coined it.
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The opinions expressed herein, after conclusive investigation, will
turn out to belong to nobody. Especially not me or my employer. Thanks.
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