“Rose of Washington Square” (1920)
"Rose of Washington Square," with words by Ballard MacDonald and music by James F. Hanley, appeared in Ziegfeld's Midnight Frolic (1920). The usual singer was Fanny Brice (portrayed…
Sea Gulls of the Sink (roaches); Rats with Wings (pigeons)
"Sea gulls of the sink" = cockroaches."Rats with wings" = pigeons. These are two colorful New York terms. The first ("sea gulls of the sink") has really just been used…
Stage-door Johnny
Following the "dude" craze in New York City of 1883 came the "stage-door Johnny." This character waited at the stage door for his gal to come out after the show.…
Collyer brothers (hermits)
Homer Lusk Collyer (1881-1947) and Langley Collyer (1885-1947) are the legendary recluse brothers of New York City. The lived in Harlem, secluded from the world in a house filled with junk. They…
Theater Row
West 42nd Steet became "Theater Row" in the 1970s. In recent years, "Theater Row" has been redeveloped to accommodate new housing and newer theaters. The shows are small,…
“Green Acres Theme” (1965)
Husband (Eddie Albert): Fresh air!Wife (Eva Gabor): Times Square! Who can forget that classic theme song (1965) to the television situation comedy Green Acres? The show itself was pretty awful.…
Venice of New York (Broad Channel)
Broad Channel is a tiny island in Jamaica Bay. It's part of Queens County. Broad Channel has acquired the nickname "Venice of New York" for obvious reasons. 25 November 1984, New…
Lemon Chicken
Chinese "lemon chicken" was the specialty of Manhattan's Pearl's Chinese Restaurant, originally at 148 West 48th Street and then, in 1973, moved to 38 West 48th Street. The 1969…
New York City Water (“Champagne”)
New York City's tap water has been called the "champagne" of city waters. Indeed, it is good. The problem has been that many city buildings have old pipes. I've worked in city…
“Olympia, WA” (1995) (“52nd and Broadway” lyric)
"Olympia, WA" by the punk band Rancid was on their album ...And Out Come the Wolves (1995). The lyrics mention the corner of 52nd Street and Broadway. Someone should tell Rancid that…
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” (1954, 1962) (“Forgotten in Manhattan” lyric)
"I Left My Heart In San Francisco" was written in 1953 by George Cory (music) and Douglass Cross (lyrics) in Brooklyn, NY, when they had moved to New York City but were nostalgic for San…
Wait in Times Square and eventually everyone you know will pass
Times Square has always been crowded with people. It's an old New York City proverb that, if you wait long enough in Times Square, everyone you know will pass by you. The proverb dates back to…
Cross-Roads of the World
Times Square became known as the "Cross-Roads of the World" by about 1923-1924. The nickname had been used before for European cities (London, Paris, Rome) or the Near East. It was soon…
Quick Lunch; Beef and—, Sinkers
"Quick lunch" was a term popular in the late 1800s. Was the "quick lunch counter" invented by Patrick Dolan, at 3 Park Row? A Souvenir of New York's Liquor InterestsNew…
Big Apple Greeter
"Big Apple Greeter" (www.bigapplegreeter.org) was started in 1992 by Lynn Brooks. It's New York's version of Welcome Wagon. Volunteer residents show visitors what's what…
Get the hook!
"Get the hook!" This was a cry from the audience to get a bad performer off the stage. Someone in the wings would get a hooked pole and hook the performer away. "The hook" was…
Poverty Hollow
"Poverty Hollow" is an old name for the "Lower East Side." The name is not used today. 24 October 1899, New York Times, pg. 3:If Signor Nicola Galante is not the next…
Rubberneck Row
"Rubberneck Row" was Forty-Fourth Street. Tourist buses used to visit that street around about 1900. Visitor would at attractions from one side of the street to the other. Their necks…
“Broadway Baby” (1971)
"Broadway Baby" was written for the 1971 Stephen Sondheim musical Follies. The musical was not a big success when it first debuted, but it has been successfully revived several times. The…
Lobster Palace
"Lobster palaces" were turn-of-the-century (1900, that is) restaurants-night clubs around Broadway. The name arose because expensive food, such as "lobster," was often served at…