Wailing Wall Street (Wailing Wall + Wall Street)
The term "Wailing Wall Street" (Wailing Wall + Wall Street) is associated with the Wall Street Crash of 1929 and "Black Thursday" (October 24th), but printed citations appeared…
Archive for 04/2015
“Comedy doesn’t travel well”
"Comedy doesn't travel well" is an entertainment adage that has been applied to plays, films, television shows and stage performers. Comedy depends on language and culture, and other…
Big Artery or Hardened Artery or Main Artery (Broadway)
Broadway has been called the Main Artery and the Big Artery and the Hardened Artery. "Main Artery" probably dates to the 19th century. "One short block from Broadway -- main artery…
Fun-durr-mentals
"Fun-durr-mentals" (from the word "fundamentals") was coined by the financial blog Zero Hedge on December 10, 2013. "Durr" means "duh" and…
“Why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong?”
"Why do we kill people who kill people to show that killing people is wrong?" is an anti-death penalty statement that has been printed on many posters, buttons and bumper stickers. The…
Aspirin Alley (Broadway)
"Aspirin Alley" is an infrequently used nickname for Broadway, possibly because the street's dizzying lights require a person to take an aspirin. New York newspaper columnist O. O.…
“Go peddle your papers!” (go away)
"Go peddle your papers!" is an old expression meaning to "go away." Boys in New York City in the late 19th century made money by selling newspapers. Someone who didn't want…
Street of the Midnight Sun (Broadway)
"Street of the Midnight Sun" is one of the many nicknames of Broadway and refers to its bright lights. "Diamond Jim" Brady (1856-1917) addressed a gathering of the New York…
Summer Stock
"Summer stock" are stage productions that are performed during the summer. Many New York actors have practiced their craft in the small cities that host summer stock productions.…
Straw-Hat Circuit
The "straw-hat circuit" (or "straw hat circuit") is summer stock theatre. The name comes from the straw hats that people wear in the summertime. Hollywood and Broadway actors…
“Right plant, right place” (landscaping adage)
"Right plant in the right place" (or "right plant, right place") is a popular landscaping adage of unknown authorship. "Plant trees and be sure they are planted right,…
“No bill is truly dead until the final gavel falls”
"No bill is truly dead until the final gavel falls" is a popular legislative adage of unknown authorship. "No bill is dead until the gavel bangs adjournment" was cited in a…
Ulcer Gulch (Madison Avenue)
Madison Avenue (home to many advertising agencies) was popularly called "Ulcer Gulch" in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. "Ulcer Gulch" was cited in 1942 as the nickname for the War…
“What’s the scoop?”
Newspapers began to have "scoops" (exclusive pieces of information) in the 1870s and 1880s. The question "What's the scoop?" -- "What's news?" or…
Neoconistan (neoconservative + -stan)
"Noeconistan" (neocon/neoconservative + -stan) is either a place where neoconservatives live or work (such as a think tank or a magazine or a blog), or a country affected by…
Wyoming Ketchup (liquor)
Broadway columnist Walter Winchell (1897-1972) used the term "Wyoming ketchup" for "liquor." The term was not explained, but perhaps Winchell felt that liquor was a mere…
“What job did the frog have at the hotel?”/“Bell hop.”
One popular hotel riddle is: Q: What job did the frog have at the hotel?A: Bellhop. The joke has been cited in print since at least 2004. Google BooksThe Gigantic Book of RiddlesBy Jacqueline…
“Not everything that is faced can be changed”
American novelist James Baldwin (1924-1987) wrote in the New York (NY) Times on January 14, 1962: "Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is…
Grandest Canyon (Broadway at Times Square)
Broadway -- especially the part in Times Square, as it refers to theaters -- has many nicknames. Broadway columnist Walter Winchell (1897-1972) frequently called it "the Grandest Canyon."…
Cinnsation (cinnamon + sensation); Cinnsational
"Cinnsation" (cinnamon + sensation) and "cinnsational" have been applied to products with cinnamon, such as cinnamon buns. "Cinn" also plays on the word…