“Big Apple as mecca” (Jet magazine, 1952)
Jet magazine was founded in 1945 to serve the African-American community. "Big Apple" was cited many times. "From the South and Midwest, beauty queens look to the 'Big…
“Big Apple” (Dan Burley’s Original Handbook of Harlem Jive, 1944)
Dan Burley (1907-1962) was an American pianist and journalist. From Dan Burley's Original handbook of Harlem Jive (1944): Big Apple -- Harlem, New York City, any Big TownBig Red with the Long…
“Big Apple” (Perry Mason, “The Case of the Jilted Jockey” episode, 1958)
The term "Big Apple" usually refers to the racetracks of New York City (and, by extension, the city itself), but the racetrack term sometimes includes the Saratoga Race Course at Saratoga…
“Big Apple” (spoken by Frank Sinatra, 1950)
American singer and actor Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) had a radio show called Light-Up Time, sponsored by Lucky Strike cigarettes. On the show for March 28, 1950, this is how Frank Sinatra introduced…
“Big Apple” in the 1940s-1950s
After the 1937 "Big Apple" dance crazed died, World War II came along in the 1940s. There's not much linguistic activity for "the Big Apple" during this period, but here…
“Big Apple” nightclub (The Three Faces of Eve film, 1957)
The Three Faces of Eve is an American mystery drama film, written and directed by Nunnally Johnson (1897-1977). Joanne Woodward won an Academy Award for her roles(s) of a woman with dissociative…
“New York is the Big Apple” (Stephen Longstreet’s The Real Jazz: Old and New, 1956)
Stephen Longstreet (1907-2002) frequently wrote about jazz. In his book The Real Jazz: Old and New (1956) -- not available for preview on Google Books -- he wrote: "New York is the Big…
“The Boys on the Big Apple” (Harper’s Bazaar article, May 1947)
Harper Bazaar published "The Boys on the Big Apple" by John McNulty (1895-1956) in May 1947, on pages 166-169, 235-236. The article is noteworthy for its expansive definition of…
“To the musicians playing it, New York is ‘The Big Apple‘” (New York Is book, 1959)
New York is (1959) is a book with text by Gilbert Millstein (1915-1999) and photos by Robert Frank (1924-2019). According to Biblio.com, the book was published by the New York Times as a…
Big A (Aqueduct Racetrack nickname, 1959)
Aqueduct racetrack is popularly known as "the Big A." Clark Whelton (a former writer for the Village Voice and member of the mayor's communications office) told me that he believed…
Big Apple (Fort Worth, TX barbecue restaurant, 1941-1968)
"The Big Apple" was the name of a barbecue restaurant in Fort Worth, Texas. It is uncertain when the restaurant started (and if it had that name at the beginning). "Big Apple…
Big Apple (supper club near Buffalo, NY, 1945-1976)
A supper club called The Big Apple operated at South Union Road (between William and Clinton Streets), Cheektowaga, New York, between 1945 and 1976. Cheektowaga is the second-largest suburb of…
Big Apple (USS Appalachian, 1946)
The USS Appalachian was launched on January 29, 1943. From May-July 1946, the ship served as headquarters for press representatives reporting on Operation Crossroads, the atomic bomb tests carried…
Big Apple (Yeaju-Dake Escarpment, Battle of Okinawa, 1945)
The Battle of Okinawa, in June 1945, was one of the last battles of World War II. A ridge on the Yeaju-Dake Escarpment was dubbed the "Big Apple," and it was reported in newspapers on…
Big Apple Bar & Restaurant (New Orleans, 1952-1970s?)
Polk's New Orleans City Directories are partially available through Ancestry.com (a pay service). The term "Big Apple" was used in 1920 by a stablehand at the Fair Grounds race track…
Big Apple Cafe (Neosho, MO, 1940-1942)
A Big Apple Cafe existed at 60-71 triangle in Neosho, Missouri, from 1940 until 1942. The Big Apple Cafe was probably named after the "Big Apple" dance craze of 1937. Newspapers.com10…
Big Apple Cafe (Puryear, TN and Murray, KY, 1950s-present)
The Big Apple Grill & Bar is located at 1005 Arcadia Circle in Murray, Kentucky, and has a long history serving students from Murray State University. The establishment has also been called…
Big Apple Concession (City Park in New Orleans, 1947-1949)
Polk's New Orleans City Directories are partially available through Ancestry.com (a pay service). The term "Big Apple" was used in 1920 by a stablehand at the Fair Grounds race track…
Big Apple Grocery Store (Harlem, 1945-1949)
Manhattan telephone directories are partially available through Ancestry.com (a pay service) and Archive.org. "Big Apple Shine Parlor 2306 7Av AU dubn 3-8985" was entered in the 1942…
Big Apple Restaurant (Asheville, NC, 1957-1991)
The Big Apple Restaurant existed at 573 Swannanoa River Road in Asheville, North Carolina, from 1957 to 1991. From 1957 until about 1963, it was called the Big Apple Drive-In. The "Big…