“The Great Big Red Apple that grows in the very top of the tree” (1917)
The moniker of "Land of the Big Red Apple" (for apple-growing regions) and the saying of "Big apples are top of the barrel/tree" were very popular in the 1900s and 1910s. Peter…
“The Minnesota Night Hawks. I’m coaching. The Big Apple!” (Slap Shot film, 1977)
Slap Shot (1977) is an American sports comedy film about 1970s minor league professional hockey teams. At the end of the film, coach Reggie Dunlop (played by Paul Newman) accepts an offer to be…
“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…
“When you got to the Big Apple, they treated you like a worm” (Me, Myself & Irene film, 2000)
"Big Apple," a nickname of New York City, was used in the American black comedy film Me, Myself & Irene (2000): IRENE P. WATERS (Renée Zellweger): But after high school, I moved to…
“Why is New York City called ‘The Big Apple?’ Wrong answers only” (2021)
The New-York Historical Society asked on Twitter on June 2, 2021: "Why is New York City called 'The Big Apple?' Wrong answers only." [NOTE: This is one of over 250 "Big…
“Wow! BoJack and Todd in the Big Apple!” (BoJack Horseman episode, 2016)
BoJack Horseman is an American adult animated tragicomedy sitcom. In season 3, episode 1, "Start Spreading The News" that originally aired on July 22, 2016, BoJack promoted his film…
“We’re taking a bite out of the Big Apple tonight” (Blue’s Big City Adventure film, 2022)
Blue's Big City Adventure (2022) is a film that takes place in New York City, and is based on the American interactive educational children's television series BLue's Clues. Josh and…
1920s Non-Horseracing “Big Apple” Citations
There are "Big Apple" citations in the 1920s that have nothing to do with horseracing. These are after 1925. If you consider the horseracing uses to mean "Big Apple = New York…
1920s Vaudeville/Ragtime “Big Apple” Citations
The Chicago (IL) Defender is an African-American publication that has a national circulation. "Ragtime" Billy Tucker (a vaudeville/ragtime performer) wrote for the Defender from Los…
1925-1929: “Big Apple” in The Inter-State Tattler
The Inter-State Tattler is an African American newspaper from New York City that existed from 1922 to about 1932. There were four columns containing "Big Apple," and these occurred before…
1928: “On the Big Apple” column
In 1928, the New York Morning Telegraph ran a daily column of tidbits from the New York racetracks. Gerald Cohen spotted the first column. It is almost certain, given his long use of the term, that…
1963: John J. Fitz Gerald obituaries
John J. Fitz Gerald died during a newspaper strike in New York City. He never received proper credit for "the Big Apple." Much historical work on the Fitz Gerald family has been done by…
Alain Locke and Harlem Renaissance as the “Big Apple” (1920s; suggested in 1988)
Alain Leroy Locke (1885-1954) was the first African-American Rhodes Scholar and a professor of philosophy at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He guest edited Survey Graphic in March 1925 for a…
An apple tree on every street (2013 movie explanation)
In the comedy film Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (2013), television news anchorman Ron Burgundy (played by actor Will Ferrell) takes a job with e 24-hour news channel in New York City.…
Apple—New York State Symbol (2007)
In 2007, New York's Central Upstate Regional Alliance chose a green apple as its symbol--in part because New York City is known as "the Big Apple." Its slogan is: "New…
Apple at the foot of the Statue of Liberty (2024)
A statue called "The Lucifer of Liège" (1848), in Liège, Belgium, is a religious sculpture executed in white marble by the Belgian artist Guillaume Geefs. New York City's…
Apple Awards (Guides Association of New York City, 2015-present)
The Guides Association of New York City (GANYC) is a private group; all members are tour guides licensed by the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs. An apple is part of the…
Apple Bank (renamed from Harlem Savings Bank, 1983-present)
Haarlem Savings Bank (later Harlem Savings Bank) was founded in 1863. In 1983, it was renamed "Apple Bank for Savings" (often shortened to "Apple Bank"). A red apple is shown on…
Apple Polisher & Polish the Apple (I Love a Clean New York campaign, 1976-1980)
I Love a Clean New York, Inc. (borrowing from the "I Love New York" theme) was established in 1976 by New York Telephone Co. President John Mulhearn to improve the cleanliness and image…
Apple Stand (“Big Apple” art exhibit, 2025)
New York City artist Olivia Rose did an "Apple Stand" art exhibit at Blankmag Books at 17 Eldridge Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side, in November 2025. The exhibit was all about…