“He ain’t fit to tote guts to a bear” is a disparagement of a cowboy cook. The origin of the phrase is uncertain.
3 October 1956, Burlington (NC) Daily Times-News, pg. 7:
One Florida soldier wrote: “Our officers are not fit to tote guts to a bear.”
16 July 192, Valley Morning Star (Harlingen, TX), pg. C6:
Sunday breakfast prepared by the survivors among the apprentices. It should be noted that those malcontents in our chapter who have said that our caterer is not fit to tote guts to a bear are unnecessarily unkind.
30 September 1976, Chicago Tribune, “The great chili debate” by Carol Rasmussen, pg. D1:
As for the cook who makes chili without beans, (H. Allen—ed.) Smith snorts that it reminds him of an old Texas saying about any range cook whose grub was consistently miserable—“He ain’t fit to tote guts to a bear.”
Above, a 1934 plaque from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem. Discarded as trash in 2006. Now a Popeyes fast food restaurant on Google Maps.
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Above, Big Apple Corner at 54th Street and Broadway in Manhattan. Google Maps. Stolen and missing, 2021-2024.
Above, John J. Fitz Gerald, from the Aug. 15, 1931, Binghamton (NY) Press, pg. 14.
Listen to Robert Emmerich introduce "The Big Apple," a hit song from 1937. Music written by Bob and performed by Tommy Dorsey's Clambake Seven with Bob on piano. Lyrics written by Buddy Bernier and sung by Edythe Wright. Audio provided by Dorothy Emmerich.
Also listen to a 1937 "The Big Apple" song by Ozzie Nelson and his Orchestra. See a 1929 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald and a 1931 photo of John J. Fitz Gerald.
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