“Remember the Neediest” (New York Times Christmas Appeal)
"The 100 Neediest," or "REMEMBER THE NEEDIEST," is the annual Christmas appeal by the New York Times that started in 1912. The Christmas appeal has extended to other media in…
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Fresh Air Fund
Did the Fresh Air Fund start in 1877, as its history says? Or did it start in 1869? I found that it began under William A. Muhlenberg in 1869. Dr. Muhlenberg (see the 1898 article below, a review…
Manhattan Transfer
The "Manhattan Transfer" was the New Jersey stop where one had to change trains to continue on to Penn Station in New York City. The change is no longer required and the term is…
“You Gotta Have Park” (Central Park Conservancy)
"You Gotta Have Park" is the long-running pledge theme of the Central Park Conservancy, an organization that seeks to maintain Central Park. Actually, the song was "You Gotta Have…
“We Are New York” (Douglas Elliman Realty)
Several businesses have proclaimed "We Are New York," but Douglas Elliman Realty was the first to trademark it. My apartment building used to have Douglas Elliman managing it, but the…
Croton cocktail, highball (Croton Aqueduct water)
"Croton cocktail" is a term for "water" that allegedly dates back to October 1842 and the opening of the Croton reservoir. Lemon was reportedly added to the water for the…
“Gotta go to Mo’s!” (Modell’s Sporting Goods)
Modell's Sporting Goods has many stores throughout New York City. In 1994, it came up with it's catchy jingle, "Gotta Go To Mo's!" When you gotta go, you gotta go.…
Carvel (Flying Saucer, Wednesday is Sundae, et al.)
Carvel has been celebrating its 70th anniversary (from 1934). Carvel was a much bigger presence (almost without competition) thirty and forty years ago than it is today. "Flying Saucers,"…
“Schaefer Is the One Beer to Have When You’re Having More Than One” (Schaefer Beer)
"Schaefer is the one beer to have when you're having more than one" is one of New York's most famous jingles. Schaefer closed its doors in the 1970s, ending the great history of…
“Good! Like Nedicks!” (Nedicks Restaurants)
Marty Glickman introduced some sports language, most notably "swis" in basketball. He was the mentor of broadcaster Marv Albert. "Good! Like Nedicks!" was one of Glickman's…
“Ballantine Blast” (Ballantine Beer)
Ballantine Beer sponsored the New York Yankees baseball broadcasts. Yankees announcer Mel Allen coined the term "Ballantine Blast." It remains a memorable commercial sports promotional…
“Hit Sign, Win Suit” (Abe Stark’s Clothing Store)
A sign for Abe Stark's clothing store, placed directly under the Ebbets Field scoreboard in right-center field, told players "Hit Sign, Win Suit." Any player to hit the sign with a…
Heavenly Coffee (Not Chock Full O’ Nuts?)
Chock Full O' Nuts is the heavenly coffee? Who decided on that? I don't want to disturb the heavens - good heavens, no - but the Chock Full O' Nuts "Heavenly Coffee"…
“What’s the story, Jerry?” (JGE); “Forget about it!” (Tops Appliance City)
Two "Brooklynese" appliance store advertisements have influenced New York slang. J.G.E. (the letters stood for Jamaica Gas & Electric) was a short-lived appliance store. Owner Jerry…
“Ready, Willing & Able” (Doe Fund)
"The Doe Fund" is a homeless-advocacy group that was started by George McDonald. "Ready, Willing and Able" is its major program, begun in 1990. Fortunately, it's not named…
C.C.N.Y. (Christian College Now Yiddish)
This nickname for CCNY (City College of New York) doesn't have much circulation now, but is perhaps worth recording. http://www.jewishpress.com/news_article.asp?article=1972(Posted 1-8-2003 -…
“Going Your Way” (MTA slogan)
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) has a slogan: "Going Your Way." An MTA "Going your way" advertisement was printed in the Daily News (New York, NY) on August 27,…
“The customer is always right” (business motto)
Who started the slogan "The customer is always right"? Was it department store founder Marshall Field (1834-1906) of Chicago? The first citations in 1905 seem to indicate this. "The…
“An Educated Consumer Is Our Best Customer” (Syms Clothing)
Syms is a friendly clothing store on East 54th Street and Park Avenue. Syms advertised for years that it had a markdown system, not "sales." If a product didn't sell, its price was…
“His Prices Are Insane!” (Crazy Eddie)
People still talk about Crazy Eddie, the bankrupt electronics store with those loud ads for insanely low prices. The commercials (one is preserved in the movie Splash) ran from about 1975 to 1989.…