“PENNSYLVANIA 6-5000” (1940)
"PENNSYVANIA 6-5000" (1940) was one of the Glenn Miller Orchestra's greatest hits. It still is the phone number of the Hotel Pennsylvania, just opposite Penn Station on Seventh…
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“Take the ‘A’ Train” (1941)
"Take the 'A' Train" (1941) was written by Billy Strayhorn and popularly performed by Duke Ellington. It's Harlem's popular masterpiece. Copyright restrictions prevent…
“Manhattan” (1925) (not “I’ll Take Manhattan”)
"Manhattan" (1925) by Richard Rogers and Lorenz Hart was written for the revue Garrick Gaieties. As Nancy Groce writes in New York: Songs of the City (1999), pages 19-20: "Today,…
“Sidewalks of New York (East Side, West Side)” (1894)
This 1894 song is one of New York's most popular. http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/sidewalk.htm Lyrics: James W. Blake and Charles E. LawlorMusic: James W. Blake and Charles E. LawlorThe…
“Give My Regards to Broadway” (1904)
This standard is now 100 years old. We're able to reproduce the lyrics in full. George M. Cohan's statue stands in the heart of Time Square, at Duffy Square, on the same traffic island as…
“New York, New York (It’s a Helluva Town)” (1945)
"New York, New York (It's a Helluva Town)" (1945) (or "It's a Wonderful Town," for those who prefer these lyrics) was written by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and…
“(I Like New York in June) How About You?” (1941)
"How About You" is often titled from the lyrics that occur before this, "I like New York in June." It's from the movie musical Babes on Broadway (1941) and has music by…
“Autumn in New York” (1934)
"Autumn in New York" (1934) by Vernon Duke was written for the musical Thumbs Up. It is a wistful, nostalgic song. The song has been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, and Ella…
“New York, New York” (1977)
"New York, New York" (1977) by composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb was written for the 1977 Martin Scosese film, New York. The film starred Robert De Niro and Liza Minnelli (who…
“New York State of Mind” (1975)
"New York State of Mind" (1975) was written and performed by Billy Joel. It appears on his album Turnstiles. Hillary Clinton used this song during her 2000 New York Senate run. Arguably,…
“Live, from New York! It’s Saturday Night!” (Saturday Night Live)
In 1975, sportscaster Howard Cosell attempted to revive the glory that was the Ed Sullivan Show by occupying that same Ed Sullivan theater (on Big Apple Corner) with a new ABC show. It was called…
Coney Island whitefish
"Coney Island whitefish" is the slang name for a used condom seen floating in New York waters or seen on the beach. Jon Lighter's Historical Dictionary of American Slang has a…
Irish Riviera (Breezy Point)
Breezy Point (Far Rockaway) used to be called "the Irish Riviera." Spring Lake, New Jersey also claims the title. A newer nickname for the same area is "Hamptons West."…
NYPD & FDNY
After September 11, 2001, clothing with "NYPD" and "FDNY" became popular sellers. Both sets of initials were trademarked only vary recently. Why do the agencies have these…
Manhattan Silver/White (drugs)
Jonathon Green's Cassell Dictionary of Slang (1998) has these entries: Manhattan silver/white n. [1970s+][drugs] an imaginary brand of marijuana, silver/white because its seeds have grown in…
Vichyssoise
"Vichyssoise" was allegedly invented by Louis Diat, chef of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, in 1917. The problem is, I can't find a single citation before the 1930s. "Vichyssoise"…
Vaudeville
"Variety" had been the name for what became known as "vaudeville" in the United States. (See the entry for "variety" here.) A citation below claims that George Lederer…
Reuben Sandwich (and Rachel Sandwich, Celebrity Sandwiches)
Arnold Reuben (1883-1970) began his restaurant in the 1910s and it became famous for its celebrity-named sandwiches, a tradition continued by the Stage Deli and Carnegie Deli and others. Reuben…
Twofer
In the days just after World War II and before the Times Square TKTS. booth, sagging Broadway shows would offer "two-fers." These are two tickets for the price of one. 5 July 1947, New…
Tiffany Network (CBS)
The Columbia Broadcasting System is sometimes called "the Tiffany Network." "Tiffany" stands for Louis Comfort Tiffany and Tiffany's, whose famous store is now at Fifth…