Why called big apple

He once explained the term in an article for the Morning Telegraph :. Although the audience for Fitz Gerald's articles was markedly smaller than most, the concept of "big apple" representing the best of the best—or most-sought-after of rewards or accomplishments—began to popularize across the country.

In the late s and early s, the nickname started to become well known outside of the northeast, as New York City's jazz musicians began referring to New York City as the "Big Apple" in their songs. An old saying in show business was "There are many apples on the tree, but only one Big Apple. In the late s and early s, New York City was quickly earning a national reputation as a dark and dangerous city.

A fan of jazz, he wanted to restore the city to its former glory by adopting the Big Apple as an officially recognized reference to New York City. The campaign featured red apples in an effort to lure visitors to New York City. The red apples, intended to serve as a bright and cheery image of the city, would stand in contrast to the common belief that New York City was riddled with crime and poverty. T-shirts, pins, and stickers promoting the "Big Apple" quickly became popular, thanks in part to the help of celebrities like New York Knicks legend Dave DeBusschere—and the city welcomed tourists to "take a bite out of the Big Apple.

Since the conclusion of the campaign—and subsequent "rebranding" of the city—New York City has officially been nicknamed The Big Apple. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. To allow us to provide a better and more tailored experience please click "OK".

Sign Up. Travel Guides. Videos Beyond Hollywood Hungerlust Pioneers of love. Give us feedback. Read Next View. In the s, jazz musicians adopted the term to indicate New York City was home to big-league music clubs. The man credited with creating the ad campaign, Charles Gillett, president of the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau, was a jazz enthusiast who knew that the Big Apple had once been a sobriquet bestowing respect on the city.

Pins, T-shirts and other promotional items featuring apples soon proliferated, and visitors were invited to take a bite out of the Big Apple; this time around, the name stuck. However, the following year, the city reverted to English control and its former name.