Gerald Leonard Cohen was born in New York City in 1941. He majored in Russian Civilization at Dartmouth College (1958-1962), received a Diploma in Slavonic Studies at Columbia University (1963) and then studied Slavic linguistics at Columbia University (PhD 1971). He is presently Professor of Foreign Languages at Missouri University of Science and Technology, where his research interests have shifted primarily to etymology.Barry A. Popik was born in New York City in 1961. He is an attorney by vocation and a word researcher by avocation, whose contributions to such items as «dude», «hot dog», the «Show Me expression», «The Windy City» (Chicago) and numerous items in food terminology have been very favorably received by the scholarly community. He is listed as Senior Consulting Editor of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink, co-authored Studies in Slang, Part VI and VII and the detailed study Origin of the Term «Hot Dog».

• Contents: Chronological listing of «The Big apple» quotes – Apples regarded as very special – John J. Fitz Gerald as the key figure in popularizing «The Big Apple» (NYC racetracks, 1921ff.) – Role of Charles Gillett, 1971 – Tracing the development of «The Big Apple» dance – «Big Apple» incorrect etymologies – Bibliography.

Gerald Leonard Cohen was born in New York City in 1941. He majored in Russian Civilization at Dartmouth College (1958-1962), received a Diploma in Slavonic Studies at Columbia University (1963) and then studied Slavic linguistics at Columbia University (PhD 1971). He is presently Professor of Foreign Languages at Missouri University of Science and Technology, where his research interests have shifted primarily to etymology.Barry A. Popik was born in New York City in 1961. He is an attorney by vocation and a word researcher by avocation, whose contributions to such items as «dude», «hot dog», the «Show Me expression», «The Windy City» (Chicago) and numerous items in food terminology have been very favorably received by the scholarly community. He is listed as Senior Consulting Editor of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Food and Drink, co-authored Studies in Slang, Part VI and VII and the detailed study Origin of the Term «Hot Dog».

• Contents: Chronological listing of «The Big apple» quotes – Apples regarded as very special – John J. Fitz Gerald as the key figure in popularizing «The Big Apple» (NYC racetracks, 1921ff.) – Role of Charles Gillett, 1971 – Tracing the development of «The Big Apple» dance – «Big Apple» incorrect etymologies – Bibliography.