The Big Apple: “How do you make a bandstand?"/’Take away their chairs.”

A plaque remaining from the Big Apple Night Club at West 135th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem.

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.

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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Entry from October 06, 2015

“How do you make a bandstand?"/’Take away their chairs.”

There’s an old joke told about bandstands:

Q: How do you make a bandstand?
A: Take away their chairs.

The joke has been cited in print since at least 1976. “How do you make a hot dog stand?” is a similar joke.

24 December 1976, Lubbock (TX) Avalanche-Journal, pg. 4, col. 4:
Q — How do you make a band stand?
A — Take away the chairs.—Wayne Mackey in Oklahoma City Times.

17 January 1979, The Morning Union (Springfield, MA), “Fun Time—The Riddle Box,” pg. 51, col. 2:
How do you make a bandstand?
Pull their chairs away.

17 September 1982, The Times-Picayune (New Orleans, LA), Jelly Bean Journal, pg. 15, col. 3:
Q. How do you make a bandstand?
A. Pull away the chairs.
Angie Frans, age 13

Google Books
December 1983, Boys’ Life, “Think & Grin,” pg. 81, col. 3:
Matt: How do you make a bandstand?
Ben: I don’t know. How?
Matt: Play the national anthem.—David McMurray, Ithaca, N.Y.

Google News Archive
9 January 1999, The Daily Reporter (Spencer, IA), “The Bubble Gum Rapper,” pg. 8, col. 3:
Allen: How do you make a band stand?
Cory: Take away their seats.

Klosi Jokes
Category: Music jokes
Date Added: 11/10/2007
Joke: How do you make a bandstand?Take away their chairs

Facebook
jenni alpert
May 3, 2015
How do you make a band stand? Take their chairs away.... Or see them when play at the HOTEL CAFE THIS SUNDAY May 3rd at 8:30 - 10pm - 1623 Cahuenga - most likely they will be standing - except the drummer gets a chair - we would love you to come check it out

Twitter
Abdon
‏@_abdonn
“@DianaMedina76: How do you make a bandstand? Take away their chairs”
12:04 PM - 30 Aug 2015

Posted by Barry Popik
New York City • Music/Dance/Theatre/Film/Circus • Tuesday, October 06, 2015 • Permalink