BIG BANANA



I'm in the process of trying to give my "Big Apple" papers away and put

them on a web site, to be linked to the NY Convention & Visitors Bureau,

Museum of New York, New York Public Library, et al. This donation process

has taken a mere five years, and the web pages are still just as bad as the

above.

A small part of the "Big Apple" web page would feature "the Big Banana,"

so I might as well update the first Random House HDAS, which has:



BIG BANANA

1. the top prize or recognition; the focus of interest or attention. (1980

citation--ed.)

2. BIG SHOT. (1984 citation--ed.)



In 1875, a comic musical sketch called THE BIG BANANA was written and

composed by Alfred B. Sedgwick.

It begins:



HANS: Vell. Dot is so goot as noding. Ya! I been in Ney Yorik dis nine

six days--and I gets no vorks! nor nodings! and everyvere I goss, I sees

brinted up in big red leddirs, "Big Banana." Ter deyful mit der big banana.

(...)

DUET

HANS: I'm off to the Big Banana!

I'm bound for the Big Banana!

I'll sail for the Big Banana!

Right straight upon this line.



I'll work like any nigger

And when my pile gets bigger

I'll cut another figure

And make ein Schurne schein.

_Refrain._ Oh! Then I'll be so happy

So happy! So happy!

Oh! then I'll be so happy

When that big fortune's mine.

(...)

ANNA: Now, really, sir, I canna'---

In no sort--shape--or manner

Don't talk about Havana

I'm free--and so decline.



The Big Banana was Havana.



------------------------------------------------