Re: Tin Pan Alley

[Marvin <physchem...>]

>From the Brittanica Encyclopedia CD; "the industry" means popular music 
>writers in the early 20th century.   Many were Jews.

"The genre took its name from the byname of the street on which the industry 
was based, being on 28th Street between Fifth Avenue and Broadway in the early 
20th century; around Broadway and 32nd Street in the 1920s; and ultimately on 
Broadway between 42nd and 50th streets. The phrase tin pan referred to the 
sound of pianos furiously pounded by the so-called song pluggers, who 
demonstrated tunes to publishers."

The more successful writers moved to the Flatiron Building, the first NY 
skyscraper at Broadway and 23rd street.

It wasn't a stupid question at all.  I doubt many Americans remember where the 
phrase came from.
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Michel Borzykowski 
  To: World music from a Jewish slant 
  Sent: Wednesday, July 25, 2001 9:59 AM
  Subject: Tin Pan Alley


  Forgive me as a *foreigner* to ask a *stupid* question: I often read about 
"Tin Pan Alley" in american klezmer music books and, recently, in some emails 
on this list. Can somebody explain me briefly the meaning of this US expression?
  A dank!
  Michal

  Michel Borzykowski
  borzykowski (at) infomaniak(dot)ch 
  Geneva klezmer page: http://borzykowski.users.ch
  AMJ Homepage: http://www.club-association.ch/amj