HOAGIES



This should be the definitive statement, but it's not:



Known throughout the rest of the country as a submarine sandwich, hero or

grinder, the Philadelphia hoagie is a sandwich of luncheon meats, cheeses,

lettuce, tomato and onion with mayonnaise or oil served on a long roll. Many

stories exist as to how the hoagie got its name, the most likely of which is

a coruption of the term "hokey pokey" man. These Italian street vendors were

probably the first to marry their antipasto salads with a "pinafore" roll in

the late 19th century.

--THE LARDER INVADED: REFLECTIONS ON THREE CENTURIES OF

PHILADELPHIA FOOD

AND DRINK by Mary Anne Hines, Gordon Marshall, and WIlliam Woys Weaver, 1987

from a joint exhibition held 17 November 1986 to 25 April 1987 by the Library

Company of Philadelphia and the Historical Society of Philadelphia.



By 1965--when we have our first "hoagie" citation--the 19th century

"hokey-pokey" man was old news. Why is THIS more any more likely than the

other versions?

The store WAWA put some hoagie information at www.hoagie.com. Last

summer, the world's largest hoagie was made for the annual "hoagie day."

I went through the weekly THE PHILADELPHIA SPOT LITE (WHERE TO GO--WHAT

TO SEE) and a few (not many) of the monthly PHILADELPHIA MAGAZINE. A

thorough search of the latter will probably turn up something.

In the former, in the week of December 28, 1974, for example, I noticed

that the places that advertised sandwiches were--go-go clubs!

The Opal Room at 1627 Ranstead Street was "Featuring fine sandwiches."

Slick Chicks at 1001 Race Street had a "complete menu of delicious hot

sandwiches."

The Play Pen Lounge at the rear of 1418 Walnut Street had "King-Sized

Sandwiches Served Daily!" Also, "Our dancers bend over backwards to please

you! Our waitresses are eager to serve you!"

Not to say, necessarily, that you could get a "hoagie" from a "ho," but

I'll solve it,,,



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