The 1929 version describes the people wearing High hats and narrow collars
White spats and fifteen dollars
Changed to “lots of dollars” in the revised version. Why fifteen dollars, specifically?
I’m guessing that it refers to a specific item of fashion, something that cost $15, but what?
The revised (1946) version describes the well-to-do and Rockerfellers as Trying hard to look like Gary Cooper
Gary Cooper is most famous for playing in Westerns and war movies. Not exactly noted for being on the cutting edge of fashion and elegance. In what sense are the snobs trying to look like him?
Hit up google image, he is predominately in suits or jackets of various sorts more than western movie shots. Hubba hubba!!! He really was very handsome in his youth and maturity.
I doubt “fifteen dollars” was meant to refer to a specific thing that cost exactly that much. It just represensts a decent amount of cash (for the time) to have in your pocket when going out on the town, and it scans well in the rhythm of the lyrics.
Not huge, no, but still (for me anyway) a bit spendy for a night out.
“Put on the Ritz” = Get dressed up, splurge on a fancy dinner. 200 bucks sounds about right.
The original version is about fashionable blacks in Harlem, spending all their money on showy clothes and a good time. It’s not a flattering song at all; “fifteen dollars” is derisive, as “that’s all the money they have, and they’re going to blow it all trying to act like rich people. Let’s watch!” I’m not surprised it was sanitized to be about hanging out with “Rockefellers” instead of “high browns”, but artifacts like the “fifteen dollars” line being changed to “lots of dollars” remained.