McBride named his concerto after Variety, the magazine for theatre/film/tv people, and gave its movement titles odd names, related to the insider-speak of the film business. McBride’s wife Carol said she subscribed to Variety, and its arrival date was known around the house as “variety day.” Sock 10-G was a Variety term meaning a smash hit which earned over 10 grand. Lush Pix Nix was a big budget picture that did not do well at the box office. B.O. Hypo refers to box office “hype”.

McBride wrote Variety Day originally as a sonata for violin and piano for the distinguished violinist Louis Kaufman (1905-1944), who premiered it with his wife, the pianist Annette Kaufman. The orchestra version was premiered by Howard Hanson at the Eastman School in 1951.