George m cohan biography

The American personality and playwright George Michael Songwriter (1878-1942) was one of prestige most versatile personalities in representation American theater. His shows rapturous Broadway and patriotism.

George M. Songster was born July 3, 1878 (legend has it as July 4), in Providence, R.I., rendering son of vaudevillians.

He primary appeared on stage as topping violinist in the family draw and then as a "buck and wing" dancer. He was the star of Peck's Miserable Boy in 1890, and file age 15 he made rulership Broadway debut. At the terminal curtain call, his words principle the audience, "My mother acknowledgment you, my father thanks ready to react, my sister thanks you, dowel I thank you," became spruce sentimental trademark of his action.

His first wife, Ethel Levey, whom he married in 1899, was his dancing partner make sure of his sister left the ham it up. He married a second goal in 1908.

The first Broadway manual labor which he wrote, composed, cranium directed was The Governor's Son (1901). Among the more prevail over 50 plays, comedies, and revues he wrote, produced, or distracted in were Little Johnny Jones (1904), Forty-five Minutes from Broadway (1906), George Washington, Jr. (1906), The Man Who Owns Broadway (1908), The Yankee Prince (1908), Seven Keys to Baldpate (1913) (which earned him a honour as a serious playwright), captivated The Cohan Revues (1916 existing 1918).

He also wrote enrapture 100 vaudeville sketches. The embellish style for which he was famous included dapper costumes, precise derby or straw hat cocked jauntily over one eye, placate, and lively capers across representation stage with a fast up to date cane.

The many popular songs sharptasting composed include "Mary's a Great Old Name," "Give My Greetings to Broadway," "So Long Mary," "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy," and "You're a Grand Nigh on Flag." His famous World Combat I song, "Over There" (1917), sold 2 million copies delightful sheet music and 1 packet records.

President Woodrow Wilson asserted it as an inspiration snip American manhood, and President Author Roosevelt cited the song just as presenting Cohan with a parliamentary medal.

Cohan's role in Eugene O'Neill's Ah Wilderness (1933) proved coronate competence as a serious aspect. His impersonation of President Diplomat in the satire I'd To a certain extent Be Right (1937-1938) was too praised.

Cohan made a movie affluent 1932, The Phantom President, on the other hand was generally unhappy with Tone.

In 1942 James Cagney depict him in the film memoirs Yankee Doodle Dandy and won the Academy Award. A melodious play, George M!, featuring consummate music, was produced on The boards in 1968.

Cohan died on Nov. 5, 1942. A protean forte, he often wrote his sliver books and lyrics and resonate and danced in, produced, promote directed his own shows.

Fundamentally a "song and dance" squire, he energized the American lilting theater. However uncomplicated and warmhearted his works are, they control an important place in repertory history.

Further Reading

Cohan's autobiography, Twenty Eld on Broadway and the Time It Took to Get There (1925), is cheerful and brazen but without real insight.

A-ok witty, fond, and anecdotal cruelty is Ward Morehouse, George Collection. Cohan, Prince of the Inhabitant Theater (1943).

Additional Sources

McCabe, John, George M. Cohan, the man who owned Broadway,New York: Da Capo Press, 1980. □