George Michael Cohan
"Father of American musical comedy"
July 3, 1878 - November 5, 1942
American entertainer, playwright, composer, lyricist, actor, singer, dancer, and theatrical producer
George Cohan wrote over 50 Broadway shows and published over 300 songs in his career. He further wrote, composed, produced, and acted in over three dozen musicals.
Cohan's songs were known for "catchy melodies and clever lyrics."
Noted songs - "Give My Regards to Broadway," "The Yankee Doodle Boy," "You're a Grand Old Flag," "Forty-Five Minutes to Broadway," "Mary Is a Grand Old Name"...and more
Little Johnny Jones (1904) - Cohan's first Broadway production
Going Up (1917) - Film produced by George Cohan and friend, Sam Harris (producer and theater owner)
The Phantom President (1932) - Film starring George Cohan, Claudette Colbert, and Jimmy Durante
Little Nellie Kelly musical (1922)
Film adaptation - 1940, starring Judy Garland
Seven Keys to Baldpate mystery play (1916)
Remade 7 times
Latest version - House of the Long Shadows (1983)
The Meanest Man in the World (1920)
Film adaptation - 1943, starring Jack Benny
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) - Film in honor of George Cohan*
*Starring James Cagney...Academy Award for Best Actor
Mr. Broadway (1957) - Television special in honor of George Cohan*
*Starring Mickey Rooney
George M! (1968) - Musical in honor of George Cohan*
*Further adapted in a television special (1970)
Founding member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers)
1940 - Congressional Gold Medal by President Franklin D. Roosevelt for contributions to World War 1 morale
Inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame (1970)
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Inducted into the Musical Theater Hall of Fame (1996)
Inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame (2006)
Silent films of the early 20th Century paved the way to Hollywood's evolution. The Wizard of Oz proved that the impossible can be possible. Radio programs paved the way to television and small screen evolution. Silent films sparked the imagination of what the actors were saying. Radio programs sparked the imagination of backdrops to vocal comedy and drama. Black and white television took a backseat to the actors in comedy and drama. Technicolor television engages audiences along with the actors. Hollywood introduced, and continues to introduce, entertainment as pop culture.
Broadway preceded Hollywood entertainment as pop culture. I believe that the fundamentals of acting rest with the stage. The profession began with vaudeville on stage and formed into other mediums over time. I further believe that music standards adapted over time and into the present day were founded on Broadway.
I spent my childhood and teenage years attending musicals and plays. I gained a great deal of appreciation for culture and societal values from stage performances.
With that said, I am dedicating every Thursday in the month of July to musicians born on this day of the week. Why start with today?
Happy Early Birthday, United States...Happy Birthday, George M. Cohan.
That's why.
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