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Performing Arts: George M. Cohan

  • Description
    The father of American musical comedy, George Michael Cohan was born on July 3, 1878, in Providence, Rhode Island. The son of traveling Vaudeville performers, Cohan joined his parents on stage when he was just a baby. Cohan learned to dance and sing shortly after learning to walk and talk. Along with his parents and sister, the family toured under the name The Four Cohans, with George writing skits and songs in his teens. In 1893, Cohan sold his first songs to a national publisher. Eleven years later, he produced his first big Broadway hit, Little Johnny Jones, which made songs like “Give My Regards to Broadway” and “The Yankee Doodle Boy” famous. He soon became one of New York City’s top songwriters, publishing about 500 songs throughout his career. Cohan sometimes had shows running in five theatres at the same time. For 20 years beginning in 1906, he worked with Sam Harris to produce more than three dozen Broadway shows, including the 1917 hit Going Up which was especially popular in London.
  • Details
    Category: 1978