At the turn of the 20th century, New York City was a hub for diverse theatre styles, aspiring performers from across the country and around the world. The city was undergoing important changes such as the opening of the subway system to the general public. New York was on the move to greatness.
Along with the change it was also the age when American theatre was growing. Different personalities were competing for the audiences’ demand and hence, their drive shaped American theatre. However, a distinct style was not easy to give where most of American musical theatre was influenced by their English counterpart.
One man made it all possible. George M. Cohan was known coast to coast as an entertainer, producer, singer and actor. His passion, talent and skill reshaped the foundations of American musical comedy that dominated theatre in the first two decades of the 20th century.
George Michael Cohan was born to Jeremiah and Helen Cohan in Providence, Rhode Island. The exact date of his birth was in dispute; according to his birth certificate he was born on the 3rd of July in 1878, but his relatives insisted that he was born on the 4th, the same birthdate of his beloved country.
Despite that birthdate was initially debated, it was no doubt he was born into the world of theatre; his parents were expert vaudevillians and he appeared in skits with his parents as an infant. He showed his theatrical skill early; at the age of 11 he began writing skits and by 13, he was already writing songs. He was traveling from place to place with his parents and sister to perform and that meant he received little education. Yet, it is remarkable that he was able to do arithmetic, reading and writing.
Cohan loved performing with his parents and sister, but he always thought that he deserved better. He always believed that there was something more than just being a nomadic performer. With that in mind, he set his eyes onto the heart of American theatre: New York City.
Cohna’s Little Johnny Jones debuted in 1904, and with it, he moulded what it was to be a ‘Broadway man’. He directed, wrote and composed his plays and with roles that are usually reserved for the ladies, he was able to take on it effortlessly. Cohna’s plays were a mix of romance, patriotism and glamor; this new blend in Broadway left critics speechless and with a fresh start, audiences couldn’t get enough of him.
Cohan’s original mix of genre was not the only thing that made him renowned in America’s history. It was his sense of patriotism that left imprints in the hearts of his countrymen. He portrayed an American identity and there was always an American flag draped in the background of the stage.
America was in the time of progress when Cohan was at the peak of his career. The country was acquiring new technologies, factories were rising and scientists’ efforts and research were being applied to benefit the development of the country. The state of the nation encouraged the patriotic theme that Cohan portrayed; America was indeed improving and there was nothing wrong celebrating it.
Along with the rising economic status of America came World War I. Europe was falling into disarray and America anticipated their participation in the war. More and more people would go to factories more than theatres and this did not look promising for Broadway. Yet, Cohan did not seem deterred by the state of his beloved country.
When America entered World War I in 1917, Cohan composed “Over There”. It was a hit; Cohan reflected the thoughts of Americans’ expectations of the war’s duration through the lyrics. The song was also played in World War II. His patriotism made his songs light-hearted and it did not go unnoticed and on 1940, he met with President Franklin Roosevelt in the White House where he was awarded with the Congressional Medal of Honor. To this day, he is the only American composer to have attained such a high award.
However, as years passed by, Cohan started to wane. The death of his mother, father and sister soon took a toll on him. Having divorced his first wife, Ethel Levy, it made him distant to his own children. This affected his writing as well; his plays were now brief, but that did not erase him from the history of American’s Broadway, and on November 5, 1942, he succumbed to his death.
Cohan’s achievements made it apparent that he is the most innovative and the best musical and stage intellects. In his career he had produced over 500 songs, 40 plays and plays that amounted to thousands and yet that did not stop there. He served inspiration to numerous songwriters and entertainers. Through his music he energized an entire nation in the midst of war that sung his strong sense of patriotism.
George M. Cohan was made immortal by the legacy he created.
Works Cited
Ewen, D. The Story of America’s Musical Theatre. New York City: Chilton Company, 1961. 65-76. Print
"George M. Cohan". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2016. Web. 15 Jul. 2016<https://www.britannica.com/biography/George-M-Cohan>.
George Cohan. Over There. Leo Feist, Inc. 1917 http://libx.bsu.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/ShtMus/id/1273
“Many Honor Patriot Cohan.” Spokane Daily Chronicle 4 July 1978: 1. Print
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Xq0SAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CvkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6389,461755&dq=cohan+postal-service&hl=en
“George M. Cohan, 64, Dies at Home Here.” NYTimes 6 November 1942: 42. Print
http://www.rarenewspapers.com/view/556216
