Happy Birthday to George M. Cohan!

“I don’t care what you say about me, as long as you say something about me, and as long as you spell my name right.” — George M. Cohan

George M. Cohan – really the first big superstar in America. He was an actor, a writer, a composer, a producer, a song and dance man … He was IT. I love that he was born on July 3, 1878 (in Providence, RI, of all places!!) and that his most famous song eventually would be “Yankee Doodle Dandy”. I mean, the symmetry of that …

(I found a great tribute to Cohan here).

A kid who grew up in vaudeville, a kid who is a truly American creation … Although he was not (like Yankee Doodle Dandy proclaimed) “born on the fourth of July”, he is symbolic of everything this country can offer. His story is a great one (please: I can barely see the actual George M. Cohan in my mind – all I can see is Cagney – damn, people, wasn’t he amazing in that movie??? Cagney, for some reason, brings a big ol’ lump to my throat. He’s so special)

Here is George Cohan with Ethel Levey in Little Johnny Jones, in 1904.

This was his first big break. George wrote the thing, starred in it, produced it, cast all of his family members in it, you name it – he did it.

“Yankee Doodle Dandy” was one of the songs in Little Johnny Jones (but there were many other which also became classics – “Give My Regards to Broadway”, for example). “Yankee Doodle Dandy” became an instant hit.

I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy,
A Yankee Doodle do or die,
A real live nephew of my Uncle Sam’s,
Born on the Fourth of July.
I’ve got a Yankee Doodle sweetheart.
She’s my Yankee Doodle joy.
Yankee doodle came to London
Just to ride the ponies.
I am a Yankee Doodle Boy.

Happy birthday, George Cohan! Born on the third of July!!!