The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Cohan, George Michael

COHAN, George Michael, American comedian and playwright: b. Providence, R. I., 1878. When nine years old he appeared in 'Daniel Boone' and later with other members of his family toured the country as &ldquo;The Four Cohans.&rdquo; They were among the greatest attractions on the vaudeville stage. From 1899 to 1914 George M. Cohan wrote and produced a

great number of musical comedies, usually appearing himself in the principal part. These plays included such successes as &lsquo;Little Johnny Jones&rsquo;; &lsquo;The Governor's Son&rsquo;; &lsquo;Forty-Five Minutes from Broadway&rsquo;; &lsquo;George Washington, Jr.&rsquo;; &lsquo;The Yankee Prince&rsquo;; &lsquo;Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford&rsquo;; &lsquo;Broadway Jones&rsquo;; &lsquo;Seven Keys to Baldpate.&rsquo; In 1914 Mr. Cohan retired from the control of his several theatres in New York to devote himself exclusively to writing and composing.