lars. Other song that followed not long after that included: "Hot Tamale Alley", (1895) sold to vaudevillian May Irwin for her act, "The Warmest Baby in the Bunch" (1897), and "I Guess I'll Have to Telegraph My Baby" (1898). 'The Four Cohans' were now celebrities commanding a $1000.00 per week. George was writing the songs and the sketches; He became the starring actor. He was also selling original songs and sketches to other acts. In addition, he topped this all by managing the family's business affairs. He was now 20 years of age, and in complete control of the act. Isidore Witmark, in his autobiography, has pointed out that the young (and also mature) George Cohan was an opinionated, brash, cocky youngster with a very high opinion of his own gifts. In 1899, George married his first wife, Ethel Levey, a popular singing comedian. She became the 'fifth' Cohan in the act. Cohan now began to turn his attention to the Broadway Musical Comedy stage. In 1901, 'The Governor's Son' was his first musical; 'Running For Office' in 1903 was his second. Both were based on his vaudeville sketches, and both were failures. In 1904, George and Sam Harris formed a partnership that was destined to become one of Broadway's most successful producing firms. Cohan's first success on Broadway was in 1904 with 'Little Johnny Jones'. With Cohan playing the role of a jockey, singing song like "The Yankee Doodle Boy" (aka "I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy") and "Give My Regards To Broadway" the play was an instant hit. 'Forty Five Minutes From Broadway', book, music, and lyrics all by Cohan were a major success. Cohan was not in the original show but he did have a role in the 1912 revival. "So Long Mary" and "Mary's A Grand Old Name" were the most popular songs in this particular musical. Cohan supposedly wrote them for his wife. 'George Washington, Jr.' was the play that Cohan would be identified with for life. He would...
