George M. Cohan Biography

Fast Facts

• In 1970, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
• An 8-foot-tall bronze statue of him was dedicated in Times Square at Broadway and 46th Street in New York City
• Was awarded the Congressional Medal for his outstanding contributions to the American spirit, making him the first person in an artistic field selected for the honor
• Joined his parents on stage in their traveling vaudeville show from infancy
• Toured as the star of a show called "Peck's Bad Boy" and a child
• Was the fourth member his family's vaudeville act The Four Cohans, playing violin and dancing
• Quote: "I can write better plays than any living dancer and dance better than any living playwright․"
• Was one of the early pioneers of the book musical, using song and dance to advance the plot of his everyman characters, not just as spectacle
• Wrote many patriotic songs, including "Over There" and "You're a Grand Old Flag," which were attributed to boosting morale during World War I
• A baseball fan, he often attended games of the former New York Giants