Remember all the wars won and lost...

[BigmanPigman]

and let's not repeat the past.

[appalachiablue]

1. George M. Cohan 'Mr. Broadway' entertainer, composer 'Over There' & 'Yankee Doodle'

- Film scene, 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' (1942): Cohan is summoned to meet President Roosevelt at the White House, who presents him with a Congressional Gold Medal. Cohan is overcome and chats with FDR, recalling his early days on the stage. As he leaves the White House, he performs a tap dance down a set of interior stairs (which Jimmy Cagney thought up before the scene was filmed and performed with no rehearsal).

Outside, in downtown Washington he joins a military parade, where the soldiers are singing "Over There", and, at first, he isn't singing. Not knowing that Cohan is the song's composer, one of them asks if he knows the words. Cohan's response is a smile and then joins in the singing.

The life of American musical giant George M. Cohan (1878-1942) portrayed by actor Jimmy Cagney & depicted by Hollywood 1942. The popular film 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' served to lift morale as America entered the Second World War.
Americans George M. Cohan, New Yorker Jimmy Cagney and dancer Gene Kelly of Pittsburgh were all of Irish heritage and contributed greatly to the rise of the American musical tradition on stage and the motion picture industry.

Known in the decade before World War I as "the man who owned Broadway", Cohan is considered the father of American musical comedy. A statue of Cohan in Times Square New York City commemorates his contributions to American musical theatre. Cohan was called "the greatest single figure the American theatre ever produced – as a player, playwright, actor, composer and producer."

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt presented him with the Congressional Gold Medal for his contributions to World War I morale, in particular the songs "You're a Grand Old Flag" and "Over There." Cohan was the first person in any artistic field selected for this honor, which previously had gone only to military and political leaders, philanthropists, scientists, inventors, and explorers.



George M. Cohan, 1908

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_M._Cohan



Cohan Statue, Times Square, New York

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yankee_Doodle_Dandy

'Grand Old Flag' song by Cohan, scene from 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' 1942 movie with Jimmy Cagney as composer Cohan.

[BigmanPigman]

2. I love that film and how he dances.

He is so light on his feet and is an original "hoofer". I taught my First Graders "You're A Grand Old Flag" and showed them the clip from the film to learn it and they loved it so much they wanted to see the whole film.

[appalachiablue]

3. Great clip. Nobody like fiesty red head Jimmy Cagney.

He and Gene Kelly of Pgh were terrific dancers and actors, and both also staunch members of the Democratic Party.

I remember you said the kids loved 'Grand Old Flag.' It's enjoying a revival from the many song clips I saw on YouTube.

Pure Americana and I love it, am becoming more patriotic and sentimental with time. My mom knew all these songs cuz her dad was a WWI veteran.

[BigmanPigman]

4. I was born on July 3 in Phila

so I always felt like the fireworks were for me too. Little kids love to sing and can't tell a good voice from a bad one (I am beyond bad) so we sang loudly. The way they judge good singing is based on how loud you are. It was great...I could sing like I do when alone in my car with my dog and without any critics around.

[appalachiablue]

5. Lucky you with your birthday and place. My grandmother was from Phila.

Love that great American city of brotherly love.

I can't sing but can dance and play guitar a bit. My other grandmother and aunts were all singers and musical but we got more visual arts instead. Luck of the draw, it's all good.

Terrific medley!

*Bet if you added smthg. about 'Cohan, 'Over There, Yankee Doodle Dandy, musical-movie' to the title, you'd get views for this spirited post, just MO.

[murielm99]

7. Thanks for making me smile.

[Bob Loblaw]

6. That dance down the stairway

is one of my favorite scenes in all of cinema. From tough guy to tap dancer, Cagney could do it all.