Give My Regards to George M Cohan

Dream Dancing doesn't just take place in places around New Jersey. The action also takes place in Las Vegas (through flashback) and Rhode Island. 

Abby lived in Rhode Island before she moved to Las Vegas. 

What happened? 

Abby had an accident at the George M Cohan Park in Providence when she was 16 years old. In reality, the park isn't big. I know because I lived in Providence in the early 1990s. 

George M Cohan Park was an open area that was paved in red brick with trees throughout. Abby fell off a wall that ran along Dorrance Street.

While researching this, I found there was a George M Cohan Blvd. in Providence. It connects to Hope Street and it's near Benefit Street. There is also a bust of Cohan near Wickenden Street and Governor Streets in Providence. 

Who was this man that got all these statues and fame? 

George M Cohan was born on July 3, 1878. The most common misconception came because of Hollywood or Cohan himself, is that he was born on the 4th of July. We all agree he was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He was born into an entertainment family that became known as The Four Cohans. 

He was a playwright, composer, actor, singer and producer. As an early member of ASCAP, he published over 300 songs. I'll provide links to some of those songs below. 

His first produced play was called The Governor's Son. He was so prolific that he would later have multiple plays on Broadway run simultaneously. 

Cohan would also make the jump to movies as well. While he didn't enjoy that as much as Broadway, he does have 5 movie credits. Phantom President, Broadway Jones, Gambling, Seven Keys to Baldplate, and Hit the Holiday Trail. 

His last Broadway play was The Return of the Vagabond. 

If you saw the movie, Yankee Doodle Dandy, the movie opens with Cohan receiving a medal from the President, that while not shown, we believe is Franklin D. Roosevelt. It really happened. Cohan got the Congressional Gold Medal from President Roosevelt. 

George M Cohan died on November 5, 1942. 

His place on Broadway lives on with a statue on 46th and Broadway. More importantly, every July 4th you may still hear his songs. 

The above are videos of his most famous songs. 

Dream Dancing is available at Amazon.com. Please take a look.