Forty-five Minutes from Broadway

Infobox Musical
name= Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway


caption=
music= George M. Cohan
lyrics= George M. Cohan
book= George M. Cohan
basis=
productions= 1906 Broadway
awards=

"Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway" is a musical play by George M. Cohan in 1905, written about New Rochelle, New York. [ [http://www.congressionalgoldmedal.com/GeorgeMCohan.htm Welcome to CongressionalGoldMedal.com: United States of America Congressional Gold Medal Recipient George M. Cohan ] ] The plays name refers to the 45-minute train ride from New Rochelle to Broadway. [ [http://www1.umn.edu/umnnews/Feature_Stories/Money_over_love.html Money or love: UMNnews: U of M ] ] The play is remembered for several songs, such as its title song, "Forty-five Minutes from Broadway" and for tunes about its leading lady character, "Mary Is a Grand Old Name" and "So Long Mary", which were presented in recreations of the original stage play within the 1942 film "Yankee Doodle Dandy".

Lyrics excerpts

Forty-five Minutes from Broadway

:Only forty-five minutes from Broadway:Think of the changes it brings:For the short time it takes:What a diff'rence it makes :In the ways of the people and things:Oh, what a fine bunch of reubens:Oh, what a jay ["Jay" is an old-fashioned synonym for "reuben" or "rube" [http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Rube] , a rural person who is ignorant of the ways of a large city; it survives in the term "jaywalking".] atmosphere:They have whiskers like hay:And imagine Broadway:Only forty-five minutes from here

Mary Is a Grand Old Name

:For it was Mary; Mary:Plain as any name can be:But with propriety, society:Will say, "Marie":But it was Mary; Mary:Long before the fashions came:And there is something there:That sounds so square:It's a grand old name

o Long Mary

:Mary: It's awfully nice of all you boys to see me to the train:Chorus: So long, Mary:Mary: I didn't think you'd care if you should ne'er see me again:Chorus: You're wrong, Mary:Mary: This reminds me of my family / On the day I left Schenectady:Chorus: So long, Mary / Don't forget to come back home

As staged in the film "Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942), starring James Cagney, this sentimental song is lightened by a scene in which her luggage springs open. Her male admirers politely gather her bloomers and petticoats, and repack for the blushing Mary, while they continue singing.

Footnotes