1. ”Give My Regards to Broadway” (Little Johnny Jones, 1904)

“Give My Regards to Broadway” is sort of the stereotypical showtune (especially if someone wants to use that term derisively). See, for example, the cinematic masterpiece Bring it On. And while it seems like it’s an example of musical theater writing a love letter to itself, the fact is…the song is just about a neighborhood. It’s not about theater at all, and it certainly isn’t about Broadway Musicals…because they did not exist until this song essentially summoned them into existence.

Little Johnny Jones has a claim on being the first American Broadway Musical. The book and score were created to tell a specific story while the musical stylings grew out of popular American song, as opposed to the European operetta. Its success (and the success of Cohan’s 50+ subsequent works) changed the course of music and drama in America forever. While Cohan himself has been immortalized many times over (including a statue in the same Herald Square he sings of in this song), and several of his songs will live in the American consciousness for the foreseeable future, the musicals that contained those songs are largely un-revivable if not forgotten. Your much more likely hear his greatest hits in some form of biographical project.

-

Sign up for the free weekly newsletter to read more!