George M. Cohan At Harnois Theater – 1912
Mr. Success – George M. Cohan in Missoula – 1912
Interesting Story Is Cohan’s
His Most Successful Production Will Be Seen At The Harnois Monday.
The most interesting figure on the American stage today is George M. Cohan who, though but 32 years old, combines in himself the qualities of actor, comedian, song-writer, producer, author and playwright. And he shines brightly in all these departments. As member of the firm of Cohan & Harris, besides, he is the owner of a dozen first-class attractions in New York, Chicago, and on the road, and manager of three theaters in New York, one in Chicago and a number of others in less important cities. In the play-writing line he has contributed to the American stage some of the most delightful comedies of the past decade, with music that became the popular rage as soon as it was once heard. But heretofore he has asked the public not to take his stage productions seriously – simply as a matter of amusement. But when he wrote – “Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford,” the comedy based on the magazine stories by George Randolph Chester, he set a new mark for himself, and the public is compelled to take Mr. Cohan seriously whether he wishes it or not. For every leading critic of New York, Chicago and other leading cities has pronounced “Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford” the great American comedy, which typifies American life today and touched with the subtle satire and delightful humor of a master hand. No writer has ever before succeeded in producing a great play in which laughter predominated, and thus Cohan proves himself to be far better able to judge and satisfy the public taste than any of his contemporaries. “Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford” has been described as one continuous laugh from beginning to end, and yet between its smiles, giggles and laughter there is an exposition of human nature which shows a keen observation of modern affairs and conditions, and it teaches a lesson that no one can fail to profit by. His character drawing is remarkable and each of the 30 characters in “Wallingford” is a type with which every playgoer is familiar.
This best of all the Cohan productions will appear at the Harnois theater Monday, March 18.
The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on March 15, 1912.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/175730155
On March 19, 1912, The Daily Missoulian printed a followup article praising Cohan’s play:
J. Rufus Wallingford Pleases Large Crowd
George M. Cohan’s dramatization of George Randolph Chester’s J. Rufus Wallingford stories kept a large election-night crowd in constant laughter at the Harnois theater last evening. The rise of the curtain was followed by a burst of laughter which didn’t end until the crowd had left the theater. Cohan’s J. Rufus is patterned after the original and the story is based upon Mr. Chester’s tale of the Battlesburg boom, but the play differs in that Wallinford and Blackie Daw, his ally, leave the broad and easy way for the sake of their respective sweethearts and fall into more pleasant paths than when they were “trimming the boobs.” Life, action and a clever background of comedy kept things moving clear through the play. The whole cast did remarkably well. “Get-rich-quick Wallingford” is one of the most entertaining plays that have been seen in Missoula in many moons.
Another mention of Cohan’s visit to Missoula occurs in Daniel F. MacMartin’s book “Thirty Years in Hell” – Chapter 33. Cohan, it seems, donated to the fund for Poor May Durfee’s grave in Missoula. See link below:
https://archive.org/stream/thirtyyearsinhel00macm#page/246/mode/2up
The Missoulian editorial page (11/6/1942) gave Cohan praise for his career and visits to Missoula. See link below: