What happens
Screen Guild Theater presents a radio adaptation of Yankee Doodle Dandy, the story of songwriter and performer George M. Cohan. Born on the Fourth of July to a family of touring vaudeville performers, Cohan grows up in a theatrical household and in time becomes a Broadway writer. Starring James Cagney and Joan Leslie, with Walter Houston, the episode follows his early shows and his partnership with producer Sam Harris. Cohan's rise is traced through his songs and his proud sense of patriotism. The transcript covers only the first part of the episode, which was broadcast on October 19, 1942.
Early twentieth-century America, from vaudeville stages and Broadway theaters to London and the White House
Characters: George M. Cohan, Sam Harris, Mary, Jerry Cohan, Nellie Cohan, President of the United States
Listen for: Cohan's songs, including Little Johnny Jones and Over There, and the meeting with President Roosevelt in the White House office
Written from the episode itself; it never gives away the ending. Every recording is remastered for the stream: cleaned of rumble, hiss and mains hum (and the old TV whine where we found it), then levelled in two passes to steady broadcast loudness, so one show is never quieter than the next.