LITTLE JOHNNY JONES. By George M. Cohan. Theatre Arts Press. The 1904 Broadway Musical Comedy. Complete Book and Lyrics. Historical Libretto Series

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2 LITTLE JOHNNY JONES The 1904 Broadway Musical Comedy Complete Book and Lyrics By George M. Cohan Theatre Arts Press Historical Libretto Series 2

3 This libretto published from primary sources and other historical records. For a complete list of titles from the Historical Libretto Series, visit Musical-Librettos.com Copyright 2015 Theatre Arts Press All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, now known or yet be to invented, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system. Printed in the United States of America

4 George M. Cohan could do it all as he proved in his musical play Little Johnny Jones. Not only did he write the book, lyrics, and music for it, he also directed it, choreographed it, and co-produced it. Proving the saying third time a charm, was Cohan s first Broadway hit after his previous two unsuccessful Broadway musicals. While touring with his parents and sister, Cohan became captivated with the stories of the American jockey Tod Slaon who had gone to England to ride in the Derby. Cohan, always displeased that Broadway musicals at the time were European based, jumped at the opportunity to turn Slaon s story into a real American musical. Under a siege of inspiration, Cohan quickly wrote the musical during the summer of 1904 in anticipation of a Broadway opening that fall. He wrote roles from himself, his father, mother and sister, and wrote a special love interest role for his wife Ethel. As with his previous musicals, it was a family affair. Once finished, he took the musical to Sam Harris who agreed to come on board as co-producer thus starting a long and profitable partnership between them. After rehearsing in New York for four weeks, the musical was tried out at Hartford, Connecticut in October, 1904 where Cohan fine tuned the book and score. The musical opened on Broadway at the Liberty Theatre on November 7, The critics were not kind to it citing the lame jokes and criticizing the Americanism of it. It ran for only 52 performances. Cohan was not discouraged knowing that the musical was a crowd pleaser. He toured it exhaustively during 1905 and returned for another Broadway run which was successful its second time around. Cohan and Harris continued to tour the play for the next two years and ended the tour once again on Broadway. Today it is considered the first American musical and gave Cohan two of his biggest hits, Give My Regards to Broadway and The Yankee Doodle Boy. 4

5 CAST OF CHARACTERS Starter, of the Cecil Hotel Henry Hapgood Timothy D. Mcgee, an American Politician Anthony Anstey, an American Gambler Bell Boy Florabelle Fly, Reporter of the Frisco Searcher Waiter Goldie Gates, an Heiress Mrs. Kenworth, Goldie s Aunt Whitney Wilson Sing Song, Editor of the Pekin Gazette Johnny Jones, the American Jockey Captain Squirvey, of the St. Hurrah Cabin Boy Inspector of Police Chung Fow The Earl of Bloomsbury Guide Newsboys Cabbies Girls from Hotel San Francisco Female Reformers Policemen Chinese Girls Soldiers SYNOPSIS OF SCENES ACT 1 Outside the Cecil Hotel, London ACT 2 Southampton Dock ACT 3 Chinatown, San Francisco 5

6 MUSICAL NUMBERS ACT 1 At the Cecil in London Town Starter They re All My Friends...McGee and Chorus My Little Madamoselle!.. Anstey and Goldie Op in Me Ansom.. Cabbies, Reformers Nesting in a New York Tree Florabelle Yankee Doodle Boy... Jones and Chorus ACT 2 Captain of a Ten Day Boat Captain and Chorus Good-Bye Flo.... Goldie and Chorus Good Old California.. Henry and Chorus I Never Met a Girl Like You Jones Give My Regards to Broadway... Jones and Chorus ACT 3 Life s a Funny Proposition After All.. Jones Finale..... Jones and Chorus 6

7 ACT 1 Outside the Cecil Hotel, London. As the curtain rises, music underscores. NEWSBOYS enter calling and selling newspapers. CABBIES, along with STARTER, enter. At the Cecil in London Town STARTER. You ve been to the Cecil in London town London town, London town Ev re American village clown Is bound to do the Cecil brown They re in the rotunda and up and down All around there, they re found You d think by their talk They were back in New York At the Cecil in London town If you want a tip on the derby I will tell you who s sure to win If you promise not to tell a bobby I will whisper the race is in Don t mind what the horse is Just throw down the dope and the guides And go out to the track with a stack And just back Any pony that Jonesy rides You ve been to the Cecil in London town London town, London town Ev re American village clown Is bound to do the Cecil brown They re in the rotunda and up and down All around there, they re found You d think by their talk They were back in New York At the Cecil in London town STARTER. (Calling.) Here, here, keep to the left. Keep to the left. (Sarcastically.) Drives his cab to the right like a blooming Yankee. (Enter HENRY HAPGOOD from hotel. He crosses to STARTER.) 7

8 HENRY. Good morning, starter. STARTER. A ripping nice morning, yes sir. HENRY. Fine day for the derby. STARTER. Yes indeed, sir. HENRY. (Looking up at decorations.) Tell me, what are these decorations for? STARTER. Decorations, haven t you heard? Sing Song, the great Chinese newspaper man here to see the Derby. They do say the Emperor sent him. Four of the Emperor s wards are with him, sir. HENRY. Emperor s wards! STARTER. Sure. Chinese women my word, they are a sight. HENRY. Are there many Americans here? STARTER. All sorts and sizes, sir. HENRY. Notice any uncommon, extraordinary, I might say suspicious ones among them? STARTER. Say, where are you from? Scotland Yards? HENRY. (Laughing.) Why? STARTER. You talk like a blooming inspector. Something up, is there? HENRY. (Hesitatingly.) Why no but STARTER. (Holding out hand.) Something you want to know, sir? HENRY. There you are again. Well, here. (Slips him tip.) Is there a Mrs. Kenworth here? STARTER. Mrs. Kenworth, oh, yes, sir. She s been here for several days, sir. HENRY. Who s with her? STARTER. A lot of young females, sir. Some sort of a reforming society, I understand. They look like Salvation Army folks to me, sir. (GIRLS enter from hotel, turn and look up at the balcony, and discover the SAN FRANCISCO FEMALE REFORMERS. The GIRLS point and laugh at them.) STARTER. There they are, sir. Them is them, sir. 1ST GIRL. Do you know who they are? GIRLS. No. 8

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