IN THE LATE 1940s,
when I was growing up in the Shoals of Alabama, my hometown was, in
reality, Sheffield and Tuscumbia. At that time Muscle Shoals was not a
town in itself, but was more just an extension of Sheffield. So while I
lived in Sheffield and Muscle Shoals, I spent much time in Tuscumbia,
which was where most of my maternal family members lived.
That is why I usually say that I grew up in the Shoals of Alabama.
Florence was the larger of the Tri-Cities and, at that time, considered
Sheffield's rival. But I have to give credit where credit is due,
Florence had a lot of pretty girls. Hmmm? Wonder if that is why the
boys of Florence were so protective of their side of the Tennessee
River?
And all this is leading up to my time in the late 1940s when as a young
boy, and during World War 2, I did often go to the movies. In Sheffield
we had the Ritz Theater and the Shoals Theater. The Ritz was the older
and its decor, to me, had more an early 20th century look - while the
Colbert Theater was more modern, 1950s modern.
Since the Ritz was older
and sat on a side street, it attracted more of a "we watch our budget"
audience showing double features movies - mostly older movies and
westerns. The Colbert showed the latest movies, musicals (very popular
in the 1940s/50s), and newer released movies.
Why the long introduction? It is to tell you about an amazing "as close as Hollywood can be true" musical about The Four Cohans, a late 19th-century American vaudeville family act that brought 20th-century Broadway legend George M. Cohan to show business. They were Jeremiah (father), Helen (mother), Josephine (older sister), and George Michael Cohan, only 8 years old when he began to tour and perform with them.
George eventually left the family act to become a famous composer, producer, playwright, and performer
on Broadway. America had been drawn into World War 1 in spite of
Democrat President Woodrow Wilson's campaign promise to keep America out
of the war.
George M. Cohan gave us American theater patriotism in the early 20th century, with musical hits like "Over There" - "You're a Grand Old Flag" - and "The Yankee Doodle Boy," bringing patriotic musicals to Broadway. America did not want
to be in WW1 and Cohan's songs and musicals were instrumental in
keeping the patriotic spirit of America alive until our boys would come
home for good. This led to Cohan becoming the first theatrical artist
to receive a Congressional Medal
God bless you and your family,
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