From Broadway To 52nd Street
The Girl From Utah, a British import to Broadway, opened at the Knickerbocker Theater on August 24, 1914 and ran for 120 performances. J. A. E. Malone directed this musical that starred Julia Sanderson, Donald Brian, Joseph Cawthorn, Queenie Vassar and Venita Fitzhugh. Composer Jerome Kern was asked to give it an American flavor and along with lyricist Herbert Reynolds they composed “They Didn’t Believe Me”. History contends that this was Kern’s career-making opportunity to express himself and this musical would hint at the emerging American style of musical comedy.
The Story: In London, an American girl named Una is pursued across the Atlantic Ocean to London by a Mormon but is saved from a bigamous marriage when she falls in love with a handsome hoofer.
Broadway History: It was during 19th century that the development of not only the American theatre took place throughout the country but the all powerful “Syndicate” – the cartel of theatre owners who joined forces under the influence of one of Broadway’s early great producers, Abraham Lincoln Erlanger. One of the great stars of theatre in the early twentieth century was George M. Cohan. Rising through the ranks of vaudeville from a child star to adulthood, he flaunted his patriotism not for those born in America but those immigrating to this great country to become citizens and patriots. Cohan epitomized the sense of the country by self-proclaiming himself as a real live nephew of Uncle Sam.
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