Photo Postcard of Miss Ethel Levey in 'Little Jonny Jones'

Book Description

Original Photo Postcard of Miss Ethel Levey in George M. Cohan’s musical "Little Jonny Jones."LEVEY, Ethel. Photo postcard, circa 1904, measures 3 inches x 6 inches. Black and white photograph captioned “Miss Ethel Levey in ‘Little Jonny Jones.’” Lightly aged with lower right corner torn but present, otherwise Very Good Condition.Ethel Levey (1881-1955) was a vivacious eighteen year old singer and actress from San Francisco when she married the multi-talented George M. Cohan in 1899. The young Jewish girl proved a great asset to the family entertainment business of “The Four Cohans” (mother Helen, father Jerry, son George and daughter Josephine) and was soon starring in plays that George had written especially with her in mind.“Little Jonny Jones” premiered at the Liberty Theatre in New York City on November 7, 1904. The musical comedy was an instantaneous hit for George Cohan who had written the script and songs, played the leading man, and served also as the producer and director. The play has a plot twist that forces the ingénue Goldie Gates (performed by Ethel) to spend some time impersonating a young man. This charming sepia toned postcard features Ethel in a three piece man’s suit complete with bowtie and monocle. It is hand decorated with a glitter trim outlining the suit and creating sparkling colored “buttons”.“Little Jonny Jones” presented the songs I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy and Give My Regards to Broadway to the world for the first time.Although Ethel and George, after having one child together, divorced in 1907 she continued to have a stage career and performed in films until the early 1940s.A rare rascal of musical theatre history.

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