Forty-five Minutes from Broadway

Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway is a three-act musical by George M. Cohan written about New Rochelle, New York. The title refers to the 45-minute train ride from New Rochelle to Broadway.

Forty-Five Minutes From Broadway
Sheet music cover for "Mary's a Grand Old Name" noting the 1920 film based on the play
Music	George M. Cohan
Lyrics	George M. Cohan
Book	George M. Cohan
Productions	1906 Broadway

The musical debuted on January 1, 1906 at the New Amsterdam Theatre on Broadway and ran for 90 performances before closing on March 17. The role of Mary Jane Jenkins was created by Fay Templeton and Kid Burns was played by Victor Moore. Frederick Solomon was music director for the production. The musical re-opened later the same year, on November 5, at the New York Theatre with the cast almost unchanged. It played there for an additional 32 performances before closing on December 1. Its only Broadway revival after that was from March 14 to April 13, 1912 at George M. Cohan's Theatre, where it ran for 36 performances with a different cast.

The piece is remembered for several songs, such as its title song, "Forty-five Minutes from Broadway", originally sung by Moore, and for tunes about its leading lady character, "Mary Is a Grand Old Name" and "So Long Mary", both sung in the original production by Templeton, which were performed in recreations of the original stage play within the 1942 film Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Lyrics excerpts

Forty-five Minutes from Broadway

Only forty-five minutes from Broadway

Think of the changes it brings

For the short time it takes

What a diff'rence it makes

In the ways of the people and things

Oh, what a fine bunch of reubens

Oh, what a jay atmosphere

They have whiskers like hay

And imagine Broadway

Only forty-five minutes from here

External links

• Billy Murray sings "Forty-Five Minutes from Broadway
• ​Forty-five Minutes from Broadway​ at the Internet Broadway Database