Harry Schaare (New York, Arizona, 1922 - 2008) "You're a Grand Old Flag" Signed lower right. Original Oil painting on Masonite. Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation. You're a grand old flag / you're a high-flying flag / and forever in peace may you wave / You're the emblem of / the land I love / the home of the free and the brave." Perhaps no other song captures the joyful spirit of patriotism in America than the opening lines of George M. Cohan's famous song, You're a Grand Old Flag. Known as the "Father of American Musical Comedy" Cohan was born on July 3, 1878, in Providence, Rhode Island, and grew up in a show-biz family. His parents were traveling vaudevillians and when George and his sister Josephine joined the act, the family became known as "The Four Cohans." By age 13, he was writing songs and lyrics for the act. Cohan soon became the starring actor and was also selling original songs to other vaudeville performers. By the age of 20, he was managing the family's business and had complete control of the act. He later turned his attention to Broadway and composed his first musical in 1902 called The Governor's Son. He formed a partnership with Sam Harris and their show Little Johnny Jones opened on Broadway and became a huge hit featuring Cohan's popular songs The Yankee Doodle Boy and Give My Regards to Broadway. But perhaps his most memorable contribution to musical theater was his 1906 hit show, George Washington, Jr. Audiences thrilled to spectacular patriotic musical numbers, and cheered as Cohan marched up and down the stage carrying the American flag while singing You're a Grand Old Flag. Image Size: 17.5 x 14 in. Overall Size: 18 x 15 in. Unframed. (B05162) See More