New-York tribune., 1920-07-01
Cohan & Harris
Firm Leaves Trail
OF Stage Successes
Producers Thrived Since
1908; Reason for Ending
Partnership a Mystery;
Berlin May Join Harris

The passing out Of existence ycster-
day Of the firm Of Cohan & Harris
recalls to the minds Of men and women
who have followed the theatrical busi-
ness along Broadway for the last
twenty years or more many of the
most successful. productions, both mu-
sical and comedy, which were the re-
suits Of the efforts Of one of these
two men or both of them.
When George M. Cohan shook hands
with Sam H. Harris and wished him
good luck" there ended a partnership
in the business of makc-b believe prob
ably never excelled in theatrical his
tory for it's ability consistently to turn
out plays from year to year, each sue
cecding season appearing to outdo its
predecessor in every department of the
work, artistically, musically and tech
nically.
The beginning of the picturesque
chapter having to do with the partner
ship of Mr.. Cohan and Mr.. Harris dates
back to the spring of 1908, when the
two men, each of whom had acquired
country wide reputation among the
atrical people, decided to join hands.
With Cohan, actor, song writer and
singer, liked by everybody on the stage
who knew him. and Harris, who knew
the stage we'll and who knew the busi-
ness part of the profession from be-
g'nnlng gn'r; aga to s' end the the parttnersship tt
stars of their day were engaged and
placed in productions written or ar
ranged by them.
1t was shortly afterward that Mr..
Cohan began turning out out such works
Son." George Washington Jr," "The
American Idea" "The Yankee Prince"
Get Rich Quick Wallingford," "On
Trial" "The House Of GLASS;" "a
Prince There Was" "Forty-tive Min
utes From Broadway" "The Miracle
pate" "Thc Acquittal" and "Three
Faces East"
Of course, these are only a few of
the more widely played pieces of the
firm of Cohan & Harris. Each of these
was great success, and from season
to season the firm handled many
equally important in financial way.
The real cause for the decision on
the part of the two men to end their
work together never has been told. 1t
is known that Mr. Cohan, in the actors
Strlkc year ago, became president or
an organization opposed to the Actors
Equity Association and dehed the
actors to win over him. This they
promptly challenged and did, and Mr..
Cohan later announced that to show
that he was fighting for the interests
of the actor he would soon leave his
firm. Whether this has had anything
to do with his present action is not
known. 1t is known, however, that his
defeat by the great majority of the
actors belonging to the Equity caused
him no little worry and embarrass-
ment.
1t was explained at the Cohan E.
Harris offices yesterday that the two
men are the best of friends and will
continue to carry on business in a
small way jointly, SO far as the the
aters they own and operate together
are concerned. Their future plans were
not made public, but it is presumed
that each will have his own Offices and
will continue to produce plays.
1t is rumored that Irving Berlin, the
song writer, will become a partner of
Mr.. Harris. This is unconfirmed.
MIR. Harris yesterday announced his