Mr. and Mrs. Cohan, I congratulate you! You have given the world a genius!
Hats off to Georgie Cohan!
It was while I was appearing at Ford's Theatre in Baltimore in 1911 that Georgie sent me a message which read as follows:—
"I am giving a supper in your honor next Wednesday night at Friars Club House. Wire me that you will be there."
Immediately I replied. This is what I wrote:—
"I am there now, my dear Hector, and will eat nothing until I meet you Wednesday at the Friars Club House. Have invited my audience to join me. He seems an awfully nice chap. Wishing you a Merry Christmas, but don't you dare wish me one, believe me always thine,
Ralph Goodwin."
Georgie insisted on addressing me as Mr. Goodwin for years after he had reached a star's zenith. When I asked him to drop the formality he said he simply could not do it. Thereupon I suggested we get around it. If he couldn't call me Nat maybe he wouldn't stick on Ralph. And I in turn have ever since dubbed him Hector—when we meet!