GOLDEN, JOHN

GOLDEN, JOHN (1874–1955), U.S. songwriter and theatrical producer. Born in New York City, Golden was educated at New York University. He began songwriting in collaboration with   Irving Berlin, Oscar Hammerstein, and Douglas Fairbanks. The songs that brought him the most fame and money were "Poor Butterfly" and "Goodbye Girls, I'm Through." In 1914 he and Winchell Smith went into partnership as play producers, made a hit with Turn to the Right (1916) and again with Lightnin', which ran for 1291 performances on Broadway. He was a charter member of ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers) and its director in 1914–15, as well as the organization's first treasurer. Golden subsequently produced more than a hundred plays. Some of his Broadway productions included Susan and God, Turn to the Right, Three Wise Fools, The First Year, Seventh Heaven, Counselor-at-Law, When Ladies Meet, As Husbands Go, Let Us Be Gay, Claudia, Skylark, The Male Animal, and They Knew What They Wanted. As a composer, he wrote the scores for the Broadway shows The Candy Shop; Over the River; Hip, Hip, Hooray; The Big Show; Cheer Up; and Everything. In 1943 he conducted a play competition in the U.S. Army and presented the five winners as "The Army Play by Play." He was also the founder of the Stage Door Canteen and the Stage Relief Fund. The U.S. Army gave him the highest civilian decoration for distinguished service. His will established a fund for the advancement of playwriting, The John Golden Fund Inc. The intimate, 80-seat John Golden Theater on Broadway was named in his honor. (Ruth Beloff (2nd ed.)