Richard Golden
Encyclopedia
Richard Golden was a noted comedy actor of the stage whose most famous role was "Old Jed Prouty" in his play of the same name. The play helped to create and nationalize the genre of Down East humor, and helped make Golden one of the more celebrated comedians of his generation.
Born in Bangor, Maine
the son of an Irish immigrant and dry goods merchant, Golden joined a Mexican circus (Allie's Allied Shows) touring the U.S. at the age of 13. He later married actor and singer, Dora Wiley
, and initially toured with her as a member of the "Dora Wiley Opera Company". The company became stranded in Albany, New York
in 1885 when it experienced financial difficulties and Golden contracted malaria. The couple's fortunes had turned by 1888 when Wiley sang "Home, Sweet, Home" in front of President Grover Cleveland
at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, and, the following year, Golden impressed audiences in New York, and soon the country, for his portrayal of Old Jed Prouty in his original play of the same name. Wiley had a singing part in the production, and came to be known as "The Sweet Singer of Maine".
Golden's "Old Jed Prouty", which he wrote with William Gill, premiered in New York's Union Square Theatre
on May 14, 1889, and moved to the Harlem Opera House later that same year. Prouty was a comedic Maine
yankee
tavern keeper living in the coastal town of Bucksport, the birth-place of his wife Dora Wiley and not far from Golden's own home-town of Bangor. The play began touring nationally in 1890 to rave reviews. Golden would go on to other plays and other parts, but would continually revive Prouty in the course of his career, ultimately playing it over 3,000 times in venues all over the eastern half of the U.S.
Wiley divorced Golden in 1892, married her (much younger) business manager, and returned to her home in Bangor
. With Dora gone, Golden shut down "Old Jed Prouty" by 1893 and joined the Pauline Hall Opera Company at the Tremont Theatre
in Boston. By 1895 Golden was broke, and appeared in debtor's court declaring he had "not a cent in the world". The following year (1894) found Golden in the alcoholic's ward at Bellevue Hospital, but by the end of the year he had returned to the stage with a revival of Jed Prouty. Through the rest of the 1890s newspapers alternately reported him "critically ill" (usually in a hotel room), and drawing huge and appreciative crowds in a variety of comic roles. By the end of the decade he was one of the most celebrated stars of American comic opera. Around 1908 he also took a part in the London production of "The Dollar Princess", a German light opera.
Golden died suddenly in 1909 on a friend's houseboat in Gravesend Bay, New York, while preparing to return to Maine. He is buried in Bangor's Mount Hope Cemetery
Golden's daughter Bernice also became a professional actress. She was seriously injured by a piece of falling scenery while playing in "The Greyhound" at the Astor Theatre
in New York, and could not work for several years, but returned to the stage in 1915, first in Chicago, and then in "Alice in Wonderland" at New York's Booth Theatre
An historic hotel in the town of Bucksport, Maine is named "The Jed Prouty Tavern" in honour of Golden's character. Golden himself briefly worked there as a clerk long before he'd become a professional actor, when the hotel was called The Robinson House.
Born in Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
the son of an Irish immigrant and dry goods merchant, Golden joined a Mexican circus (Allie's Allied Shows) touring the U.S. at the age of 13. He later married actor and singer, Dora Wiley
Dora Wiley
Dora Wiley was an American soprano who performed in operas and concerts in the United States, England, and Australia during the last three decades of the 19th century. Nicknamed "The Sweet Singer of Maine", her chief successes were in operettas and comic operas...
, and initially toured with her as a member of the "Dora Wiley Opera Company". The company became stranded in Albany, New York
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
in 1885 when it experienced financial difficulties and Golden contracted malaria. The couple's fortunes had turned by 1888 when Wiley sang "Home, Sweet, Home" in front of President Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland
Stephen Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Cleveland is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms and therefore is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents...
at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, and, the following year, Golden impressed audiences in New York, and soon the country, for his portrayal of Old Jed Prouty in his original play of the same name. Wiley had a singing part in the production, and came to be known as "The Sweet Singer of Maine".
Golden's "Old Jed Prouty", which he wrote with William Gill, premiered in New York's Union Square Theatre
Union Square Theatre
Union Square Theater is an Off-Broadway theatre, owned by Reading International, who also owns Reading Entertainment.- Productions :*Visiting Mr. Green by Jeff Baron*The Laramie Project by Moises Kaufman and the Members of the Tectonic Theater Project...
on May 14, 1889, and moved to the Harlem Opera House later that same year. Prouty was a comedic Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
yankee
Yankee
The term Yankee has several interrelated and often pejorative meanings, usually referring to people originating in the northeastern United States, or still more narrowly New England, where application of the term is largely restricted to descendants of the English settlers of the region.The...
tavern keeper living in the coastal town of Bucksport, the birth-place of his wife Dora Wiley and not far from Golden's own home-town of Bangor. The play began touring nationally in 1890 to rave reviews. Golden would go on to other plays and other parts, but would continually revive Prouty in the course of his career, ultimately playing it over 3,000 times in venues all over the eastern half of the U.S.
Wiley divorced Golden in 1892, married her (much younger) business manager, and returned to her home in Bangor
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
. With Dora gone, Golden shut down "Old Jed Prouty" by 1893 and joined the Pauline Hall Opera Company at the Tremont Theatre
Tremont Theatre, Boston
The Tremont Theatre on 88 Tremont Street was a playhouse in Boston. A group of wealthy Boston residents financed the building's construction. Architect Isaiah Rogers designed the original Theatre structure in 1827 in the Greek Revival style...
in Boston. By 1895 Golden was broke, and appeared in debtor's court declaring he had "not a cent in the world". The following year (1894) found Golden in the alcoholic's ward at Bellevue Hospital, but by the end of the year he had returned to the stage with a revival of Jed Prouty. Through the rest of the 1890s newspapers alternately reported him "critically ill" (usually in a hotel room), and drawing huge and appreciative crowds in a variety of comic roles. By the end of the decade he was one of the most celebrated stars of American comic opera. Around 1908 he also took a part in the London production of "The Dollar Princess", a German light opera.
Golden died suddenly in 1909 on a friend's houseboat in Gravesend Bay, New York, while preparing to return to Maine. He is buried in Bangor's Mount Hope Cemetery
Mount Hope Cemetery, Bangor
Mt. Hope Cemetery in Bangor, Maine is the second oldest garden cemetery in the United States. It was designed by architect Charles G. Bryant in 1834, the same year that Bangor was incorporated as a city, and likely modeled after Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts...
Golden's daughter Bernice also became a professional actress. She was seriously injured by a piece of falling scenery while playing in "The Greyhound" at the Astor Theatre
Astor Theatre
The Astor Theatre was a New York City Broadway theatre from 1906 to 1925 in the United States of America. It was located at 1537 Broadway, at W. 45th Street. It was first managed by Wagenhals and Kemper, then by George M. Cohan and Sam Harris, and later by the Shuberts. From 1925 to 1972 it was a...
in New York, and could not work for several years, but returned to the stage in 1915, first in Chicago, and then in "Alice in Wonderland" at New York's Booth Theatre
Booth Theatre
The Booth Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 222 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan, New York City.Architect Henry B. Herts designed the Booth and its companion Shubert Theatre as a back-to-back pair sharing a Venetian Renaissance-style façade...
An historic hotel in the town of Bucksport, Maine is named "The Jed Prouty Tavern" in honour of Golden's character. Golden himself briefly worked there as a clerk long before he'd become a professional actor, when the hotel was called The Robinson House.