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=John L. Golden=

John L. Golden (June 27, 1874 – June 17, 1955) was a Broadway theatre producer, author, songwriter, reporter, theater owner, actor, and prominent member of the New York theatre scene up until his death. During his career he produced over 150 plays and musicals.

Early Life
Though born in New York, Golden spent much of his early life in Wauseon, Ohio, only returning to New York when he was fourteen years old. He studied briefly at the New York University School of Law and worked a series of jobs before entering theater, including 13 years at a chemical manufacturing firm and as a reporter.

Broadway Career
John Golden Theatre

Golden produced his first show Turn to the Right in 1916, which brought him tremendous success. A later play Golden produced, Lightnin' (1918) broke the record for longest running show at that time with 1,291 performances

Golden was a charter member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers(commonly known as ASCAP), a director from 1914 to 1915 and the organization's first treasurer. He was also a "Shepherd" of the theatrical fraternity the Lambs Club from 1942 to 1944.

Golden was an active statesmen during the first and second World Wars bringing the war effort together with theater, including creating a free ticket service for servicemen. He also founded both the Stage Relief Fund and the Stage Door Canteen. After the fighting had concluded, Golden worked with Robert Russell Bennett writing the lyrics and composing the music, respectively, to the United Nations All Faith Prayer for Peace.

Life in Bayside
Golden worked until his death by a heart attack on June 17, 1955, in Bayside, New York.

Works
songwriter "Poor Butterfly", "Goodbye Girls, I'm Through", "Willie Off the Yacht", "I'm Growing Fond of You", "Your Heart Looked Into Mine", "I Can Dance With Everybody but My Wife", and "You Can't Play Every Instrument in the Band"

composed scores for "The Candy Shop", "Over the River", "Hip, Hip, Hooray!", "The Big Show", "Cheer Up", and "Everything"

produced plays "Susan and God", "Turn to the Right", "Three Wise Fools", "Lightnin'", "The First Year", "Seventh Heaven", "Counselor-at-Law", "When Ladies Meet", "As Husbands Go", "Let Us Be Gay", "Claudia" and "Skylark"