John Golden was schooled at New York University and tried his hand at acting and newspaper writing before settling into a career on Broadway. He began by writing music and lyrics in 1901 and is noted as the lyricist for the jazz standard “Poor Butterfly” composed by Raymond Hubbell in 1916. The song also became popular in its Spanish translation, “Pobre Mariposa.”

But in 1919 Golden turned to producing and by 1955 had almost 50 shows to his credit, including comedies and dramas. His 1932 production of When Ladies Meet not only enjoyed a revival on Broadway but was twice made into a movie. The 1933 version of the romantic comedy starred Ann Harding, Robert Montgomery, Myrna Loy, and Frank Morgan and was nominated for a Best Art Direction Oscar. The 1941 film starred Joan Crawford, Greer Garson, Robert Taylor, and Herbert Marshall. Golden’s 1937 production of Susan and God was also made into a movie in 1940 starring Crawford and directed by George Cukor.

Golden wrote his autobiography Stagestruck and was active in the theater into the ‘50s. He handled the advertising for the musical comedy Fanny which opened on Broadway in 1954 and produced his last show, Seventh Heaven, in 1955 just months before his death.

Golden is also credited with founding the Stage Relief Fund and Stage Door Canteen.

- Sandra Burlingame