Career
He is best known for his monologues about his fictional friend Casey. He was also a prizefighter. Notable stage appearances
Broadway appearances
Nell-Go-In, October 31, 1900 – November 17, 1900
The Supper Club, December 23, 1901 – January 25, 1902, roles: Boss Thomas, Master of Ceremonies
The Water Rats, a British entertainment charity, helped him with his expenses and with securing travel back to the United States.
When the Vaudeville Managers Association (VMA) formed in 1900, and began demanding a 5% kickback from all performers in exchange for steady bookings, Golden called on his experience with the Water Rats to form the White Rats as a labor union for performers.
The White Rats attempted to negotiate with the VMA, led by East.F. Albee and B.F. Keith, to reduce or remove the kickback. After negotiations failed, the White Rats called a strike in February 1901.
Vaudeville performers all over the United States refused to work. Many claimed they were sick.
The Western States branch of the VMA gave in to the union"s demands, and the Eastern branch went without vaudeville for two weeks.
Some theaters shut down completely, others booked replacement acts. Albee and Keith also agreed to go on the record in the press as being against the 5% commission if the strike was called off, and they did southern As a result, the strike was called off, and performers began to sign contracts with the VMA again in order to secure valuable long-term performing contracts.
Golden wrote a book about the White Rats, My Lady Vaudeville and her White Rats, which was published in 1909 by the Broadway Publishing Company.
The White Rats received a charter from the American Federation of Labor in 1910. However, the union was unable to manage funds efficiently, and lost members because many performers did not want to pay dues to the union in addition to paying the vaudeville managers.
Golden died of tuberculosis on February 17, 1912.