George Fuller Golden
Encyclopedia
George Fuller Golden was a popular vaudeville
entertainer at the beginning of the 20th century. He is best known for his monologues about his fictional friend Casey. He was also a prizefighter
. He was the founder of the White Rats
, a labor union for vaudeville performers.
, 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 E.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. Keith and Albee called a meeting with the White Rats in which they claimed they themselves had been against the 5% commission, and would ask the other members of the VMA to remove it. 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 so. 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.
Olive Fuller Golden was born in New York on January 31, 1896. She became a film actor and married fellow performer Harry Carey in 1916. She went on to star in movies and television shows under her married name, Olive Carey
. She died on March 13, 1988 in California.
Ruth Fuller Golden was born May 19, 1901, in New York and was a film actor in 1919 and 1920. She died on August 15, 1931 in California.
Mignonne Golden was born on February 27, 1904, in London. She also became a film actor for a few years in the 1920s. She died in New York on September 22, 1997.
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
entertainer at the beginning of the 20th century. He is best known for his monologues about his fictional friend Casey. He was also a prizefighter
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. He was the founder of the White Rats
The White Rats
The White Rats was an organization formed by vaudeville performers, led by George Fuller Golden, as a labor union to support the rights of performers...
, a labor union for vaudeville performers.
Notable stage appearances
Broadway appearances- Nell-Go-In, Oct 31, 1900 - Nov 17, 1900
- The Supper Club, Dec 23, 1901 - Jan 25, 1902, roles: Boss Thomas, Master of Ceremonies
Formation of White Rats
Golden was performing in London in 1899 when his wife became sick and he was unable to work. The Water RatsGrand Order of Water Rats
The Grand Order of Water Rats is an entertainment industry charity, and brotherhood, based in London. The Water Rats were founded in 1889 by comedian Joe Elvin. The first King Rat, as the head of the charity is termed, was music hall singer Harry Freeman. Comedian Dan Leno joined in 1890 and was...
, 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 E.F. Albee
Edward Franklin Albee II
Edward Franklin Albee II was a vaudeville impresario, and the adoptive grandfather of Edward Franklin Albee III, the playwright.-Biography:He was born on October 8, 1857 in Machias, Maine to Nathaniel Smith Albee....
and B.F. Keith
Benjamin Franklin Keith
Benjamin Franklin Keith was an American vaudeville theatre owner, highly influential in the evolution of variety theater into vaudeville.-Early years:...
, 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. Keith and Albee called a meeting with the White Rats in which they claimed they themselves had been against the 5% commission, and would ask the other members of the VMA to remove it. 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 so. 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
American Federation of Labor
The American Federation of Labor was one of the first federations of labor unions in the United States. It was founded in 1886 by an alliance of craft unions disaffected from the Knights of Labor, a national labor association. Samuel Gompers was elected president of the Federation at its...
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.
Personal life
Golden had three daughters.Olive Fuller Golden was born in New York on January 31, 1896. She became a film actor and married fellow performer Harry Carey in 1916. She went on to star in movies and television shows under her married name, Olive Carey
Olive Carey
Olive Carey was an American film and television actress.Born as Olive Fuller Golden in New York City, she appeared in more than fifty films, mostly westerns, including Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, often playing tough tom-boy parts. In 1920, she wed actor Harry Carey, Sr., with whom she remained...
. She died on March 13, 1988 in California.
Ruth Fuller Golden was born May 19, 1901, in New York and was a film actor in 1919 and 1920. She died on August 15, 1931 in California.
Mignonne Golden was born on February 27, 1904, in London. She also became a film actor for a few years in the 1920s. She died in New York on September 22, 1997.