Talk:Joseph A. Golden

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Italian Wikipedia entry[edit]

Here is Italian Wikipedia's entry on him. FloridaArmy (talk) 10:56, 19 September 2021 (UTC)[reply]

biography and conflations[edit]

(Cross-posted/modified from WT:FILM): This subject is suffering from a lack of reliable sources, and apparent conflation/incorrect info on IMDB (unreliable) and other databases and mirrors of IMDB. His IMDB profile previously (as of 2015) gave his lifespan as c. 1897 - 8 July 1942, which is implausible if he began directing films in 1907 and looked like this in 1909. IMDB has currently omitted the birth year, and simply gives a death dat of 8 July 1942. However, IMDB apparently has historically and currently conflated Joseph A. Golden with Robert A. Golden (Q114033627) (IMDB), who verifiably did die in Hollywood 8 July 1942 (choked to death on a piece of steak). Find a Grave (less credible than IMDB) also conflates the two Goldens. So basically, the vital dates and location of birth and death of Joseph A. Golden are open questions needing reliable sourcing. I've found some tantalizing scraps and hints and primary records (many unreliable or promotional), but hopefully more corroborating/significant info could be found by someone with access to newspaper archives (especially New York newspapers). Here's what I've found or suspect so far:

Joseph A. Golden was born in or near Washington, D.C.^[1]
If a 1909 advertisement is to be believed, he entered the theatrical business circa 1887, under Dion Boucicault, later was a stage manager to Charles Frohman. ^[2]
In addition to screenwriting and film directing he was also a playwright and theatrical director.^[3]
He lived in New York City.
In 1922 he married Erna Margaret Weiss, daughter of Dr. Joseph Weiss of Zurich.^[4]^[5]^[6]
His original name may have been Joseph A. Goldstein, as parents are named Simon and Rosa Goldstein on his marriage certificate^[6] and in 1910 a New York name change was granted from a certain Joseph A. Goldstein to Joseph A. Golden.^[7] The name Joseph A. Goldstein appears in the household of Simon and Rosa Goldstein in New York City census records in 1880 and 1900, and as an amateur Brooklyn actor in 1903.
He was born circa 1866, per his marriage certificate.^[6]
His middle name may have been Aron or Aaron, as suggested by this (unverified) signature and copyright records.^[8]
Note: In 1950 the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported the death of a Joseph A. Golden, former vaudeville comedian, but the obit does not mention film directing/writing, and spouse and family does not match other info, so I believe it is a different person.

Much of this can't be added for now, as it would likely be WP:OR or misuse of primary/questionable sources to assert they are all truly the same person (the risk of building a Frankesnstein exists in the absence of more conclusive sources). That's about all the vital info I can find, discounting routine film magazine chatter and newspaper listing of roles or films in the middle of his career. I don't have New York Times or Newspaper.com access. Hopefully there are some more nuggets out there that can more solidly tie these strings together. Even if sources aren't WP:RS for Wikipedia, they might be added to Wikidata for the time being to help counter/correct years of misinformation. --Animalparty! (talk) 21:28, 18 September 2022 (UTC)[reply]

References

^ Motion Picture Studio Directory and Trade Annual. Motion Picture News. 1916. b. Wash., D. C.; educ. Wash.; stage career, public reader, Monroe Players, Frohman and other prods., and various stock cos.; screen career, Centaur, Biograph, Selig, Powers, Famous Players ("Monte Cristo"), Crystal, of which he is Pres. and director of prods.
^ "This is the Man that Writes the Plays the Makes the Name of CENTAUR Famous (advertisement)". Moving Picture World: 209. August 7, 1909. Twenty-two years ago, under Dion Boucicault, he became initiated in this profession, and has since played every kind of character, young and old, and of every nationality. For years he served as stage manager to Charles Frohman... and was for many years the stage director and manager of Stock Companies and other large productions.
^ New York Court of Appeals. Records and Briefs. 1916. p. 89. Q. Mr. Golden, what is your business? A. I am a playwright and director of plays. I am also the president and treasurer of the Crystal Film Company.
^ "Wed to Playwright: Miss Erna M. Weiss Becomes Bride of Mr. J. A. Golden". The New York Herald. 11 January 1922. p. 10. Miss Erna Margaret Weiss, daughter of Dr. Joseph Weiss of Zurich. Switzerland, was married to Mr. Joseph A. Golden, a playwright, yesterday, in Delmonlco's by Judge Aaron J. Levy. The maid of honor was Miss Edna Sylvia Garden. The best man was Dr. Frank Joseph Edelstein. Mrs. and Mrs. Golden will sail for Europe by the Rohambeau Saturday. After May 1 they will live at 55 West Seventy-fourth street.
^ "Social Events". The American Hebrew. January 13, 1922. p. 273.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Joseph Golden and Erna Weiss, 1922. New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938". FamilySearch. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
^ "Names changed by court". Laws of the State of New York: Passed at the Session of the Legislature. New York State Legislature. 1910. p. 148.
^ Catalog of Copyright Entries. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1921. p. 1383. At Midnight: a play in 1 act by J. A. Golden... Joseph Aron Golden, New York

[1] Motion Picture Studio Directory and Trade Annual. Motion Picture News. 1916. b. Wash., D. C.; educ. Wash.; stage career, public reader, Monroe Players, Frohman and other prods., and various stock cos.; screen career, Centaur, Biograph, Selig, Powers, Famous Players ("Monte Cristo"), Crystal, of which he is Pres. and director of prods.

[2] "This is the Man that Writes the Plays the Makes the Name of CENTAUR Famous (advertisement)". Moving Picture World: 209. August 7, 1909. Twenty-two years ago, under Dion Boucicault, he became initiated in this profession, and has since played every kind of character, young and old, and of every nationality. For years he served as stage manager to Charles Frohman... and was for many years the stage director and manager of Stock Companies and other large productions.

[3] New York Court of Appeals. Records and Briefs. 1916. p. 89. Q. Mr. Golden, what is your business? A. I am a playwright and director of plays. I am also the president and treasurer of the Crystal Film Company.

[4] "Wed to Playwright: Miss Erna M. Weiss Becomes Bride of Mr. J. A. Golden". The New York Herald. 11 January 1922. p. 10. Miss Erna Margaret Weiss, daughter of Dr. Joseph Weiss of Zurich. Switzerland, was married to Mr. Joseph A. Golden, a playwright, yesterday, in Delmonlco's by Judge Aaron J. Levy. The maid of honor was Miss Edna Sylvia Garden. The best man was Dr. Frank Joseph Edelstein. Mrs. and Mrs. Golden will sail for Europe by the Rohambeau Saturday. After May 1 they will live at 55 West Seventy-fourth street.

[5] "Social Events". The American Hebrew. January 13, 1922. p. 273.

[Golden-Weiss-6] "Joseph Golden and Erna Weiss, 1922. New York, New York City Marriage Records, 1829-1938". FamilySearch. Retrieved 18 September 2022.

[7] "Names changed by court". Laws of the State of New York: Passed at the Session of the Legislature. New York State Legislature. 1910. p. 148.

[8] Catalog of Copyright Entries. U.S. Government Printing Office. 1921. p. 1383. At Midnight: a play in 1 act by J. A. Golden... Joseph Aron Golden, New York

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