Down East comedian

Regarding humor, there are clear regional differences across the United States. For example, there is Southern humor, which, according to the Library of Southern Literature, is “boisterous and physical, often grotesque, and generally realistic.” As for Maine, there is Down East humor, of which its name can be traced to nautical terminology. Specifically, in the warm months, the winds along the coast of New England and Canada blow from the southwest, meaning ships sail downwind to go east. As such, the northeastern portions are said to be “Down East” in relation to cities such as Boston. Regarding the humor, it is usually dry with few words. For example, there is the typical exchange between a tourist and a local: “Lived here all your life?”

“Not yet.” In this regard, there was a Bangor-born man, who, before the turn of the century, was an American stage actor whose play helped create and na- tionalize the genre of Down East humor and made him one of the celebrated comedians of his generation.

Richard Golden was born in Bangor on July 6, 1854. The son of an Irish immigrant and dry goods merchant, he was not one to focus on school or assume that he would work in his father’s business. Instead, at the age of 13, he joined Allie’s Allied Shows, a Mexican-based circus touring the United States. In his mid-20s, he joined the Dora Wiley Opera Company and traveled the country performing operettas and comic operas. The leader was Dora Wiley, a renowned American soprano who performed operas and concerts in the United States, England, and Australia. Born in Bucksport, she earned

Over time, Wiley and Golden married and continued to tour, despite the ups and downs of the field. According to The New York Times (August 1885), “The Dora Wiley Opera Company was stranded in Albany, New York, and Richard Golden, the comedian and husband of Miss Wiley, was laid up with malaria. They had been presenting 10cent operas at the Pavilion for the past month.” However, the couple’s fortunes had turned by 1888, when Wiley was invited to sing “Home, Sweet, Home” in front of President Grover Cleveland at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. In the following year, Golden co-wrote (with William Gill) the play Old Jed Prouty, which premiered at the Union Square Theatre in New York on May 14, 1889 and moved to the Harlem Opera House later that year. Golden impressed audiences with his comedic portrayal of an old, cranky

Maine Yankee tavern owner living in the coastal town of Bucksport, Maine. Conveniently, Wiley had a prominent singing part in the production.

In 1890, due to its success and rave reviews, the play began touring nationally. Although Golden would take on roles in other plays, he would continually revive Old Jed Prouty over the course of his career. He ultimately played the role more than 3,000 times throughout the eastern half of the United States.

Approximately two years later, Golden’s lucky streak had ended. Wiley divorced Golden and married her much younger manager, after which they returned to Bangor. With Wiley gone, Golden shut down his play in 1893 and joined the Pauline Hall Opera Company at the Tremont Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. However, by 1895, Golden was broke. According to The New York Times (June 1895),

“Golden appeared in debtor’s court declaring that he had ‘not a cent in the world.’” In the following year, Golden was in the alcoholic’s ward at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.

During the turn of the century, Golden was either broke or he quickly revived Old Jed Prouty, most likely for some badly needed funds. Meanwhile, newspapers reported that he was either “critically ill in a hotel room” or drawing large, appreciative audiences in various comedic roles. Despite his misfortunes, Golden eventually turned things around and became one of the most celebrated stars of American comic opera. In 1908, he even took part in the London production of The Dollar Princess, a German light opera. According to the Los Angeles Herald (August 1909), “Richard Golden died suddenly on board the houseboat Stroller, in Gravesend Bay (New York), where he was the guest of John New- ton Porter. They were preparing to take a trip to Maine, when Golden became suddenly ill. Bright’s disease (i.e., inflammation of the kidneys, caused by toxins, infection, or autoimmune conditions) was the cause of death.” He was 55 years of age. He was subsequently buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Bangor.

Aside from his once-prominent stage career and being one of the most celebrated comedians of his generation, he was the namesake of the former Jed Prouty Tavern and Inn in downtown Bucksport. Converted into a tavern and inn around 1820, it once hosted Daniel Webster and Presidents Martin Van Buren and William Henry Harrison. However, it remained largely vacant in the late 20th century. However, perhaps as a fitting homage to the old, witty (or cranky) stage character of Jed Prouty, the historic building now stands as the Jed Prouty Assisted Living Center.