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On at 3:19, 19 minutes with 10 minutes opening in 1. I am pretty sure nobody ever got a greater reception than Mr. Thompson when he appeared on the stage this afternoon. It was nothing short of a demonstration, and coming as it did after Tovato’s wonderful success, makes it all the more remarkable. “Joshua Whitcomb” the old sketch in which he is appearing, is a blending of humor and pathos but there is no doubt that at this day Mr. Thompson lifts it very much out of the ordinary. For a first appearance, the entire company did remarkably well, and held the interest every minute, while the comedy of Mr. Thompson never failed to get laughs. The second scene shows a garret with moonlight over the housetops seen through the windows, and is very effective. The finish, in which “Joshua Whitcomb” throw the tramp through the window, down through a skylight, was a scream and the applause kept up for some minutes, Mr. Thompson finally coming before the curtain and taking several bows. There is no doubt of the drawing power of the feature. Today the house sold out and there certainly has never been more enthusiasm over anybody who has appeared here.
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University of Iowa, Keith-Albee Vaudeville Collection, Manager Reports, 25 October 1909-30 May 1910