Denman Thompson
Denman Thompson | |
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| Born | October 15, 1833 |
| Died | April 14, 1911 (aged 77) |
| Occupation(s) | Playwright and actor |
| Known for | The Old Homestead |
| Spouse | Maria Bolton |
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Henry Denman Thompson (October 15, 1833 – April 14, 1911) was an American playwright and theatre actor.
Biography
Rufus Thompson, a carpenter, and his wife Anne Hathaway Baxter moved in 1831 from
Thompson returned to Toronto that fall, then moved to his native
Thompson toured with the play throughout the United States, debuted with it on
The full arc of Denman Thompson’s career and The Old Homestead is told in Howard Mansfield’s book, Turn & Jump: How Time and Place Fell Apart. (Down East Books/Rowman & Littlefield, 2010).[3] This is the only thorough, contemporary account of Thompson and his play.
“In 1887 The Old Homestead was the hottest ticket in New York,” writes Howard Mansfield in Turn & Jump.[4] “The play ran for more than 25 years touring the country, becoming the "greatest popular success of the American stage." From a time before homes were lit by electricity until the time when airplanes were a country fair attraction, Denman Thompson was playing Uncle Josh Whitcomb to packed theaters. Thompson had added a new character to the folklore. Uncle Josh joined Rip Van Winkle, Davey Crockett, and other outsized 19th Century heroes. Uncle Josh was outsized for his wisdom of staying put. He was the maximum country mouse. ‘Dear Old Joshua is the very embodiment of honesty and rural simplicity,’ says his friend in the play.
“Thompson made millions of dollars. Uncle Josh appeared in the earliest Edison movies, and his stories were recorded on phonograph cylinders. He advertised Ivory soap. There was even a ‘Josh Whitcomb’ brand cigar. (‘As good as the play.’)”
Denman Thompson died when aged 77 at his home in West Swanzey; he was survived by two daughters and a son.
See also
Thompson's The Old Homestead was the basis for three films:
- The Old Homestead (1915 film), directed by James Kirkwood Sr.
- The Old Homestead (1922 film), directed by James Cruze
- The Old Homestead (1935 film), directed by William Nigh
References
- ^ a b c Brady, James Jay (1888). The Life of Denman Thompson (Joshua Whitcomb). New York, New York: McFarland & Comstock. pp. 17–30.
Henry Denman Thompson.
- ^ Connecting Capron Cousins -- Thompson Genealogy Archived October 26, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Howard Mansfield". Howard Mansfield. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ Turn and Jump: How Time and Place Fell Apart.
- ^ "Denman Thompson Dead in His Swanzey Home". Brooklyn Eagle. April 14, 1911. p. 3. Retrieved February 4, 2024 – via newspapers.com.
- ^ "List of Markers by Marker Number" (PDF). nh.gov. New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources. November 2, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
External links
Media related to Denman Thompson at Wikimedia Commons- Denman Thompson at the Internet Broadway Database
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