This week, Ira Sternberg spoke with John Thompson (The Great Tomsoni).
John Thompson is a versatile performer with a background of music, magic, comedy and drama. Thompson (The Great Tomsoni) got his start in show business as a musician and musical arranger. He has toured and recorded with “Jerry Murad's Harmonicats,” “The Harmonica Gang”and “The Harmonica Jazz Quartet.”
Thompson later joined forces with a comedy team with whom he coauthored and co-performed three record-breaking revues for the New York and Chicago Playboy Clubs. It was during this period that he developed his successful comedy magic act, “The Great Tomsoni.” Thompson continued his comedy magic career in Nevada casino venues as a supporting act for such stars as Carol Channing, Eddie Fisher and Ed Ames, the Pointer Sisters, Jose Feliciano, Robert Goulet, Brenda Lee, B.J. Thomas, Vic Damone, and Diahann Carroll.
When wife and partner Pamela Hayes, actress and comedienne, joined the act, the billing became “The Great Tomsoni and Company.” The Great Tomsoni and Company have been the recipients of many awards: Stage Magician of the Year; Society of American Magician's “Superstar of Magic” award; Academy of Magical Arts' highest award; the “Performing Fellowship”; Prince Rainer's “Prix S.B.M.”; and Magiques de Monte Carlo, Europe's most prestigious magic award.