In June -July 1936, the film was shown as part of an exhibit of Edison "Kinetophone" equipment and exhibition materials at the New York Museum of Science and Industry in the RCA building in New York City, being described at the time as "the first talking picture made." (New York Sun, 26 June 1936)
This is probably the earliest extant straight comedy film, so maybe of all the comic character actors of Hollywood's golden age, Arthur Houseman turns out to be the first talkie comedian.
This film, and several other Kinetophone titles restored by the Library of Congress made it's modern debut at Capitolfest, Rome, New York on 14 August 2016.
With the rediscovery of several Kinetephone films, it should establish that of all the great performers to follow, lesser comedian/character actor Arthur Houseman was the first talkie film comedian, a claim I'm sure it never occurred to anyone to make before.