| Olle i Skratthult |
| "Bondkomiker" Hjalmar Peterson 1886-1960 |
Carl Hjalmar Petersson was born February 7, 1886 in Munkfors, Värmland, Sweden to Johannes Petersson
and Kristina Karlsdotter. He was America's most beloved Swedish language performer. As the "rustic comic",
Olle i Skratthult, he performed songs, poems, and comic monologues in his native Värmland dialect. In 1917
he married Olga Lindgren, his leading lady on stage. They divorced in 1933 and he later married Mora Grace
Engebretson and they had a son and a daughter. His troupe's popularity reached its height in the mid-1920s.
Their program typically included folk comedies, songs, comic monologues, folk dances, and orchestral solos,
often followed by a "bal" (public dance). His 1917 recording of "Nikolina" sold well over 100,000 copies prior
to the great depression. In the latter years of his life he performed in the Twin Cities area for the Swedish
branch of the Salvation Army. He passed away June 24, 1960 in Minneapolis.
and Kristina Karlsdotter. He was America's most beloved Swedish language performer. As the "rustic comic",
Olle i Skratthult, he performed songs, poems, and comic monologues in his native Värmland dialect. In 1917
he married Olga Lindgren, his leading lady on stage. They divorced in 1933 and he later married Mora Grace
Engebretson and they had a son and a daughter. His troupe's popularity reached its height in the mid-1920s.
Their program typically included folk comedies, songs, comic monologues, folk dances, and orchestral solos,
often followed by a "bal" (public dance). His 1917 recording of "Nikolina" sold well over 100,000 copies prior
to the great depression. In the latter years of his life he performed in the Twin Cities area for the Swedish
branch of the Salvation Army. He passed away June 24, 1960 in Minneapolis.
| Click HERE for Carl Hjalmar Peterson's World War I U.S. Draft Registration Card |
| The Olle i Skratthult Troupe in "civilian" attire, mid 1920's Hjalmar Peterson (Olle) is seated center, Olga Lindgren is to his right |
| Olle i Skratthult |
| with Gustav Nyberg, circa 1919 |
| The Olle i Skratthult Company in "Käringa mi's Kusin", 1927 (Olga Lindgren seated second from left) |
| Olga Lindgren later in life, circa 1980 |
Nikolina
Friarevalsen
| Olle i Skratthult |
| Hjalmar Peterson |
| Nikolina |
| Olle i Skratthult |
| Hjalmar Peterson |
| Nikolina |
| MY HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO |
(Olle i Skratthult and Olga Lindgren)
| Olga Lindgren & Hjalmar Peterson |
| (Olle from Laughtersville) |
An excellent scholarly article on Swedish-American Theatre by Anne-Charlotte Harvey, with extensive
information on Olle i Skratthult, is available in the book "Ethnic Theatre in the United States", Maxine
Schwartz Seller - Editor, Greenwood Press, 1983
information on Olle i Skratthult, is available in the book "Ethnic Theatre in the United States", Maxine
Schwartz Seller - Editor, Greenwood Press, 1983
| FURTHER READING & MISC. |
| Click HERE for Olle's Birth Record (Line 34) |
| Click HERE for Hjalmar & Olga in the 1920 U.S. Census (Lines 53 & 54) |
| Click HERE for Catfish's Swedish Links |
| Lovingly dedicated to my concertina-playing grandfather, Carl Johansson from Fåleberg, Skaraborgs Lan, Sverige 1880 - 1950 |
| Click HERE for Catfish's Bondkomiker Gallery (Swedish "Rustic" Comedians) |
| (Click photo to enlarge) |
| Click HERE for another brief article (in Swedish) on Olle i Skratthult |
| ...more Olle och Olga |
| Fresh off the boat from Sweden, circa 1900 |
| With my mother, circa 1944 |
| Click HERE for Hjalmar Peterson's memorial at "Find A Grave" (Leave Olle some virtual flowers... it's free) |
If you have any other Olle i Skratthult photos or information you'd like to share,
please drop me an email (click on the mailbox)
please drop me an email (click on the mailbox)
Click HERE for Olle's Family Entry in the 1886-1890 Husförhörslängd (Household Examination Rolls)
Production photo of the Olle i Skratthult Company in "Lars Anders, Jan Anders och Deras Barn".
Left to right: Ragnar Åkerberg, Elna Kronberg, Olle i Skratthult, Augusta Linde, unidentified actor,
Gottfrid Nord, Hilma Lindblom, Hans Haugman, Harry Swanson, Olga Lindgren-Peterson, and
Annar Myhre.
Left to right: Ragnar Åkerberg, Elna Kronberg, Olle i Skratthult, Augusta Linde, unidentified actor,
Gottfrid Nord, Hilma Lindblom, Hans Haugman, Harry Swanson, Olga Lindgren-Peterson, and
Annar Myhre.
Photo from liner notes: "From Sweden to Amerika"
Photo from liner notes: "From Sweden to Amerika"
Photos from liner notes: "From Sweden to Amerika"
Photo from liner notes: "From Sweden to Amerika"
Photo from liner notes: "From Sweden to Amerika"
Photo from the Olga Lindgren-Nilsen Collection, Courtesy of the Olle i Skratthult Project
(From "Ethnic Theatre in the United States", Maxine Schwartz Seller - Editor, Greenwood Press, 1983)
Min Sångröst Den Kan Ej Betalas Med Guld
(I Never Had So Much Fun in All My Sinful Life)
Jag Har Aldrig Haft Så Roligt i Mitt Syndiga Liv
(My Voice Cannot Be Paid For in Gold)
Olle i Skratthult and his Luffare Kapell (Hobo Orchestra). Standing L to R: Bertil Danielson, Arthur
Martinson, Olle, Werner Noreen, Ted Johnson. Seated L to R: Olga Lindgren-Peterson, Hazel Johnson
Martinson, Olle, Werner Noreen, Ted Johnson. Seated L to R: Olga Lindgren-Peterson, Hazel Johnson
| For more photos, Click on Olle to visit the GALLERY |
| Click HERE for the Wikipedia entry for Olle i Skratthult |
Click HERE for the Wikipedia entry for Charles G. Widdén
Click HERE for the Wikipedia entry Eleonora and Ethel Olson
| Click HERE to view Vintage Olle i Skratthult Flyers & Programs |
| NEW ! |
Varsågod och lyssna:
| Click HERE for Olle i Skratthult in Vintage Newspapers |
Click HERE for Catfish's Tribute to Jödde i Göljaryd, the father of "bondkomik"
| NEW ! |