Olle

Olle i Skratthult

"Bondkomik" Hjalmar Peterson 1886-1960

Carl Hjalmar Petersson, born February 7, 1886 in Munkfors, Värmland, Sweden to Johannes Petersson and Kristina Carlsson was America's most beloved Swedish language performer. As the “peasant comedian” 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. 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 public dance that included waltzes, polkas, and schottisches. His 1917 recording of "Nikolina" sold well over 100,000 copies prior to the great depression. Toward the end 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.

CARRYING ON THE TRADITION... Ove Carlsson (2nd from right) and the "Olle i Skratthult Ensemble"

"Singer and musician Ove 'Clapson' Carlsson heads up the multi-talented Olle i Skratthult ensemble. The group also includes actor/director Carina Ekman, accordionist Robert Lunde, fiddler Peter de Maré, and guitarist Peter Ingmarsson."

"The ensemble tells the story about the mason from Munkfors, Sweden, whose real name was Hjalmar Pettersson, who became one of the greatest Swedish entertainers in North America in the early twentieth century. Their performance brings back memories of Olle i Skratthult and his greatest hits. The show is a wonderful mix of Swedish-American comedy and music, and includes songs from “the old days,” such as Nikolina, Barndomshemmet, and Hälsa dem därhemma.”

Click HERE for Carl Hjalmar Peterson's World War I U.S. Draft Registration

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

CLICK HERE FOR NIKOLINA LYRICS

MY VOICE CANNOT BE PAID FOR IN GOLD

(Olle i Skratthult and Olga Lindgren)

Olle i Skratthult, bondkomiker, född 1886, död 1960. Han hette egentligen Hjalmar Pettersson och var från Munkfors där han arbetade som murare. Han emigrerade 1906 till USA där han fortsatte arbeta som murare men efter ett tag började han istället att underhålla sina landsmän och reste runt bland svensk-amerikaner i hela USA. På 1920-talet blev det dock mindre för honom att göra då de flesta svensk-amerikaner mer och mer hade gått över till att enbart använda engelska språket.

Mr. & Mrs. Hjalmar Peterson