Ole Olsen Video | Stand-up Comedian

John Sigvard "Ole" Olsen (November 6, 1892 – January 26, 1963) was an American vaudevillian and comedian. Born in Peru, Indiana, he graduated from Northwestern University in 1912 with a degree in music and hit the Vaudeville circuit. In 1914 he met Chic Johnson, who was advertising himself as the "Greatest Ragtime Pianist in the Midwest." The two performers met when they were hired as musicians in the same band. When the band broke up "Ole" Olsen and "Chic" Johnson formed the Olsen and Johnson comedy team. They really did not have a set act but found themselves booked into a small... MORE

John Sigvard "Ole" Olsen (November 6, 1892 – January 26, 1963) was an American vaudevillian and comedian. Born in Peru, Indiana, he graduated from Northwestern University in 1912 with a degree in music and hit the Vaudeville circuit. In 1914 he met Chic Johnson, who was advertising himself as the "Greatest Ragtime Pianist in the Midwest." The two performers met when they were hired as musicians in the same band. When the band broke up "Ole" Olsen and "Chic" Johnson formed the Olsen and Johnson comedy team. They really did not have a set act but found themselves booked into a small Chicago nightclub as part of Mike Fritzol's Frolics. When it came time for their turn in the show, unannounced and not particularly welcome, the brave pair pushed a piano onstage. Johnson seated himself at the keyboard and began to plunk out a ragtime tune. Olsen joined in with his violin and started singing, making up comical lyrics as he went along. The pair began to exchange "patter", mostly insults and the soon-to-be-famous "Olsen and Johnson" team emerged. They struggled in Vaudeville for 24 years before hitting Broadway in 1938 with the show Hellzapoppin', later successfully filmed. Ole Olsen was LESS