Ole Olsen

John Sigvard “Ole” Olsen (b. Peru, Indiana, November 6, 1892 – d. Las Vegas, January 26, 1963) – Vaudeville performer, comedian, violinist, and comedic singer. A native of Peru, Indiana, Olsen was acquainted with Cole Porter, although their careers took different paths. After graduating with a music degree from Northwestern in 1912, he joined the Vaudeville circuit with partner Charles “Chic” Johnson, a ragtime pianist. Their comedy team featured Johnson’s piano playing, Olsen’s violin, and patter repartee in which the two often insulted each other. After barely sustaining their act for twenty-four years, the pair struck gold with the Broadway show Hellzapoppin (1938), which ran for 1,404 performances before traveling and eventually becoming a film in 1941. Known exclusively for his work in comedy, Olsen appeared in eleven feature films.