Entertainer. He was born Harold Ogden Johnson in Chicago, Illinois. He studied classical piano at the Chicago Music College but dropped out to work at area vaudeville houses as a ragtime pianist. He met John Sigvard "Ole" Olsen and they formed a two man comedy/music act. By 1918 they were one of the country's most popular vaudeville acts. In 1938 their musical revue "Hellzapoppin" made its New York debut. It went on to become one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history. They made a movie version of their Broadway hit in 1941 as well as starring in the movies "Crazy House," "Ghost Catchers" and "See my Lawyer" in the mid 1940s. They returned to Broadway with "Sons O' Fun" in 1943 and "Pardon my French" in 1951. He died while on vacation in Las Vegas. A year later Ole Olsen died and the families arranged for them to be buried side by side.
Entertainer. He was born Harold Ogden Johnson in Chicago, Illinois. He studied classical piano at the Chicago Music College but dropped out to work at area vaudeville houses as a ragtime pianist. He met John Sigvard "Ole" Olsen and they formed a two man comedy/music act. By 1918 they were one of the country's most popular vaudeville acts. In 1938 their musical revue "Hellzapoppin" made its New York debut. It went on to become one of the longest-running shows in Broadway history. They made a movie version of their Broadway hit in 1941 as well as starring in the movies "Crazy House," "Ghost Catchers" and "See my Lawyer" in the mid 1940s. They returned to Broadway with "Sons O' Fun" in 1943 and "Pardon my French" in 1951. He died while on vacation in Las Vegas. A year later Ole Olsen died and the families arranged for them to be buried side by side.
Gravesite Details
Second row
Family Members
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