Description

Description: American comedy duo Olsen and Johnson exuberantly signed this large portrait photograph of the pair gazing at the camera. A bubble-letter inscription reads: “To Fred. W Stockham: Post” and in regular script: “With many Happy memories!!! – Olsen and Johnson”. The date, 1933, appears inside a “tacked note” doodle and a cartoon creature hovers above Johnson’s shoulder with a word bubble saying: “When you gotta go you gotta go”.

The 13 1/8″ x 10 1/8″ photograph was taken by Maurice Seymour of Chicago. Item #A01901

John Sigvard “Ole” Olsen (1892 – 1963) and Harold Ogden “Chic” Johnson (1891 – 1962) were American comedians of vaudeville, radio, the Broadway stage, motion pictures and television. Their shows were noted for their zany gags and orchestrated mayhem (“anything can happen, and it probably will”). Rather than going along with the traditional comedy formula of a “straight man” and a “stooge,” both Olsen and Johnson took on goofy comic personas, goodnaturedly chuckling their way through the steady barrage of gunshots, explosions, props plummeting to earth, intrusions from other performers, and input from the audience. Their most famous production was the stage musical, and later movie, Hellzapoppin.

Condition:  Small chips to corners, thumb size stain at upper right blank margin, a few errant small spots and rubs. Generally good condition with strong signatures.