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of hungry, I guess. Because he made a grab for one of the pieces of steak, and it happened to be the biggest steak that he got a hold of. So
Carlson he didn't like that very much, so he said to Peterson, "Say, Peterson, you is not very polite in your table manners. Now if I had taken one of those pieces of steak first I would have taken one of the smaller pieces instead of the bigger." "Well", said Peterson, "you got the small piece of steak. What are you kicking about?!" (
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430:. In conjunction with the festival she recorded three albums of folk tunes, emigrant ballads, hymns, waltzes and comic songs. The non-profit Olle i Skratthult Project sponsored the annual celebration and the recordings. Harvey's albums, produced by the renowned ethnomusicologist Maury Bernstein, included six songs from Widdén's discography.
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productions, dances, bazaars, picnics and even wrestling matches — occasionally with fellow comedian Calle Sjöquist. Newspapers proclaimed Widdén the foremost
Swedish humorist in America and a noted provider of laughter throughout the land. In 1921 Charles G. Widdén returned to his hometown of Worcester for a concert at
205:
opened an online archive of
Swedish American newspapers. These historic publications give many accounts of Charles G. Widdén's live performances and recordings in the years 1903 – 1924. Sometimes billed as "The Hobo Juggler", his first name varies from Charles to Charlie to Chas. to Kalle while his
135:
in 1888 at the age of fourteen. He settled in
Worcester, Massachusetts and in 1891 became an American citizen. In 1901 he married Alice Steel, with whom he had a daughter named Elsie. Although a well-known entertainer, Widdén was primarily employed in industrial and commercial occupations. Government
197:
published word of his death in 1933: "Charles G. Widdén passed away on
October 9th at Druskin Hospital in New York City at the age of fifty-nine. He was well known in New York and Worcester as a singer and comedian. The end came swiftly as a consequence of pneumonia. His nearest survivors are a wife
474:
My brother-in-law
Peterson is the funniest fellow you ever saw in all your life. One night last week he went out to dinner with a friend of his by the name of Carlson, and both of them ordered steak. So the waitress served the two steaks on one big platter, and my brother-in-law Peterson was kind
184:
In 1916 Widdén moved from
Worcester to New York City, where he was already a familiar figure in the Scandinavian community. Proximity to record companies there turned him into one of Swedish America's leading recording artists. He appeared at many types of events: choral concerts, theatrical
449:
during the 1920s. Three of their songs — ones that Widdén had also recorded — were released by the Centre for
Swedish Folk Music and Jazz Research on the 1981 LP "From Sweden to America". The album was issued as a CD in 1996 and in 2011 became available at
426:(snuff), an inexpensive form of tobacco. The event, which celebrated the area's Scandinavian past, featured the music, food, and arts of the immigrants who had once lived there. The headline performer was Anne-Charlotte Harvey, a singer originally from
298:
About one third of Widdén's output was spoken word material, and much of his popularity rested on his original comic monologues. Today he is mainly remembered for the yodel-like laugh with which he punctuated these homespun tales. When speaking
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and Aug. W. Johnson. His companions gave exhibitions of wrestling and weight lifting while Widdén demonstrated his talent for juggling and comedy. This five-month sojourn is the only known instance of Widdén on tour in Sweden or
America.
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Charles G. Widdén made his final recording in 1924, leaving behind an enormous catalog of music and humor. More than ninety years later his records are still sold by vintage music stores and online retailers. In 2011 the
421:
from 1972 through 1977. In the late 19th century Cedar Avenue became known as "Snoose
Boulevard", a nickname often given to the main street in Scandinavian communities. The term derived from the residents' fondness for
310:
Charles G. Widdén had a wide-ranging musical repertoire. He recorded over sixty songs — drawing on everything from folk music and vaudeville to musical revues and dance tunes. Most notably Widdén recorded
192:
After 1920 Widdén made fewer recordings, and his final release came out in 1924. At the same time there were less frequent reports of his activities in the Swedish American press. The San Francisco weekly
169:. The rustic comic, often clad as a country bumpkin, assumed an alias to go along with his outlandish appearance. Widdén, for instance, sometimes went by the name of Olle ve Kvarna (Olle at the Mill).
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labels. His output was steady. His new releases came out every single year in this period. Widdén's repertoire consisted of songs, poems, stories and monologues. Other than a few monologues in
406:) and Charles G. Widdén in a 1973 exhibit on entertainment in Swedish America. A small disc was produced for the occasion with excerpts from their songs and stories.
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241:, whose lyrics and stories — popular on both sides of the Atlantic — were a staple of rustic humor. Widdén recorded Fröding's poems concerning the supernatural:
181:, who was active at the same time and had a similar repertoire. Peterson was better known by his stage name of Olle i Skratthult (Olle from Laughtersville).
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362:(Master of his house) by Gösta Schönberg was in a similar vein. Regardless of the source, they were cautionary tales of henpecked husbands.
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and business records indicate that he was at different times a laborer, packer, machinist, foreman, wire tester and sign painter.
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189:. Demand for tickets to his Thursday February 3rd program was so great that a second show was added for Saturday February 5th.
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he became "Peterson". His 1917 story "Peterson at the Turkish bath" was one of the first Scandinavian dialect recordings.
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hit "Everybody's doin' it now". Although not inherently racist, the Berlin composition was considered a
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by Richard K. Spottswood, (University of Illinois Press, 1990) LCCN 89-020526. Volume 5, pp. 2728 - 2733.
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276:
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opened its National Jukebox web site with streaming audio for eighteen of Widdén's songs and stories.
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Ethnic music on records: a discography of ethnic recordings produced in the United States, 1893-1942
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In the 1970s Charles G. Widdén was rediscovered in his native country and in the United States. The
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458:. Recorded in Sweden and the United States between 1917 and 1980, the collection had numbers by
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during the years 1900 - 1920 and achieved national prominence through his numerous recordings.
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287:(a hero of the 1808-1809 war against Russia). These verses were part of Runeberg's epic work
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by Charles Wharton Stork, (New York: The American-Scandinavian Foundation, 1917).
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he sometimes assumed the comic persona of Olle ve Kvarna (Olle at the Mill). In
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350:(Poor old Olson) were joined by American songs in translation: "Lucky Jim" as
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poet Oscar Stjerne likewise contributed to Widdén's repertoire with two poems:
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Widdén's comic songs often dealt with marital problems. Swedish songs such as
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140:
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Svensk-amerikanska bondkomiker Olle i Skratthult och Charlie "fun" Widdén
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by Ulf Beijbom, (The Swedish Emigrant Institute of Växjö, Sweden, 1973).
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Between 1913 and 1924 Charles G. Widdén recorded over 100 sides for the
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147:(rustic comic). In 1903 Charles G. Widdén toured Sweden with strongmen
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As a young man Widdén began performing as a storyteller, juggler and
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by Charles Wharton Stork, (New York:The Macmillan Company, 1916).
249:(The wood sprite) as well as those dealing with immigration to
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315:(The waltz on Koster isle) and seventeen other numbers by
497:(Worcester, MA: R. L. Polk & Company, 1916), p. 827.
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The poetry included several works by the Swedish author
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because of the affected manner in which it was sung by
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last name is spelled Widdén, Widden, Widén and Wideen.
158:(rustic humor) was a popular form of entertainment in
895:
Charles G. Widdén audio at Gustavus Adolphus College
880:
Charles G. Widdén - Columbia and Victor discography
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Victor 69565 (New York City: Victor Records, 1917).
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103:
85:
60:
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890:Charles G. Widdén audio at the Library of Congress
441:toured the United States and made recordings for
637:
635:
633:
279:poems of patriotic Finns were also represented:
26:singer and comedian, who performed regularly in
16:Swedish-American singer and comedian (1874–1933)
900:Charles G. Widdén audio at the Internet Archive
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716:
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795:Anthology of Swedish lyrics from 1750 to 1915
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505:
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402:gave prominent mention to Olle i Skratthult (
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8:
910:Widdén articles and advertisements 1901-1921
905:Widdén articles and advertisements 1899-1933
469:
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143:, and by 1900 he was a highly regarded
366:(Our ball) was a Swedish version of the
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970:Swedish emigrants to the United States
885:Charles G. Widdén - Edison discography
165:. It also had a large following among
390:Renewed interest in Charles G. Widdén
7:
358:(Mister Johnson's lament). The poem
925:Charles G. Widdén poems and stories
855:(Stockholm: Caprice Records, 1981).
470:"Peterson's brother-in-law" excerpt
466:and Anne-Charlotte Harvey as well.
317:Göran Svenning and David Hellström
14:
230:he did everything in his native
131:, Charles G. Widdén came to the
52:
828:. Retrieved: December 21, 2021.
752:. Retrieved: December 21, 2021.
627:. Retrieved: December 21, 2021.
588:. Retrieved: December 22, 2016.
558:. Retrieved: December 22, 2016.
323:, Axel Engdahl, Adolf Englund,
813:. Retrieved: November 7, 2016.
781:Gustaf Fröding: selected poems
536:. Retrieved: December 8, 2016.
261:(At the prayer meeting).
1:
354:and "Don't take me home" as
930:Charles G. Widdén monologues
688:. Retrieved: March 24, 2018.
673:. Retrieved: March 05, 2020.
573:. Retrieved: March 05, 2020.
568:Swedish and American records
203:Minnesota Historical Society
531:Swedish American newspapers
319:. He also covered songs by
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915:Charles G. Widdén songbook
767:. Retrieved: July 5, 2015.
396:Swedish Emigrant Institute
950:American comedy musicians
762:Tall Tales and Adventures
658:February 16, 1916, p. 13.
600:February 14, 1907, p. 16.
411:Snoose Boulevard Festival
51:
995:Comedians from Stockholm
955:Columbia Records artists
747:Songs, poems and stories
737:November 3, 1909, p. 10.
612:December 1, 1910, p. 15.
346:(Maidens' glances) and
293:The Tales of Ensign Stål
210:Popular recording artist
28:Worcester, Massachusetts
945:American male comedians
920:Charles G. Widdén songs
513:November 30, 1933, p.3.
495:The Worcester Directory
980:Victor Records artists
965:Singers from Stockholm
960:Edison Records artists
853:From Sweden To America
356:Mister Johnsons klagan
283:(The soldier boy) and
271:
245:(Mountain trolls) and
20:Charles Godfrey Widdén
975:Vaudeville performers
808:Chicago record stores
668:Concerts and Reviews
433:The Swedish singers
335:, Theodor Pinet and
275:(A strange people).
384:Library of Congress
289:Fänrik Ståls Sägner
269:(A poet's lot) and
160:turn-of-the-century
65:Karl Gottfrid Widén
22:(1874-1933) was a
700:February 02, 1921.
551:2016-10-23 at the
187:Horticultural Hall
75:September 21, 1874
622:1903 Swedish tour
464:Ragnar Hasselgren
462:, Olga Lindgren,
460:Olle i Skratthult
428:Stockholm, Sweden
167:Swedish Americans
125:
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79:Stockholm, Sweden
46:Charles G. Widdén
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417:neighborhood of
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272:Ett unnlit folk
257:(Farewell) and
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198:and daughter."
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839:Seward Profile
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348:Stackars Olson
333:Emil Norlander
325:Gustaf Fröding
243:Bergslagstroll
239:Gustaf Fröding
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149:Hjalmar Lundin
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586:ancestry.com
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281:Soldatgossen
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201:In 2016 the
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174:
173:was another
155:
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144:
141:chalk talker
138:
127:A native of
126:
113:chalk talker
91:(1933-10-09)
24:Swedish-born
19:
18:
990:1874 births
985:1933 deaths
841:April 2005.
826:archive.org
811:archive.org
765:archive.org
750:archive.org
735:Scandinavia
686:archive.org
671:archive.org
656:Scandinavia
625:archive.org
571:archive.org
419:Minneapolis
267:Dektarelott
175:bondkomiker
145:bondkomiker
121:Alice Steel
939:Categories
823:Gösta poem
546:MooseRoots
511:Vestkustan
483:References
456:Amazon mp3
337:Ernst Rolf
259:I bönhuset
195:Vestkusten
109:comedian,
71:1874-09-21
378:artists.
372:Coon song
364:Våran bal
285:Sven Duva
156:Bondkomik
129:Stockholm
583:Ancestry
549:Archived
443:Columbia
344:Jäntblig
263:Värmland
247:Skögsrån
216:Columbia
111:juggler,
107:singer,
534:mhs.org
305:English
301:Swedish
255:Farväll
251:America
232:Swedish
228:English
477:laughs
452:iTunes
224:Victor
220:Edison
179:Sweden
163:Sweden
118:Spouse
30:, and
400:Växjö
376:White
177:from
698:Svea
454:and
445:and
437:and
424:snus
409:The
295:).
222:and
86:Died
61:Born
479:)
398:of
941::
772:^
705:^
632:^
519:^
502:^
339:.
331:,
327:,
253::
234:.
218:,
291:(
73:)
69:(
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