Harold "Chic" Johnson

Harold “Chic” Johnson was an American comedian, librettist, and performer best remembered as one half of the madcap comedy duo Olsen and Johnson. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Johnson began his career in vaudeville as a pianist before teaming up with Ole Olsen in the 1910s. The two quickly became known for their anarchic, anything-goes style of comedy.

Johnson’s contributions to theatre included work as a librettist and co-creator of Hellzapoppin’ (1938), one of Broadway’s wildest and most successful revues. The show broke theatrical conventions by breaking the fourth wall, improvising with the audience, and filling the stage with chaotic gags, slapstick, and satirical skits.

He and Olsen carried this frenetic style into other shows, including Sons o’ Fun and Pardon Our French, as well as film adaptations of their stage hits. Johnson’s quick wit and love of absurd humor made him a perfect foil for Olsen’s equally zany energy.

While not a conventional librettist in the operatic sense, Johnson’s scripts for these revue-style shows helped pioneer a brand of American comedy that directly influenced later sketch comedy and improvisational theatre. His work proved that breaking the rules could become a winning formula for entertainment.

Chic Johnson died in 1962 at the age of 70, but his legacy lives on through the joyous, unpredictable chaos he brought to the stage and screen.