Jump to Navigation

Carl Frederick Peterson

Carl Frederick Peterson

Businessman and Son of Swedish RCA Recording Artist

Born: Minneapolis, MN, United States
Heritage: Swedish

Be happy with what you have. Don’t get greedy! Remember—do unto others as you would have them do on to you. Count your blessings. There’s an old saying, “I was unhappy because I had no shoes, until I met a person who had no feet.” Be content with what you have.

Carl Frederick Peterson

Businessman and Son of Swedish RCA Recording Artist

I was a Depression Baby. Not that my parents were depressed, but I was born during the Great Depression. My father and grandfather were wealthy, but they lost everything in the Depression.

My father, Hjalmar Peterson, was a Swedish comedian and singer, traveling from coast to coast entertaining in Scandinavian towns. My mother and I traveled with him. My mother would play the piano and I would sing as well. the shows were mostly in the Swedish language.

On stage, my father would dress in a country bumpkin costume with a big scarf and a red wig. He had old clothes and boots. He used his hat as a prop and many of his teeth were blackened. He would simply walk out on stage with his funny appearance and stare at people. His stage name was Olle i Skratthult, which in English meant "Ole in Laughtown". He could get the audience laughing without ever speaking a word.

My dad recorded songs with major record companies. He would record with a big orchestra and he would sing through a megaphone. His most famous song was “Nikolina.”

My mother died when I was 13 years old and my sister was five. We went to live with my grandparents on my mother’s side because my father needed help taking care of us.

I went to Central High School in Minneapolis. I wanted to be in the entertainment business like my dad so I went into radio broadcasting at brown Institute when I was 17 years old. They thought my voice was too immature, so I joined the reserves for eight years.

I went to the university of Minnesota, then back to brown Institute and then I took a job with WLOL radio as an announcer. I moved with my family to Eden Prairie over 40 years ago and began a business called Prairie Offset Printing.

We have two daughters and five grandchildren. My daughters went through Eden Prairie Schools and now some of my grandchildren are doing so as well. My children and grandchildren have brought me much happiness in my life.

Notation: Download PDF
HONOR SONG LYRICS

Honoring Carl Frederick Peterson

Olle, Olle Skratthult
Honoring Carl Fredrick Peterson & His Father, Carl Hjalmar Peterson

CHORUS:
Olle, Olle Skratthult
Was my father’s name
He was a Swedish
Comedian and singer.
I traveled with him
When I was young
He’d play for dances
He would give concerts
From California
To Michigan

Chorus

In a big house
With a big basement
It was a tavern
Where we would dance
He had a big band
That would play with him
Whenever he would
Have a chance

Chorus

He walked on stage
He would say nothing
Until somebody
Began to laugh
He would look at them
Kind of funny
Then everybody
Would start to laugh

Chorus

Olle meant ole
Skratthult meant Laugh town
He never used
A microphone
People would travel
For days to see him
By horse & buggy
From their farm homes

Chorus

He would carry
Cash in a suitcase
Because the banks
They all did crash
All through the
Great Depression
My father he would
Stash his cash

Chorus

For RCA
My dad recorded “Nikolina”
Oh how he’d smile
LIke Robert Redford
Orlando Bloom
Who like my father,
Drove young girls wild

Chorus

He was a great guy
And I loved him
Because of him
I love to sing
For my church and
At social functions
So much joy my
Dad still brings

Chorus