Harald Otto

Harald Otto (January 24, 1865 – May 13, 1928) was a Norwegian actor and theater director.

Harald Otto
Painting of Harald Otto by Henrik Lund, 1914
Born(1864-01-24)January 24, 1864
Nes, Norway
DiedMay 13, 1928(1928-05-13) (aged 64)
Oslo, Norway
Occupation(s)Actor, theater director
SpouseIgnatzia Otto
ChildrenReidar Otto
Parents
  • Hans Otto Hansen (father)
  • Maren Paulsen (mother)

Otto was born in Nes, Norway, the son of the stationmaster Hans Otto Hansen (1815–?) and Maren Paulsen (1832–?). He moved to the United States in 1886, and in 1890 he performed in the theater in Chicago,[1] where he also married Ignatzia Johanna Osberg (1869–1945).[2][3] He soon returned to Norway, where he worked in various theater groups from 1891 to 1900.[2][4] He purchased the Central Theater in 1907 and he operated it until his death, with Torolf Voss serving as the theater's orchestra director.[5] After Harald Otto's death, his son Reidar Otto took over the business.[2][4] The theater remained in the Otto family until 1959.

Otto himself sang the song "Akerselva, du gamle, du grå" (The Old Gray Aker River) by Vilhelm Dybwad in 1906, when he staged Dybwad's play Verdens undergang (The End of the World).[6]

References
  1. Nelson, Lawrence Milton (1976). From Fjord to Prairie: Norwegian-Americans in the Midwest 1825–1975. Chicago: Norwegian American Immigration Anniversary Commission. p. 14.
  2. Christiansen, Arne (2009). "Harald Otto". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  3. "Marriage Licenses". Chicago Tribune. February 18, 1890. p. 3. Retrieved July 4, 2020 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  4. Jensson, Liv (1981). Biografisk skuespillerleksikon: norske, danske og svenske skuespillere på norske scener særlig på 1800-tallet. Oslo: Universitetsforlaget. p. 129.
  5. Andersen, Rune J. (2013). "Torolf Voss". Store norske leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  6. Schulerud, Mentz (2009). "Vilhelm Dybwad". Norsk biografisk leksikon (in Norwegian). Retrieved July 4, 2020.
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