Miscellaneous: Olive Olsen, 1930, Winn Parish, LA.
Submitted by Greggory E. Davies, 120 Ted Price Lane, Winnfield, LA 71483
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From: February 20, 1930

Winnfield Girl Makes Big Hit In Chicago Theatres

Would Like To Bring Her Show To Winnfield And Play It

The following article was taken from the Rapides Free Press:

A recent issue of the Kansas City Star carried a column feature in regard to
Olive Olsen, who hails from Winnfield, Louisiana.  She is now making a big hit
among theatre-goers in Kansas City, succeeding her stay in Chicago where the
dispatch states the crowds were panicked with hilarity, and that she created
more excitement than Al Capone.  Part of the column follows:

"The big city of Winnfield, Louisiana, has only 2,974 residents today instead
of 2,975 and that is because Olive Olsen, its most illustrious Citizen, is
provoking huge hiliarity among Kansas City theatre-goers, as the infectious
comedian of "Follow Thru", this week's attraction at the Shubert Theatre.  

As an eccentric comedian of the crazy "what will she do next" variety, Miss
Olsen is very nearly in a class by herself.  She panicked Chicago during the
recently closed six months run of "Follow Thru" there, and Chicago,
case-hardened by years of the goings on of Al Capone's boy friends, is a city
that isn't panicked as easily as you might think.  Hence Miss Olsen's
achievement, and it really was just that, is the more remarkable thereby."

The rest of the article is devoted to the childhood of Olive Olsen in
Winnfield, describing her singing at church festivals and various musical
productions, such as a small town has just so often.

She later lived in Dallas, Texas, and took further part in amateur
productions, aspiring at the same time to become an operatic star. 
Difficulties with her voice developed, so she learned to dance along with her
singing, and drifted into the career of a mimic and eccentric dancer.  A
musical stock company and small time vaudeville circuit preceded the
big two time a day vaudeville.  It was while she was playing a vaudeville
house in the Bronx that she was seen by a scout of the Schwab-Mandel office. 
She was sent for and cast in their Chicago Company of "Follow Thru".  Her roll
is called the Angie Howard, which they say she plays like nobody's business.

"Wouldn't I like to take this show back to Winnfield and play it?" she said
recently."