The Carl Johan Theater ( no, Carl Johan Teatret) was a theater in

Oslo Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of ...

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and t ...

. It was initially located in the Christiania Tivoli amusement park in Oslo from 1893 to 1895, where it was led by

Olaf Mørch Hansson Olaf Mørch Hansson (28 July 1856 – 22 February 1912) was a Norwegian actor and theatre director, journalist and newspaper editor. He was married to Thora Hansson from 1880 to 1896, and then to Agnethe Schibsted-Hansson from 1896 to 1912. Biogr ...

. It staged performance of works such as

Henrik Ibsen Henrik Johan Ibsen (; ; 20 March 1828 – 23 May 1906) was a Norwegian playwright and theatre director. As one of the founders of modernism in theatre, Ibsen is often referred to as "the father of realism" and one of the most influential playw ...

Ghosts A ghost is the soul or spirit of a dead person or animal that is believed to be able to appear to the living. In ghostlore, descriptions of ghosts vary widely from an invisible presence to translucent or barely visible wispy shapes, to rea ...

, Gabriel Finne's ''Før afskeden'' (Before the Farewell), and

Gunnar Heiberg Gunnar Edvard Rode Heiberg (18 November 1857 – 22 February 1929) was a Norway, Norwegian poet, playwright, journalist and theatre critic. Personal life He was born in Oslo, Christiania a son of judge Edvard Omsen Heiberg (1829–1884) and his w ...

's ''Balkonen'' (The Balcony).

Kalle Løchen Kalle Løchen (9 May 1865 – 20 November 1893) was a Norwegian painter and actor. Biography Kalle Løchen was born in Fåberg (now Lillehammer), in Oppland, Norway, the son of cand.jur. Edvard Martin Løchen and his wife Anne Elisabeth Gr ...

was among the first actors it engaged. In 1914 it became a

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

theater, one of three theaters in Oslo's Karl Johan neighborhood. It was located in the rear of the property at ''

Karl Johans gate Karl Johans gate is the main street of the city of Oslo, Norway. The street was named in honor of King Charles III John, who was also King of Sweden as Charles XIV John. Karl Johans gate is a composite of several older streets that used to be s ...

'' 39 and showed silent films until it was closed on June 1, 1931. It opened newly renovated in red, gold, and black as a theater stage on October 6, 1931, first led by

Anton Heiberg Anton Wilhelm Scheel Heiberg ( 26 March 1878– 11 September 1947) was a Norwegian stage instructor and theatre director. He was born in Christiania (now Oslo), Norway. He was a son of judge Edvard Omsen Heiberg (1829–1884) and his wife Mi ...

Thorleif Reiss Thorleif Dymling Reiss (May 22, 1898 – April 14, 1988) was a Norwegian actor. Career Reiss made his debut at the National Theater in Oslo in 1918. From 1931 to 1939, he was employed at the Carl Johan Theater, where he also served as co-dire ...

, and

Leif Enger Leif Enger is an American author who wrote the novel '' Peace Like a River''. Early life Enger was born in 1961 and was raised in Osakis, Minnesota. His parents were teachers. He attended Minnesota State University Moorhead, majoring in Engli ...

. After renovation in the summer of 1933,

Per Aabel Per Pavels Aabel (25 April 1902 – 22 December 1999) was a Norway, Norwegian actor, artist, dancer, choreographer and instructor.

and Thorleif Reiss took over as directors and led it through a period of staging comedies until 1938, when Aabel appeared in a guest performance at the Central Theater and then moved on to the National Theater.

Nanna Stenersen Inga Kristine "Nanna" Stenersen (January 26, 1914 – June 22, 1977) was a Norwegian actress. Stenersen was born in Oslo, the daughter of the artillery captain Fredrik Christian Krohg Stenersen (1877–1965) and Regine née Johansen (1878–?). ...

made her debut at the theater in 1933,

Ragnhild Michelsen Ragnhild Michelsen Steen (23 June 1911 – 30 September 2000) was a Norwegian actress. Life Ragnhild Michelsen was born in Narvik on 22 June 1911, the daughter of Carl F. Michelsen and Clara Kokmann. Her first stage experience came while attend ...

performed there from 1935 to 1940 as well as Teddy Nordgren, and in 1936

Wenche Foss Eva Wenche Steenfeldt Stang (5 December 1917 – 28 March 2011), better known as Wenche Foss (), was a leading Norwegian actress of stage, screen and television. Personal life Wenche Foss was born to engineer Christian August Steenfeldt-Foss ( ...

appeared at the theater and had her breakthrough in 1937 as the "champagne girl" ( no, Champagnepiken), until she married in 1939 and announced her transfer to the Central Theater.

Thora Neels-Hansson Thora Elisabeth Neels-Hansson (also known as Nøste Schwab) (November 29, 1918 – December 15, 2007) was a Norwegian actress. Thora Elisabeth Neels-Hansson was born in Stavanger, Norway, on November 29, 1918. She was best known for her role as ...

made her debut at the theater in 1938 and left in 1940. During the summers, the theater was rented out for summer revues. After Thorleif Reiss moved on to the

Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation NRK, an abbreviation of the Norwegian ''Norsk Rikskringkasting AS'', generally expressed in English as the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation, is the Norwegian government-owned radio and television public broadcasting company, and the largest ...

in 1939, the theater briefly closed. The theater reopened on September 3, 1939 with Eigil Beck and AS Comedia as the new owner, new management, and a production of

Anita Loos Corinne Anita Loos (April 26, 1888 – August 18, 1981) was an American actress, novelist, playwright and screenwriter. In 1912, she became the first female staff screenwriter in Hollywood, when D. W. Griffith put her on the payroll at Triang ...

's ''The Whole Town's Talking'' with

Hauk Aabel Hauk Erlendssøn Aabel (21 April 1869 – 12 December 1961) was a popular Norwegian comedian and actor in Norwegian and Swedish silent film. Career Aabel made his début on stage on 11 October 1897 at the Christiania Theatre in Oslo, and was ...

. Actors during this period included Frank Robert (1939, debut – 1941),

Stig Egede-Nissen Stig Egede-Nissen (December 11, 1907 – October 4, 1988) was a Norwegian actor and naval officer. Biography Egede-Nissen was born in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway. He was the son of Communist Party of Norway leader Adam Egede-Nissen and Goggi ...

(1940–1942),

Arne Bang-Hansen Arne Bang-Hansen (September 8, 1911 – February 23, 1990) was a Norwegian actor that performed at the National Theater in Oslo for many years. Acting career Arne Bang-Hansen played a total of 155 roles at the National Theater, where he worked ...

(1941–1945),

Axel Thue Axel Thue (; 19 February 1863 – 7 March 1922) was a Norwegian mathematician, known for his original work in diophantine approximation and combinatorics. Work Thue published his first important paper in 1909. He stated in 1914 the so-called wo ...

(1942),

Alice Mürer Siem Alice Mürer Siem (1925–2002) was a Norwegian ballet dancer and choreographer. Together with her twin sister Henny Mürer, in Norway she was a pioneer in her field, dancing in revues, operettas and classical ballets. Biography Born in Bærum on ...

(1942, debut),

Espen Skjønberg Espen Henrik Skjønberg (7 April 1924 – 26 August 2022) was a Norwegian actor of stage, screen, and television. Career Skjønberg made his first movie appearances as a child in the 1932 film ''En glad gutt'' and in the 1937 Norwegian classic ...

, and

Jack Fjeldstad Jack Fjeldstad (24 March 1915 – 4 September 2000) was a Norwegian actor and stage producer. He was active on stage and in films for more than fifty years. He made his film debut in ''Det drønner gjennom dalen'' in 1937, and participated in ...

(1942–1944). The music for the performances was often written by

Carsten Carlsen Carsten Marensius Carlsen (5 June 1892 – 28 August 1961) was a Norwegian pianist and composer. Biography Carsten Marensius Carlsen was born in Oslo, Norway. His parents were Anton Carlsen (1862–1943) and Louise Larsen (1876–1957). In 19 ...

, the husband of

Lalla Carlsen Lalla Carlsen (née Haralda Petrea Christensen) (17 August 1889 – 23 March 1967) was a Norwegian singer and actress. She is regarded as one of the most legendary female revue artists in Norway. Personal life Lalla Carlsen was born in Svelvik ...

, who played at the theater from 1940 to 1943. During the Second World War, the theater was led by

Ellen Isefiær Ellen Isefiær (7 December 1899 – 28 September 1985) was a Norwegian actress and stage director. She staged more than 200 productions during her career. Biography Isefiær was born in Kristiansand, Norway to Thomas Engelhardt Isefiær and ...

, who initially wanted to manage a stage with a more literary orientation and moved away from farces. In May 1944, the theater donated a day's salary and income to the suffering in Bergen. A cabaret with the Danish actress and singer

Lulu Ziegler Karen Margrete Maria (Lulu) Ziegler (1903–1973) was a Danish actress, singer and theatre director who was active in both Denmark and Sweden. She gained fame as a cabaret singer in the 1930s, enchanting her audiences in her own expressive style. I ...

was the highlight of the opening of newly renovated premises (often referred to as ''Paletten'' 'The Palette') on September 14, 1945, with

Fridtjof Mjøen Fridtjof Mjøen (3 August 1897 – 21 October 1967) was a Norwegian actor and theatre director. He made his stage debut at Centralteatret in 1927. He was artistical director at Det Nye Teater from 1936 to 1937. During the 1940s and 1950s he ...

as the artistic director. Calle Moseby was also involved in the theater's management after the war, but the city's theaters frequently moved during this time, and the Carl Johan Theater was part of the Studio Theater from 1946 to 1950. Leo Lenz's comedy ''Trio'' (Norwegian title: ''To og to er tre'' 'Two and Two Are Three') was its first production, with music by

Kristian Hauger Kristian Hauger (24 October 1905 – 18 October 1977) was a Norwegian pianist, orchestra leader and composer of popular music from the late 1920s to mid 1950s. Kristian Asbjørn Hauger was born in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway. His father, H ...

and

. After the Studio Theater closed in 1950, the Carl Johan Theater was an annex theater for the Oslo New Theater until 1952. After a renovation costing

NOK Nok is a village in Jaba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria. The village is an archeological site. Archaeology The discovery of terracotta figurines at this location caused its name to be used for the Nok culture, of which these ...

200,000, the theater reopened on September 25, 1952 with a screening of Jens Bjerre's 1951 documentary film '' Himalaya – Verdens tag'' (The Himalayas: The Roof of the World). It was now operated by the company Oslo Kinematografer headed by

Kristoffer Aamot Kristoffer Aamot (26 March 1889 – 22 March 1955) was a Norwegian journalist, magazine editor, politician and cinema administrator. Personal life Born in Kristiania (now Oslo) on 26 March 1889, Aamot was a son of Anton Christiansen Aamot an ...

, who used the theater for showing films. Norway's first screening of a

3D film 3D films are motion pictures made to give an illusion of three-dimensional solidity, usually with the help of special glasses worn by viewers. They have existed in some form since 1915, but had been largely relegated to a niche in the motion pict ...

(with polaroid filters) took place here on January 18, 1953, with cartoons by

Norman McLaren William Norman McLaren, LL. D. (11 April 1914 – 27 January 1987) was a Scottish Canadian animator, director and producer known for his work for the National Film Board of Canada (NFB).Rosenthal, Alan. ''The new documentary in action: a caseb ...

, British landscape films, and some ballet. The theater ceased operating in April 1982, when it was decided that the building would be demolished. As a standalone theater it was closed in 1946.

Selected performances

Performances and screenings that took place at the Carl Johan Theater include the following: *1895: ''Hannemor'' by

Gerhart Hauptmann Gerhart Johann Robert Hauptmann (; 15 November 1862 – 6 June 1946) was a German dramatist and novelist. He is counted among the most important promoters of literary naturalism, though he integrated other styles into his work as well. He recei ...

*1921: ''

Growth of the Soil ''Growth of the Soil'' (Norwegian ''Markens Grøde'') is a novel by Knut Hamsun which won him the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920. It follows the story of a man who settles and lives in rural Norway. First published in 1917, it has since been tra ...

'', directed by

Gunnar Sommerfeldt Gunnar Sommerfeldt (4 September 1890 – 30 August 1947) was a Danish actor and film maker. In 1919 he directed '' Saga Borgarættarinnar'', which was released in 1920 and was the first feature film shot in Iceland. Sommerfeldt also wrote the scr ...

, preview *1926: ''Veddeløpet om en kvinne'' (Race for a Woman), silent film *1930: ''Der Balletterzherzog'' (''The Prince and the Dancer''; Norwegian title ''Wienerblod'' 'Vienna Blood'), directed by

Max Neufeld Max Neufeld (13 February 1887 – 2 December 1967) was an Austrian film director, actor and screenwriter. He directed 70 films between 1919 and 1957. He directed the 1934 film '' The Song of the Sun'', which starred Vittorio De Sica. Select ...

, silent film *1931: ''Med beltebil gjennom Finnmark og Lappland'' (By Tracked Vehicle through Finnmark and Lappland), directed by Edvard Vethe, silent film *1931, 1938: ''

Meine Schwester und ich ''Meine Schwester und ich'' (''My Sister and I'') is a musical comedy in two acts with prelude and postlude. Ralph Benatzky composed the music and also wrote the libretto together with Robert Blum. Benatzky based the work on a contemporary comedy ...

'' (''My Sister and I''; Norwegian title: ''Min søster og jeg'') by

Ralph Benatzky Ralph Benatzky (5 June 1884 – 16 October 1957), born in Mährisch Budwitz (Moravské Budějovice) as Rudolph Franz rantišekJosef Benatzky, was an Austrian composer of Moravian origin. He composed operas and operettas, such as ''Casanova'' ( ...

, operetta *1932: ''Det blå Hawaii'' (Blue Hawaii), directed by B. W. Paker, starring

Erling Hanson Erling Georg Stefan Hanson (May 1, 1888 – August 16, 1978) was a Norwegian stage and film actor. Life Erling Hanson was born in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway, the son of the physician Alfred Hanson (1844–1819) and Emmy Amalie Hanson (née J ...

and

Else Heiberg Else Cathrine Heiberg (November 5, 1910 – November 25, 1972) was a Norwegian actress. Heiberg started her professional career as a pianist and dance teacher, and she made her stage debut at Bergen's National Theater in 1934 in the role of a y ...

, premiere

References

{{coord, 59, 54, 52, N, 10, 44, 16, E, type:landmark_region:NO_dim:930, display=title Theatres in Oslo 1893 establishments in Norway 1946 disestablishments in Norway