Theodor Larsson

Theodor Larsson (1880–1937) was a Swedish songwriter and comedian.

Larsson was born June 8, 1880 in Gylle parish near the town of Trelleborg in Skåne. He died June 30, 1937 in Mjölby. A Swedish bondkomiker (rustic comic) and lyricist, his professional name was Skånska Lasse (Skåning Lasse). He worked as a cabinetmaker in Malmö, then for a short time in Stockholm before moving to Östergötland, where he found employment at a furniture factory in Mjölby. It was during his time there that Larsson embarked on his course as an entertainer. He often performed in a long coat with a flowery vest while playing the accordion. Married twice, he was the father of eleven children, several of whom also became entertainers.

A prolific songwriter, Larsson developed a talent for writing lyrics about topical events. He even found humor in technological advances as his protagonists grappled with electricity, radio and motorized transport. The song Motorcykeln (The Motorcycle) became a hit for the singer Ernst Rolf and was also recorded in America by Olle i Skratthult and Ragnar Hasselgren. Another of his compositions, Josefin mä symaskin (Josephine with the sewing machine), crossed the Atlantic in a version by Bert Leman.

Skånska Lasse made many recordings himself. Sven Svenssons Sven — later recorded by the Swedish-American singers Olle i Skratthult and Charles G. Widdén — brought up the subject of temperance while De rysliga bolshevikerna (The terrible bolsheviks) was a sly piece of political satire. The latter song was recorded in 2009 by the Swedish actor Sven Wollter.

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