Norway Nostalgia
One of my fondest memories of Norway is lomper and gudbrandsdalsost cheese. Lomper is best described as a potato tortilla. It’s great wrapped around a hot dog but if you’re vegetarian you can treat it the way you treat a tortilla, pita, etc. Gudbrandalsost is a sweet brown cheese. I swear I gained 10lbs during my 2 month Norwegian stay because I was hooked on lomper not to mention smoked salmon, lingonberry jam, sausages, Norwegian waffles, and Norwegian pancakes. Unfortunately I can’t get lomper and gudbrandsdalsost where I live. I found a recipe for lomper but failed. All I have now are memories and the occasional google image.
Now why was I in Norway fattening myself up with their good food? I found an internship with the Norwegian Emigrant Museum. I wrote the museum stating my love for Norwegian-American stars and to my surprise, the museum had just inherited a Greta Nissen collection including photos, newspaper/magazine clippings, paintings, and letters. I was offered to create a database. Who is Greta Nissen? Well she was a well-known actress during the silent era. She was set to star in Howard Hughes Hell’s Angels (referenced in the film, The Aviator) but since it was to be redone as a talkie, the part went to Jean Harlow. Unfortunately in the annals of film history, this is Nissen’s most famous role, a role that was not to be.
My biggest regret from my Norway sejour was not visiting the Sonja Henie Museum. Sonja Henie, the Olympian ice-skater was top-box office in the 30s. She, along with Tai Babilonia and Katarina Witt, is one reason I enjoy ice-skating. I can’t think of a bigger Norwegian Hollywood star. I also thank her because she along with Betty Grable, Alice Faye, John Payne, Don Ameche (I saw him in real life when he filmed a movie in my hometown), and Carmen Miranda were the ones who introduced me to classic films.
Is is fun to see that you worked at a museum in Norway. THAT is something on my list of things to do. I just had some Ekte Gjetost, yum!
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I’m not familiar with the Norwegian stars (Vera Zorina, Celeste Holm and Arlene Dahl) you are talking about. I’d love to hear more. Can you tell us about the Norwegian cinema, past and present, it sounds interesting.
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So almost 5 years later, I haven’t forgotten! I’m hoping to see Arlene Dahl next month so I plan to have a write-up on her late November/early December.
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Lots of interesting culture! And your making me hungry, I miss the Norwegian pancakes!
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Gary,
With either Lingonberries or Molte, maybe I’ll make some on Saturday!!
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Hey,
I haven’t forgotten about posting on the Norwegian and Norwegian descent Hollywood stars. I’ve just been busy but will soon. I have to at least post something every week or a few times a month on the blog. My Sun Valley Seranade post on the first page mentions Sonja Henie…she’s such an appropriate person at the moment because of the Winter Olympics.
I Remember Mama is an old Hollywood film about a Norwegian-American family.
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Sonja Henie once shaked hands with the uncle of William Patrick Stuart-Houston!
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