#why worry

Baby, I see this world has made you sad

Some people can be bad

The things they do, the things they say

But baby, I'll wipe away those bitter tears

I'll chase away those restless fears

That turn your blue skies into gray

Why worry?

There should be laughter after pain

There should be sunshine after rain

These things have always been the same

Jobyna Ralston & Harold Lloyd

Did you know that one of the tallest actors in history was from Minneapolis?

Born in 1890 in Minneapolis, Johan "John" Aasen grew up mainly on farms in North Dakota. Accounts of his height vary wildly, and it was reported to be anywhere from a little over seven feet to nearly nine feet tall! (7’2″-7'5" seems to be his most likely height)

John Aasen became a well-known celebrity in the 1920's and 30's as a showman. He began his showmanship career traveling with carnivals and sideshows as “The Norwegian Giant.”

Life in the circus gave Johan economic security and a social life, together with others who were “different”, but in 1922 an iconoclastic event occurred that resulted in a total change of direction in Johan’s life. Silent film star/director Harold Lloyd’s producer, Hal Roach, was desperately seeking a tall man because George Auger, “The Cardiff Giant”, had just passed away—just before filming for his next silent film, “Why Worry”, was about to take place. They quickly needed a replacement for the giant’s part in the film. Coincidentally, someone from the film team had read about a shoemaker in Minnesota who had made a pair of giant shoes, and through him they found Johan Aasen.

This was Johan’s breakthrough and—ultimately—his greatest success in the silent film business. He eventually played a part in seven films, up to his last performance in the murder mystery “Charlie Chan at the Circus” in 1936. One of these films had a sound track, but Johan wasn’t well suited for sound movies because he had a relatively high-pitched voice that didn’t match what would have been expected from such a large man.

Stuck in my head since yesterday ♫♩