How Do You Pronounce Ojala's Name?

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Anyone know how to pronounce Hollywood fast gun trainer Arvo Ojala's last name?

He trained James Arness and other Hollywood actors, and developed the holster worn by most.

He was a Swede, I think, so the "J" shoudn't become an "H", as in Spanish, I guess?

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I have always heard it as O-ja-la.
Long O, two soft a's, like ha-ha.
Definite J sound.
That's also the way Arvo said it when I talked to him! :D
 
It's a proper "J" as in jello. I think he was Norwegian and someone once told me years ago he didn't like it when people pronounced his name "Ohala". I'm not sure, but I think on the Silverado DVD, in the special features part, Kevin Kline says he's Norwegian but pronounces it "Ohala". It also show Arvo fast drawing on the set of "Silverado". I've always been interested in him. I talked to him on the phone in the 80's when I ordered a gunrig from him. A great guy. He'd talk forever about movie/tv stars. He set me some cool literature in 1985. It's on a frame on my wall. Out of curiosity, what makes you bring it up? Oh, BTW. I still have the black southpaw rig I got from him back then. I think his son ran the shop then. One of my prized possesions that actually still fits!
 
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Forgot. You mentioned James Arness. Ojala told me he was making his rigs in his garage at first. He had high quality German (I think) sewing machines. He said he was working in there one day when a huge figure stepped into the doorway blocking the light. It was James Arness coming to order his first holster. Probably soon after Arvo got his shop on Lankenship Blvd. in L.A. I have a book about TV westerns and in the first episodes Arness isin't wearing an Ojala rig. Hey, I could talk about this guy forever...
 
Arvo, AR,VO. "Ya gonna skin those pistols or whistle dixie?"
Some day I might own one of Mr. Ojala's rigs. I'm still lookin. VERY cool factor!:cool:
 
sasu said:
His name is Finnish.

It is pronounced O-yah-lah, or in proncunciation symbols

\ä\ - \y\ \'ǝ\ - \l\ \'ǝ\

\ ä \ as o in mop
\ y \ as y in yet
\ 'ǝ \ as u in abut
\ l \ as l in lily
Merriam-Webster Online pronunciation symbols
Click to expand...
You're right. Finnish. I was thinking Norwegian. But he definetly pronounded the second letter as a "J". Regardless of how it's normally done.
 
feralmerril said:
That J is sounded like a H. Ohala.
Click to expand...

That is an old Spanish expression dating from when the Arabs occupied Spain re 1450. The translation is something like "may Allah grant that it be so". Current use is "I hope so" or sarcastically "in your dreams". I would be ticked if my name was confused with it.
 
mtgianni said:
That is an old Spanish expression dating from when the Arabs occupied Spain re 1450. The translation is something like "may Allah grant that it be so". Current use is "I hope so" or sarcastically "in your dreams". I would be ticked if my name was confused with it.
Click to expand...


I think that may be, "As God wills." in sh' Allah? (sp?) I'll ask my son. He spent some time (and left some blood) in Iraq, and speaks fair Arabic.

Sasu-

Thanks. I guess you'd know a Finnish name when you see one! ;) I did read that he was a Swede, but the writer may have gotten that wrong.

I can pronounce "Sako" correctly, having had that explained to me by a man from the Finnish Embassy and a rep from the Sako factory. I also went to school with a Finnish exchange student, who owned one.

If anyone is interested, it's "Sock-o", not "Sayko," which is a Japanese watch brand. :D (Seiko) And I was indeed thinking of him because of the thread on Bill Jordan. I met Jordan a number of times, but never saw Ojala.

Apparently, both coached James Arness, who is/was the brother of Peter Graves. The family name was originally spelled "Aurness." Hollywood wanted some changes...

T-Star
 
Texas Star said:
I can pronounce "Sako" correctly, having had that explained to me by a man from the Finnish Embassy and a rep from the Sako factory. I also went to school with a Finnish exchange student, who owned one.

If anyone is interested, it's "Sock-o", not "Sayko," which is a Japanese watch brand. :D T-Star
Click to expand...

Years ago, Sako ran magazine ads that showed a large cotton sock in the pic. NO mistaking that it was a sock.
The text read "It's Sock-O" in large letters.
Anyone remember those?

Next test-
How is Leupold pronounced, according to the factory? :D
 
Having grown up around several Ojalas in northern Minnesota, I was used to hearing the name pronounced in the Finnish manner (O-yah-lah).

Arvo's son Jon was a Warrant Officer in my company in the 9th ID at Fort Lewis, WA in the mid-80s, and he pronounced his name as "o-JAH-lah".
Must be the corrupting influence of Hollywood.

Jon was doing most of the holster leatherwork for his father at the time, with the old man doing the final inspection and "approval". My departing gift from the unit was a "Paladin" model holster with my name inside the belt.
 
woodsltc said:
OK, I'll give it a try....... "Luu - pold" or if you like "Lew -pold".

How'd I do teach??

Don
Click to expand...
Dead on.
I always enjoy it at a gun show when I pick up a scope, and ask "How much for the LEW-pold?"
The guy usually responds with "You mean the LEE-OH-POLLLLED?"
I just smile, and say "Yeah."
 
Everything I've read on Arvo is that he pronounced his last name O-JAH-la, not O-YAH-la. That seems to jibe with the report on how his son pronounces his name.
 
He and his daughter were at the SHOT show years ago and I met them. It does not matter how the Swedes, Norwegians, Finns, or actors mispronounce the name. They pronounced it with the "J" sound, just like Handejector said.
 
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