Gillis Grafstrom Appreciation; fascinating film

[Frau Muller]

I recently found this fascinating film of the great Gillis Grafstrom’s 1932 Olympic free skate, including a bit of time warming up…before jumping right into his program from the boards…not setting up first by skating to center ice - yikes! (Perhaps this film begins after he reportedly ran into an on-ice photographer? Maybe we just see him pick-up the routine after the accident?)

Much of this film includes sound, skating to Julius Fucik’s famous circus march (“Entrance of the Gladiators”)…which I normally associate with clowns, so it initially took me aback.

Gillis Grafstrom, Swedish figure skater, warming up for figure...

Gillis Grafstrom, Swedish figure skater, warming up for figure skating routine in Olympic Arena / Grafstrom performing routine / Grafstrom performing routine, camera swings over to crowd, some people...

www.gettyimages.com

I believe that this took place in the recently-renovated Lake Placid Jack Shea Arena (1932 Arena). It was the first Olympic FS event held indoor.

 

[Frau Muller]

I’m still looking for a biography book on Grafstrom, in any language, if anybody knows. According to this Skate Guard blog …

Gold Standard: The Gillis Grafström Story

Everything you want to know about the history of figure skating in one place! An authoritative archive of over a century of figure skating history.

skateguard1.blogspot.com

….some sort of bio by one Olof Groth may exist in Swedish…but is it a book? Series of notes? Loose archival materials?

Fascinating that so little has been published (in print) about this most decorated figure skater EVER: golds in 1920 (Antwerp, summer Os), 1924 & 1928 PLUS silver in 1932. All traditional single event…no team event medals back then!

 

[floskate]

Wow what a find! Thank you for sharing that. Here is some more of Gillis at Lake Placid. There's also footage of some of the other mens competitors including the first double sal and double loop from Montgomery Wilson of Canada. The link starts at Grafstrom:

https://youtu.be/9h0RK6h7h5A?t=447

 

[Frau Muller]

Thanks, floskate! I had seen the ISU film before…but interesting to compare this with the Getty film, as they’re taken from different angles.

ISU silent film superimposed the Gounod Waltz; Getty film has the true music.

One begins earlier (Getty) but ISU shows what Getty missed when it swung the camera toward the audience.

Now I’m wondering if the camera of the Getty film got more? Maybe the full Karl Schafer FS with music? Treasures in someone’s attic?

 

[floskate]

Thanks, floskate! I had seen the ISU film before…but interesting to compare this with the Getty film, as they’re taken from different angles.

ISU silent film superimposed the Gounod Waltz; Getty film has the true music.

One begins earlier (Getty) but ISU shows what Getty missed when it swung the camera toward the audience.

Now I’m wondering if the camera of the Getty film got more? Maybe the full Karl Schafer FS with music? Treasures in someone’s attic?

Exactly. If this exists there must be more!!

 

[Frau Muller]

Exactly. If this exists there must be more!!

The Getty collection of films includes more 1932 Winter Olympics titles…

18,308 1932 Winter Olympics Stock Videos, Footage, & 4K Video Clips - Getty Images

Explore Authentic 1932 Winter Olympics Stock Videos & Footage For Your Project Or Campaign. Less Searching, More Finding With Getty Images.

www.gettyimages.com

…including nearly 3 minutes of gold medalist Karl Schafer’s (Austria) free program:

Three shots of Austria's Karl Schafer performing figure skating...

Three shots of Austria's Karl Schafer performing figure skating routine in Olympic Arena / Note: exact day not known

www.gettyimages.com