What's Old Is New Again: New Articles Re: Figure Skating History

[SkateGuard]

Racism At The Rink, the latest Skate Guard blog and the first in a five-part series in conjunction with Black History Month, explores two heartbreaking tales of skating rink racism:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/01/racism-at-rink.html

There's also a Pinterest board up with some wonderful photos, videos and articles up at http://www.pinterest.com/SkateGuard.

 

[skatesindreams]

Many, many thanks, Ryan; for bringing these important stories to our attention.

 

[Cleo1782]

I would live to see a Whatever Happened To answers....

Shep Clark is now a jewelry designer...
https://youtu.be/8Qr-3wmMhQI

Debi Thomas needs help...
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity...gure-skater-debi-thomas-broke-jobless-2015911

Shepard Clark has been schilling jewelry since his skating days. I think he had a booth at Nationals seriously. His wiki page also says he has been inducted into the Skating World Hall of Fame??? Did I miss something?

 

[SkateGuard]

You're welcome skatesindreams! Just posted the latest blog, Skating Puts Its Skate In Its Mouth: Blackface Minstrel Shows On Ice, this afternoon:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/skating-puts-it-skate-in-its-mouth.html

Shepard Clark has been schilling jewelry since his skating days. I think he had a booth at Nationals seriously. His wiki page also says he has been inducted into the Skating World Hall of Fame??? Did I miss something?

That would be the Hall Of Fame at the World Figure Championship:

http://worldfigurechampionship.com/news.html

 

[Cleo1782]

You're welcome skatesindreams! Just posted the latest blog, Skating Puts Its Skate In Its Mouth: Blackface Minstrel Shows On Ice, this afternoon:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/skating-puts-it-skate-in-its-mouth.html



That would be the Hall Of Fame at the World Figure Championship:

http://worldfigurechampionship.com/news.html

Got it. The way it was worded on his wiki was confusing. Looking at the site-what a throw back to early 90's skater. It's cool people are still doing figures and mad respect. I don't think I could do an outside loop these days. It's a shame that most skaters can't tell a chawtaw from a three turn

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest Skate Guard blog introduces the story of Eddie B. Henderson, who broke the colour barrier in competitive figure skating in the late 50's/early 60's:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/from-cotton-club-to-camel-spins-eddie-b.html

 

[skatesindreams]

My goodness, what an amazing person!
One can only imagine what he might have accomplished had he had the opportunity to study and compete earlier.

I'm grateful that he had so many gifts; and the chance to pursue/contribute to society, using each of them.
Bravo!

 

[SkateGuard]

Could not agree skatesindreams! Before I stumbled upon his story, I had never heard of him... incredibly talented musician and his role in skating history most certainly deserves recognition.

 

[SkateGuard]

Couldn't not agree more I mean to say... time for more coffee!

 

[skatesindreams]

Before I stumbled upon his story, I had never heard of him

Neither had I, which embarrassed me, given how carefully I've followed the sport!

 

[SkateGuard]

The first of this week's trio of Skate Guard blogs, Making History: Three Decades Of African American Figure Skating Pioneers, is up:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/making-history-three-decades-of-african.html

Plenty more great reads on figure skating history in the news recently as well...

"International Figure Skating" magazine piece on Hayes Alan Jenkins' 1956 Olympic win: https://www.ifsmagazine.com/hayes-alan-jenkins-olympic-glory/
CapeCod.com piece on the Old Joseph P. Kennedy Rink: http://www.capecod.com/lifestyle/cool-memories-the-old-joseph-p-kennedy-rink/
The Fenimore Art Museum's exhibit of Dick Button's skating collection: http://www.thedailystar.com/news/lo...cle_fcf5df6c-6cf0-52db-8833-d05e83edbe12.html

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest Skate Guard blog - and the final installment in a five-part series in conjunction with Black History Month - explores The History Of Figure Skating In Harlem:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/the-history-of-figure-skating-in-harlem.html

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest #SkateGuard blogs:

Patinage Poetry: The Language Of The Ice (Part Six): http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/patinage-poetry-language-of-ice-part-six.html
The Sabena Aftermath, Part One: An Unlikely Comeback: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/the-sabena-aftermath-part-one-unlikely.htmls

Skating history in the news...

Article on the Peterborough FSC's 70th anniversary show which touches on the club's history: http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer....ala-ice-show-march-24-and-open-house-march-25

 

[skatesindreams]

The Sabena Aftermath, Part One: An Unlikely Comeback: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/the-sabena-aftermath-part-one-unlikely.htmls

This page is "not available", Ryan.

 

[SkateGuard]

This page is "not available", Ryan.

Just checked the link and you're quite correct. Looks like there was an extra 's' on the end... Here's the correct link:

http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/the-sabena-aftermath-part-one-unlikely.html

 

[SkateGuard]

Today, on the anniversary of the 1961 Sabena Crash... the second installment in Skate Guard's three-part series on The Sabena Aftermath, which looks at the story of Gertrude 'Grammy' Vinson:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/the-sabena-aftermath-part-two-gertrude.html

 

[skatesindreams]

Mrs Vinson was a remarkable woman, in every way.

 

[aftershocks]

^^ As was her daughter, Maribel, from whom's spirit Mrs. Vinson apparently gained such positive energy to carry on. Unimaginable to experience something like that (losing your daughter and two granddaughters in one fell swoop) at any time, much less in your golden years when your husband is also no longer with you. I shudder to think of it.

And watching the short video tribute USFS put together awhile back (http://www.usfigureskating.org/story?id=83999) as part of remembrance and fundraising efforts, reminds us anew of what a terrible shock and inarticulate grievous moment so many experienced who survived that era. I was struck by Christy Krall's recollections which touched afresh a part of her that will never get over the memory of what happened to friends and coaches she knew so well.

 

[SkateGuard]

Agreed, skatesindreams & aftershocks!

FYI... The Patterson And Radix Report, part 3/3 of Skate Guard's series on The Sabena Aftermath is online... and it's a must read:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/the-sabena-aftermath-part-three.html

 

[skatesindreams]

Thank you, for sharing an unknown portion of this historic story, Ryan.

 

[SkateGuard]

Thank you, for sharing an unknown portion of this historic story, Ryan.

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed reading!

The first of this week's trio of Skate Guard blogs takes a brief look back at The 1981 Australian Figure Skating Championships:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/the-1981-australian-figure-skating.html

 

[Josh78]

I find it so unbelievably interesting that there could EVER have been any sort of bad blood between the U.S. and Australia -- every Australian person I have gotten the pleasure to know has always been wonderfully open and cordial!​

 

[SkateGuard]

I find it so unbelievably interesting that there could EVER have been any sort of bad blood between the U.S. and Australia -- every Australian person I have gotten the pleasure to know has always been wonderfully open and cordial!​

Here are two really good reads about the U.S./Australian relationship during WWII which delve into that complicated relationship a little bit better than I could ever hope to:

http://ergo.slv.vic.gov.au/explore-history/australia-wwii/home-wii/americans-australia
http://www.ww2australia.gov.au/allin/yanksdownunder.html

I've got the second of this week's trio of Skate Guard blogs up! It looks at the story of Hans Leiter, an Austrian ice comedian whose professional career spanned decades:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/send-in-clown-comedy-stylings-of-hans.html

 

[jersey1302]

" Peggy Flemming: I like it in your country" LOL nice switch.

 

[SkateGuard]

" Peggy Flemming: I like it in your country" LOL nice switch.

Certainly quite different from "Peggy Fleming Visits The Soviet Union"... wouldn't be the only skating special that was marketed under more than one name.

 

[jersey1302]

Certainly quite different from "Peggy Fleming Visits The Soviet Union"... wouldn't be the only skating special that was marketed under more than one name.

Really?! what other ones

 

[SkateGuard]

Really?! what other ones

Several televised skating specials in the 90's for instance. Canon's Elvis Tour Of Champions was marked as Elvis On Ice, Tom Collins' tour appeared under a host of variations of names... Those are just a couple off the top of my head.

The third of this week's trio of Skate Guard blogs is online! Check out Overruled: The Stories Of Two Forgotten Skating Lawyers:

http://www.facebook.com/SkateGuard
http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/overruled-stories-of-two-forgotten.html

 

[SkateGuard]

The latest Skate Guard blogs...

This month's edition of #Unearthed is a piece penned by the late Frances Dafoe: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/unearthed-frances-dafoe-edition.html
A look at the history of The Vasilyevsky Island Rink: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/03/the-vasilyevsky-island-rink.html

 

[Josh78]

A look at the history of The Vasilyevsky Island Rink: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/03/the-vasilyevsky-island-rink.html

So interesting! Maybe that's just how the expression "praying to the skate gods" got it origin? lol

 

[skatesindreams]

This month's edition of #Unearthed is a piece penned by the late Frances Dafoe: http://skateguard1.blogspot.ca/2017/02/unearthed-frances-dafoe-edition.html

Thanks so much for sharing this!