Variety (January 1953)

266 Forly-sevcnlh P^fiS&IE TY Anniversary Wednesday, January 7, 1953 Congratulations and Holiday Greetings to all of our friends NICHOLAS BROTHERS Direction WILLIAM MORRIS AGENCY Development in Vienna Of the Iceshow By ROBERT STOLZ Vienna. If anybody should ask me today to say what has been my most in- teresting work during the past year, I would reply without much hesitation that it was the composi- tion of the music for the 1953 pro- gram of the Viennese iceshow. The program is entitled “Eternal Eve” and is a first attempt to present an Original operetta on ice. It fills me with great pride that I have taken part in the develop- ment of the Viennese iceshow, be- cause the primary stage of the Viennes iceshow dates far back and is of greater importance than any other show can claim for itself. The true musicality which is part of the Viennese mentality is one of the reasons why Viennese skaters appear to possess all quali- ties for combining their artistic abilities to a unique harmony which can hardly be surpassed. The fact that the Viennese iceshow has chosen for its home the prem- ises of the Vienna Skating Society, which is celebrating its 85th anni- versary, may find its explanation in the general opinion that this in- stitution is the cradle of Austrian skating activity. Since the foundation in 1867, skating sports in Vienna recorded a steady progress. The first skat- ing performance of the world-fa- CHARLES CHANEY My one way. of personally reaching my many friends throughout the United States and Canada to extend the Season’s Best Wishes, Sincerely, Qlpanlia mous Jackson Maines, who laid the foundation stone for the so-called Viennese school, for the first time attracted large audiences. Even Emperor Franz Joseph and his court attended a show. Thus the spell was broken for skating sports, and in the course of the years this branch of sports, besides numerous active followers, attracted specta- tors in ever-increasing numbers. | Only Males First Took Part | At that time, however, it was only suitable for the male sex to take an active interest in this sport. It was the famous actress, Auguste Wilbrand-Baudius, at that time en- gaged at the Burg Theatre, who overcame this prejudice and ap- peared as the first lady on skates. It is due to the courage of this pro- gressively-minded actress that in the early days of skating the ice- rinks were adorned by members of the gentler sex. During the fol- lowing years this beautiful sport became immensely popular. Around 1877 the first fancy dress balls on ice were held in Vienna, originating from the sparkling joie de vivre of that time. Born by the unconscious, profound musical- ity of the Viennese population, they were the forerunners of the show on ice. Another event which greatly in- fluenced the development of skat- ing sports was a performance of the Norwegian, Axel Paulsen, who, with his keen jumps (one of them, a jump with one and a half turns, is today still one of the most im- portant properties of every artist on ice) created a sensation and great enthusiasm. Austrian ice- skaters became famous and won may championships the world over. I But our skaters strove for more ! than contests. | Everincreasing was the desire to present to the spectators their skill on the glittering ice to the catching rhythm of music. With the increas- ing technical skill, new possibilities were realized, and from single per- formances, first from characteristic dances, exhibition skating in cos- tumes became popular with a cer- tain musical number to suit the occasion. One of the greatest and first in this field was Viennese-born Melitt'a Brunner, who scored tri- umphal success with her dances throughout the world. It was the Vienna Skating So- ciety which arranged the public performance of the first great pan- tomime on ice in 1932. The first attempt was entitled “Engagement at the Court of the Winter King” 1 and was enthusiastically received by Viennese audiences. Remark- able in the further development of this line of exhibition skating is the charming choreographic crea- tion of Papetz-Zwack, “Then and Now,” which the couple presented in costumes. Papetz-Zwack went later to the U. S. as professionals, working in American iceshows. As a result of the political changes in Austria and the follow- ing years of war, this steadily con- tinuing development was suddenly interrupted. With the progress of war, Viennese sports, and conse- quently the activities of the So- ciety, became more and more re- stricted. Besides, the technical dif- ficulties grew into gigantic ob- j stacles. Eventually the artificial icerink could no longer be kept going and everything was back at its primary stage. r Standstill [ Thus, all operations of the So- ciety had come to an end, the en- tire life ;nd, as a consequence, all sports had come to a standstill. The last operations of the war which, unfortunately, included Vienna, caused heavy damages to the Vien- na Skating Society. All that was left at the end of the war was just a wreck and completely unusable. Under the most discouraging cir- cumstances without sufficient food, fuel, and limited to the most primi- tive facilities, they started recon- struction work. Again exhibition skating and consequently show business showed an upward tend- ency. The start of the Viennese ice- show dates back as far as the pro- duction of the picture, “The White Dream,” which was shot in Vienna. The skaters- engaged for this film worked under the direction of Will Petter, also giving occasional per* formances. They had to start from scratch and there were only a few performances. A year later a steady progress was recorded for the Viennese iceshow up to its present position. NANCY EVANS Direction - GENERAL ARTISTS CORPORATION