The Pro Skating Historical Foundation continually compiles a chronology of theatrical and professional figure skating.
Compiled by: Susan Austin. M.A.
| Date | Historical Event |
| B.C. | Skating originated in Scandinavia |
| 1st Century | Skating mentioned Scandinavian literature |
| 1180 | Monk FitzStephen describes skating in “Description of London” |
| 1396 | St. Liedwi takes a terrible fall while skating and became crippled. Subsequently becomes patron Saint of skating |
| 1660 | Charles II, Duke of Monmouth learned art of skating from Dutch ladies in exchange for teaching them English country dances |
| 1772 | A Treatise on Figure Skating, by Captain Robert Jones of London – first skating text |
| Mid 1700 | British army officers introduce skating to the North American Continent |
| 1776 | Court of Louis XVI accepted skating into the court. Marie Antoinette, a skilled dancer trained by Noverre, became a proficient skater |
| 1795 | Figure of ‘heart on one leg’ becomes universally known as a three turn |
| 1800’s | ‘Gilet Rouge’ – first artists of skating in France where expression and form were paramount |
| 1813 | Le Vrai Patineur by J. Garcin, a member of the ‘Gilet Rouge’, is first book in French |
| 1818 | Roller skating included in ballet The Artist of Winter Pleasure in Berlin |
| 1840 | Conjectured birth date of Jackson Haines |
| 1849 | Meyerbeer’s opera Le Profete – the scene ‘Anabaptist Ice Carnival’ performed on roller skates |
| 1852 | The Art of Skating by Cyclos (George Anderson) began to put order in growing repertoire and reduce figures to a system |
| 1863 | Jackson Haines first comes into fame by transferring his ballet dancing skills to ice and roller skating. Introduces theatrics and music to skating. |
| 1864 | Jackson Haines leaves U.S. to tour abroad |
| 1867 | Jackson Haines developed the “Vienna School of Skating” the beginning of International Style |
| 1875 | Jackson Haines dies in Finland |
| 1886 | First artificial ice rink, Chelsea and Charing London |
| 1880 & 90’s | First ice show in Vienna, St. Petersburg, Troppau and Munich |
| 1892 | International Skating Union founded |
| 1896 | First official world championship |
| 1906 | Ladies division established in world championships |
| 1908 | Skating introduced to the Olympics? Ice Ballet conceived in Berlin – interrupted by WW1. |
| 1914 | “Tank Era” – Performances on small sheets of ice in restaurants, hotels etc. Sherman Hotel in Chicago installed a cabaret style dinner show |
| 1915 | Berlin Ice Ballet , “Flirting at St. Moritz” brought to the New York Hippodrome by the efforts of Irving Brokaw. Ran for 300 days before a 6,000 seat house (a record on Broadway at the time). Charlotte starred in “Flirting at St Moritz”; “The Frozen Warning” Charlotte’s first and only American film |
| 1917 | Waldorf-Astoria in New York installed an ice show |
| 1924 | Sonja Henie’s first international competition (eleven years old) |
| 1926 | “Ballets on Ice” First professional ice show in England staged at the London Coliseum theatre |
| 1931 | World Professional Competition established in England (Moved to Spain in the 1960s) Mostly ice show skaters participated. |
| 1932 | After the Olympic Games at Lake Placid, the ice became stage for lavish ice shows. Casts of more than 100, lavish sets and 30 piece orchestra. In Westover, England at the Bournemouth Ice Rink, annual ice ballets were staged |
| 1933 | April – National skating association held a competition to discover and introduce new dances suitable for rink skating (ie. waltz, tango, fox trot, etc) Sept. 28 “On Ice” with Mickey and Minnie. Animated Short. Disney Production |
| 1936 | Shipstad & Johnson’s “Ice follies” First large scale, all pro touring show. Opened in Tulsa, Oklahoma Sonja Henie opened her own ice show in Madison Square Garden — broke records for attendance and receipts. (Then did a nine city tour) Sonja Henie made first movie, “One in a Million”. “Marina” ice ballet at the Sports Stadium in Brighton, England. Produced by Claude Langdon |
| 1937 | “Gay Blades” a touring company formed by Maribel Vinson and Karl Schaeffer. Toured U.S. “Sonja Henie with her Hollywood Ice Revue” presented by Chicago Stadium begins the first of many tours produced by Arthur Wirtz. |
| 1938 | International Ice Review – a touring show headlined by Karl Schaeffer, Maribel Vinson and Guy Owen. |
| 1939 | MGM Studios makes “Ice Follies of 1939”. Starring James Stewart and Joan Crawford. Skating scenes feature the “Ice follies” company. |
| 1940 | “Ice Capades” organized by John Harris pioneered the introduction of operettas and musicals to the ice show format |
| 1943 | “Silver Skates” Belita’s first movie |
| 1944 | “Holiday on Ice” – First show to travel with its own ice. Promoted by Emery Gilbert, Morris Chalfen and George Tyson. Republic Pictures stars Vera Ralston (Vera Hruba) in the film “Lake Placid Serenade” (later re-released as ”Winter Serenade”) |
| 1945 | “Suspense’ – Possibly Belita’s best know movie |
| 1946 | August – The US Army constructs the Casa Carioca open air nightclub in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, for US occupational personnel. Three tiers of tables for 700 diners overlook a 30X45 ft ice stage with retractable dance floor. “Ice Cycles of 1946” co-production of “Ice Follies and “Ice Capades” melds their skaters and previous production number to tour smaller North American cities. |
| 1947 | “Ice Vogues” is formed by “Holiday on Ice” to tour smaller cities. |
| 1948 | April Tom Arnolds “Ice Revue” The Palace Theatre, Manchester, England. With Cecilia Colledge. June 22 – NYC Roxy Theatre adds ice skating to its established stage shows that are performed several times a day between showings of first-run 20th Century Fox films. Roy Blakey has complete list of Roxy shows. The Stevens Hotel in Chicago installs a permanent 17X50 elevator-operated ice tank with retractable dance floor in its elegant Boulevard Room. |
| 1949 | “Ice Follies” drops out of “Ice Cycles of 1949” – “Ice Capades continues it as a 2nd year tour with lesser known skaters. Roller “Skating Vanities” makes the first of three annual, wildly successful summer appearances in Europe in London’s Wimbley Arena, Palais des Sport in Paris and Hallenstadion in Zurich. |
| 1950 | Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, Casa Carioca, a nightclub ice show “Alice In Wonderland” features Lydia Veicht. Also that year, American dancer Terry Rudolph directs “Yipee-Ice-Oh” the first of her ‘theme” ice productions through 1968. The first musical on ice, “Rose Marie” starring Barbara Scott and Michael Kirby. Shows that successfully followed: “Sleeping Beauty”, “Jack and the Beanstalk” “Sinbad the Sailor” and “Babes in the Wood”. “Holiday On Ice” makes first tour in Europe |
| 1952 | First World Championship in ice dancing? The legendary “Lido Cabaret” in Paris opens a new show, “Gala” American choreographers Donn Arden and Ron Fletcher include an ice skating scene on a small tank. Ice will be incorporated in every subsequent production. TV Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of the Town” 1 hr variety show includes Sonja Henie in the first televised presentation of her famous hula number. |
| 1953 | “Holiday on Ice” first tour of the Far East includes Tokyo, Japan; Djakarta, Indonesia; Manilla, Philippines. |
| 1956 | Both 1st and 2nd year companies of “Ice Capades”(have the same title (no more “Ice Cycles”) “Aeros Eis-Revue” East Germany |
| 1958 | Sonja Henie films her last film after a 10 year absence in England “Hello London”. “C’est Magnifique” opens in the Café Continental in the Stardust Hotel, Las Vegas, NV. Created by the French Lido de Paris Cabaret and staged (as in Europe) by Donn Arden it features skater Jacqueline du Bief in “Sensations of Paris” LV Stardust/Lido productions include ice skating in 13 different editions over 31 years. |
| 1959 | “Holiday on Ice” performs in Moscow, USSR, the first American ice show seen behind the Iron Curtain. |
| 1960 | “Holiday on Ice” tours Middle East and Africa |
| 1963 | “Ice Capades” sold to Metromedia |
| 1964 | “Holiday On Ice” tours the USSR (Leningrad, Moscow and Kiev), a cultural exchangeStardust Hotel, Las Vegas, NV. Created by the French Lido de Paris Cabaret “Bravo!” with skaters Powers & Parker in “Commedia Dell’Arte”Maxi u. Ernst Baier “Berlin Eis Revue” becomes “Holiday on Ice 1964” touring Germany, melding both show’s production numbers and cast members in preparation for a tour of Asia. |
| 1969 | “Tour of World Figure Skating Champions “ an exhibition-style tour of world champion skaters produced by Tom Collins. |
| 1970 | Nov 5 – Casa Carioca club completely destroyed by fire |
| 1973 | World Professional Figure Skating Championship in Tokyo presented by Dick Button |
| 1976 | “John Curry Theatre of Skating” opens at the Cambridge Theatre, London, England |
| 1978 | John Curry’s “Ice Dancing” opens at The Felt Forum of Madison Square Garden in NYC for a two week run |
| 1980 | “Ice Follies” sold to Feld Entertainment. |
| 1981 | “Disney On Ice” presented by Feld Entertainment . |
| 1984 | John Curry’s Ice Dance Company opened at the Metropolitan Opera Center in New York City |
| 1986 | “Stars On Ice” An exhibition based show is founded by Scott Hamilton |
| 1991 | “Ice Capades” Files for bankruptcy. |
| 1993 | “Ice Capades” Bought by Dorothy Hamill. |
| 1995 | “Ice Capades” out of business |
| 1997 | American Open Professional Figure Skating Championship established by Scott Williams |
| 2007 | “Champions On Ice” presented by Tom Collins closes after 38 year run. “Blades Of Glory” a Dreamworks production starrring Will Ferrell spoofs figure skating |