ICE CAPADES - America’s #1 Family Show

Members of the Arena Managers Association, delighted with tickets sales at their venues for “Ice Follies” and for Sonja Henie’s personal appearances, met in Hershey, Pennsylvania, on Valentines Day, 1940 to discuss forming their own ice revue to play their buildings. Bandying words about while seeking a name one popped up - “escapades.” It was quickly adapted - and adopted - as the name of their new revue.

Luckily one of the founding members, John H. Harris of Pittsburgh, was made president and later producer. Harris, a tireless hands-on showman, brilliantly headed “Ice Capades” with enormous drive for 24 years. He engaged innovative dance choreographers to devise crowd- pleasing routines and stunning productions, brought beloved Walt Disney characters and stories to the ice, and adapted great Broadway and film musicals - even opera - to the frozen stage. As with rival “Ice Follies” the public flocked to see the thrills and beauty of skating, from solos and romantic pairs to large precision groups, all interspersed with comedy and variety acts in a family-friendly theatrical spectacle. In 1946 the two rival companies co-produced “Ice Cycles” to tour smaller cities. It became “Ice Capades International” after three seasons.

John H. Harris built ”Ice Capades” into a multi-million dollar organization with several troupes touring North America each year, personally overseeing everything from casting to advertising. Its great success continued from 1964 to 1986 as a Metromedia company, then Tom Scallen guided it through its gala 50th anniversary season until 1991.

Longtime star Dorothy Hamill became new owner/producer and changed the revue into an ice ballet for three years, Evangelist Pat Robertson followed - as did bankruptcies. “Ice Capades” sadly ended not with a bang but a whimper in 2000.