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 | ·
·
· | First world championships for pairs skating
Skating introduced to the Olympics
Ice Ballet conceived in Berlin - interrupted by WW1 |
| 1913 | · | First large scale professional ice show staged at the Admiral Palast in Berlin, Germany. Cast of 65 and the star was a local girl, Charlotte Oelschlagel |
| 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) |
| 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.
“Enchanted Night” and “The Brahmin’s Daughter” was presented at the Royal Opera House , Covent Garden starring Belita, the Brunets and Phil Taylor (Barrel Jumper). The show was a huge flop
“Thin Ice” Sonja’s second film |
| 1938 | · | International Ice Review - a touring show headlined by Karl Schaeffer, Maribel Vinson and Guy Owen. |
| 1940’s | ·
· | “Hollywood Ice Revue” starring Sonja Henie , toured and promoted her projects
“It Happens on Ice” at Center Theatre, a 3000 seat Theatre. Hugely successful |
| 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 |
| 1945 | · | “Suspense’ - Possibly Belita’s best know movie |
| 1950 | ·
· | 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”
Wembley Arena Staged 3 month long winter ice shows annually |
| 1952 | · | First World Championship in ice dancing |
| 1969 | · | “Champions on Ice “ an exhibition-style tour of world champion skaters produced by Tom Collins |
| 1973 | · | World Professional Figure Skating Championship in Tokyo presented by Dick Button |
| 1976 | · | John Curry passes on traditional shows to mount his own show, “Ice Dancing” to present skating as a repertoire art |
| 1984 | · | John Curry’s Ice Dance Company opened at the Metropolitan Opera Center in New York City |
| 1997 | · | American Open Professional Figure Skating Championship established by Scott Williams |
