HISTORY OF ICE SHOWS SUBJECT OF NEW BOOK Shows such as Ice Capades, Holiday on Ice
Lake Placid 2012 Hall of Fame inductees (l-r) Jim Shea, Sr., Jack and Joan Devitt, Charles Walker and Shirley Hosler
THREE INDUCTED INTO LAKE PLACID HALL OF FAME It was an evening to remember on Sept. 15 in Lake Placid, N.Y.,
when fi gure skating coaches Joan and Jack Devitt and skating offi - cial Charles Walker were inducted into the Lake Placid Hall of Fame. Joan and Jack Devitt have taught fi gure skating in Lake Placid
for more than 40 years, choreographed and produced club shows, founded the club’s Secondhand Shop and were co-chairs of the fi rst coaching seminars for U.S. Figure Skating and PSA. Students have included 1978 U.S. junior pairs bronze medalists Leanne and Jeff LaBrake, and U.S. competitor and U.S. Figure Skating Eastern Vice President Kathaleen Kelly Cutone. Walker has been involved in fi gure skating for many years, fi rst
as an ice skater and then as an offi cial. Walker was the fi rst African American to be appointed as a U.S. Figure Skating test judge. In the Lake Placid community, he has volunteered for many organizations. Walker is also a singer and has performed at weddings and church gatherings. Although Walker resides in Middletown, N.Y., he says his home will always be Lake Placid. To be selected as a Lake Placid Hall of Fame member, one must
make signifi cant contributions to the sports, civic or cultural land- scape of Lake Placid and the surrounding communities, as well as enrich the quality of life in the region.
— Christie Sausa
and Ice Follies are an important piece of Ameri- can entertainment history. The skaters who per- formed in these shows brought the excitement and glamour of fi gure skating to cities and towns across the country, enchanting audiences wher- ever they went. Jimmy Lawrence, a featured per- former in three ice shows, provides a glimpse into the heyday of show skating with his new book, titled Memories of the Great American Ice Shows. Ice shows began in Europe during the
early part of the 20th century and eventually made their way to the United States by the 1930s. Some of the most popular and beloved skaters of alltime performed in these shows, including Peggy Flem- ing, Dorothy Hamill, Tai Babilonia and Randy Gardner. After becoming the Midwest junior champion and a nationally
ranked novice skater, Lawrence joined Ice Capades at age 16. He skat- ed in Ice Capades, Ice Cycles and Holiday on Ice for 15 years. The book begins with a brief introduction about the birth of ice
shows before delving into Lawrence’s personal skating background and journey to become a show skater. He also includes narratives from several other skaters in the book, which provide the reader with a rich, full perspective. Lawrence’s descriptive, intelligent writing style makes the reader
feel like a member of the audience at one of the shows, captivated by the innovation and showmanship on the ice. His book helps others relive the special memories created by the shows. To purchase Memories of the Great American Ice Shows, visit