Oh to have a Second Life
In a tribute to the 18 years (1986 – 2003) of Christmas Ice Show extravaganzas, the Museum in 2007 had an exhibition of some of the marvelous costumes from those shows which were donated to the Museum for its permanent collection. Jennifer Langeberg-Vaughn, who designed the costumes and her mother Charlotte gave invaluable help to the Museum in planning and staging the costumes.
In the years since the shows were discontinued the Arena and our family have discussed what to do with the over 500 linear feet of costumes belonging to the Arena.
About 2 years ago Karen Kresge, who was the choreographer for the Christmas Ice Shows, talked to the family about donating some of the costumes to the Ice Theater of New York and the San Francisco Ice Theater both of whom have several ice show performances during the year. We agreed it would be good to see these beautiful costumes have a second life. Karen, Lisa Navarro and Paige Scott, all of whom had skated in the shows as well as directing and assisting, and therefore who knew each costume and each number they came from (and who probably could have whistled the music) spent several weeks meticulously recording the costumes, selecting suitable ones for each arena and packing and sending them; a yeoman’s work! Below are links to the two ice shows that have used our costumes:
Ice Theater of New York http://www.snoopyshomeice.com/video/debonair
San Francisco Ice Theater http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xpg2QsAuTBs
San Francisco Ice Theater http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBJyy2UxUFg
In the 70’s Snoopy skated several times on television in Ice Follies productions, all shown on NBC. In 1978, Snoopy’s Musical on Ice was filmed here in the Redwood Empire Ice Arena and aired on CBS. As usual, Sparky was completely involved with whatever his dog was doing. It seemed as though working with this production and being able to ‘add value’ to it gave him an appreciation for the dramatic that could be expressed on ice.
One of his additions to the show was a story about a French Lass in a cafe who fell in love with the World War I flying ace. Mary Ellen Kinsey and Snoopy skated a duet to “It’s a long way to Tipperary.”
Strip from December 20, 1967
The departure of the Flying Ace leaves ‘The Lass’ with a broken heart.
The costume Mary Ellen wore will also go into the Museum.
In each of the eighteen Christmas Ice Shows Sparky created a special number; something that he had thought about during the year. His ideas were as diverse as Shakespeare on ice and Snoopy defending Fort Zindernuff. The ice shows have left all of us who participated in them with a lifetime of wonderful memories. Thank you, Sparky.
— Jean Schulz
