1941: Skating, Figure And Speed

Although skating is divided into two large divisions (figure and speed) it is a matter of personal opinion as to whether the more graceful phase of the art is more popular than the competitive side, featuring racers who skim over the ice in huge circles. Of the competitions performed with beauty and charm, both men and women skaters share the limelight equally. Competition was keen in 1941 also, as was proven in deciding the men's North American figure skating championship which was decided by a slim mathematical margin — Ralph McCreath, of Toronto, scored 1,575.8 points as against 1,575 points for Eugene Turner, of Los Angeles, winner for 1940. No competition in the history of this biennial event ever had been as keen. The excellent free skating and spectacular jumps of McCreath clinched the crown, during the meet when many Canadians excelled.

In the national championship Turner won the men's singles for the second year in succession, and Miss Jane Vaughn, University of Pennsylvania co-ed, triumphed in the women's competition. Miss Rose Thacker, of Winnipeg, retained her women's North American crown, and Miss Eleanor O'Meara, of Toronto, and McCreath, won the North American pair title.

The national pairs title went to Miss Donna Atwood and Turner, this pair representing the western section of the United States where figure skating has made its greatest strides during the past few seasons. The surprising growth of figure skating is reflected in the increase in the number of professional skating carnivals and ice shows.

An exceptional child skater from New York, Miss Dorothy Goos, won the novice title, and the boy's went to a promising skater from St. Paul, Walter Sablin. William Grimditch, of Philadelphia, won the men's junior championship in the dance event. In one of the largest fields of competitors the national dance event has known, the championship was again won by the accomplished New York pair, Miss Sandy MacDonald and Harold Hartshorne.

The leading speed skater in the United States in 1941 was Ken Bartholomew, of Minneapolis, who took the two most important outdoor championships, the North American and the National, dethroning Leo Freisinger of Chicago, the Olympic champion. The senior women's laurels went to Miss Carmelita Landry, of Fitchburg, Mass. Ted Ellenwood, of Ft. Johnson, N. Y., won the men's Middle and New York State titles, and Miss Virginia Jahn, of Cresskill, N. J., won the women's Middle Atlantic title.

1940: Skating, Figure And Speed

The graceful art of figure skating as an avocation and as a vocation is growing rapidly in the United States, as may be seen in the increasing number of skating clubs in all parts of the country and in the number of both amateur and professional ice carnivals. These ice revues are taking the most talented girl skaters as fast as they are developed from the amateur ranks for a novel source of entertainment that embraced one hundred huge extravaganzas produced by six professional show groups in 1940. The four ice carnivals staged in the Madison Square Garden, New York, including the Skating Club of New York (amateur) revue, were seen by more than 255,000 people.

The artistic level of figure skating has greatly improved during the past few years, and many amateur skaters are now performing difficult jumps, spins, loops and dance steps with grace and poise unmatched by professionals up to ten years ago. The amateur field is large and competition is keen.

The 1940 championship figure skating events saw two Californians capture national titles, Eugene Turner, of Los Angeles, the senior event, and Miss Ramona Allen, of Oakland, the junior title. For two years in succession Miss Joan Tozzer won the women's national title, and paired with Bernard Fox (both of Boston) to win the national pairs championship. Members of the St. Paul Figure Skating Club (the Misses Jannette Ahrens and Mary Louise Premer, and Robert Upgren and Lyman E. Wakefield, Jr.) won the national fours title, and Miss Dorothy Glazier and Stephen Tanner, Boston skaters, captured the national dance title. Miss Maxie Herber and Ernst Baier, the 1936 Olympic figure skating pair, are the champions of Germany for the fourth time.

In speed skating another Olympic champion repeated in spectacular manner when Leo Freisinger, of Chicago, captured both the National and North American championships, winning the races at 220, 440 and 880 yards and one mile. Miss Madeleine Horn, of Beaver Dam, Wisc., also made a clean sweep of these two skating classics for women, winning the 440 and 880 yards races and the three-quarter-mile event. Following her victories, Miss Horn announced her retirement from competitive skating. Next in importance, the Middle Atlantic championships were won by John A. Roukema, of Paterson, N. J., and Miss Virginia Jahn, of Cresskill, N. J.

Ted Ellenwood, of Fort Johnson, N. Y., and Miss Alice Burnham, of Brooklyn, romped off with the Eastern State outdoor crowns, while the one major indoor title meet, the Middle Atlantic, resulted in popular victories for Joe Bree and Miss Marjorie Cummings, both of Brooklyn, N. Y. Two new indoor speed champions are Roy Erickson and Miss Esther Williams, winners of the Silver Skates tourney, at the Madison Square Garden, New York.

1939: Skating

Figure Skating.

Figure skating gained in popularity last year because of the increased number of skating exhibitions by leading professionals and amateurs and the numerous ice carnivals (about 100) staged in the large cities of the United States. Many of these carnivals were promoted for the benefit of charity; yet what was once an ultra-social amateur hobby has developed into a big industry within a few years. That the interest of amateurs in the artistic side of the sport is nation-wide may be seen in the large numbers of socially prominent persons who are members of ice clubs and perform the difficult figures on skates.

For the first time the National Figure Skating Championships moved West, to St. Paul, Minn., and it is a coincidence that both 1939 national singles titles were won by the 1938 titleholders. Robin Lee, who has since entered the professional ranks, and Miss Joan Tozzer, both of Minneapolis, Minn., ascended to the top rung of the ladder in their events. Miss Tozzer and Mr. Bernard Fox won the national pairs championship and the North American Pairs title. The national ice dance title was won by the highly expert team of Miss Sandy MacDonald and Harold Harshorn, both of New York. In the skating unit competition, the North American Fours title was won by the Misses Dorothy and Hazel Caley and Montgomery S. Wilson and Ralph McCreath of Toronto.

In world figure skating competition, Graham Sharp, of England, won the men's title at Budapest, and Miss Megan Taylor captured the women's crown at Prague. The world pairs championship went to the unbeatable combination of Miss Maxie Herber and Ernst Baier, of Germany.

Speed Skating.

Speed Skating honors in the United States during 1939 went to the dashing youngsters of the Mid-West who won over several veterans. The new North American champion is Charles Leighton, of Minneapolis, who finished first in point score in the series of ice races ranging from 440 yards to 5 miles, at Lake Placid, N. Y. Miss Madeline Horn, of Beaver Dam, Wis., won the women's North American title in a series of races from 220 yards to 1 mile, and also adding the Women's National title.

Kenneth Bartholomew, of Minneapolis, topped the other skaters in the competition for the Men's National championship. The Middle Atlantic title events attracted a large field of skaters to Newburgh, N. Y., the home of speed skating in the United States. It was there that the first records were established in the 80's and 90's of the last century, and a few are still to be found on the books. Eddie Schroeder, of Chicago, won the title at Newburgh, and Miss Helen Bahil, of New York, captured the women's Middle Atlantic championship, as well as the New York State skating crown. The women's races are from 220 yards to 1 mile; the winner is decided on a point basis. Tommy Smith, of Utica, N. Y., won the New York State championship.

In collegiate circles speed skating and snow events are gaining many new enthusiasts, with the northern institutions taking the lead. Dartmouth's undergraduates are the best on skates, skis and snowshoes, and always surpass their rivals in their annual ice carnivals at Hanover. N. H.