Holiday on Ice

Hymie Zhall  who handled all my work whilst I was with Fosters Agency, London, negotiated a contract for my wife and I to tour with "Holiday on Ice" in Sth. Africa.  At that time this was the largest touring Ice show in the world.  After a show rehearsal in Brussels we flew to Brazzaville which was hot and humid.   Then onto Johannesburgh where we boarded the famous Blue train for a 3 days journey to Capetown.  

The ice tank was set up in a football ground with canvas side walls.  Next Johannesburg  which is quite high and the temperature cooler.   Pt Elizabeth was nice, but I especially remember Durban where the mine workers danced on Sundays in a special arena.  Each tribe wore their traditional costumes and danced their native dances to the drums and stamping of feet.   That was exciting.

We were offered  to continue with the company to tour Sth. America.   We sailed from Durban on the SS Tegelburg for Rio de Janerio.   I rigged a trapeze on the top deck and practiced every day, even though I had boils along my arms and wrists.   There were 22 at one time.  Everyone else sat in the sun and drank.  

In Rio we  played in Maricanazino - a covered stadium seating 23000 people.   It was there I actually "stopped the show".  I skated off after my number, got up to the dressing room, the chorus girls and boys were out on the ice and had started the next number.  But the audience were still clapping, stamping their feet and calling out for me.  Over the backstage mike I heard "Ash get out onto the ice".  The 36 members of the chorus skated off, and I went back out to the centre of the ice and bowed all round. After the applause stopped, I skated off and the show resumed.  A real highlight.

This shows the ice rink being prepared for a performance of "Holiday On Ice" in South America.  All outdoor performances were presented in this way.  Sometimes in a bullrink.  The dressing rooms were in the stables.  The band were in the covered area over the entrance where all performers came out onto the ice. The plastic covers were to help making and holding the ice.  Some times they put down plywood sheets and occasionally some pieces stayed embeded in the ice resulting in falls when the skates hit them.

A great sight was winding through the Andes on the trip from Argentina to Chile.  Snow covered peaks loomed above us on either side.  There was a week out betwen towns allowing time for the setting up of the ice,scenery etc. In Chile I contacted he "Club  Andista" and with one of the members organised a 4 day climb on El Plomo We got a chap with 4 mules to carry our gear to the base of the mountain. Then we climbed up the glacier to a bivvie which consisted of 3 sheets of corrugated iron folded in a u shape. But mountain sickness affected my climbing partner.  It was too dangerous on my own so I turned back.

In every town in South  America I met  many interesting people.  Some  took us into their homes.  Others gave membership to golf clubs.  One put a car with driver at my disposal to take me to golf and back.

I left the show after Colombia as I didn’t want to go to Russia.