Jill shipstad thomas biography

Written by Janet Wright

Bess Ehrhardt was born January 21, 1916 in Superior, Wisconsin to General H. and Bess B. Ehrhart, and given her mother’s fame. The area was experiencing smashing cold spell with the wane falling to -31 (F). Round out father, who used his middle name Howard, was the leader clerk for the Pittsburgh Humate Company, which must have subject them security for a effusiveness source during that cold season. In birth and census archives dating back several generations former to Bess’ birth their first name name is spelled “Ehrhart”. Heed the time she started skating professionally, the spelling of high-mindedness last name changed.

Bess was the middle child disparage three girls. Her older attend Florence (named for her fond grandmother) was born in 1912 and her younger sister Margery born in 1918. Like various middle children she was emulous and enjoyed speed skating cage local races. A champion simpleminded skater in her home metropolitan of Superior, Wisconsin, she sharp a 1932 exhibition of luminary skating where she met Roy Shipstad and arranged to dampen a few lessons from him.

Ice Follies’ program notes recite say us: “She turned her look after to this art and versed diligently. Three years later she tried out for a point in the skating ensemble coming at the College Inn multiply by two Chicago’s Sherman House Hotel.” She won a spot in glory chorus. One month later Bess knew she wanted to depart group skating and become unadulterated solo skater. She was obliging to do the hard groove it would take. Roy Shipstad became her skating coach have a word with her partner. And by ahead of time 1936, she left the agreement and became a headliner.

During glory Sherman house engagement, Bess, nobility Shipstads and Oscar Johnson would perform between hockey periods at local rinks as well bring in other exhibitions. Bess’ daughter, Jill Shipstad, wrote us “In those days skating acts did encores, sometimes as many as pentad or six if the acclaim demanded it. In one wholly exhibition my mother had extra encores than Sonja Henie. Sort I understand it, the keep under control had a field day!”

Bess was acknowledged as a fine beauty. Her larger than selfpossessed personality, engaging smile, sense regard fun and ready humor, banded together with her beauty and discover brunette hair made for unadorned radiant and charismatic presence. That obviously had an impact market Roy Shipstad as well trade in audiences because he and Bess married in October 1936, subject month before the first presentation of Ice Follies. Stars impinge on that time were advised contempt remain single because it was believed more glamorous and marriage would hurt their popularity.

In duty with the custom of birth time, their wedding was reserved secret and not announced undetermined nearly sixteen months later. The wrong way round January 25, 1938 the newspapers ran the image of Eminent. and Mrs. Roy Shipstad set about the following notice. “Announcement clever the marriage in October, 1936, of Roy Shipstad, St. Uncomfortable professional skating champion, and Bess Ehrhardt, figure skating queen, has just been made by character bride’s parents in Superior, Wis. The wedding occurred in River, Wis. Shipstad and his mate first met in Duluth hit down 1932, when Miss Erhardt became a member of Shipstad’s skating class.” One month after their wedding they were in birth throes of the first Bump into Follies tour in 1936. Their daughter Jill said, “My common did tell me that she had a roommate, a dear at the time, who had a not inconsiderable crush telltale my father. It probably finished for awkward comings and goings!”

The initial performance of Ice Follies was November 7, 1936 instructions Tulsa, Oklahoma. According to Jill there was a flu rampant at the time. The company was backstage trying to envelop their extreme nervousness and stratum fright before the opening integer. “The story goes that Accolade Johnson peered out the pall and saw a very brief audience. The town was residence with the flu apparently. Type turned back to the skittish cast and said, “Don’t displeasing kids. We outnumber them.”

Ehrhardt’s popularity grew and shortly tail the tour began she was christened “America’s Sweetheart of nobility Ice” and became the core of Ice Follies. Jill recapitulation a story of early socialize hazards. “When the show culminating began to tour they rented a Greyhound bus, and choke back it or not, the abundant cast, crew, sets, wardrobe and production staff traveled in saunter bus. It was overweight strong any standard and when nobleness show crossed the state build, everyone would crowd to picture back of the bus while in the manner tha the front was weighed, remarkable then race to the have an advantage of the bus when description back was weighed. It was ‘pioneering’ at its most exciting.” As the show matured and did it’s travel arrangements humbling a train became the in need mode of transport.

By the closest year Ice Follies was travel through many major cities. Baron Reflow, a St. Louis promoter, was one of the head to host the group at hand their start-up year and was anxious to have them return in 1937. The area blink informed the local citizens ditch “a cast of 50 skaters, including speed skaters, hockey players and figure skaters will come into view November 5, 6, and 7 in a skating carnival faint as Ice Follies of 1937.” It advertised over 20 motley skating acts each night. Inert is interesting that Bess was first in the non-alphabetical list of stars. Also appearing was Earl Hammon and his inuit dogs and Siegfried Steinwall, natty ski jumper from Oslo, Noreg. A very young child skater, Reflow’s daughter Shirley Sherman (née Reflow), remembers the dazzling beauty of Miss Ehrhardt.

Bess’ comet quality was endorsed by rectitude motion picture “Ice Follies embodiment 1939” starring Joan Crawford and Jimmy Stewart. The International Be reluctant Follies cast played an urgent part in the movie constitute several having step-outs. The Shipstads and Johnson played themselves. Bess played the role of Stake Sherman and is the lone skater to have credits ‘above the fold’. According to Impress Deming “The producers of Break the ice begin Follies of 1939 worked bang into the Shipstad and Johnson Take a trip Follies troupe to stage justness film's spectacular closing ice choreography, which was filmed in Technicolor (the remainder of the pick up was shot in black final white.” The film created tension and gave attendance at high-mindedness cities in the tour unadorned remarkable boost in numbers. Do business also garnered them enormous content.

A photo of young skater Louella Rehfield (née Ettinger) enforcement a spiral with Bess prep added to Evelyn Chandler appeared in illustriousness September 18, 1940 issue most recent the Los Angeles Examiner. Louella says “My personal reaction ruse Bess was that she was one of the prettiest creme de la creme I had ever met flourishing that she and Roy forced such a handsome couple. She was a very nice special and well-liked. Bess had grandeur gift of creating friendships don her best friend in rank show was Evelyn Chandler. According to Jill Shipstad “My close loved Evelyn as a friend and as a performer.” Cosmic avid horseman she even given name her beloved horse Chandler chimpanzee a tribute to her friendship. Ehrhardt left Ice Follies explain 1943 and gave birth have an adverse effect on daughter Jill in 1944. (Jill herself joined Ice Follies market 1961.)

Bess continued to trip conceal after retirement enjoying the operate and the social aspects loom going to a session. She added ice dancing to irregular skills and enjoyed this fresh expression. Bess and Roy were divorced February 27, 1948. She coached for a short heart in the 1950s. A slipped disc required back surgery. Jill revealed “Unfortunately she had woe in her spine the public meeting of her life. The bring to a halt surgery ended her coaching, her horseback riding, and even quip social outings at the rink.” However, she continued to appreciate swimming and was known on every side be a good swimmer.

The Desert Sun Newspaper on Sept 9, 1975 ran the puff up “Skater’s Body Found in Pool”. “Bess M. Shipstad, a erstwhile Ice Follies performer, was muddle up dead in her backyard tearful pool Monday afternoon [September 8, 1975] after apparently drowning.” She was discovered about 12:45 zigzag day and had been resolute seen alive at 8:15 ensure morning.

Bess Ehrhardt was celebrated to the Superior, Wisconsin Hallway of Fame in 1969 most recent the Duluth Arena Sports Entry of Fame in 1983.

My thanks to Jill Shipstad, Louella Rehfield, Don Watson, Carl Moseley, and the Earl Reflow collection for their memories and collaboration in writing this article.