ent000814-060

OX; ;.:;..^ Friday, January 30, 1970 THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL Ice Show: A Spectacle on a Spree By Frank A. Aukofer of The Journal Staff That annual assault on the optic nerves, "Holiday on Ice," arrived in Milwaukee Thursday night to oelebrate its 25th anniversary with an 11 day stand at the Arena. As usual, it's big, bold and brassy, played as if each scene would be considered a failure if it didn't stop the show all by itself. It is ?╟÷ as it is billed ?╟÷ family entertainment, although it does manage to slip in a few of the slightly off- color laugh getters that are possible with men skaters dressed as women. The ice show even had a wholesome, family style bacchanalian revel ?╟÷ if that's not a contradiction in terms. Producers of "Holiday on Ice" have their formula down cold. The; music is popular, understandable and easily recognized, even if it doesn't seem to fit once in a while ?╟÷ Pictures on Picture Page as when the band played the "Pink Panther" theme while a bogus dog skated, or when Turkish belly dance music accompanied Roman revelers. The romantic numbers are calculated to remind everyone past the age of 18 of the high school prom. Girls ?╟÷ they've never looked prettier than on the ice in costume ?╟÷ glide around in their hoop skirts as if they were on wheels. There were, of course, the inevitable comedy plants in the audience, and a hilarious Col. Sanders and Minnie Pearl act with a comic truck that falls apart, rears up, belches fire and, ultimately, explodes. All, without doubt, great stuff for the children/ as are the many and multicolored animals. A standout, as might be expected, was the star, Ronnie Robertson. But this viewer was most impressed by the team of Tommy Allen and Juanita Percelly, who had spectators holding their breath more than once. The children of the Cook family ?╟÷ Kim, Kris and Kelly ?╟÷ get more professional every year, as do their parents. One act that seemed oddly out of place in an ice show was Kossmayer's Comedy Mules, which consists mostly of having stalwarts from the audience try to ride mules that are trained not to be rid-, d e n. But it had a natural, pratfall funniness about it, and soon had the audience warmed up to it. One irritant was the neariy constant, always futile ?╟÷ in terms of picture taking ?╟÷ popping of flash bulbs by spectators. It was especially nagging during b 1 a c k o u t numbers. Flash bulbs ought to be banned from shows like this. There was a full house of 8,902 spectators at Thursday night's performance, which was bought out by the Catholic Knights Insurance Society. The regular opening is Friday night. The show runs through Feb. 8. Whit" 9 ?╜ ?╜l Pt'~ T! ^*f**A******* I \zj$>f i n r and pageantry at innati Garderr stands through Sunday.;" lousands? of se and Girl Scouts i d the major portion of opening night crowd. remaining space ilzied by a few ha ts and scores c t se balloons. ie Holiday sold this season, pro- trim- ru THEME Tor this he various months. kirted skaters sailed u t celebrating i Year's Day. Tommy Allen I aryri ' Jiianifca. Percelly did ?╟÷?╟÷??- ' ?√ß?√ß?√ß?√ßlllllllililiiM ' THE ' NUMBERS Tl still ( the Independence . Backstage amon. feath tk Foster, the nizes much of the beauty that flourishes on the "ice. 'He is obe master for the show, .?╟≤ ? He nding in the some floor space blocked off by curtains. "This is our quick-change room," Frank explained in a rapid-fire fleeted, many costumes on the right pie in a hurry. 'He .,". moved outside the.; curtains. "They run in hore. from the ice; drop their' here ^(he pointed ^ 'down to, jlm floor where*a carpet ?╟≤would be located),; "They run into the quick? Change * room and put on their next costume. "OUTSIDE' THE ROOM ' on tables I have trays for each guTs jewelry. Over racks -with the theiTj, Each hook girl's name.' and each headpiece also has her name on it ."The change from the ond ( 5 sec* $ i g i I brisk changes. There is no time for buttons Frank had a * swer "Zippers!" : "THE MEN IN the rus cannot get their i ?√ßthrough narrow pants legs; so we use zippers ?√ßdown from the croic (he cuff,'' Zippers alsd plentiful on the gi icostmnes. ' What finally happens :to Frank's $475,000 wardrobe? "Weil,; we use itfoi* |D months and then: tha\ costtaies are> sent to ourf small, second company that ?√ß". :