Entrepreneur, Actor. He was an American, who was the co-founder and producer of "Ice Follies," the first world-class touring professional ice show that began in 1936. Featuring choreographic skating routines and elaborate costumes, the successful business was originally known as "Shipstads & Johnson Ice Follies" before being "Ice Follies." With his older brother Edwin, he partnered with Oscar Johnson, a childhood friend, to form the business. As early as 1926, he and Johnson had performed clown routines on ice at skating carnivals and half-time shows at ice hockey games. As the business grew, Olympic skaters as well as professional dancers, joined together to perform these ice-skating routines. European skaters who had successful routines joined the show. In high demand during the 1940s and 1950s, the ice show had several week-long bookings and performing hundreds of shows in one city. Starring Joan Crawford and Jimmy Stewart, he had a role in the 1939 Hollywood film, "The Ice Follies 1939." On television in 1961, he appeared as guest on the "Mike Douglas Show." He married in 1937 actress Bess Ehrhard, who appeared with him in the film "The Ice Follies 1939." The couple divorced in 1949. In 1980 "Ice Follies" merged with "Holiday on Ice," and by the 21st century, merged with "Disney Ice." His daughter Jill Shipstad became an ice-skating celebrity with "Holiday on Ice."
Entrepreneur, Actor. He was an American, who was the co-founder and producer of "Ice Follies," the first world-class touring professional ice show that began in 1936. Featuring choreographic skating routines and elaborate costumes, the successful business was originally known as "Shipstads & Johnson Ice Follies" before being "Ice Follies." With his older brother Edwin, he partnered with Oscar Johnson, a childhood friend, to form the business. As early as 1926, he and Johnson had performed clown routines on ice at skating carnivals and half-time shows at ice hockey games. As the business grew, Olympic skaters as well as professional dancers, joined together to perform these ice-skating routines. European skaters who had successful routines joined the show. In high demand during the 1940s and 1950s, the ice show had several week-long bookings and performing hundreds of shows in one city. Starring Joan Crawford and Jimmy Stewart, he had a role in the 1939 Hollywood film, "The Ice Follies 1939." On television in 1961, he appeared as guest on the "Mike Douglas Show." He married in 1937 actress Bess Ehrhard, who appeared with him in the film "The Ice Follies 1939." The couple divorced in 1949. In 1980 "Ice Follies" merged with "Holiday on Ice," and by the 21st century, merged with "Disney Ice." His daughter Jill Shipstad became an ice-skating celebrity with "Holiday on Ice."
Bio by: Linda Davis
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