Images(5)

Costume, Dance

Object number2023.43.1

Date1956

MediumChiffon; Fabric; Plastic; Metal

Credit LineGift of Pat Sullivan Tomasello

DescriptionIce dance costume. Floor-length chiffon fabric dress with full skirt. Dress is beige in front and blue in back with turquoise panels on the back left and back right; skirt has three fabric panels in each color section. Scoop neckline with double-layered beige fabric ruffled cap sleeves. Diagonal shoulder straps run from front of the shoulder to center of backline. Rhinestone embellishments on neckline, backline, shoulder straps, and top of cap sleeves; top of cap sleeves also have gray beadwork. Body of dress is embellished with curvilinear gray beadwork and dark blue, light blue, and clear sequin flowers with dotted rhinestones overall; embellishment stops near the bottom of the skirt on the front and at the knees on the back. Metal zipper down back opening with metal hook-and-eye fastener at top. Bodice interior is lined with beige fabric, has boning structure, and has waist strap with metal hook-and-eye fastener.DimensionsHeight x Width (Width at waist): 53.75 x 12 in. (136.5 x 30.5 cm)
Historical NotesGown worn by Irma Thomas for the 1956 season of the Ice Capades as a member of the” Old Smoothies.” Irma had a new gown made for each season of the Ice Capades. This gown was worn for the 16th season of the Ice Capades that opened at the Pan Pacific Auditorium in Los Angeles, California. Irma Thomas, a St. Paul housewife, hired Orrin Markhus to teach her how to golf. Orrin had experience as both a professional golfer and ice skater, he began skating at four years old. When not performing around the world, he taught golf in the summer months and ice skating through the winter. Orrin convinced Irma and her three girls to give ice skating a try. Irma proved to be a natural even though, at age 38, she had never skated before. She jumped at the chance to perform professionally with her teacher. For several years they performed in the Ice Vanities as “The Smoothest Pair on Ice” before signing a contract for one year, with an option, for the Ice Capades in 1942. The option continued and the pair became a regular part of the “The Greatest Show on Ice.” Their performance remained relatively the same through the years, a five-minute graceful glide on the ice to traditional waltz music, often “You’re An Old Smoothie”, “Jealous”, and “Shine On, Harvest Moon”. Orrin in his white tailcoats and Irma in a flowing gown. They shook hands at the beginning of each performance and ended with Irma ceremoniously wiping the sweat from Orrin’s brow. Their fine-tuned simple act, they fell only seven times in the first ten years, proved to be immensely popular with the public. They had their share of injuries as they aged, but neither of them missed any of their 7,000 shows. After a series of escalating health issues, the duo retired in 1964 at the ages of 72 and 65. They were married in 1966 after the passing of Irma’s first husband Charles. The lived out their retirement in Victorville, CA until Orrin’s passing in 1979 and Irma’s in 1995.

Related institution Ice Capades Inc.

Previous owner Irma Thomas

Related person Orrin Lars Markhus

Related institution The Old Smoothies

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