What do you think it might have been like to see....

[FSWer]

Ok people. I'm not sure exactly were to put this. But since I've mentioned about the 1961 Figure Skating Olympic Team Plane Crash. I thought that now I'd ask you all what you think it may have been like to be at the 1961 Nationals Worlds that was never held,and actually get to see the last time those skaters ever did skate? I'll start...for me I think it would have been great to actually be there on that day and get to watch them skate. As I could say at least that I did have my chance to see them. Anyone else?

[Rusty Blades]

That happened the year before I started skating and I remember hearing people talk about it. Only rich folk had televisions then so I never saw high level competition until the mid 1960's

[FSWer]

That happened the year before I started skating and I remember hearing people talk about it. Only rich folk had televisions then so I never saw high level competition until the mid 1960's

Then you would know when Figure Skating was introduced to TV. Dianne? BTW. were the commentators at the 1961 Nationals? Also do we hhave a list of skaters by Discipline who qualified for that Nationals? BTW. I was refering to what it would have been like to BE there.

[blue111moon]

Ben Wright's book "Skating in America (1921 - 1996): The 75th Anniversary History of the United Skating Figure Skating Association" has a pretty extensive section on '61 Nationals and the World Team Members. Since Ben was there and knew all the participants, I think that would be the best account.

ABC's Wide World of Sports covered Nationals and Worlds at that time. I've seen a videotape of '61 Nationals from WWoS; it was only about 15 minutes long and covered just the winners in each discipline - pretty standard for the time.

Even if '61 Worlds had been held, the US Team would not have skated there, since they'd died in the crash. Nationals was their last competition.

[kayskate]

There is a book out specifically about the skaters. It is called Frozen in Time. I have not read it yet. Here's the Amazon link:
http://www.amazon.com/Frozen-Time-Enduring-Legacy-Skating/dp/157860334X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278723410&sr=8-1

Kay

[FSWer]

Ben Wright's book "Skating in America (1921 - 1996): The 75th Anniversary History of the United Skating Figure Skating Association" has a pretty extensive section on '61 Nationals and the World Team Members. Since Ben was there and knew all the participants, I think that would be the best account.

ABC's Wide World of Sports covered Nationals and Worlds at that time. I've seen a videotape of '61 Nationals from WWoS; it was only about 15 minutes long and covered just the winners in each discipline - pretty standard for the time.

Even if '61 Worlds had been held, the US Team would not have skated there, since they'd died in the crash. Nationals was their last competition.

You have actually SEEN thhe competition on tape? Is there any way you or anyone here can track down a copy of it on Tape OR DVD.,and send it to me?

[icedancer2]

I found a couple on youtube:

Laurance Owen won the Ladies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0114AudgYmsr

Her sister Maribel Owen and her partner Dudley Richards won the Pairs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qICTuC1SeWk&feature=related

And I believe that Bradley Lord won the Mens:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXMBVTQHC0o&feature=related

If you go to www.youtube.com and type in ""1961 Figure Skating" there are a bunch of skating videos that will come up.

Dick Button is doing the commentary on all of the skaters, along with someone else whose name is not mentioned.