Fall issue of Recreational Ice Skating Magazine - article by Jirina Ribbens
Ice Theatre of New York to honor Richard “Mr. Debonair” Dwyer
Ice Theatre of New York will honor Richard “Mr. Debonair” Dwyer, America’s most-beloved ice show star, at its annual Benefit Gala and Performance in New York City on October 22. Richard holds the Guinness World Record for the longest ever professional ice skating performer, with a career of 62 years and counting!
In 1943, Richard’s parents moved to Southern California and introduced their children to skating after going to see the Ice Follies. Richard joined the skating club at Sonja Henie’s Westwood Gardens rink and started taking lessons from his first pro, Michael Kirby. At his first competition – a Southern California Interclub event – Richard came in second out of two. He said that competition taught him that he was going to have to work harder.
Richard won the U.S. Novice and Junior Men’s titles during his amateur career. At Senior Nationals, at age 14, he captured the bronze medal behind Dick Button and Hayes Jenkins. Immediately after that event Richard turned pro. Joining an ice show had always been his dream.
Richard grew up with the children of Ice Follies Founder Eddie Shipstad and he had long been an admirer of Roy Shipstad, the original Ice Follies “Debonair.” When Richard was not yet 15, Roy was set to retire, and Richard was groomed as his replacement, a “Young Debonair”. Richard’s title changed to “The Debonair” when he was almost 30, and to “Mr. Debonair” later on.
The role called for skating in top hat and tails while accompanied by six beautiful girls in glamorous gowns. At the end of each number, Richard would present a bouquet of roses to one of the more “grandmotherly” ladies in the audience.
Richard continued his education while touring, attending high school in 26 different cities. In the 1950’s, shows stayed in cities for up to several weeks at the time, allowing Richard time to make friends along the way.
Richard graduated from high school in 1953 and started taking a few courses each summer at the University of San Francisco. He graduated in 1975 instead of 1957, at age 39. He jokes that he simply switched the numbers in the years.
Richard’s career in Ice Follies lasted 30 years. He performed over 12,000 times, on a 46-week tour that included 9 weekly performances (including 3 shows back-to-back on Saturdays) - about 400 a year until his retirement from Ice Follies in 1980. In 1993, Richard was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame. At age 50, he returned to skating with Ice Capades for 13 years, until 1995. He was inducted into the U.S. Figure Skating Hall of Fame in 1993. Richard continued to skate, performing in China in 2005 and skating duet with Brian Boitano in “A Salute to the Golden Age of Ice Skating” television special in 2010.
At age 76, Richard will perform at Ice Theater’s Benefit Gala and Performance, along with a celebrity crop of former Dwyer Girls, including Olympic Champion Dorothy Hamill, world champion Tai Babilonia, Olympic silver medalist Linda Fratianne and U.S. champion JoJo Starbuck. Reprising Richard’s “Debonair” role will be US champion Ryan Bradley, World Champion Randy Gardner, Olympic silver medalist Paul Wylie, and a surprise guest.
“We are honoring Richard Dwyer for his lifetime of inspired performances, personifying joy on ice for countless numbers of appreciative audiences. We also applaud Richard's role as a "good will" ambassador within our diverse skating world!” says Moira North, Ice Theatre of New York’s Founder/Director.
Dwyer joins an esteemed list of ITNY honorees including Dick Button, Dorothy Hamill, Scott Hamilton, and Vera Wang. For more information go to www.icetheatre.org.
Article by Jirina Ribbens
