Pat Gregory:
Pat Gregory is one of the
beautiful people
of the world and with modesty she always knew she was going to be a
star.
'Tuck' jump
She started skating when she was 10 years
old and has never
looked back. Pat started skating through fate, in that her doctor
treating
her for pneumonia was a recreational skater and recommended
she
take it up. Pat remembers the first time on the ice; a Saturday morning
at the end of 1939. She had only been skating for four months before
she
won her first competition, the 'Chandler Novice Cup'.
Her first coach was Mirey Reid
and other coaches
included Felix Caspar, Percy Wilson, Jacques Gerschwiler and Gustav
Lussi.
Viola!
1947
Pat was the first Australian skater awarded
an International
Gold Medal for figure and free skating, the world’s highest award.
These
tests were open to men and woman, amateurs and professionals and were
available
during the war, although National Titles were not.
1948
The end of the year carnivals held by the
ice rinks were
the biggest events here, after the Gold Medal. Pat was chosen to star
in
both Sydney and Melbourne events in 1947 and ’48, then went to London
to
‘try her luck’ in show skating.
1949
January – Pat arrived in London
completely unknown
and began skating at the closest ice rink – Empress Hall. She was
amazed
at the number of good skaters there, the number of ice rinks and ice
shows.
February – The ice rink manager
thought Pat was
from America because of her free flowing style and great spins. He had
never heard of an Australian skater but was impressed. He offered her a
spot – the first to any Australian – in an International Ice Carnival;
Earls Court Rangers vs. Switzerland Hockey match, with skating
exhibitions
by British Champion Celia College, Swedish Champion Marg Britton and,
Australian,
Pat Gregory. Pat did her ‘Hula’ number and stopped the show! She was
recalled
for four encores. As the show was televised live by BBC, she became the
first Australian skater on live TV. The show received big coverage,
creating
much interest in London.
March – Pat was invited to
perform in an exhibition
tour of the English Ice Hockey Circuit: Wembley, Empress Hall,
Harringay
Arena, Streatham Ice Rink, Brighton Sports Stadium and Nottingham Ice
Stadium.
She was the first and only Australian to be invited to do the whole
circuit.
April – In signing a two-year
contract with Tom
Arnold, Europe’s biggest ice show producer, Pat became the first
Australian
skater to sign a Solo Principal contract with a major ice show anywhere.
Pat was known for her 'free-flowing'
style
May – Pat began her first tour with
‘Ice Capades’,
which had been playing at Stoll Theatre in London for over a year. It
was
a truly international show, composed mostly of Americans, including
some
of the all time greets, several European skaters and an English Ballet.
Pat was the only female soloist, taking the place of a top US skater
who
had to return to New York. There would have been at least ten good
skaters
eager and ready for that spot; it was a great start for her. This tour,
visiting the biggest UK cities ran over a year and was a great success.
She more than held her own and learned a great deal.
At home 9th Oct., 1998
1950
June – Pat was chosen a second
female lead to
the 1948 Olympic Champion Barbara Ann Scott in the huge production of ‘
Rose Marie on Ice’ at Harringay Arena. This new theme created a lot of
interest. The role of ‘Wanda’ was great for Pat. Her performances were
outstanding and her ‘Totem Pole’ number stopped the show at each
performance.
She was hailed as the “finest actress on the country”, and as
”Australia’s
Wondergirl on the Ice”. Tom Arnold put her on a very hot short list of
top skaters for the name part in the upcoming first ever Christmas
Pantomime
for Wembley Stadium. Everyone wanted that part!
The Manager of the American production
show ‘Ice Capades’
was in town and saw the show. He offered Pat a contract that would take
her right to the US as a Principal Soloist in ‘Ice Capades’, at that
time
the biggest show in the US. Any skater in the world would have jumped
at
the chance. She was the first Australian to receive that offer but was
still under contract with Tom Arnold so was unable to accept it!
Tom Arnold did take up her option,
however. To Pat, it
was almost unbelievable that she had been chosen from all available
talent
for the title role in ‘Dick Whittington on Ice’, the first of the ice
spectaculars
that were to make Wembley the Mecca of Christmas entertainment and, at
that time, was the largest live ice spectacular in the world.
During the season Pat was presented
backstage to members
of the British Royal Family and royalty and political leaders from
other
countries, including the British Prime Minister and Mrs. Atlee,
the Duke of Norfolk, Sir Denys. Lady Lowston invited
her
to Guildhall and Lord Eilbank presented her with his published
works.
Pat met many celebrities – of many was Elvis Presley.
Pat met Royalty & many celebrities
After one of the most successful seasons of
entertainment
seen in London, Pat realised with something of a shock that it was just
over two years since she had landed there as a complete unknown. So
many
talented skaters had converged on London from all over the world, all
competing
for the top roles; yet she had been chosen for the three biggest
opportunities
on offer since her
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Pat in her 20's
arrival. She had embraced them with open
arms, and with her
ability and willingness to work, had made it right to the top in
London;
she had done herself and her country proud! All on her own, without any
influence or pressure, she had put Australian skating well and truly
and
the map!
Pat had a huge publicity 'machine'
1951-55
Pat returned to Australia for a holiday.
Happy to be
home, she decided not to return to London for a repeat season of ‘Rose
Marie’, but to accept a tour offer from the Tivoli Circuit, allowing
her
to see her own country and New Zealand. After this initial tour came
another
two, all of international standard with other artists competing for the
top spot. She was given incredible publicity in Australia, featured in
newspapers constantly. Magazine covers with feature spreads inside
became
a fact of life. She was now able to see her family often, catch up with
old friends and make new ones.
Pat and Mervin Bowers
1956
In 1956 Pat was offered what every skater
dreamt of –
a contract to perform in an American ice show. Not only was Pat offered
a contract but one of the biggest of them all; ‘Holiday on Ice’ offered
Pat a four year contract to tour the USA and Europe. She was the first
Australian skater to be invited to the States on a Principal Contract
by
any of the big three; 'Holiday’, ‘Capades’ or ‘Follies’. Universal
International
competition for the few solo spots was incredible; even former World
and
Olympic Champions were on the long lists of those seeking places. In
order
for a non-American skater to obtain a Visa from the State Department,
management
had to show that no American could do the job required as well. Thus,
the
non-American needed exceptional ability, and not all applicants were
given
visas.
Still looking great...
1956 being Melbourne’s Olympic year, people
were curious
about Australia, especially about the main Olympic venue, the MCG. Pat
was much sought after for interviews by the print media, radio and
television.
In addition to gaining accolades as a performer, Pat was personally
very
popular with the American press, who referred to her as “Australia’s
Sonja
Henie”, “Australia’s Ambassadoress of charm”, “that pert Aussie
redhead”
and more! ‘Holiday on Ice’ toured the length and breadth of the US over
the next two years.
1958
Sponsored by the US State Department,
‘Holiday on Ice’
sent a special show to The World Fair at Brussels. It was an honour to
be there with the whole world watching, and with a cast including
former
champions from the US, Canada, Switzerland and Germany; another honour
for an Australian to top the bill.
1960
After four years overseas, Pat returned
home to embark
on another tour of Australian Capital cities for the Tivoli Circuit.
With
a US co-star and an international cast, the show ran for a year and
five
months and was a big box-office success!
1961-62
Another Tivoli tour of Australian Capitals,
with a cast
mostly from America, including ‘Holiday on Ice’ skaters and the like.
1963
Pat took a year off for the birth of her
daughter, Tracy-Lee.
1964
Presented and toured in her own ‘Pat
Gregory’s Ice Follies’
throughout Australia and New Zealand with a large American and
Australian
cast.
1965
Presented the first ice show and the first
production
show on the NSW club circuit, at St, George Leagues Club.
1965-80
During this period, the club circuit was
regarded as
the strongest in the world after Las Vegas. The Pat Gregory Ice Shows
ran
for the longest seasons in the then-largest clubs, and toured
internationally
through the East and New Guinea. Special children’s shows toured the
largest
shopping centres throughout Australia.
In 1980 Pat was honoured on ‘This is
Your Life’, filmed
for the first time anywhere in the world on ice, right in the studio.
'This is Your Life'
1981
On January 1st, 1981; exactly 32 years
since she arrived
in London as a complete unknown, Pat retired the then-biggest club
South
Sydney Juniors.
She had skated around the world, proudly
Australian; always
insisting she had been publicised and advertised that way, and had done
more for Australian skating internationally than probably anyone ever
would,
and retired close to her home in her home city of Sydney. In his
on-stage
speech after Pat’s last night finale, the Club President remarked,
“…there
was hardly a dry eye in the house”.
Pat and Hal celebrate their 49th
Anniversary Nov.,
1998
Famous Columnist Jim MacDougall stated,
“…it is the end of
an era - there will never be another Pat Gregory!”
1997
December - Another first; Pat
was nominated
as one of only 65 leading Australian sports people for the prestigious
honour of the Sports Australia Hall of Fame award.
Icing on the cake to a special and
extraordinary career...
If you would like to contact Pat contact APSA by e-mail;
APSA
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