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Highlands Today

Seniors Have Amazing Stories To Tell

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Lyn and Bill Roche

Published: December 21, 2007

Every senior citizen is a library filled with priceless information. Most don't talk about their lives, unless asked. We've learned amazing things by asking and listening.

Such is the case with our friend, Lillian Anderson. She's had a most interesting life. We were privileged to spend some time with her recently. The collection of photos on her apartment walls piqued our curiosity. We asked.

The tall, attractive lady needed some encouragement. We began by pointing to the professional shot of a pretty young woman ice-skating. Was it of her?

It was. She said she'd only taken two ice-skating lessons when Bob Linden, a talent scout for Sonja Henie's Ice Show, discovered her in her hometown in California. He told her she couldn't skate too well, but she looked great and they needed her to go to New York. She went and started her skating career as the straight lady for comedian and juggler, Joe Cook. We got the information out of her that they called her "the glamour girl."

In those days the ice show was highly theatrical with vaudeville elements and showgirls. She told us all she had to do was skate out to Cook who was standing on the ice and ask him questions.

That was "It Happens On Ice" in 1940. She said Cook became ill. His last performance was on the ice with Lillian in 1941. She went back to California - where she later decided to audition with the "Ice Capades" when it came to Hollywood.

By that time, she'd learned to skate pretty well. The show was looking for six tall girls. Lillian is 5'9" and the scout told her they could use her. She said, "My sister, Susie, is here with me. She can skate, too, and she's two inches taller than I am."

Susie skated for him and both girls joined the traveling show. First they rehearsed in Hollywood. Then they went to places like Portland, Seattle and on to Madison Square Garden in New York City.

One day, she saw a short man talking with their choreographer. He asked where they found tall girls who could skate? The choreographer told him, "California!" She later learned the inquisitive man was Mike Todd.

On her wall are personally autographed photos of many famous people and many skaters. Online we've found original copies of ice show programs. We recognized many of the names from her photos - Skippy Baxter, Paul Castle, the Bruises and more.

She shared marvelous stories with us about the "Blue Danube" chorus line in which she skated. It always began the second half of the show. The girls wore elegant gowns with heavy hoopskirts made of metal with lead weights.

One time the lady who dressed the skaters didn't fasten Lillian's petticoat securely. It came down over her skates. Lillian went down flat on the ice. She was mortified and afterward the choreographer told her, "When you fall down, you will smile!"

Another time she was wearing a long gown with flowing tassels. The tassels froze in the ice. When she tried to move, she went down again. That time she smiled.

When the tour was over, Lillian and Susie returned to California where Lillian joined the Army. The tall beauty on ice became a WAC and served in the Air Transport Command during WWII - another picture on her wall - another story in her library of priceless memories.

We intend to go back. We'll ask. We'll listen.

Lyn and Bill live in Highlands Ridge. If you're a visitor to the area and would like Boomers & Beyond to appear weekly in your hometown paper, direct your editor to www.boomersandbeyondthecolumn.com or call 800-596-2455.

©2007 Journey Publications

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