The Rise of the Ice Capades

The Ice Capades originated in the 1940s as a way to attract larger crowds to hockey games by featuring figure skaters as entertainment during intermissions. The show evolved into a variety performance with a mix of figure skating, comedy, and elaborate acts, akin to a vaudeville experience on ice. By collaborating with Disney, the Ice Capades integrated beloved characters and music, which further fueled its popularity, particularly with productions like the ice-skating version of Cinderella. Ultimately, the Ice Capades showcased the ability of ice-based entertainment to adapt and captivate audiences, although it would later face decline as figure skating transitioned into televised competitions.