Life on the edge with Superior skating stars
The episode discusses the remarkable journeys of Superior figure skaters Bess Earhart and Bobby Specht, detailing their rise from local skating rinks to national fame. Both skaters benefited from the support of the Superior Curling Club and local teachers, influencing their success in various skating competitions and shows.
Summary
In this episode of Archive Dive, host Terry Keddo and local historian Teddy Moranek explore the lives of two prominent figure skaters from Superior, Wisconsin: Bess Earhart and Bobby Specht. The discussion begins with the establishment of a modern skating facility by the Superior Curling Club in 1908, which provided local skaters with the training and resources necessary to excel in their sport. The facility brought skilled instructors to the area, including Frank Sullivan, who played a vital role in coaching aspiring skaters.
Bess Earhart, one of the skaters featured, initially engaged in speed skating but transitioned to figure skating, largely self-taught before receiving formal lessons. Her talent eventually led her to audition for a Chicago-based skating show, where she quickly became a star. She performed alongside notable figures and even appeared in a Hollywood movie, Ice Follies of 1939. Tragically, her life ended early at the age of 59 after an accident in her swimming pool.
Bobby Specht, who started skating at a later date, was mentored by Earhart and also gained recognition for his exceptional talent. He became the United States men's figure skating champion in 1942, despite facing setbacks during his career, including an injury that prevented him from competing in the previous year. After serving in the Air Force, Bobby joined the Ice Capades, where he had a long and successful career. The episode highlights their shared beginnings in Superior, the impact of the community's support, and the importance of preserving their legacy in local memory. Moranek suggests that statues of both skaters would honor their contributions and achievements.
About this episode
<p>For this month's episode of the Archive Dive podcast, we feature two talented figure skating stars from Superior. <a class="rte2-style-brightspot-core-link-LinkRichTextElement" href="https://proskatinghistoricalfoundation.org/bess-ehrhardt-figure-skating-queen/index.html" id="enhancement-e40dac30-95d5-11f1-8df8-1f833e94600d" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bess Ehrhardt</a> and <a class="rte2-style-brightspot-core-link-LinkRichTextElement" href="https://www.skateguardblog.com/2017/11/from-black-and-white-to-technicolor.html" id="enhancement-e40dac31-95d5-11f1-8df8-1f833e94600d" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Bobby Specht</a> thrilled fans nationwide with their excellence on ice.</p> <p>Telegram reporter Teri Cadeau is joined by the local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek for this deep dive into the lives of Ehrhardt and Specht. Both were Superior Central High School graduates who reached national fame in the 1930s and 40s.</p> <p>A champion figure skater, Ehrhardt's biggest fame came with the touring <a class="rte2-style-brightspot-core-link-LinkRichTextElement" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Follies" id="enhancement-e40dac33-95d5-11f1-8df8-1f833e94600d" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Ice Follies</a>, where she became known as "America's Sweetheart of the Ice." She was also seen on the "big screen," starring in a film called "<a class="rte2-style-brightspot-core-link-LinkRichTextElement" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ice_Follies_of_1939" id="enhancement-e40dac34-95d5-11f1-8df8-1f833e94600d" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Ice Follies of 1939</a>" with Jimmy Stewart and Joan Crawford.</p> <p>"Everybody wanted to go to an ice show and Bess apparently was very good at it," said Meronek.</p> <p>Specht was about five years younger and at an early age, he was turning heads with his skating skills. Ehrhardt helped him give him a break.</p> <p>"Bess was in town. She came and she performed and they gave her a couple solos, but she gave up one of them so Bobby could have a solo performance," said Meronek. "I guess that's when people realized how talented he was. After that he was invited to various ice shows and then he started competitive skating.</p> <p>Specht went on to compete in the United States Figure Skating Championships, where he earned a bronze medal in pairs with Joan Mitchell in 1941 and won a gold medal in 1942 in singles. The Winter Olympics would have been a possibility, but they were canceled in 1944 due to World War II. Specht served in the U.S. Air Force during the war and afterwards, he performed with the touring <a class="rte2-style-brightspot-core-link-LinkRichTextElement" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_Capades" id="enhancement-e40dac35-95d5-11f1-8df8-1f833e94600d" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Ice Capades.</a> He even skated on "<a class="rte2-style-brightspot-core-link-LinkRichTextElement" href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1066374603381472" id="enhancement-e40dac36-95d5-11f1-8df8-1f833e94600d" rel="noopener" target="_blank">The Ed Sullivan Show.</a>"</p> <p>Both Ehrhardt and Specht made their hometown proud and Meronek hopes that even in death, they can be immortalized.</p> <p>"I think they're both in local halls of fame, but nobody remembers them anymore and they did some pretty amazing things."</p> <p>Other topics include:</p> <ul> <li>The early days of the Superior Curling Club</li> <li>The role that Duluth's Frank Sullivan played in local skating.</li> <li>How did Ehrhardt begin skating?</li> <li>Another career aspiration that Ehrhardt had.</li> <li>How Ehrhardt met her husband and the unique secret they kept.</li> <li>How did Ehrhardt become a professional skater?</li> <li>Tricks on skate that Ehrhardt perfected.</li> <li>Ehrhardt's family and tragic death.</li> <li>Specht's family.</li> <li>Could Specht have become an elite skater sooner?</li> <li>The crowd response after Specht skated in a competition in Philadelphia.</li> <li>How long did Specht skate in the Ice Capades?</li> <li>Did Specht have Hollywood aspirations?</li> <li>Ehrhardt and Specht's ties to the University of Wisconsin Superior.</li> <li>Where else did both live?</li> <li>And much more.</li> </ul> <p><em class="rte2-style-italic">Episodes of "Archive Dive" are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. </em><a class="rte2-style-brightspot-core-link-LinkRichTextElement" href="https://www.superiortelegram.com/podcasts/superior-telegram-archive-dive" id="enhancement-e40dd340-95d5-11f1-8df8-1f833e94600d">Episodes</a> <em class="rte2-style-italic">are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea that you'd like us to explore, email Teri Cadeau at [email protected].</em></p>
Key Insights
- The development of a modern skating facility in 1908 by the Superior Curling Club was crucial for local figure skaters Bess Earhart and Bobby Specht, providing them with the opportunity to receive proper training.
- Bess Earhart transitioned from speed skating to figure skating, largely teaching herself before formal lessons elevated her skills, ultimately leading to a successful career in ice shows and film.
- Bobby Specht achieved significant recognition as the United States men's figure skating champion in 1942, demonstrating that local talent from small communities can reach national levels in sports.
- Despite losing opportunities due to historical contexts such as World War II and injuries, both skaters maintained their passion for skating, with Specht eventually finding success in the Ice Capades.
- Moranek advocates for memorializing Bess Earhart and Bobby Specht through statues in Superior to preserve their legacy and inspire future generations of skaters.
Topics
Transcript
Hello and welcome to Archivedive. I'm Terry Keddo, a reporter with the Superior Telegram. Each month, we dip into the files on historic events, people, and places in Superior and Douglas County with local historians. Today we'll dive into the tales of two talented Superior figure skaters with Teddy Moranek. Welcome, Teddy. Hi. Glad to have youek. Welcome, Teddy. Hi. Glad to have you here. Oh, thank you. Tell me a little bit about who we are talking about today. Well, we're talking about two ice skaters who got their start in Superior, Wisconsin and rose to national fame, almost international fame, Bess Earhart and Bobby Specht. Which one do you want to start with? Well, I think what I'd…
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