New Ice Show in Manhattan

Howdy, Mr. Ice (produced by Sonja Henie & Arthur M. Wirtz) is the sixth of the Center Theater's mammoth, popular ice carnivals. In terms of titles, it would seem that the management is really getting desperate. But not in terms of customers: almost eight million people have sat in on the skating--and no one has yet considered producing a Toodle-oo, Mr. Ice. Indeed, though all the shows have a strong family resemblance, this season's has more bounce than last's.

Howdy, Mr. Ice has. besides, some engaging newcomers: the 1948 Olympics' pretty Eileen Seigh, a figure skater of uncommon grace and skill; Former Model Jinx Clark; Jazz Skater Rudy Richards, who jitterbugs remarkably, but with the slight--and highly welcome--touch of restraint that ice and skates impose. Even more rewarding are two such Center standbys as Skippy Baxter, who can skate both very fast and fancy, and Freddie Trenkler, for whose great comic shenanigans familiarity only breeds admiration.

The Center's carnivals rank, of course, with the most dolled-up and weighted-down, the most eye-filling and eye-closing production numbers in show business; and they can make ice skating seem the most lethargic of all sports. This year, however, they display a certain mild improvement. The big patriotic number really cracks the whip as well as waves the flag; and one or two of the more lavish spectacles show a definite advance from the artistic level of the candy box to that of the Christmas card.

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