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The spectacular ice variety show “Ecstasy on Ice” premiered at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Brisbane on July 8, 1960. Presented by J. C. Williamson Theatres in association with the Tivoli Circuit.

The show was a grand variety production that famously transformed the theater’s traditional stage into a fully functional ice rink.

The production featured a highly regarded mix of international and local variety acts, comedians, and world-class skaters, such as - Gloria Nord, Pat Gregory, Adrienne Erdos, Judy Cooper, Johnny Ladd, and the skating duo Bob and Peggy Whight. American comedian Pat Henning, the musical/comic instrumentalist Desmond Lane, acrobats Latona, Graham and Chadel, the circus-style performers The Kempinski’s, and vocal harmonies by The Bradley Sisters. All of this under the musical direction of Harold Moschetti and produced by George Carden.

Theatregoers frequently look back at the 1950s and 60s ice shows at Her Majesty’s (including Ecstasy on Ice and Rose Marie on Ice) as “pure magic”. Audiences were continually fascinated by the engineering feat of transforming a warm Brisbane stage into a frozen wonderland.

Most theatre goers express deep sadness that Her Majesty’s Theatre—originally opened in 1888 and located at 193 Queen Street—was ultimately closed in 1983 and demolished in 1985. It is widely remembered by Brisbane locals as one of the city’s greatest heritage preservation mistakes.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -