Ice Skating Comedian :
For years, Werner Groebli, known as Mr. Frick, delighted figure skating fans all over the world. He was praised for his grace on the ice, for his comic timing, and for his off-balance acrobatics. He toured with in Shipstads and Johnson Ice Follies beginning in the late 1930s and delighted audiences until 1981.Originally, he skated as part of the Frick and Frack comedy skating duo, but after Frack retired from skating in 1953, Frick continued to entertain audiences with a solo comedy skating act.
Date and Place of Birth:
Werner Fritz Groebli "Mr. Frick" was born on April 21, 1915, in Basel, Switzerland.Accomplishments as a Young Skater:
Groebli won the Swiss junior figure skating championship in 1934.Half of Frick and Frack:
Frick was part of the famous Frick and Frack comedy skating act. His real name was Werner Groebli and Frack's real name was Hans-Rudi Mauch. Both were from Switzerland. The pair used the name "Frick and Frack" originally because they did not want to embarrass their families with their comedy antics on the ice since theatrical comedy was considered low class.They began performing together in the early 1930s. Their original goal was to make fun of professional figure skaters. They dressed in traditional alpine clothing and used ballet and dance in their performances. They skated together until 1953.
Spread-Eagle Cantilever - Signature Move:
Mr. Frick was known for doing a spread-eagle cantilever, where he did an inside spread eagle while bending his knees way forward, but at the same time, he leaned backward.Family, Pets, and Friends:
Fritz Groebli "Mr. Frick" was married. His wife's name was Yvonne. They had no children. They traveled together with the Ice Follies with their little white toy poodle named Lu Lu. Groebli adored his wife. Child skating star, Janet Champion, remembers that his wife, Yvonne, was very good friends with her mother. Yvonne was not a skater. His best friend in the show was "Mr. Debonair" Richard Dwyer.Featured in Motion Pictures and On Television:
In addition to performing live, Frick and Frack were also in some Hollywood movies. They were featured in "Lady Let's Dance" in 1944 and "Silver Skates" 1943.Frick appeared on TV specials with Peggy Fleming, Janet Lynn, Richard Dwyer, and Snoopy. He appeared on the Today Show with Barbara Walters in 1977 and the on Ed Sullivan Show in 1955.
