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{{short description|American figure skater}}
{{Infobox figure skater
{{Infobox figure skater
|name= Donna Atwood
|name= Donna Atwood
|image=File:Skating. Donna Atwood BAnQ P48S1P14269.jpg
|image=
|caption=
|caption=
|country= [[United States]]
|country= [[United States]]
|birth_date= {{birth date|1925|2|14}}
|birth_date= {{birth date|1925|2|14}}
|death_date= {{death date and age|2010|12|20|1925|2|14}}
|death_date= {{death date and age|2010|12|20|1925|2|14}}
|formerpartner= [[Eugene Turner]]
|partner= [[Eugene Turner]] (former)
|coach=
|formercoach=
|formerchoreographer=
|skating club=
|skating club=
|retired=
|retired= 1956
|medaltemplates= <!-- see [[Template:MedalRelatedTemplates]] -->
|medaltemplates= <!-- see [[Template:MedalRelatedTemplates]] -->
{{MedalCountry | [[United States]]}}
{{MedalCountry | [[United States]]}}
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}}
}}


'''Donna Atwood''' (February 14, 1925 – December 20, 2010) was an [[United States|American]] [[Figure skating|figure skater]]. She was born Donna Arlene Atwood on February 14, 1925 in [[Newton, Kansas]], to pharmacist Chester Atwood and Allie Atwood, his wife. The family moved to [[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]] before relocating to [[Los Angeles]] when she was 9. She died on December 30, 2010, aged 85, at the [[Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital]] in [[Woodland Hills, California]].<ref name='LATimesObit'>{{cite news | title = Donna Atwood dies at 85; longtime Ice Capades Star | date = 2011-01-21 | work = Los Angeles Times | url = http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/21/local/la-me-donna-atwood-20110121 | accessdate = 2013-08-04}}</ref>
'''Donna Arlene Atwood''' (February 14, 1925 – December 20, 2010) was an American [[Figure skating|figure skater]]. She was born in [[Newton, Kansas]], to pharmacist Chester Atwood and Allie Atwood, his wife. The family moved to [[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]] before relocating to [[Los Angeles]] when she was 9. She died on December 30, 2010, aged 85, at the [[Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital]] in [[Woodland Hills, California]].<ref name='LATimesObit'>{{cite news | title = Donna Atwood dies at 85; longtime Ice Capades Star | date = 2011-01-21 | work = Los Angeles Times | url = http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/21/local/la-me-donna-atwood-20110121 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110425174603/http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/21/local/la-me-donna-atwood-20110121 | url-status = dead | archive-date = April 25, 2011 | access-date = 2013-08-04}}</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
Donna began taking dancing lessons at age 3. Her skating began at age 13, when she was inspired by seeing a [[Sonja Henie]] ice show, and was given her first pair of skates by her older brother. At age 15, she won two medals at the 1941 [[U.S. Figure Skating Championships]]: the senior [[pair skating|pairs]] title with partner [[Eugene Turner]].,<ref>[https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vVUyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UrYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3933,3335359&dq=eugene-turner+donna-atwood&hl=en AP Story in Palm Beach Post, 3 Feb 1941]</ref> and the junior ladies title.<ref name="LATimesObit"/>
Donna began taking dancing lessons at age 3. Her skating began at age 13, when she was inspired by seeing a [[Sonja Henie]] ice show, and was given her first pair of skates by her older brother. At age 15, she won two medals at the 1941 [[U.S. Figure Skating Championships]]: the senior [[pair skating|pairs]] title with partner [[Eugene Turner]].,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vVUyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UrYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3933,3335359&dq=eugene-turner+donna-atwood&hl=en |title=AP Story in Palm Beach Post, 3 Feb 1941 |access-date=27 June 2015 |archive-date=6 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506020658/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=vVUyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=UrYFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3933,3335359&dq=eugene-turner+donna-atwood&hl=en |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the junior ladies title.<ref name="LATimesObit"/>


That same year, [[John H. Harris (entertainment)|John H. Harris]], operating owner of the [[Ice Capades]], offered her a contract with his show. She signed with the Ice Capades at age 16, and within a year she was its star, billed as "The Queen of the Ice". She toured with the show for fifteen years, giving over 6,000 performances in two dozen venues. She was so famous that newspaper headlines of the day referred to her only as "Donna". On her farewell tour, she starred in a production of [[Peter Pan]], making her entrance flying above the audience. She often spoke of it as her favorite role.<ref name="LATimesObit"/>
That same year, [[John H. Harris (entertainment)|John H. Harris]], operating owner of the [[Ice Capades]], offered her a contract with his show. She signed with the Ice Capades at age 16, and within a year she was its star, billed as "The Queen of the Ice". She toured with the show for fifteen years, giving over 6,000 performances in two dozen venues. She was so famous that newspaper headlines of the day referred to her only as "Donna". On her farewell tour, she starred in a production of [[Peter Pan]], making her entrance flying above the audience. She often spoke of it as her favorite role.<ref name="LATimesObit"/>


Donna Atwood retired from the role of lead skater in 1956 at age 31, moving into a custom-built [[Beverly Hills]] home complete with a piano that folded into the wall.<ref name="LATimesObit"/><ref>"Ice Capades' Donna Atwood to Retire Soon", [[Los Angeles Times]], 8 Apr 1956 [https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/429352701.html?dids=429352701:429352701&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+08,+1956&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Ice+Capades'+Donna]</ref><ref>"Skaters' Waltz: 'Hollywood' Cast Joins Other Icers", Billboard, 22 Sep 1956 [https://books.google.com/books?id=iAoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA84&dq=donna.atwood+ice.capades&hl=en&ei=Er7mS_bZNJGgkQWIuJnLBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=book-preview-link&resume=3&ved=0CDkQuwUwAg#v=onepage&q=donna.atwood%20ice.capades&f=false]</ref> She made a single television appearance in 1961 as Phyllis Merrill in the ''[[Perry Mason]]'' episode, "The Case of the Renegade Refugee."
Donna Atwood retired from the role of lead skater in 1956 at age 31, moving into a custom-built [[Beverly Hills]] home complete with a piano that folded into the wall.<ref name="LATimesObit"/><ref>"Ice Capades' Donna Atwood to Retire Soon", [[Los Angeles Times]], 8 Apr 1956 [https://archive.today/20130131213056/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/429352701.html?dids=429352701:429352701&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+08,+1956&author=&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Ice+Capades'+Donna]</ref><ref>"Skaters' Waltz: 'Hollywood' Cast Joins Other Icers", Billboard, 22 Sep 1956 [https://books.google.com/books?id=iAoEAAAAMBAJ&dq=donna.atwood+ice.capades&pg=PA84]</ref> She made a single television appearance in 1961 as Phyllis Merrill in the ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]'' episode, "The Case of the Renegade Refugee."


In the 1970s, when her children were grown and she was "tired of doing nothing," she began coaching young figure skaters in California.<ref name="LATimesObit"/>
In the 1970s, when her children were grown and she was "tired of doing nothing," she began coaching young figure skaters in California.<ref name="LATimesObit"/>
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Atwood, Donna}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Atwood, Donna}}
[[Category:1922 births]]
[[Category:1925 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:American female pair skaters]]
[[Category:American female pair skaters]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportswomen]]

Revision as of 01:44, 15 August 2024

Donna Atwood
Born(1925-02-14)February 14, 1925
DiedDecember 20, 2010(2010-12-20) (aged 85)
Figure skating career
CountryUnited States
PartnerEugene Turner (former)
Retired1956
Medal record
Representing United States
Pairs' Figure skating
North American Championships
Silver medal – second place 1941 Philadelphia Pairs

Donna Arlene Atwood (February 14, 1925 – December 20, 2010) was an American figure skater. She was born in Newton, Kansas, to pharmacist Chester Atwood and Allie Atwood, his wife. The family moved to Albuquerque before relocating to Los Angeles when she was 9. She died on December 30, 2010, aged 85, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.[1]

Career

Donna began taking dancing lessons at age 3. Her skating began at age 13, when she was inspired by seeing a Sonja Henie ice show, and was given her first pair of skates by her older brother. At age 15, she won two medals at the 1941 U.S. Figure Skating Championships: the senior pairs title with partner Eugene Turner.,[2] and the junior ladies title.[1]

That same year, John H. Harris, operating owner of the Ice Capades, offered her a contract with his show. She signed with the Ice Capades at age 16, and within a year she was its star, billed as "The Queen of the Ice". She toured with the show for fifteen years, giving over 6,000 performances in two dozen venues. She was so famous that newspaper headlines of the day referred to her only as "Donna". On her farewell tour, she starred in a production of Peter Pan, making her entrance flying above the audience. She often spoke of it as her favorite role.[1]

Donna Atwood retired from the role of lead skater in 1956 at age 31, moving into a custom-built Beverly Hills home complete with a piano that folded into the wall.[1][3][4] She made a single television appearance in 1961 as Phyllis Merrill in the Perry Mason episode, "The Case of the Renegade Refugee."

In the 1970s, when her children were grown and she was "tired of doing nothing," she began coaching young figure skaters in California.[1]

Family life

In 1949, Donna married her mentor John H. Harris, 27 years her senior, with whom she had twin sons in 1950 and a daughter in 1952.[1][5]

To facilitate her travel with young children, the Ice Capades props department used a 10-foot traveling trunk to build a portable nursery that could be rolled into her hotel room. When her sons reached school age, she retired from skating. She was 31 years old, and at the peak of her career.[1]

Atwood and Harris divorced in 1959. Donna never remarried, eventually moving to Marina del Rey and Palm Desert, California.[1]

Results

(pairs with Eugene Turner)

Event 1941
North American Championships 2nd
U.S. Championships 1st

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Donna Atwood dies at 85; longtime Ice Capades Star". Los Angeles Times. 2011-01-21. Archived from the original on April 25, 2011. Retrieved 2013-08-04.
  2. ^ "AP Story in Palm Beach Post, 3 Feb 1941". Archived from the original on 6 May 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  3. ^ "Ice Capades' Donna Atwood to Retire Soon", Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr 1956 [1]
  4. ^ "Skaters' Waltz: 'Hollywood' Cast Joins Other Icers", Billboard, 22 Sep 1956 [2]
  5. ^ "Obituaries: John H. Harris, Showman, Dies; First Owner of Ice Capades", The New York Times, 13 Feb 1969 [3]
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