Eric and Norman left the Tivoli Circuit after they didn't receive a pay rise that had been promised to them. They headed for England, where a man approached them after a show and again suggested they perform their acrobatic act on skates. They lied and said, "Oh yeah, we've done it many, many times" and then headed to the Richmond Ice Rink, where they worked to 'properly' translate their act to the ice. After appearing in Tom Arnold's ice pantomime "Babes In The Woods", they returned to Australia to perform in the show "Ice Parade" at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne, billed as "The World's Greatest Vaudeville-On-Ice Show". They later travelled with a troupe to sunny Spain, where their act was a smash hit. However, after one show Eric decided to give bullfighting a try. He ended up getting tossed around by the bull and sustaining some pretty serious injuries but later joked, "I'm still around. The bull ain't." When they weren't moonlighting as bullfighters, Eric and Norman enjoyed water skiing, bowling and flying planes.
Eric and Norman actually first performed their acrobatic act in America in Skating Vanities, a roller skating tour. They signed with Shipstad and Johnson's Ice Follies in 1955. Touring as ice acrobats for over ten years alongside the likes of Donald Jackson, Richard Dwyer, Mr. Frick (Werner Groebli) and Ina Bauer, they became bona fide ice stars and were actually pioneers of adding the backflip to professional performances. On May 2, 1956, the "Spokane Chronicle" noted, "Norm holds a record for backwards somersaults on ice skates, 16."
However, Eric and Norman's 'drunk act' sometimes got them in trouble. On January 18, 1965, "The Miami News" reported, "At the 'Ice Follies' opening, two off-duty Shore Patrol cops almost ruined the Kermond Bros. act, who start out from the audience and pretend to annoy patrons. Since the brothers were dressed as Navy men, the patrol cops thought it was their duty to intercede - but ushers stopped them in time."
Long after their performing days ended, the unlikely skating stars remained involved in the sport. Eric and Norman managed the Burlingame Ice Rink in California together and Norman's daughter Sharon actually followed in his footsteps, touring with Ice Follies and coaching in California. Sadly, Norman passed away on January 5, 2016 at the age of ninety five. Though their names may not be as remembered as some, this pioneering team of ice acrobats from down under have a unique place in skating's rich and colourful history.
Photo courtesy Ingrid Hunnewell
However, Eric and Norman's 'drunk act' sometimes got them in trouble. On January 18, 1965, "The Miami News" reported, "At the 'Ice Follies' opening, two off-duty Shore Patrol cops almost ruined the Kermond Bros. act, who start out from the audience and pretend to annoy patrons. Since the brothers were dressed as Navy men, the patrol cops thought it was their duty to intercede - but ushers stopped them in time."
Long after their performing days ended, the unlikely skating stars remained involved in the sport. Eric and Norman managed the Burlingame Ice Rink in California together and Norman's daughter Sharon actually followed in his footsteps, touring with Ice Follies and coaching in California. Sadly, Norman passed away on January 5, 2016 at the age of ninety five. Though their names may not be as remembered as some, this pioneering team of ice acrobats from down under have a unique place in skating's rich and colourful history.
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