Evening star., 1961-02-09
ATCHISON'S
ANGLE
Man In a Spin
By LEWIS F. ATcHIsoN


RoNNIE ROBERTSON is one of those fortunate Young
who could if he wanted, tell the boss to lump it and
retire to life of luxury and He's g. talented and
nice looking. So what does he do? He lives a lonely
monaStc-ke life, with only six weeks off every year
relax and enjoy Of the green stuff he's collected
Robertson is the star of the Ice Capades which ends
its annual visit at Une Sunday and it's not hard
to understand why.
"Td rather not skate than do bad job" he said
Right now could use about hours Of practice every
day to brush up on jumps and spins, stunts and
things that went wrong in the show but there just
isn't time"
Ronnie hasn't had day off since Christmas and
doesn't know when he'll get one Nor does he care He
has sacrificed companioShip good times and easy-vng
to achieve goal He wants the absolute best and
quit while he's top No sentimental lingering for him.
He has other fish to fry.
THE 5-FOOT-5h, 135-pound dynamo spins faster
than skater in show business possibly faster than
anybody in the world They clocked him 6 revolutions
second in tests last year at the University of Michigan
Medical School, trying to find out what made him tick.
Life Magazine did story saying made four
complete turns second, Ronne told u.s. "and didn't
believe it. But thought it good publicity for the
show. Then Dr. Bryan McCabe made the tests at Ann
Arbor and discovered made 6k turns-and he didn't
believe it. But it was true"
Dr. McCabe has conducted tests in connection with the
Nations man ann-space program and his experiment with
nocaCed thaL an aStrOnaut Will about
rapidly as top-fght skater. What he couldn't figure
out about Robertson what kept him getting dizzy
** 80.
THEY SPUN ME for about IS seconds in every con-
ceivable position Ronnie related Tey even filled my
ears with cold and then hot water to test the reaction
They had theory that sound and light had something
to do with equilibrium they bndfolded me- turned out
the lights and told me to walk the It didn't
affect me- Then they decided that mental suppression
was the cause-that had disciplined mind to repe
thoughts Of dizziness and nausea. don't know what 1t
is, but spinning doesn't make me dizzy" = ~
One of skaters toughest routnes Ronnie said is
jumping with the spotlight him. There is only dark
beyond the spot and the feeling akin to leapng
hurdle into the unknown. It doesn't bother him.
and other skaters line themselves up with spectators
heads in certain to get the right perspective.
ROBERTSON CORRECTLY regards himself as an
athlete, although the Ice Capades undenably is show
business After the performance each night he spends
extra time working the routine for years tour
The entire cast for that matter busy plans for next
years production but most Of them practice during the
day. Yesterday Bob Dench and Rosemare Stewart, his
attractive wife, and the productions coordnaors spent
most OF the afternoon working out new dance routine
they expect to incorporate into the '62 show.
Hard work is old hat to Ronne All work and no
play may be dull but is featherng fancy nest for him.
II have my real estate and construction firm
in California he said MY father is architect and
my brother-inlaw is contractor. It's family affair,
ueCiue WdItopetV W puy anu SeiecI tue designs
1or the apartment houses and office buildings Keeping
business going and being in the show doesn't give
much time to myself"
= y
RoNNIE is loner on the road The other night his
grandmother an uncle and aunt, from Baltimore to
the show They had dinner at the motel where he is
staying but not with Ronnie He didn't them until
he'd finished his practice drill after the show.
"They understand" he said "They know it would
interfere with schedule and I've got to before
the show"
Robertson has friends all the country in cities
where he has performed but rarely does visit their
homes
II go out when it will help the show" he explained
.'but not for my own pleasure"
49,