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Tom Arnold

Photo:Photo of Tom Arnold OBE 1897-1969

Photo of Tom Arnold OBE 1897-1969

From the private collection of Trevor Chepstow

The King of Pantomime
By Trevor Chepstow

The impresario Tom Arnold will be best remembered by the people of Brighton for producing some of the most exciting post-war ice spectaculars the town has ever seen. His name was known the length and breadth of Britain with some of his most lavish and expensive ice shows ever produced being shown at the Wembley Ice Stadium.

Although born in Yorkshire, Tom Arnold considered Brighton his second home and owned five different houses in the town during his long stay here with his family.

Dubbed the "King of Pantomime", his business activities were extensive and included opera, classical plays, films, revues, American rodeo and variety, ice spectaculars and circuses. His empire extended to the continent and South Africa. He was undoubtedly the most versatile and successful theatrical businessman of his day.

Tom Arnold and the Sports Stadium
At the end of the Second World War, Tom Arnold acquired the lease of the Sports Stadium and brought his first production to the town. "Hot Ice", starring Armand Perren, Len Stewart and Sheila Hamilton, delighted visitors to Brighton in the summer of 1945.

This was followed by "Ice Caprice" under the direction of Gerald Palmer and featuring Armand Perren and Olive Robinson. "Hello Ice" followed in 1947, starring British champion Daphne Walker. Some of his most popular shows at the SS Brighton were the summer "Ice Circuses". Many of these featured circus animals such as dogs, seals, ponies and monkeys, and many other circus animals including bears!

In one of the shows, a bear owned by Elizabeth Vogelbein the trainer bounded across the ice and leapt amongst the audience. Chased by Vogelbein and various members of the staff, the bear ran up and down the gangways before finally running into the orchestra area, from where he ambled quietly back into his cage!

A lifetime's achievement
Tom Arnold passed away February 2nd 1969 at the age of seventy-two in St Mary's Hospital, Paddington after an illness of only a few days.

Below are just a few of the ice shows staged at the Sports Stadium in West Street, Brighton during Tom Arnold's  ownership.

  • Ice Rhapsody
  • Aladdin
  • Dick Whittington
  • Ice Express
  • Sleeping Beauty on Ice
  • Rose Marie on Ice
  • Chu Chin Chow
  • Seven Summer Ice Circuses (from 1951)
This page was added on 22/03/2006.

Comments:

Is this the same Tom Arnold that produced shows in the Isle of Man during the late 1940s?
By Valerie Kinrade (17/08/2005)
Valerie Kinrade - Tom Arnold did produce shows in the IOM and many European cities and as far away as South Africa etc.
By Trevor Chepstow (09/11/2005)
I was born and brought up in Brighton. My best friend was a girl called Micheline Andrews (changed to Michelle I believe) whose mother, Amy Andrews, sang in the American Bar in SS Brighton. Micheline skated downstairs while her mother worked, they were escapees from Paris at the beginning of the War. Micheline went on to star in several Ice shows and I believe toured with Hot Ice later. I am now 73 so I am talking about the war years and the late Forties and early Fifties.
By Jocelyn Everest (22/01/2006)
I am very glad I found Mr. Arnold. He was the producer of many shows for my stepfather Reg Dixon (Confidentially yours..) I met him once, a wonderful gentleman.
By Toni Mayer-Dixon (18/03/2006)

I remember as a kid going with one of my aunts to see Rose Marie on ice. One of the girls in the show was a sister of Alan Jones, a neighbour from the street I lived in, Bennett Road. I am not sure if she played Rose Marie or not, time makes memories a bit hazy.

By Mick Peirson (06/11/2006)

Tom Arnold and Gerald Palmer productions in the UK were great. I was in Snow White and the Sevens Dwarfs on Ice in 1967.

By Claude Lebrun (11/12/2006)

The very best of all Ice Show Productions was indeed Snow White at the Empire Pool Wembley. This show staring Carol-Anne as Snow White, broke all box office records in the history of the Pool. 13 shows per week for over three months with sell out performances of 12,000 people each show.

By Michel Henri (15/02/2008)

My parents had a Guest house in Chesham Road in Brighton, and I remember some of the cast staying with us.

By Jackie Soutar(nee Gladwell) (08/04/2008)

I have just found your piece on Tom Arnold who my mother knew in the late 1930s. She was one of The Goater Twins skated at the SS Brighton in several of their summer spectaculars and were on the rink's professional staff. With the help of her cuttings book and my aunt (known as Little Iris Goater - now 76) I am trying to put together a brief biography of the twins. I am hoping you may be able to help.

By Susan Dewing (01/05/2008)

Hi Susan,

Sorry, I was just a child at the time and don't have any information on the twins.

Regards,

By Jackie Soutar(Gladwell) (05/05/2008)

Yes those ice shows were fantastic. I best remember 'Around the World in 80 Days' at Wembley complete with enormous hot-air balloon descending from the roof. And I saw "Ali Baba" twice (in South Africa it played theatres as 'Chu Chin Chow').

By Duncan Gillies (27/08/2008)

Hi Folks
If I can help on any information on the SS Brighton please contact me at this email address.
Sports Stadium Brighton Archive.
ssbrighton@hotmail.com

By Trevor Chepstow (01/12/2008)

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