description should have read "The incomparable Gary Beacom, skating to the incomparable Leonard Cohen" :) amazing he's still got it - how recent is this performance?
@cyril1917 I saw it back then too - actually I see now I posted this question to the wrong video. lol Someone uploaded a later version of it that appears pretty recent - Gary has a lot less hair in it, but no less talent & I thought I posted this on that video - sorry. this is still my favorite version though - & just as 15 yrs ago I wish Peggy Fleming & the other guy would shut up during the performance - lol Peggy was my favorite skater when I was a child, but as an announcer - not so much
That...that's just brilliant. Where the heck did he learn how to skate like that? Standing on his head like that...that was just impressive. I love this guy!
omg. thanks for posting this. i have him on one of my vhs tapes and i just can't seem to find it. i absolutely love his guy. he has done so may great routines. he was for sure a great expressive skater. lol
Beacom had the cojones to skate to Leonard Cohen years before "Shrek" re-introduced "Hallelujah". For that alone, he would have earned my undying respect. But when I saw him perform this routine this first time on TV, he convinced me, a card-carrying heterosexual male, that it wasn't all ice capades BS. We definitely ain't in Kansas anymore with this bit. Unheralded and absolutely brilliant skater. Ain't seen nothing like him since.
There really isn't anyone else who can do half of this. Easy to enjoy the charisma, sly humour and crowd appeal... and fiendishly difficult for anyone to match it! Hasn't anyone out there got more Beacom footage to put up? It'd be welcome here!
Thanks for showing that clip. Interesting to see the two versions available, incl the one I showed too. If you look carefully, his 2nd fall looks unplanned as he falls rather awkwardly. good show though!
I remember watching this performance with my mother. Gary is one of my all time favorites!!
unseelieturtle 1 week ago
@unseelieturtle me too! we have an inside joke, saying "i'm a mannnnn" with the same arm motion that he does LOL =)
bhestonmusic 1 week ago
description should have read "The incomparable Gary Beacom, skating to the incomparable Leonard Cohen" :) amazing he's still got it - how recent is this performance?
controlledfolly11 4 months ago
@controlledfolly11 A little over 15 years ago. I remember watching this when it was first televised .
cyril1917 3 months ago
@cyril1917 I saw it back then too - actually I see now I posted this question to the wrong video. lol Someone uploaded a later version of it that appears pretty recent - Gary has a lot less hair in it, but no less talent & I thought I posted this on that video - sorry. this is still my favorite version though - & just as 15 yrs ago I wish Peggy Fleming & the other guy would shut up during the performance - lol Peggy was my favorite skater when I was a child, but as an announcer - not so much
controlledfolly11 3 months ago
I remember this, and my darling dearest in Australia sent this video...heh, I live 15 minutes away from where this was performed!
beardedba 6 months ago
Very original, very entertaining. Thanks, Gary and Thanks for posting.
mjcamck 7 months ago
Love Cohen. Love Beacom. What a unique, astounding pairing.
NOTE: Audio too low
kracer1211 8 months ago
That...that's just brilliant. Where the heck did he learn how to skate like that? Standing on his head like that...that was just impressive. I love this guy!
LLawliet1011 9 months ago
I love him, lol
TennesseeShelties 1 year ago
I wish it could be re-upped with good sound level. loe beacom and cohen
BunjiFro 1 year ago
omg. thanks for posting this. i have him on one of my vhs tapes and i just can't seem to find it. i absolutely love his guy. he has done so may great routines. he was for sure a great expressive skater. lol
trosien6 1 year ago
this is pretty funny, i hope its meant to be funny
gobacktorussia 1 year ago
2:11 Weekend at bernies.
Raynelm 1 year ago 3
An unforgettable performance. Literally haven't seen this for years and its still something else, the head stands, the posturing, magic
O4cryingoutloud 2 years ago
I saw this when it was on TV originally -- never forgot the skater, the song, the singer or the skate itself.
DarcyTV1 2 years ago 2
Beacom had the cojones to skate to Leonard Cohen years before "Shrek" re-introduced "Hallelujah". For that alone, he would have earned my undying respect. But when I saw him perform this routine this first time on TV, he convinced me, a card-carrying heterosexual male, that it wasn't all ice capades BS. We definitely ain't in Kansas anymore with this bit. Unheralded and absolutely brilliant skater. Ain't seen nothing like him since.
altcountryguitar 2 years ago 6
Very, very enjoyable and just the kind of unusual humour that I like.
videofan792 2 years ago 3
When was he doing this? I recall watching and being amazed...
hrothgleas 2 years ago
I skated for 6 years at RCV in Victoria and he was my coach. this man is very inspiring and 2 years after i quit skating i am still friends with him.
twigster1080 2 years ago
One of my fave programs of all time. I loved how he mocked the skating establishment and all those cool contemporary dance moves.
nolaughingmatter 2 years ago 6
Fabulous!
babeofelvis 3 years ago 2
"Bird on a Wire" is also a Leonard Cohen song.
jpet71 4 years ago 2
What fun watching this is...........
Drewtazy 4 years ago 2
There really isn't anyone else who can do half of this. Easy to enjoy the charisma, sly humour and crowd appeal... and fiendishly difficult for anyone to match it! Hasn't anyone out there got more Beacom footage to put up? It'd be welcome here!
comox17 4 years ago 3
I was in Providence for this!!
PishPosh99 4 years ago 2
One of my favorite Beacom programs. Thanks for sharing! (audio too low).
amlorigan 5 years ago 3
I prefer the Sun Valley performance of this work...but this is still a terrific routine. More Beacom, please!
thewomandirector 5 years ago 2
Thanks for showing that clip. Interesting to see the two versions available, incl the one I showed too. If you look carefully, his 2nd fall looks unplanned as he falls rather awkwardly. good show though!
crabman06 5 years ago