Gary Beacom - A True Original

[Ladskater]

Before Kurt Browning came on the scene and stole the show there was another amazing artistic skater in Canada - Gary Beacom who competed with Brian Orser. Gary was really a different kind of skater and one who did not comply with the rigid rules of figure skating. He really drove the judges crazy because they did not understand him and what he was saying through his unusual style. He was often undermarked and underappreciated in his amateur days. When he turned pro he was finally able to show the world his wonderful skating talents.

Gary really was a genius.

I have been revisiting some of my favorite Beacom programs on Youtube:

1983 Nationals LP
"I'm Your Man" (Pro Skate)
"Malevolant Landscape" (1990 Pro Skate)

 

[Tonichelle]

I put Gary in more the same strain as Toller Cranston, he was really outside the box

Kurt doesn't come off as out of the box as just one of those skater's skaters who has it all... and doesn't even seem to realize just how good he really is...

 

[lisadotdash]

I'll never forget "I'm Your Man" at an outdoor competition. The others were doing the same blase blase stuff and he comes out, and gets a standing ovation. Then when the broadcast was ending, as the credits were rolling, they played his music again. He was one I really missed.

 

[dorispulaski]

For all the other Gary fans, here's what's on youtube right now:
I hope someone somewhere has a recording of Gary's 7 minute long program skated entirely to bird calls that is referred to in one of the clip!

Gary's 1980 EX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIeIrbj4qQs

Gary's 1983 LP at Canadians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ngCbGaf1bM

Gary's 1984 LP at Canadians
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzCTd2QFo1k

Gary's 1984 SP at Olympics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wA1FeuIC4YA

Gary's 1990 World Pro AP Malevolent Landscape
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2qUjtFQr4M

Gary World Pro I'm Your Man
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjHpnsI9Xh8

Gary World Pro Jazzy Sunglasses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwet3LCc-G4

Gary & Gia Guddat skate with skates on their hands 1994 (Losing My Marbles)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e89cdhjVSN4

Gary's 1995 Legends AP1 Don't Wait
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erx_d4vFp48

Gary 1996 Legends Competition AP3 to On Some Foggy Mountaintop (low sound)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLI7zE3QkpE

Gary 2006 BGM from Korea
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mf31iUitRY

Gary 12/10/2007 Skates to a Bongo version of Jingle Bells on what appears to be a frozen swimming pool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QYnwAqXxVg

 

[jsteam4501s]

Thanks, doris! I think I have only seen two routines by Gary Beacom - "I'm Your Man" numerous times, and another in which he portrays a military soldier of some kind, perhaps to "In the Navy" or something, can anyone clarify this? Oh, and also skating as a red-clad Santa Claus to "Jingle Bells" by the Mills Brothers in the Champagne on Ice Xmas Show about 10 years ago!

 

[IDLERACER]

Something about the guy always reminded me of Charles Grodin...or at least the character he played in the movie "Midnight Run."​