Capote on Ice
28/01/2013 § 5 Comments
Admission: I’ve never been ice skating. I suppose I could blame it on growing up in Los Angeles, and my parents’ extreme aversion to a vacation spent anywhere other than a tropical climate — but since I am (technically?) an adult now, I really can only blame myself. Especially when New York City has so many beautiful places to tie on a pair of skates (see: Bryant Park, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, Chelsea Piers, the Standard Hotel). Perhaps I should make it a mini winter resolution of sorts to finally get myself on the ice.
Providing a bit of sartorial inspiration for my skating kit, Life Magazine photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt captured a 35 year-old Truman Capote skating at Rockefeller Center in 1959 — perhaps giving new dimension to his very famous bon mot, “New York is a diamond iceberg floating in river water.” I couldn’t find the article they correspond to, but I have to believe that Truman in his Fair Isle sweater is reason enough to call your attention to them.
All images via the Life Archive.
Quite Continental 
I’ve never ice skated! Looks like fun, but I fear I would incur grave injury!
Haha – you and me both, Gail! xo
I don’t think I’ve ever seen him that young…I grew up with him on all the talk shows in the 70s
Great photos and fab sweater. Well done for finding the lovely photos.
Ah, Truman, he was an angel, he truly was, even skated as one.