For this month's episode of the Archive Dive podcast, we feature two talented figure skating stars from Superior. Bess Ehrhardt and Bobby Specht thrilled fans nationwide with their excellence on ice.

Telegram reporter Teri Cadeau is joined by the local historian and retired librarian Teddie Meronek for this deep dive into the lives of Ehrhardt and Specht. Both were Superior Central High School graduates who reached national fame in the 1930s and 40s.

A champion figure skater, Ehrhardt's biggest fame came with the touring Ice Follies, where she became known as "America's Sweetheart of the Ice." She was also seen on the "big screen," starring in a film called "The Ice Follies of 1939" with Jimmy Stewart and Joan Crawford.

"Everybody wanted to go to an ice show and Bess apparently was very good at it," said Meronek.

Specht was about five years younger and at an early age, he was turning heads with his skating skills. Ehrhardt helped him give him a break.

"Bess was in town. She came and she performed and they gave her a couple solos, but she gave up one of them so Bobby could have a solo performance," said Meronek. "I guess that's when people realized how talented he was. After that he was invited to various ice shows and then he started competitive skating.

Specht went on to compete in the United States Figure Skating Championships, where he earned a bronze medal in pairs with Joan Mitchell in 1941 and won a gold medal in 1942 in singles. The Winter Olympics would have been a possibility, but they were canceled in 1944 due to World War II. Specht served in the U.S. Air Force during the war and afterwards, he performed with the touring Ice Capades. He even skated on "The Ed Sullivan Show."

Both Ehrhardt and Specht made their hometown proud and Meronek hopes that even in death, they can be immortalized.

"I think they're both in local halls of fame, but nobody remembers them anymore and they did some pretty amazing things."

Other topics include:

• The early days of the Superior Curling Club
• The role that Duluth's Frank Sullivan played in local skating.
• How did Ehrhardt begin skating?
• Another career aspiration that Ehrhardt had.
• How Ehrhardt met her husband and the unique secret they kept.
• How did Ehrhardt become a professional skater?
• Tricks on skate that Ehrhardt perfected.
• Ehrhardt's family and tragic death.
• Specht's family.
• Could Specht have become an elite skater sooner?
• The crowd response after Specht skated in a competition in Philadelphia.
• How long did Specht skate in the Ice Capades?
• Did Specht have Hollywood aspirations?
• Ehrhardt and Specht's ties to the University of Wisconsin Superior.
• Where else did both live?
• And much more.

Episodes of "Archive Dive" are published monthly. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are edited and produced by Duluth Media Group digital producer Dan Williamson. If you have an idea that you'd like us to explore, email Teri Cadeau at TCadeau@superiortelegram.com.