Gloria Nord

Gloria Nord (born Gloria Nordskog; August 2, 1922 – December 30, 2009) was an American roller skater, ice skater and pin-up girl who became known as "Sonja Henie on wheels," Nord was reportedly "adored by millions in the 1940s and 1950s for her balletic finesse and theatrical flamboyance."

Biography Nord grew up in Santa Monica and Hollywood, California. Nord was the youngest of five children of Andrae Nordskog, a noted concert singer.

Nord's aspiration to become a Broadway singer, dancer and actress changed when motion picture theater owner, Sid Grauman, opened the Hollywood Roller Bowl. Within three weeks' after the bowl opened, Nord was giving exhibitions in roller skating. By age 18, the 5 foot, 2 inch (157 cm), 115 pound (52 kg) Nord In 1942, boxing promoter Harold Steinman saw Nord perform and borrowed $10,000 to create the "Skating Vanities," a touring show featuring Nord and 100 other roller skaters. Nord was the leading performer in the "Skating Vanities" from 1942 through the early 1950s. The "Skating Vanities" starring Nord attracted more than a million people during its first two tours of 20 cities.

In 1944, Nord appeared in a roller-skating scene with Betty Grable in the motion picture, "Pin Up Girl." Nord herself became a popular pin-up girl with American soldiers during World War II. The 1945 show program for "Skating Vanities" included the following from a profile on Nord:

Lovely Gloria Nord, 21-year-old ballerina of 'Skating Vanities,' has a double claim to fame. Not only is she acknowledged as the outstanding dance-skater in America, but she is also one of the country's most beautiful girls. Her face and figure have adorned such national publications as The Saturday Evening Post, Look, Pic, the New York Sunday News, and others. She has won acclaim for her solo skating in the aptly titled movie, "Pin-Up Girl." And her photographs have been requested by American servicemen all over the world.

In the 1950s, Nord turned to ice skating and was featured in productions at Wembley Arena in London. In 1953, Nord gave a command performance before Queen Elizabeth II. Nord toured Europe and Australia with her skating reviews and continue performing until the early 1960s. Nord lived in Mission Viejo, California in her later years. She died in Mission Viejo in December 2009 at age 87.