The ice-skating waiters of Switzerland
Managing to serve the perfect drink and stay upright (mostly)
Amanda Uren
1920s-1930s
Skating waiters serve drinks to guests on the ice rink at the Grand Hotel in St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Credit: G. Riebicke/Archive Photos/Getty Images
St. Moritz, Switzerland hosts a multitude of winter sports, including skiing, ice skating, tobogganing and more recently snowboarding. It was and is a favorite destination of the super-rich, allegedly ranking as one of the very most expensive skiing resorts on the planet.The skating waiters of the Grand Hotel ice rink were a popular attraction, serving tea and cocktails to the patrons and providing entertainment that was especially popular with the press. In 1932, the photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt took some of his most iconic images on the ice.
An ice-skating fun-waiter in St. Moritz
Credit: IMAGNO/Austrian Archives
A skating waiter slips on the ice, drinks tray in hand, but doesn't spill a drop.
Credit: E. Dean/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images
A waiter skates across the ice at St. Moritz carrying a tray of drinks for his customers.
Credit: Horace Abrahams/Fox Photos/Getty Images
Waiter on skates, pouring soda water into a glass, which he balances on a tray.
Credit: Imagno/Getty Images
British couple sitting on high stools at ice bar outdoors at Grand Hotel. Waiter pours cocktails.
Credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Waiters in the Grand Hotel dining room line up at window watching Norwegian figure skater Sonie Henie (unseen) ice skating outside.
Credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Waiters in ice skates learn how to serve cocktails during a lesson at Grand Hotel ice rink.
Credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
I did one smashing picture of the skating headwaiter. To be sure the picture was sharp, I put a chair on the ice and asked the waiter to skate by it. I focused on the chair - Alfred Eisenstaedt
Head waiter Rene Breguet balancing chair on chin at ice rink of Grand Hotel.
Credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images
Waiter Rene Breguet at waiter's school, on skates carrying tray of cocktails at the Grand Hotel.
Credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images