February 1956 brought an unusually hard freeze to Paris, and the Bois de Boulogne felt it most. The large park on the city’s western edge was already a favorite for Parisians year-round, but that winter the lakes iced over to a depth of 18 centimeters — thick enough to hold a crowd. Word spread fast, and skaters of all ages poured in.
Park guards kept a close eye on the ice. Safety measures were real — ladders were kept on hand in case anyone broke through a weak patch. Vendors lined the edges selling hot drinks, and the bare winter trees of the Bois framed the whole scene in grey and white.
Photographer Jack Garofalo was there to capture it all. His black-and-white images show everything from graceful pairs gliding past onlookers to full-on collisions and tumbles that drew laughs from the crowd.
One of Garofalo’s more notable subjects was Tessa Beaumont, a dancer with Les Ballets Roland Petit. Her presence on the ice drew attention — a professional performer trading the stage for frozen ground.
Young couples skated hand in hand while warning signs nearby reminded visitors that not all sections of the lake were equally safe. Not everyone took the warnings seriously.
Away from the ice, the park’s older regulars refused to let the cold disrupt their routines. Groups of elderly men gathered in the woods to play cards, bundled against the frost, while younger visitors played with their dogs nearby.
Back on the ice, the full range of skill levels was on display. Cautious first-timers inched along while friends coached them, and more confident skaters showed off tricks to cheering groups. A chair pushed across the ice served as one beginner’s best support system.
