I grew up in the roller rinks my dad owned. He had Roller Bowl and then Curley's Skateland. He did this for 38 Years. Put me on my first pair, which he made on baby shoes, at the age of 16 months. My dad is gone, my love of skating still here. I am 77 years old and wish I could still do it. Thanks for this video, really didn't know this history. All of the pictures brought back so many wonderful memories. Thanks !!!!!
Our disnfunctuable family parental units used to dump us four kids at the "all skate five hour sessions" every chance they could for $.25 cents a session. Cheapest babysitting ever for a couple of drunks. We lived/loved the skating rink in Gresham, Oregon. You saved us kids!
I grew up skating at Northridge Skateland in the San Fernando Valley thru the 1960's - 70's. It was next door to Pup 'n Taco, so on Friday nights we'd skate, smoke a doobie in the parking lot, then go eat chili dogs with kids from several different high schools. It was a peaceful, wondrous time.
I have been rollerskating for 50 years this year, so many good memories, met my wife at the rink, taught my kids to skate, and made may life long friends.
I was the 1979 Intra-Ladies figure champion and took a silver in dance that year as well. Being in the rink during the 1970's was a great way to grow up and stay out of trouble.
This was a really good video. I grew up at a little skating rink in Lehighton Pennsylvania called LaRose’s Skating rink. The rink was built in 1926 and was always family owned and operated. The skate floor is only 50 X 100 feet which was big back in 1926. The first time I was ever on skates was in 1975. Later in life I worked there as a floor guard for around 20 years. Then the pandemic hit and the place closed. I found out from the owners that they were never going to reopen. It was heartbreaking. After about a year of talking to the owners and asking them to reconsider opening, they offer for myself and my fiancé to rent the rink from them and we could reopen it. We did so on March 4th of 2022. It has been a great success. I never thought in a million years I’d be running the skating rink I grew up going to every weekend. Business is booming and I hope roller skating is making a comeback. Our numbers show it’s the best it’s been in the past 15 years or so. If all goes well in March of 2026 we will be celebrating our 100th anniversary. Thanks for putting this video out!
As a roller rink organist. I’m hopeful that I will be returning to the Hammond console at Guptill Roller Skating Arena in Cohoes NY …. The world’s largest indoor skating rink 71st year
My Great Grandmother was Clarice Martin Gerych, the Worlds first ever roller derby "Queen". She team skated with a partner, the miles from New York to San Diego in a rink and in about 30 days her and her partner were one of only 8 teams to complete the race with her and her partner being the winners. Her Father, Fred Martin founded the RSROA and managed Arena Gardens in Detroit as well as other rinks. All are in the National Roller Skating Hall of Fame for their contributions to include here Sisters and Brother. We have many great photos of the family at rinks and many of the awards and medals.
My parents met at a roller rink in 1948! We have carried the tradition on now to include my grandkids. We used to drop our children off on New Years Eve to spend the night for a party! I have very fond memories.
Competitive skater, coach/teacher, judge, and skate-mom. Skated at the Oaks Rink in Portland, Or from age 2 (1956) and all the rinks in North Texas from 1965 - 1999. Still skate whenever I get a chance!
I started skating at my local rink in Cleveland Ohio in 1970 at the age of 4. I kept skating there as a customer until 2002 when they hired me as a floor guard. I continued to work and skate there until 2018 when the rink burned down. It never felt like a job if it was some where you enjoyed being.
My father built the Austintown Roller Rink in Ohio in 1961. He had an organ with organ player. We skated like crazy! And on Saturday nights we had "sock hops".
Roller skating at Playland Roller Rink on Buford Highway Doraville, Ga was, where the most treasured memories were created in my childhood. Line dancing before line dancing was at the dancehalls. The Hokey-pokey was always in the playland criteria Saturday and Sunday mornings. A friendly game of roller hockey game was also enjoyed, where I played the goalie position! There was the outdoor patio one would venture onto hoping that the cute boy would follow you for sweet conversation. The announcing of the upcoming 'couples dance' allowed one to position themselves for the invitation to join in and of course the final call for 'all skate'. The roller rink was a place of innocence with a bit of fantasy to connect with a special someone. There was truly something special holding hands and rolling round the rink where time seemed to pause for hours on end, then reality when 'last skate' was announced you cruised the rink in slowest motion so that you could hold onto the rolling of the wheels on that last turn when the lights would flip on and the romance escaped the rink. Thank you for this posting a true treasure and worthy share.
I skated all teh time growing up in Chicago during the 60's and 70's. My kids carried on with it when we lived in Topeka, KS. Pretty much the only thing to do during the winter. Activity wise. My kids were super active. One of my kids is a roller derby girl now. In Arizona. Fabulous fun sport to watch. I wish I was younger so I could do it to.
This brings back so many childhood memories. Growing up in Yonkers New York, once every month our church youth group would make an evening of it at the Levittown Arena out on Long Island. This was a large rink that little did I know, would shut down and be bulldozed just a few years after. I stole my very first kiss at these hollowed grounds. It took several outings to develop the skill to skate in tandem with a young lady there without struggling for balance or out right falling, but it happened. Hand in hand in circles. Who'd a thunk...
I fell in love with skating when my older sister would take me as a little kid in elementary. I’ve been skating for 7 years on and off now! I am now really getting into the roller dancing and I am so in love with skating!
My parents met skating and took our family into it as children. We skated in shows, competition, and Thanksgiving day parades. In Detroit. Wish I could get some of the video that was taken back then.
The first time at a rink I was 5, and the last time was the year before the pandemic 69. It never got old, and through the years I had many skates (all leather) and the last two are Riedell speed boots on sure grip single action plates.
The scene is reaLLy happening right now ! ! ! In CaLifornia the Rinks that are stiLL going strong are MoonLightRoLLerWay in GLendaLe ,and FountainVaLLeySkatingCenter in Orange county , and SkateExpress Chino in San Bernadino county!
It would be nice to have skating rinks back in California. Because of no rinks people roller skate outdoors. There is the famous Venice Beach skaters and also the San Diego 'Skate This' gang that skates every weekend outdoors. I prefer skating myself but due to necessity I too skate outdoors.
I went one time and grasped the side the whole time. Dang. Took me until I was ten to learn how to ride without training wheels 😂😂😂😂 but I had both roller skates and inline skates that set in the wardrobe of my house. One of these days. 😀👍 Chalk it up there with snowboarding and skateboarding, soccer and gymnastics. If anything could be said, I found out I'm much better at writing than I am at most other things.
I was in tenth grade. She was in ninth grade. We skated together every Friday night after her parents dropped her off. Made out a bit in the parking lot before her parents came to pick her up. We lived on opposite sides of town, but we spent hours on the phone in between. Then she moved away so I started skating with her friend every week. Her dad was a cop and ended it. The simple 70s.
When I was in junior high in the early 80s we would go the skating rink every weekend. I remember "Rockin Robin" and "Ladies Night" were popular songs. I was too shy to ask a girl to skate to those songs. 😂
Loved rollerskating up and down the sidewalks of my small hometown in our one pair of metal skates. They were adjustable to fit any child. And you were toast if you lost the key that was needed to lock your the skates onto your shoes. We wore the key🔑 on a shoelace around our neck while we skated, so we never lost ours. In the '80's the skating rink was a Sunday night tradition. Great memories!
Lotsa fun fo' sho'... it was still going strong where I lived as a late teen in the early~mid '80s. Bonus: After I learned to roller-skate I found I could also ice-skate with ease. Thanks as always.
I actually went to a roller rink in Norridge, IL back in 1978 on a field trip with my 6th grade class. Wasn't too good on skates, but I did enjoy myself back then.
I had never worn roller skates before but I went to a local roller skating rink. I couldn’t get my balance and this little kid came up to me, grabbed my hand and pulled me around the rink. Until I could get my balance. 😊
ok the shock not the Snyder free style skates & jumps and spins! I did on them! it was my big down fall of injury & knee injury & fall and hurt back, the med ride to hospital & i still have the skates they remind me of days gone by! ( its not a sad ending )why because of recovery of the hidden illness it so nasty every one in the world with it died to who (my relation in my seal adoption to see my real father he lived threw a 100% death rate cancer & i had his info to his medical records) they had already found a control for it!
I grew up in the roller rinks my dad owned. He had Roller Bowl and then Curley's Skateland. He did this for 38 Years. Put me on my first pair, which he made on baby shoes, at the age of 16 months. My dad is gone, my love of skating still here. I am 77 years old and wish I could still do it. Thanks for this video, really didn't know this history. All of the pictures brought back so many wonderful memories. Thanks !!!!!
Our disnfunctuable family parental units used to dump us four kids at the "all skate five hour sessions" every chance they could for $.25 cents a session. Cheapest babysitting ever for a couple of drunks. We lived/loved the skating rink in Gresham, Oregon. You saved us kids!
I grew up skating at Northridge Skateland in the San Fernando Valley thru the 1960's - 70's. It was next door to Pup 'n Taco, so on Friday nights we'd skate, smoke a doobie in the parking lot, then go eat chili dogs with kids from several different high schools. It was a peaceful, wondrous time.
I have been rollerskating for 50 years this year, so many good memories, met my wife at the rink, taught my kids to skate, and made may life long friends.
I was the 1979 Intra-Ladies figure champion and took a silver in dance that year as well. Being in the rink during the 1970's was a great way to grow up and stay out of trouble.
once a sk8er always a skater! 💛quads!
I fell in love with the boy that could dance on skates!!! Never missed a Friday night as long as I could find enough pop bottles to pay the admission.
I've skated almost 50 years and met my sweetheart on skates! It's been one great ride since way back when!
This was a really good video. I grew up at a little skating rink in Lehighton Pennsylvania called LaRose’s Skating rink. The rink was built in 1926 and was always family owned and operated. The skate floor is only 50 X 100 feet which was big back in 1926. The first time I was ever on skates was in 1975. Later in life I worked there as a floor guard for around 20 years. Then the pandemic hit and the place closed. I found out from the owners that they were never going to reopen. It was heartbreaking. After about a year of talking to the owners and asking them to reconsider opening, they offer for myself and my fiancé to rent the rink from them and we could reopen it. We did so on March 4th of 2022. It has been a great success. I never thought in a million years I’d be running the skating rink I grew up going to every weekend. Business is booming and I hope roller skating is making a comeback. Our numbers show it’s the best it’s been in the past 15 years or so. If all goes well in March of 2026 we will be celebrating our 100th anniversary. Thanks for putting this video out!
As a roller rink organist. I’m hopeful that I will be returning to the Hammond console at Guptill Roller Skating Arena in Cohoes NY …. The world’s largest indoor skating rink 71st year
My Great Grandmother was Clarice Martin Gerych, the Worlds first ever roller derby "Queen". She team skated with a partner, the miles from New York to San Diego in a rink and in about 30 days her and her partner were one of only 8 teams to complete the race with her and her partner being the winners. Her Father, Fred Martin founded the RSROA and managed Arena Gardens in Detroit as well as other rinks. All are in the National Roller Skating Hall of Fame for their contributions to include here Sisters and Brother. We have many great photos of the family at rinks and many of the awards and medals.
That's wonderful! But you Kevin do you skate?
My parents met at a roller rink in 1948! We have carried the tradition on now to include my grandkids. We used to drop our children off on New Years Eve to spend the night for a party! I have very fond memories.
Competitive skater, coach/teacher, judge, and skate-mom. Skated at the Oaks Rink in Portland, Or from age 2 (1956) and all the rinks in North Texas from 1965 -
1999. Still skate whenever I get a chance!
Early 80's going to WHEEL A WHILE on the weekend's, great memories!!!
I started skating at my local rink in Cleveland Ohio in 1970 at the age of 4. I kept skating there as a customer until 2002 when they hired me as a floor guard. I continued to work and skate there until 2018 when the rink burned down. It never felt like a job if it was some where you enjoyed being.
My wife grew up skating competition in the RSROA. Her mother was an instructor in Indianapolis for Riverside, Rollerland, then last Pendleton Pike.
My father built the Austintown Roller Rink in Ohio in 1961.
He had an organ with organ player.
We skated like crazy!
And on Saturday nights we had "sock hops".
Roller skating at Playland Roller Rink on Buford Highway Doraville, Ga was, where the most treasured memories were created in my childhood. Line dancing before line dancing was at the dancehalls. The Hokey-pokey was always in the playland criteria Saturday and Sunday mornings. A friendly game of roller hockey game was also enjoyed, where I played the goalie position! There was the outdoor patio one would venture onto hoping that the cute boy would follow you for sweet conversation. The announcing of the upcoming 'couples dance' allowed one to position themselves for the invitation to join in and of course the final call for 'all skate'. The roller rink was a place of innocence with a bit of fantasy to connect with a special someone. There was truly something special holding hands and rolling round the rink where time seemed to pause for hours on end, then reality when 'last skate' was announced you cruised the rink in slowest motion so that you could hold onto the rolling of the wheels on that last turn when the lights would flip on and the romance escaped the rink. Thank you for this posting a true treasure and worthy share.
As a kid in the 1960s I can remember how delighted I was when the roller rink switched from playing organ music to the current top 40
I skated all teh time growing up in Chicago during the 60's and 70's. My kids carried on with it when we lived in Topeka, KS. Pretty much the only thing to do during the winter. Activity wise. My kids were super active. One of my kids is a roller derby girl now. In Arizona. Fabulous fun sport to watch. I wish I was younger so I could do it to.
Bravo..... a joy to see GoodSkates and Bill Butler Photos...... thank you
This brings back so many childhood memories. Growing up in Yonkers New York, once every month our church youth group would make an evening of it at the Levittown Arena out on Long Island. This was a large rink that little did I know, would shut down and be bulldozed just a few years after. I stole my very first kiss at these hollowed grounds. It took several outings to develop the skill to skate in tandem with a young lady there without struggling for balance or out right falling, but it happened. Hand in hand in circles. Who'd a thunk...
I fell in love with skating when my older sister would take me as a little kid in elementary. I’ve been skating for 7 years on and off now! I am now really getting into the roller dancing and I am so in love with skating!
My parents met skating and took our family into it as children.
We skated in shows, competition, and Thanksgiving day parades. In Detroit. Wish I could get some of the video that was taken back then.
The first time at a rink I was 5, and the last time was the year before the pandemic 69. It never got old, and through the years I had many skates (all leather) and the last two are Riedell speed boots on sure grip single action plates.
The scene is reaLLy happening right now ! ! ! In CaLifornia the Rinks that are stiLL going strong are MoonLightRoLLerWay in GLendaLe ,and FountainVaLLeySkatingCenter in Orange county , and SkateExpress Chino in San Bernadino county!
Very Nice , Thank You
It would be nice to have skating rinks back in California. Because of no rinks people roller skate outdoors. There is the famous Venice Beach skaters and also the San Diego 'Skate This' gang that skates every weekend outdoors. I prefer skating myself but due to necessity I too skate outdoors.
I went one time and grasped the side the whole time. Dang. Took me until I was ten to learn how to ride without training wheels 😂😂😂😂 but I had both roller skates and inline skates that set in the wardrobe of my house.
One of these days. 😀👍
Chalk it up there with snowboarding and skateboarding, soccer and gymnastics.
If anything could be said, I found out I'm much better at writing than I am at most other things.
I was in tenth grade. She was in ninth grade. We skated together every Friday night after her parents dropped her off. Made out a bit in the parking lot before her parents came to pick her up. We lived on opposite sides of town, but we spent hours on the phone in between. Then she moved away so I started skating with her friend every week. Her dad was a cop and ended it. The simple 70s.
There is still a there, there.Get up and boogie.
When I was in junior high in the early 80s we would go the skating rink every weekend. I remember "Rockin Robin" and "Ladies Night" were popular songs. I was too shy to ask a girl to skate to those songs. 😂
Loved rollerskating up and down the sidewalks of my small hometown in our one pair of metal skates. They were adjustable to fit any child. And you were toast if you lost the key that was needed to lock your the skates onto your shoes. We wore the key🔑 on a shoelace around our neck while we skated, so we never lost ours. In the '80's the skating rink was a Sunday night tradition. Great memories!
Friday nights in 6th grade- a night at the rink then all go someone’s house for a sleepover!
Fun! Great content! I wasn’t allowed to go to roller skating rinks very often.
Good times, but I never could master skating backwards.
My 9th Birthday Party in 1977 was at a Roller Rink.
Lotsa fun fo' sho'... it was still going strong where I lived as a late teen in the early~mid '80s. Bonus: After I learned to roller-skate I found I could also ice-skate with ease.
Thanks as always.
Snap the Whip!
I actually went to a roller rink in Norridge, IL back in 1978 on a field trip with my 6th grade class.
Wasn't too good on skates, but I did enjoy myself back then.
I had never worn roller skates before but I went to a local roller skating rink. I couldn’t get my balance and this little kid came up to me, grabbed my hand and pulled me around the rink. Until I could get my balance. 😊
I've tried it a few times in my life. Never could turn or stop. Mostly fell a lot. Always jealous of people who could skate.
Great video! Good job, historian from another historian... Rink Historian that is!
Well... I tried roller skating once... I looked like an octopus falling out of a tree....
Good fun
Great Stuff!
Skating at the Hepadrone in the 50's listening to the origin music
ok the shock not the Snyder free style skates & jumps and spins! I did on them! it was my big down fall of injury & knee injury & fall and hurt back, the med ride to hospital & i still have the skates they remind me of days gone by! ( its not a sad ending )why because of recovery of the hidden illness it so nasty every one in the world with it died to who (my relation in my seal adoption to see my real father he lived threw a 100% death rate cancer & i had his info to his medical records) they had already found a control for it!