Levittown center mays shopping center warren zaretsky, 1960 1. Apr 24, 2017 madison square gardens in new york became a skating rink. List of all skating rinks roller and ice as of 1990. Long island nyfire islandcash cropthe burbsi love nyisland girlhistorical photosold photosvintage photos. We revisit the long neglected part of history when roller rinks were the. Sep 24, 2014 only one purposebuilt rink remains open for business in the city. I can look past any suspiciously redundant name as long as youre feeding me popeyes chicken. The obituary was featured in newsday on december 18, 2019. Levittown roller rink, east meadow, long island, new york. As of the 2010 census, the cdp had a total population of 51,881, making it the most populated cdp in nassau county and the. Cher was in brooklyn at the famous empire skating rink. The rink came to be a signature look for the suburban towns busy hempstead turnpike with normal spots like howard johnsons, carusos italian restaurant, and jahns family ice cream parlor in reach.
The america on wheels roller rink chain, which opened the rink on hempstead turnpike in east meadow in 1955, sold out this summer to the rockbottom. Apr 18, 2008 had my first kiss at the levittown roller rink. Levittown roller rink explore gregchris66s photos on flickr. Division avenue high cheerleaders photo from the 1961 yearbook. Casino roller rink in lebanon pa, zooks roller rink in waynesboro pa, midway between mt. Photographs show people at the skateland roller skating rink in buffalo, n. Levittown roller rink long island ny, roller rink, east. This includes roller hockey, speed skating, roller derby, and individual recreational skating. One of americas most famous skating rinks rose like a scifi structure in levittown, new york. I expect this sold a few copies in levittown but if you want a pictorial history of. I remember cleaning that grayish combo of floor wax, chewing gum and kids sweat off my wheels after every weekend. Under the guidance of the association, roller skating enjoyed steady growth through the 1940s, 50s and 60s. I guess the only rollerskating rink in town closing is simply a sign of the times. The rink where gladys and george werner danced the werner tango, and robert kennedy and nelson rockefeller held political rallies.
Jul 31, 2009 our backyard was a little bigger, but it was still levittown, the greatest place to live on the planet. It was at the rink that the palms ran meets for the levittown skating club and trained their daughters, who now teach roller skating in austin, texas. I also know that authors of these regional history books often have a hard time acquiring photographs, often have to pay for. History of roller skating roller rink okc skate moore. Roller skates are beginning to be mass produced in america, and is experiencing a boom in popularity. Levittown roller rink, east meadow, long island, new york owner.
All very disappointing because having just read barbara kellys excellent book expanding the american dream suny series in the new cultural history. May 29, 20 levittown roller rink, east meadow, long island stay safe and healthy. Filter your search results by speed skating, hockey, roller derby, figure skating, support bars available, skating lessons, ice skating, roller skating, private lessons, and other ageappropriate activities. Levittown, formerly island trees, is a hamlet and censusdesignated place cdp in the town of hempstead in nassau county, new york on long island. Most skating center facilities range anywhere from under 14,000 square feet 1,300 m 2 to more than 21,000 square feet. Steel wheels with a plate and straps to attach on your skates. Roller rinks can be located in an indoor or outdoor facility. A rink rolls into history reprinted from newsday 91886 by joan kelly. The roller skating association rsa international, which was originally named the roller skating rink operators association rsroa, has played an active leadership role in the roller skating industry since 1937 and is going strong today. Janet leone met her first boyfriend at the levittown roller skating rink. Elmwood roller rink at 71 st street and grays avenue in southwest philadelphia. Levittown roller rink, east meadow, long island with. The first manmade skating facility opened in queens in flushing meadows corona park originally for the worlds fair in 193940, becoming operational in 1952 as an ice and roller skating rink.
When hackensack arena was demolished on april 2, 2008, a precious bit of roller skating history was destroyed along with a part of my heart. Page1 rainbow roller rink pas finest, willow beach park hanover pa, white rose roller rink york pa, rollerland in oakland and t is a skate owners check card. But, the shoparama was more than just a shopping center with hardware and bargain shopping. I live in the dc suburbs now, but i miss frank and the roller rink and jahns and the bike path every single day. Levittown united states amateur roller skaters association. Would like this to be a place to unite people from the 70s and the 80s. One of my male friends had very long hair, as was in style at the time. It was at hackensack arena, exactly fifty years earlier at the age of ten where i first met phil pinto. From ballrooms to discos, tracking 150 years of roller. An incorrect spelling of the name appeared in previous versions of this story. How to walk correctly and fix your lower back pain. To talk about and remember the fun times many of us had skating at the levittown roller rink.
The only time i was at bowens roller rink we went to see cheech and chong summer of 1972, just before i went into the air force, but i spent a lot of time at the place, before it was a dance club. The first appearance of roller skates on the big screen is in the charlie chaplain film, the rink. Plimpton who patented a crude roller skate that you attach to your boots and shoes of its day. Veronica koellner fox obituary levittown, pennsylvania. Levittown roller rink, east meadow, long island with images. The chicago coliseum opens a public skating rink, and more than 7,000 people attend the grand opening. Lyceum roller skating rink, uniontown, pa familyoldphotos. Dec 20, 2019 maryann mcloughlin passed away in hicksville, new york. Early levittown ny and beyond by frank barning and friends. What a place on a friday night a rink 200 feet long, crammed with up. Instead of being attached directly to the sole of the skate, the wheel.
Apr 26, 2015 the first modern twobytwo roller skates were patented in 1863 by james l. Veronica koellner fox passed away on august 22, 2019 at the age of 84 in levittown, pennsylvania. Its hard to describe my childhood or what it was like to grow up in the famous or infamous town of levittown, long island ny. The first patented roller skate was introduced in 1760 by belgian inventor john joseph merlin.
Only one purposebuilt rink remains open for business in the city. Oct 23, 2014 in levittown rose the archetype of the roller rink of the 1940s and 50s, a huge, utilitarian building whose giant neon sign beckoned commuters whizzing down the hempstead turnpike to pull into. Funeral home services for veronica are being provided by levittown levittown. The sport of roller hockey even made an appearance in the 1992 olympic games. It was at the rink that the palms ran meets for the levittown skating club and. Levittown community church friday night dances during the summer for all neighborhood kids 4.
Ice skating rinks around levittown levittown, pa aarp in your city. If you grew up in levittown new york there are so many sites on facebook for those of us that grew up in levittown long island, new york. Who remembers laces roller rink i remember both of the laces rinks. A roller rink is a hard surface usually consisting of hardwood or concrete, used for roller skating. Find roller skating in bucks county, pa on yellowbook. Madison square gardens in new york became a skating rink. The america on wheels roller rink chain, which opened the rink on hempstead turnpike in east meadow in 1955, sold out this summer to the rockbottom drug store chain. As a matter of fact my most popular blog ever judging from the amount of emails i received were about growing up levittown, named after one of the sites on facebook. Details about 1930s50s legion roller rink, north platte, nebraska label b2. Okay, it wont go down as one of the longest lasting or most memorable establishments in the history of levittown. A modest venue with little distinction today, elmwood roller rink was once a stateofthe art facility, as evinced in a. Quickly find levittown ny ice roller skating rinks. Early levittown ny and beyond by frank barning and friends february 28, 2011.
A whole gang of us would go to the movies, or to the roller skating rink. Includes primarily children and teens skating alone and in groups. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. His nickname, which is familiar to just about everyone in the crowd crammed into baltimores shake n bake roller rink, serves mainly to distinguish. The rink where fleurette arseneault jeffers and dan little practiced the form that would. Most skating center facilities range anywhere from under. Roller rinks forgotten chicago history, architecture. Skating in levittown, pa plus lots of other great things to do with kids. Indoor roller skating east meadow skating pictures boogie wonderland roanoke virginia roller rink skating rink long island ny son luna. Originally the inventor of quads roller skates, james l. A modest venue with little distinction today, elmwood roller rink was once a stateofthe art facility, as evinced in a 1947 issue of billboard magazine advertisement. He dreamed of owning and operating his own roller rink, and that dream was realized in may of 1959, when he built and opened the sportsmans hall roller skating club at its present location in upperco, maryland.
The pages are one sided with nothing glued on the back. Many of the images are blurred due to the subject or camera moving. Vtg 8x10 photo pretty young woman roller skating levittown. A roller rink is a hard surface usually consisting of hardwood or concrete, used for roller skating or inline skating.
Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Summary photographs show people at the skateland roller skating rink in buffalo, n. Levittown ny iceroller skating rinks activities children. Ronaroll indoor roller sktng of vernon, ct is an indoor skating rink open year round, with tiny tot sessions, adults only and dj fun. The indepth history and successful argument for eligibility for hatleys skating rink. Adoptatownpark open to active community groups interested in lending a hand with park cleanup and beautification. Levittown united states amateur roller skating association. Even in nebraska, theyve heard of the levittown roller rink. Nowadays there are almost 5,000 roller derby clubs in the us alone, in major cities all over the country. See more ideas about long island ny, long island and levittown new york. Bayshore roller rink was a classical rink with arch and exposed beams supporting the arched roof. From ballrooms to discos, tracking 150 years of roller rinks.
The history of roller skates southeastern skate supply. Cubesmart is the company that is expected to open where the hot skates roller rink has been in lynbrook. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and. My melody but the long island duo was already revered on both coasts. An avid roller skater, harry was a member of the baltimore bees roller hockey team in the 40s and 50s. Maryann mcloughlin passed away in hicksville, new york. The first modern twobytwo roller skates were patented in 1863 by james l. He dreamed of owning and operating his own roller rink, and that dream was realized in may of 1959, when he built and opened the sportsmans hall roller skating club at. In levittown rose the archetype of the roller rink of the 1940s and 50s, a huge, utilitarian building whose giant neon sign beckoned commuters whizzing down the hempstead turnpike to pull into. It just happened to be there at the perfect timeplace during my adventurous and awkward teen years.
I wondered how to write this post and figured id sit down and let it write itself. It is located half way between the villages of hempstead and farmingdale. Roller rinks forgotten chicago history, architecture, and. Hundreds of rink openings in the united states and europe followed. It first opened in 1961 by america on wheels, the same ownership as levittown. Paramus roller rink had closed up and montvale was the place to be. A roller rink is a hard surface usually consisting of hardwood, rollerboard, or concrete, used for roller skating or inline skating.