Central Park Allentown
Roller skating has been around for over 300 years. It got its
start in the 1700's in Holland, when an unknown Dutchman attached
wooden spools to blocks of wood to make the first pair of dry
land skates, which were nicknamed "skeelers".
In 1760 a famous Belgian inventor, Joseph Merlin, designed a pair
of metal wheeled boots. He attended a masquerade party in London
wearing his invention and decided to make a "grand entrance",
playing the violin while skating across the ballroom floor.
Unfortunately, he lost control and crashed into a wall-sized
mirror on the other end of the room, severely injuring himself as
well as the reputation of roller skating for the next several
decades.
Nonetheless, the roller skate survived. In 1819 it glided more
gracefully into society with the premier of the German ballet,
"Der Maler oder die Wintervergnügen" (translated "The Painter or
the Winter Fun"). The ballet called for ice skates, but because
it was not possible to produce ice on stage, roller skates were
used.
In 1840, skates gained notoriety for practical use, as they began
to be used by barmaids in the vast German beer halls.By 1857,
roller skating the first public skating rinks opened on the
Strand of London and Floral Hall. All roller skates were in-line
skates until around 1863, when American James Plimpton patented
the modern design that is still used today. With two parallel
sets of wheels made of boxwood and working on rubber springs,
this was the first dry land skate that could maneuver in a smooth
curve. This design gave the skater the ability to make turns and
skate backward. At about the same time, E.H. Barney, a
Massachusetts inventor, introduced the clamp-on skate, which was
eventually modified to become adjustable. The clamp-on concept
was popular until the 1960's.
In 1884, the use of pin ball bearings made roller skates roll
smoother and weigh less. Around the turn of the century, the
first roller skates with pre-attached boots were introduced, but
these shoe skates were used mainly by professional skaters, while
the general public preferred clamp-on skates.
In 1908, Madison Square Gardens in New York was made into a
skating rink, and over the next several decades hundreds of
roller skating rinks appeared in the United States and Europe.
Different types of skating emerged, including ballroom roller
dancing, speed skating and polo skating. During the 1930's,
roller skating became a popular spectator sport. Skaters
performed "death-defying feats" on platforms suspended high above
audiences' heads in Vaudeville acts around the country.
Roller rinks were very popular in the 1940s and '50s. Many a
romance was spawned at roller rinks, where couples skated to
traditional, live roller skating music played by an organist.
The 1970s brought the roller disco craze. During this period, the
use of organ music began to fade and disk jockeys played tunes
for skaters under mirror balls and intricate light designs.
Today, roller skaters world-wide enjoy skating at public rinks
and private parties. Many compete in dance, figure skating,
freestyle, hockey and speed skating. While some who are involved
in the sport believe that roller skating is on the decline,
others report that it is growing.
Roller Skating in the Valley - Years Ago
Castle Gardens
Castle Gardens, was extremely popular years ago. The facility was
a venue for a variety of entertainment over the decades - live
music, dancing and, of course, roller skating.
The ballroom structure was in 1923, and known as the Al-Dorn
Ballroom, but in 1935 it changed its name to Castle Gardens. The
1930s and 40s were a time a time of big bands. Benny Goodman, the
Dorsey Brothers, Peggy Lee, and others were some of the names to
play Castle Gardens. When rock n'' roll became popular Castle
Gardens changed its name to Castle Rock, and hosted such acts as
Freddy Cannon, Annette Funicello, Paul Anka, Frankie Avalon.
Roller skating to music became quite popular. The Gardens closed
in 1985.
Central Park
The park opened July 1893, offering 40 acres of shady walks and
ample park benches. Its popularity between 1906 to 1920. That
year Central Park added a new outdoor theater that could seat
1,600 people. Plays and music concerts at the park were a
favorite pastime to the people of the Lehigh Valley In later
years roller skating through the park was a common sight.
Unfortunately a string of fires starting from 1932 through till
1951 plagued the park. It was closed in December of 1951.
Info on local rinks' schedules and addresses:
Independence Family Fun Center, 4345 Independence Drive,
Schnecksville, PA 18078. Seniors - Tuesday mornings 9:30 - 10:00
am (610) 769-5811
SkateAway
3860 Lehigh St, Hokendauqua PA 18052
www.skateaway.biz/skateawaywhitehall_session.htm
(610) 432-5002
RollerMotion
1609 Trexlertown Road - Macungie, PA 18062
http://www.rollermotion.com/sessions
(610) 398-0704
For more information, contact:
Lifestyles over 50
4847 Hamilton Boulevard
Allentown, PA 18106
855-233-7034
sales@lifestylesover50.com