You can contact Marcie Hill at msmarcie@realskatestories.com or call (312) 890-2261. You will receive a response within 72 hours. If you do not hear from Ms. Hill within that time frame, please know that your call is important. She will contact you as soon as her schedule allows. Thank you.
Hello Marcie, I just saw this post about the old Skating Rinks in Chicago. I am a DJ that was around when the the Loop starting having house parties. I was with the one’s who encouraged Dave and his brother to let Armando (RIP) ,Joe Louis and my myself DJ Clem Let’s Go Lacy. JR was the promoter who had a DJ battle back then. All the DJs who are famous and on the radio was in the contest then from Lil John to Pharris and myself. It you are still motivated by your message contact me. I have since DJ’s at WKKC, Strictly Business and the Excalibur lounge. I have made my contribution to this scene by making a house and Steppers track I would like to hear. My number is 773-372-7908
Hi Clem, thank you for sharing this information. I’m going to contact you this week.
YuP “back-n-the-day” I was a sK8 Guard aT mostly all the popular rink(s). Rollerena 103rd and Calumet, the LooP,
The Rink, and Markham. I learn’d how to sK8 at the Savoy Skate Rink on 78th South Cottage Grove and attended
some “Midnight Rambles” aT the Rainbow Skate Rink near Clark and Lawrence on the Chicago Northside. They called me “Hollywood”. Today I’m called: “LEGACY” cause I’m still roLL’n and big wheel’n past 60 years old now. YuP, God have Blessed me (AMEN)…!!!
Hi my name is Robert Taylor.. nick name dell i skated at 7 Grand 1st then so time later i skated at Top Flight… oh yeah i used to be on the skating club the grand wheels.. at 7 grand on Monroe and Laramie… Top Flight on Madison and Central was the spot… The Skate Battles was the best there…
I Skated with the Roller Boppers. then. L Town Players.. then The Cutlas Cruisers .. and a few other skate clubs… those was the days … my whole neighborhood used to show up … what great time…
I don’t know who operated the Loop, but l have been to at least 50 rinks and not any of them were like the Loop! The policies as l look back were well designed to keep order and excitement!
Hi Keith, do you have any pictures of your skate days? What are some of the memories from the other rink?
My father took my sister and I skating at the Savoy EVERY Sunday back in the 60″s.
Hi Patricia, do you happen to have any photos?
Hey my name is BoogieMike i worked as a skate gaurd @ Concrete Jungle which later became Hot Wheels in Chicago il. on Chicago Ave. & Spingfield is the crncrete jungle skate store connected?
All my buddies were skate guards there. It was a walgreens at one time. The owner Clarence loved the teenagers who came there. Alot of fun and some couples fell in love and married from skating there. No rif raf or fights. Great atmosphere!
I have one photo of the loop roller rink I would like to share, it’s kind of gritty I took it from a old VHS tape but it’s good enough to give people an idea what it looked like.
Hi Frazier, I’d appreciate it! Please email it to me. Thanks.
Wow!!.me and my friends would go listen to House music on Friday notes at Loop Disco!..dj Leonard remix Troy…95th Eggleston…1980s..
/Have located my skates from the late 50’s early 60’s. Skating was about all the town had for kids to do when growing up. I was friends with the owners daughter. We were in school together. We have moved to Florida and I just unpacked them. Wondering if they might have a value if any at all. Appreciate your reply. Have skates, small book (came with) Secrets of RinkSkating, and skate key (wrench) Thank you again.!! If need I could send a photo.
I don’t know how much value roller skates have. One of the best places to look is eBay.
Yes, I skated at the savoy on 78th and Cottage Grove I knew Jimmie Davis.
Hi Rosalind! Are you still in touch with the Davis family?
Connie, YES I need photos. Anything you send would be greatly appreciated.
Hello Ms Marcie,
I happen to come across this page looking for anything about the Savoy skating rink. Jimmie Davis was my grandfather, his daughter Cookie is my mother and I am searching for any pictures of the rink that may include my family skating, pictures of my grandfather working and repairing skates, etc. I will send you an email so that you have my information and I look forward to any information that’s available on not only the rink, but the sports shop too.
Kind regards,
Robin E. White
Hi Robin,
Unfortunately, I don’t have any photos of Mr. Davis or any of his ventures. However, if I find any, I’d be sure to share. Please do the same.
Hi Robin. My name is Delores and I have just come across this page. I skated at both the old Savoy and the new one on 78th. My father, Percy Hill, was one of the floor managers at that time. I worked as a cashier, in concessions, and at the skate counter, and concessions is they were short and waiting for someone to come in. It seemes I was there 4 nights a week some times. I knew Jimmie Davis but my family was close with Mr. Shell, the organist. I have a few pictures of my mom and me skating at 78th and a VERY old picture of my mom and dad at the original Savoy. I believe it was actually in the Sun-Times at one point when they were holding a celebration at the rink in Markham.
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Happenec to be looking for old friends from the Swank Roller Rink, and came across your site! I skated competition there back in 1963 thru April of 1966 when it closed. We had to finish our the competitive season at Arts Roll-aire Rink in Harvey.
Knew so many people from back there and the times spent there were the best in my life!
I knew quite a few kids at the Oak Lawn rink as thats where I first started skating. Was there for practice on April 21, 1967 when the tornado hit….worst day of my life.
Feel free to contact me if you have questions!
Donna Otway Krambeck
Donna, thanks so much for leaving these memories. I will contact you.
I am interested in learning about “Pekin” skating.
In the 1930’s and 1940’s (probably into the 1950’s) Pekin was a style of roller skating much like Rhythm or Jam are today. In California–in Southern California in the 1940’s–another like style was “Rexing”. It lasted in an organized / club format until recently as found on YouTube and likely still enjoyed.
Along this search, I would also like to learn what I can about the Havana Roller Rink on Franklin St. in Oakland (CA); here, again, it was open during the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Thanks,
Robert
Hi Robert, thanks for stopping by. I will post this and see if people respond.
Grew up near the xpressway on Laramie and as a young teenager I never went a week without skating to the JBs at 7Grand! Miss them days those were the good times!
Sherri, do you have any pics of your skate days?
Westside Roller Rinks
Went on the westside asked random people in neighborhood if they remembered. So said on Laramie and Quincy/Monroe a skating ring was there named 7 Grand. Five people said 7 Grand, only one person said Hot Wheels.
I was a gaurd @ Concrete Jungle for years and would love to kno if the skate store is connected to Sheri, Lloyad, Boyd, Judy or any of my chicago ave and springfield family which later became Hot Wheels
BoogieMike
YuP “back-n-the-day” I was a sK8 Guard aT mostly all the popular rink(s). Rollerena 103rd and Calumet, the LooP,
The Rink, and Markham. I learn’d how to sK8 at the Savoy Skate Rink on 78th South Cottage Grove and attended
some “Midnight Rambles” aT the Rainbow Skate Rink near Clark and Lawrence on the Chicago Northside. They called me “Hollywood”. Today I’m called: “LEGACY” cause I’m still roLL’n and big wheel’n past 60 years old now. YuP, God have Blessed me (AMEN)…!!!
What’s going on wood your old ass,them was some of my best years back then we use to be at mr Lee’s remember the pmg’s Paradise Mac girls ….it’s nothing like it’s use be these kids will never no how much fun we had back then…