Wear a piece of black roller skating history Buy your How We Roll: Black Skating in Da Chi t-shirt today! This shirt features 19 places where black people roller skated in Chicago and Northwest Indiana from 1938 to today. Here are some rinks you’ll find on the shirt: 7 Grand Roller Rink – West Side… Read More »
I’m presenting Chicago Roller Skating History at 7 pm at Oak Lawn Public Library on Tuesday, February 12th. Hope to see you there!
Chris Campbell wants to know. Read the comment he left. I am from St. Anselm Skating Rink. I first skated when i was 7 years old and I was hooked ever since. I remember the organ music; the year was 1971-72. I also remember working there and learning all of the business. If you skated… Read More »
I’m excited to share my promo video for How We Roll: History of Black Skating in Chicago. Check it out when you get a chance.
Based on conversations with roller skaters and the comments in my Calling Chicago West Side Roller Skaters post, here is a listing of west side roller skating rinks in Chicago and other places they skated: Roller Skating Rinks Concrete Jungle Concrete Jungle – Madison & Menard Motion Explosion 7 Grand Roller Rink Hot Wheels Broadway… Read More »
I emailed YMCA Chicago for information on the three Ys where people skated on the south and west sides of the city. Following is the information provided. Hyde Park YMCA Located at 1400 E. 53rd Street (Dorchester & 53rd), Hyde Park YMCA Opened in January 1923 and closed in August 1980. Sears YMCA Sears YMCA opened… Read More »