Roller Skating

A roller skates photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. For another interesting roller skates photo, see We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy Skating New Year . This young sidewalk roller skater is wearing "Hi-Yo-Silver" overalls with pocket decorations featuring a clown face on one side and the Lone Ranger astride his horse Silver on the other side (mouse over the image above to see an enlarged view of the boy ). The decorations on the boy's clothing reflect the popularity of The Lone Ranger television show, which aired from 1949 to 1957. The Lone Ranger , of course, yelled, "Hi-yo Silver! Away!," as he and his horse galloped from the scene after defeating the bad guys.

Mouse over the image above to see my notes about the "Hi-Yo-Silver" overalls that this friendly roller skater is wearing. See the full version of this photo for more information:

"Sunset Park. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Skating New Year." This photographic greeting card shows sisters Beatrice, Henrietta, and Victory Baumgart (I'm not sure who's who in the photo). The Baumgart sisters operated the Sunset Park Rink in Williamsport, Pa., for a number of years in the 1930s. For a related item, see Halloween Party, Sunset Park Rink, Williamsport, Pa., 1939 (1 of 4) .

For the complete roller skating rink dance card, see the following: Roller Skate Diary Card (orange) 1) 1939 Halloween Party / De Luxe Roller Skating (above) 2) Autographs / Memoirs Roller Skate Diary Card Insert (yellow) 3) De Luxe Roller Skating / Treasure Hunt 4) Romance on Roller Skates / Order of Skating -------- 1939 Halloween Party Roller Skate Diary, Sunset Park, Williamsport, Pa. -------- De Luxe Roller Skating Every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Sunday matinee, 2:30 to 4:30, 15¢. Romance, glamour, health, happiness, fun, joy. It's smart to own personal shoe skates. Rink available for Sunday school and private parties. See manager for details. Hammond electric organ for pleasing music.

For the complete roller skating rink dance card, see the following: Roller Skate Diary Card (orange) 1) 1939 Halloween Party / De Luxe Roller Skating 2) Autographs / Memoirs (above) Roller Skate Diary Card Insert (yellow) 3) De Luxe Roller Skating / Treasure Hunt 4) Romance on Roller Skates / Order of Skating

For the complete roller skating rink dance card, see the following: Roller Skate Diary Card (orange) 1) 1939 Halloween Party / De Luxe Roller Skating 2) Autographs / Memoirs Roller Skate Diary Card Insert (yellow) 3) De Luxe Roller Skating / Treasure Hunt (above) 4) Romance on Roller Skates / Order of Skating -------- De Luxe Roller Skating Sunset Park. -------- Treasure Hunt Friday Nite, Sunset Park Rink. A Baumgart Sisters Enterprise.

For the complete roller skating rink dance card, see the following: Roller Skate Diary Card (orange) 1) 1939 Halloween Party / De Luxe Roller Skating 2) Autographs / Memoirs Roller Skate Diary Card Insert (yellow) 3) De Luxe Roller Skating / Treasure Hunt 4) Romance on Roller Skates / Order of Skating (above) -------- Romance on Roller Skates Sunset Rink Song, by Henry. Romance on roller skates / One glance I met my fate / The chance we all must take / I'm glad that I could wait. The lights were turned on low / She smiled, her eyes aglow / We began to skate and so, / Romance began to grow. As the organ played / We rolled and swayed / My heart disobeyed, / But I was not afraid. So now my life's complete, / Because I've found my mate; / Each night we will repeat-- / "Romance on Roller Skates." A Modernistic Skateland. -------- Order of Skating 1) Sunset Skate for Couples. 2) Drop Back Skate. 3) Trio Skate. 4) Moonlight Skate for Couples. 5) Two Step. 6) Grand March. 7) Ladies' Choice. 8)F Foursome Drop Back. 9) Kiss Skate. 10) Waltz for Couples. 11) Popular Request. 12) Reverse Skate. Happy Skating--Come Again Soon.

"Skidoo. This is not a one way ticket to heaven. Return same to Bedford Roll-Arena, one mile north of Bedford, Pa." Lou Brooks, in his terrific book, Skate Crazy: Amazing Graphics from the Golden Age of Roller Skating , pp. 42-43, shows illustrations of similar cards and explains, "The dreaded 'Scram' and 'Skidoo' card! Just like at any party, the hosts liked to keep things at the rink moving with interesting games, often turning the rink into somewhat of a social laboratory. Floor ushers, acting out their version of traffic cop, would slip these cards to unsuspecting couples, urging them to skate the second half of the dance with someone they had never met." I'm not sure, however, if this card was used in the same manner, and I'm not certain what to make of the "This is not a one way ticket to heaven" warning.

"Risbon Roller Rink, Cypher Beach, Hopewell, Pa., R.R No. 2. Good only on date sold. Admit one, est. price .29, fed. tax. .06. 35 cents. 018948. 018949."

"'Pansy' the Roller-Skating Cow, featuring Rose, Betty, and Harry Rapp (A Rapp & Rapp Production)." Pansy the Roller-Skating Cow performed for fairs, carnivals, and circuses throughout the United States during the 1940s and 1950s. Other than some newspaper ads and brief mentions in Billboard magazine that turned up in Google searches, I haven't been able to locate any information regarding Pansy or the Rapps.

"Skating Skills, featuring Secrets of Roller Skating, presented by Chicago Roller Skates. 10¢." The cover of a 1957 advertising comic book for roller skates.

For a similar roller skating label, see America on Wheels by The Pie Shops , over on Flickr.

"Roller skating. Just for fun in the American way. Dorney Park."

"Maple Grove, Route 30, Lincoln Highway, one mile west of Lancaster, Pa." A roller skating rink label (or sticker, as they were usually called, although there's no adhesive on the other side) from the Maple Grove Roll Arena, which was part of Maple Grove Park, a now-defunct amusement park that was located along the Lincoln Highway just west of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

"I'm bugs 'bout skatin' at Skateaway, Scranton, Pennsylvania." A roller skating rink label.

I believe it was U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt who said, " Speak softly, carry a big stick , and go roller skating." Or words to that effect.

"W. H. Dutcher of New York City, the Great Roller Skate Contortionist, is open for dates and can be engaged by responsible managers. W. F. Orr, manager, North Adams, Mass." A nineteenth-century business card for a "roller skate contortionist" named W. H. Dutcher. Wikipedia mentions a Carola Trier who performed as a "roller-skating contortionist" in the 1940s or 1950s, and the Richmond Dispatch newspaper, October 27, 1885, p. 2, contained an ad for the Richmond Skating School, which sponsored an appearance by "H. H. Golden, Champion Roller-Skate Contortionist." The only contortionist I've heard about previously was a stationary one--see Knoto (below).

An amusing "advance card" that a traveling salesman could send to let customers know when to expect his visit. For other early twentieth-century advance cards, see I'll Be There Soon to Tell You How to Jinger Up Your Trade , Zing! Coming Round Your Way , and I Am Pushing on the Lines .