All Skate!
My primary hobby in my early teen years was roller-skating. Not “roller-blades” (what a stupid phrase that is!) or “in-line skates”, but roller-skating. I believe that they are referred to as “quads” now, in a slightly retro sense. I was no good at sports such as football, baseball, blah blah blah, nor did I have interest in them, but I was a pretty good skater. I keep meaning to buy a pair of roller-skates, as I’ve only skated perhaps six or seven times in my adult life and would love to take it up again, but it always seems to fall out of my “things to do” memory bank. Maybe this summer.
Wondering if roller-skating in a traditional roller-skating rink is still popular? I’ve been to three or four rinks in the last 20 years, and almost every person (all teeny-boppers) was wearing those silly “inline” skates, and the music was horrible. But each time, there were at least a couple of people over the age of 21 sporting real skates and doing some basic roller-disco moves. And, according to this guy, roller-skating remains very popular for one particular group:
If you didn’t know, adult roller skating is primarily a Black adult activity and its been around for easily thirty years if not more. Yes, that’s correct! It’s another one of Black America’s cultural secrets.
Hm. Didn’t know that. And although I don’t live in a major metropolitan area, there is a local rink here in Great Falls.
One other thing: somehow, the movie “Roller Boogie” escaped my notice when it was released decades ago, but I caught most of it the other night on a cable channel. Bad. Very bad. There were a few good skating moves, but the acting, the plot, the clothes, EVERYTHING else was absolutely horrible — in that “so bad you have to watch” way. It was this movie, coupled with horrible “roller disco” episodes of popular TV shows and cheesy efforts to capitalize on the trend, that effectively killed traditional roller-skating and made “inline skates” and roller-hockey so popular — at the expense of quads and roller-disco (some other culprits). Dammit.
BUT - I just learned moments ago — literally — that there is A New Hope around the corner: ROLL BOUNCE. I am so there when it opens! Watch the preview — see the moves — and did you notice the tunes? Bill Withers, Kool and The Gang — this is going to be good — who’s with me on this?!
I found out about Roll Bounce a few weeks ago and can’t wait to see it. It really reminds me of growing up in the seventies. I remember going to the skate rink as a kid watching folks skate baackwards, doing the flips, all kind of tricks, just wishing I could do that. Kids these days don’t know what they’re missing.
Roller skating . . . now that brings back some good memories!
I’m with you, I have never had a pair of in-line skates on my feet.
[…] @ 7:23 am. Filed under Big Screen, Better Living
Yesterday I found myself entranced again by the movie “Roller Boogie” on one of the cable channels. Truly a love/hate relation […]
Just wanted to say great blog…I lived in great falls for a short while as a teen and spent a
fair good amount of time at Wheels West. In the early 80s, there was a cross town rival rink
called Playland, and that was my true home. I used to go there and spend 6 hours on friday and
saturday nights skating and enjoying being there. When I moved back there in 84, Playland was
gone (turned into a carpet warehouse! Ugh!), but that left Wheels West, and some tiny little rink
back behind the Village Mall. Wow, to relive that…Thank you. I also am looking forward to Roll
Bounce thanks to your promo.
Thanks!
Mary
I read your article and you are correct. Roller skating in the black community never died out and it is as strong and popular as ever. Check out the website skategroove.com. We have big skating parties all over the country. There are different styles of “urban skating” depending on where you live. At these large parties, you can see all different styles of skating and the music is pretty good. Regarding the movie Roll Bounce, a few people from my local rink are in that movie. There is also a skating competition at the local rinks which will lead to a skate off and the winners will get to skate at the premier.
[…] ee TWO movies in theatre within the very same week: the first is Roll Bounce, which I have commended to you before, and which I have been planning to see since I first learned of it months ago; and the sec […]
[…] Category:Montana, Big Screen
Well darn. I’ve been looking forward for months for the roller-skating movie “Roll Bounce” to be released on September 23rd, and sure enough, i […]
Disco Duck! And you were a great skater.