The Daily Progress Charlotteville, VA
Published: April 10, 2011
Section: Lifestyles
By: David Maurer
Title: Skating rink kept the fun rolling along
Long before the precious key to the family car was grudgingly handed to a teenager, there often would have been another key of importance in the young person's life.
So essential, in fact, that it frequently was attached to a loop of string hung around the neck. It was the skate key that tightened roller skate clamps to shoes.
The clinkety-clank of metal skate wheels rolling over city sidewalks and streets was once a sound of summer. Many enthusiasts graduated to pricier boot-style models that rolled beter on hardwood flooring.
In the fall of 1921 the Charlottesville firm of Givens and Leterman opened a roller skating rink at the downtown armory. The owners purchased 200 "compressed paper" sets of roller skates to get things rolling.
The rink had a lively but short existence under that management. But the old armory building on Market Street continued to be a haven for roller skating as a city recreation program.
This came to an end in 1973, when the armory was replaced by a new parking garage. But by then, the nearby Skatetown was well established.
The championship-sized roller skating rink was a realized childhood dream of Emil V. Steele . Roller skating had been a passion for the future businessman when he was growing up in Verona .
Ground was broken for Skatetown on Dec. 3, 1969, at 1117 E. Market St., with the focus on making it one of the best rinks in the country.
Steele had a similar rink in Verona and was prepared to spend an estimated $140,000 on the new one here. The public was given a sneak peek of the facility on the evening of May 7, 1970.
The official grand opening was held May 15-17. Glenn T. Dirksen was the arena manager , and he came with impressive credentials.
Dirksen had been a competitive skater for 10 years and also had been a judge, coach and rink manager . Prior to moving here, he had been the president of the Wisconsin chapter of the Roller Skating Rink Operators Association .
Skatetown's clarion call was an offer of "good, clean, cheap, healthful, supervised fun." Tuesday was "Family Night," with parents and their kids all being admitted for $1.50 . Skate rentals were 50 cents .
A good percentage of the rink's income came from the snack bar, which featured perennial favorites such as soft drinks, hot dogs and barbecue. The rink quickly became one of the more popular entertainment venues in town.
Ironically, its popularity served to usher in its demise. In a 1989 interview with The Daily Progress , Steele said too many investors became interested in roller rinks.
As more rinks opened, the number of roller skating enthusiasts spread thinner and thinner among them. Steele , an obviously astute businessman , realized the industry had peaked and sold out.
The new owner raised prices and sealed the rink's fate. By the end of the 1970s, Skatetown was just a memory - albeit a sweet one for many.
Published: April 10, 2011
Section: Lifestyles
By: David Maurer
Title: Skating rink kept the fun rolling along
Long before the precious key to the family car was grudgingly handed to a teenager, there often would have been another key of importance in the young person's life.
So essential, in fact, that it frequently was attached to a loop of string hung around the neck. It was the skate key that tightened roller skate clamps to shoes.
The clinkety-clank of metal skate wheels rolling over city sidewalks and streets was once a sound of summer. Many enthusiasts graduated to pricier boot-style models that rolled beter on hardwood flooring.
In the fall of 1921 the Charlottesville firm of Givens and Leterman opened a roller skating rink at the downtown armory. The owners purchased 200 "compressed paper" sets of roller skates to get things rolling.
The rink had a lively but short existence under that management. But the old armory building on Market Street continued to be a haven for roller skating as a city recreation program.
This came to an end in 1973, when the armory was replaced by a new parking garage. But by then, the nearby Skatetown was well established.
The championship-sized roller skating rink was a realized childhood dream of Emil V. Steele . Roller skating had been a passion for the future businessman when he was growing up in Verona .
Ground was broken for Skatetown on Dec. 3, 1969, at 1117 E. Market St., with the focus on making it one of the best rinks in the country.
Steele had a similar rink in Verona and was prepared to spend an estimated $140,000 on the new one here. The public was given a sneak peek of the facility on the evening of May 7, 1970.
The official grand opening was held May 15-17. Glenn T. Dirksen was the arena manager , and he came with impressive credentials.
Dirksen had been a competitive skater for 10 years and also had been a judge, coach and rink manager . Prior to moving here, he had been the president of the Wisconsin chapter of the Roller Skating Rink Operators Association .
Skatetown's clarion call was an offer of "good, clean, cheap, healthful, supervised fun." Tuesday was "Family Night," with parents and their kids all being admitted for $1.50 . Skate rentals were 50 cents .
A good percentage of the rink's income came from the snack bar, which featured perennial favorites such as soft drinks, hot dogs and barbecue. The rink quickly became one of the more popular entertainment venues in town.
Ironically, its popularity served to usher in its demise. In a 1989 interview with The Daily Progress , Steele said too many investors became interested in roller rinks.
As more rinks opened, the number of roller skating enthusiasts spread thinner and thinner among them. Steele , an obviously astute businessman , realized the industry had peaked and sold out.
The new owner raised prices and sealed the rink's fate. By the end of the 1970s, Skatetown was just a memory - albeit a sweet one for many.
The Daily Progress Charlotteville, VA
Published: April 10, 2011
Section: Lifestyles
By: David Maurer
Title: Skating rink kept the fun rolling along
Long before the precious key to the family car was grudgingly handed to a teenager, there often would have been another key of importance in the young person's life.
So essential, in fact, that it frequently was attached to a loop of string hung around the neck. It was the skate key that tightened roller skate clamps to shoes.
The clinkety-clank of metal skate wheels rolling over city sidewalks and streets was once a sound of summer. Many enthusiasts graduated to pricier boot-style models that rolled beter on hardwood flooring.
In the fall of 1921 the Charlottesville firm of Givens and Leterman opened a roller skating rink at the downtown armory. The owners purchased 200 "compressed paper" sets of roller skates to get things rolling.
The rink had a lively but short existence under that management. But the old armory building on Market Street continued to be a haven for roller skating as a city recreation program.
This came to an end in 1973, when the armory was replaced by a new parking garage. But by then, the nearby Skatetown was well established.
The championship-sized roller skating rink was a realized childhood dream of Emil V. Steele . Roller skating had been a passion for the future businessman when he was growing up in Verona .
Ground was broken for Skatetown on Dec. 3, 1969, at 1117 E. Market St., with the focus on making it one of the best rinks in the country.
Steele had a similar rink in Verona and was prepared to spend an estimated $140,000 on the new one here. The public was given a sneak peek of the facility on the evening of May 7, 1970.
The official grand opening was held May 15-17. Glenn T. Dirksen was the arena manager , and he came with impressive credentials.
Dirksen had been a competitive skater for 10 years and also had been a judge, coach and rink manager . Prior to moving here, he had been the president of the Wisconsin chapter of the Roller Skating Rink Operators Association .
Skatetown's clarion call was an offer of "good, clean, cheap, healthful, supervised fun." Tuesday was "Family Night," with parents and their kids all being admitted for $1.50 . Skate rentals were 50 cents .
A good percentage of the rink's income came from the snack bar, which featured perennial favorites such as soft drinks, hot dogs and barbecue. The rink quickly became one of the more popular entertainment venues in town.
Ironically, its popularity served to usher in its demise. In a 1989 interview with The Daily Progress , Steele said too many investors became interested in roller rinks.
As more rinks opened, the number of roller skating enthusiasts spread thinner and thinner among them. Steele , an obviously astute businessman , realized the industry had peaked and sold out.
The new owner raised prices and sealed the rink's fate. By the end of the 1970s, Skatetown was just a memory - albeit a sweet one for many.
Published: April 10, 2011
Section: Lifestyles
By: David Maurer
Title: Skating rink kept the fun rolling along
Long before the precious key to the family car was grudgingly handed to a teenager, there often would have been another key of importance in the young person's life.
So essential, in fact, that it frequently was attached to a loop of string hung around the neck. It was the skate key that tightened roller skate clamps to shoes.
The clinkety-clank of metal skate wheels rolling over city sidewalks and streets was once a sound of summer. Many enthusiasts graduated to pricier boot-style models that rolled beter on hardwood flooring.
In the fall of 1921 the Charlottesville firm of Givens and Leterman opened a roller skating rink at the downtown armory. The owners purchased 200 "compressed paper" sets of roller skates to get things rolling.
The rink had a lively but short existence under that management. But the old armory building on Market Street continued to be a haven for roller skating as a city recreation program.
This came to an end in 1973, when the armory was replaced by a new parking garage. But by then, the nearby Skatetown was well established.
The championship-sized roller skating rink was a realized childhood dream of Emil V. Steele . Roller skating had been a passion for the future businessman when he was growing up in Verona .
Ground was broken for Skatetown on Dec. 3, 1969, at 1117 E. Market St., with the focus on making it one of the best rinks in the country.
Steele had a similar rink in Verona and was prepared to spend an estimated $140,000 on the new one here. The public was given a sneak peek of the facility on the evening of May 7, 1970.
The official grand opening was held May 15-17. Glenn T. Dirksen was the arena manager , and he came with impressive credentials.
Dirksen had been a competitive skater for 10 years and also had been a judge, coach and rink manager . Prior to moving here, he had been the president of the Wisconsin chapter of the Roller Skating Rink Operators Association .
Skatetown's clarion call was an offer of "good, clean, cheap, healthful, supervised fun." Tuesday was "Family Night," with parents and their kids all being admitted for $1.50 . Skate rentals were 50 cents .
A good percentage of the rink's income came from the snack bar, which featured perennial favorites such as soft drinks, hot dogs and barbecue. The rink quickly became one of the more popular entertainment venues in town.
Ironically, its popularity served to usher in its demise. In a 1989 interview with The Daily Progress , Steele said too many investors became interested in roller rinks.
As more rinks opened, the number of roller skating enthusiasts spread thinner and thinner among them. Steele , an obviously astute businessman , realized the industry had peaked and sold out.
The new owner raised prices and sealed the rink's fate. By the end of the 1970s, Skatetown was just a memory - albeit a sweet one for many.
Bio by: Barry D Williams
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ss w/Betty O'Brien Steele. Married Sep 15 1942
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