The Golden Age of Roller Skating, from approximately 1937–1959, represents a period when roller skating was the number one participatory sport in America.

Background

Civilians, war industry workers and military personnel, both in the states and overseas, sought out roller skating rinks to relive the stress of war during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

, propelling

roller skating Roller skating is the act of traveling on surfaces with roller skates. It is a recreational activity, a sport, and a form of transportation. Roller rinks and skate parks are built for roller skating, though it also takes place on streets, sid ...

to the top sport by the end of the 1940s. An estimated 5,000 rinks were in operation and 18,000,000 Americans roller skated during the peak of the trend. The

Midwest The Midwestern United States, also referred to as the Midwest or the American Midwest, is one of four Census Bureau Region, census regions of the United States Census Bureau (also known as "Region 2"). It occupies the northern central part of ...

, particularly

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, was thought to be the epicenter of the hobby. The establishment of the Roller Skating Rink Owners Association (RSROA) in 1937, an organization of rink owners collaborating to organize national competition, is credited with initiating the onset of the Golden Age. The reputation of roller skating was transformed into a sport for all adults to enjoy as

recreation Recreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or plea ...

. In 1938, dancing on roller skates became popular and spread from the east to the west coast. National competitions were established for speed skating, skate dancing, and figure skating. By 1941, conventions were being held across the country in the nation’s newest and best-equipped rinks. As the United States entered World War II, the national organization of skaters was well structured to become the leisure recreation sought by both youth and adults. Rinks were able to organize locally, hosting recycle drives. A rival organization to the RSROA was established on the east coast and called United Rink Owners (URO). In cooperation with the

Amateur Athletic Union The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is an amateur sports organization based in the United States. A multi-sport organization, the AAU is dedicated exclusively to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs. It h ...

, the URO established the Amateur Roller Skating Association. For over thirty years, two separate national organizations existed until they decided to unite as USA Roller Sports in 1971. As a result of the division, prior to their merger, roller skating was represented by two national champions for each of its formal competition divisions. Once national organizations were established to oversee competitions rules, state organizations soon followed. One of the most innovative organizational structures was America on Wheels (AOW). First established in 1941 and operating well into the 1970s, AOW rinks were members of the United Rink Owners association. AOW was a chain of east coast rinks, primarily in New York and

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delaware ...

, that readied competitors through training and regular meets among a group of rinks. At AOW's peak, they numbered 22. The organization managed the rinks while a group of investors sought venues to invest, and in the 1940s, rinks were built in geographic regions that held promise for economic growth. Over time, as both insurance liability costs and real estate values rose, rinks were sold off for better investment opportunities.

References

{{Reflist Roller skating

Roller Skating Roller skating is the act of traveling on surfaces with roller skates. It is a recreational activity, a sport, and a form of transportation. Roller rinks and skate parks are built for roller skating, though it also takes place on streets, sid ...

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