Roller skating in LA isn’t limited to 20-second reels on social media. Meet these senior citizens who continue enjoying skates well past their prime.
James Franklin still remembers the heyday of roller rinks in 1950s Chicago, where he grew up. That’s when he first picked up the hobby and fell in love with it. Work, marriage, and obligations kept him from skating as he grew older, and it became a memory of his youth.
Over four decades had passed when he found his old, worn-out roller skates in the attic as he began packing to move to LA. The rolls looked run down, the straps appeared flimsy, and the bearings looked like they’d break down anytime. But James felt a gentle nudge that urged him to put it on.
“Something inside me said, ‘You should put those skates on again,'” James shared. “So, I put them in a box and some old belongings I didn’t want to discard.”
In LA, James didn’t get to skating immediately. Settling down took some time. And it wasn’t a few weeks before he finally arrived at the Moonlight Rollerway, a famous roller rink in LA county that had been operational since the 50s. As someone who moved there recently, James wasn’t very familiar with the skating scene in the city. Embarrassed of being the only old man there, he thought of bolting out from the parking lot and heading back home.
However, the different colors of neon light at the entrance looked inviting and reminiscent of his youth. More importantly, he noticed two older gentlemen walk inside, holding the skates by the back wheels. This sight gave him the confidence to strut in without fearing being seen as out of place and time.
“I checked in at the counter and headed straight for the rink. The bearings gave in about 20 minutes into the floor, and I had to walk off the rink dragging one foot behind the other,” James recounts. “It was all I needed to rekindle the passion still in me.”
Today, James Franklin is 72 and part of a never-say-die troupe of seniors who spend every other day skating their hearts out at the rink. Some members of this group are in their 50s, while others are in their 70s. They’ve been in the habit of meeting regularly for skating sessions much before today’s TikTok trends that are witnessing a revival of this pastime. They consider it as exhilarating as the thrill-inducing rides at amusement parks.
Of course, the regulars at LA’s roller rinks come in all ages, shapes, and sizes. However, the older black skaters remain the most regular attendees.
Roller skating in the black community has a long history that thrived during the Jim Crow segregation laws and the long fight to push for equal rights.
“It’s funny to hear kids today say that roller skating is making a comeback,” says Shawn Dandholm, a retired stuntman and former fitness instructor. He first began skating during the early 70s and is a stellar member of the older skaters’ community in LA today. “Roller skating as a recreational activity never stopped with the black community,” he continues. “I saw black adults engage in it when I was a kid, and I see older citizens like myself continue enjoying this pastime.”
The 2018 documentary “United Skates” explored how roller rinks in LA thrived as a sub-culture and the combined effort of communities that kept it alive throughout the years. Instagram stories today feature roller skating reels that typically show a young white woman waltzing around in skates with grace and elegance. The skating culture captured in “United Skates” was the complete opposite. This documentary featured roller disco grooves, toe jamming, and shuffle skating against the groovy beats of old-school R&B and hip-hop music.
Skating rinks are havens for family gatherings and weekend outings for the black community here. Families occupy ring-side tables and take turns stepping into the rink to showcase their moves and styles.
James Franklin believes that skating has always been a cultural element in their lives. “Most of the mainstream white crowd abandoned roller rinks by the late 70s and 80s,” he says. “But for us black folk, it has continued as a favorite recreational activity till today.”
Indoor roller rinks aren’t as popular as they used to be. You’ll find only a handful of operational and packed rinks in LA. Franklin’s regular destination, Moonlight Rollerway, is one. World on Wheels is an even more popular joint in Mid-city. San Fernando Valley’s Northridge Skateland continues to attract decent crowds, especially from the black community in the city.
However, there are countless other cases of rinks closing down or abandoning operations owing to poor turnouts. LA’s racial divide in the past and rising property costs today contribute to the downfall of old rinks that experienced untold traffic in the past.
Tracy Foster, a 61-year-old retired medical worker, remembers how roller rinks became fewer and fewer as she grew up. She started at her first rink on Melrose Avenue when she was barely 13. Then, a gradual decline in rinks and shutdowns followed her teenage and adult years. Andy’s Roller Palace closed down first. Then, Mulholland Roller Rink closed down, followed shortly by Sonic Skates Center and Velocity Rink. Today, she continues relaxing at World of Wheels, hoping it doesn’t down its shutters in her lifetime.
“Skating is an incredibly liberating experience, and there’s no comparison to any other activity,” Tracy says. “You go to the theatre on a date or join a book club with like-minded people. With skating, there’s no dependence on the presence of friends or companions. You can break free in solitude and enjoy the movement in peace. Of course, doing it with friends is even better. It’s simply a win-win all the way!”
The thought of watching the remaining rinks close down troubles Tracy. “I hope these few rinks we have left do not go bust. It’s a leisure activity that I don’t think I can forego at this stage of my life,” she adds.
People who drop into roller rinks occasionally may not understand the attachment regular goers develop with the activity. But devoted practitioners agree that it’s a sentiment that’s strong. Northridge Skateland’s manager, Sandy Mitchell, echoes these sentiments. “Drop into our roller rink during the weekends, and you’ll see regular skaters thronging in hundreds awaiting their turn in the rink. Some of these older customers started in their youth and are teaching their grandkids how to skate today. It’s a generational thing and a source of unforgettable memories for many.”
“We have a ‘Grown Folks Rink’ during Sunday nights here,” she continues. “And it’s unsurprising to check in over 400 skaters on such nights.”
Places like Moonlight Rollerway and World on Wheels generate the same attendance during their ‘Adults Only’ weekend nights.
Sandy mentions the impact of older folks attending as regulars. “Many of our patrons are senior citizens and retirees looking to enjoy a lifelong pastime. And they form a huge demography if we look at our customers in age groups”. “Outdoor skating joints are great for young folk,” Sandy continues. “But they’re simply not the right fit for seniors and older community members. Tripping hazards, uneven surfaces, crowded spaces, and the inconvenience of foot traffic all make it a dangerous affair for seniors. Most of my older customers dislike skating outdoors while exposed to the heat, weather, and the elements”.
Sandy Mitchell has worked in the roller rink industry for almost four decades. Her first job was at Andy’s Skating Haven as a 17-year-old, waiting tables and taking orders beside the rink. Skating Haven closed down years later, but her experience and expertise in the industry bagged her managerial positions in many more joints.
“The restrictions during the pandemic put the roller rink industry in turmoil,” Sandy explains. “Like many other rinks, we had to lay off dozens of our employees because the revenue wasn’t coming in. The few that remained had to survive on partial salaries and budget cuts. We survived the first few months thanks to the emergency Paycheck Protection Program. But the pandemic continued long after this program stopped supporting our staff.”
She agrees that the return to roller rinks post-pandemic has remained the same. “It’s been an uphill battle trying to reconnect with the community and reviving their interests since the lockdown. Some older skaters have aged beyond the skating phase in the process. Many enthusiasts picking up the passion lost access to rinks and, eventually, their interest in the activity. So, the return to normal has been slow and staggered compared to other industries like movies and dining.”
World on Wheels manager Carrie Henderson echoed a similar message. “The year 2020 left us in a grim situation with almost zero hope of recovery. Repaying customers for booked slots, refunding yearly memberships and subscriptions, and equipment maintenance costs left us in a dreary position. We thought we were done. Fortunately, the last few years have witnessed a gradual recovery of attendees and visitors. But the numbers don’t compare to our pre-COVID times,” she explains.
A primary reason why roller rinks experienced a slower return to normal post-pandemic was because of clerical omission in legislation. California recognizes skating rinks as family entertainment centers. As the pandemic died down, the government released guidelines for reopening and resumption of activities that fall under this category. However, the document did not mention roller rinks (even though it explicitly stated other family entertainment places like arcades, theatres, and bowling alleys). The reason was that roller rinks involved bigger crowds circulating and circling a confined space for extended periods. This legislation led to a delay in roller rinks reopening to full capacity after the pandemic.
Today, the continued participation of older folks ensures that the remaining roller rinks in LA stay operational. And a big part of this crowd is the older black skaters who nurture skating passions that have lasted for decades. However, the interest from younger crowds continues waning, and it’s a concern for most roller rink operators.
The rise of roller skating trends on TikTok and social media has helped usher in a “comeback” for the mainstream crowd. And struggling rink owners admit that it has helped boost some equipment sales. But most trends support outdoor skating, and the fad remains restricted to the younger audience whose interests may shift within a few weeks or months. So, it’s not much help regarding indoor roller rinks experiencing a resurgence.
Sandy Mitchell admits that she has tried the transition to outdoor skating. “I and a few friends go around the city occasionally looking for viable places to skate. And we sometimes find nice locations around corners or on nearby streets. But it becomes impossible to continue skating in such areas because other outdoor skaters also start swarming to these locations. And without the regulation of a manager, it’s really not practical for big crowds to skate in the same location outdoors.”
Katie Field, who is 49 years old and teaches at a local school, says she has skated every Sunday along the beachfront. “I never thought I could move on from indoor skating. But my Sunday sessions along the beach route have opened up new experiences that I never expected,” Katie shared.
A local resident, Annie Sheffield shared how roller skating gave her a renewed source of pleasure and contentment in retirement. “My life had revolved around my children since I had my first child. After they went off to college and later settled down, I did not know what to do with my time,” shares Annie. “Then, an old friend of mine invited me to ‘Adult Nights’ at the local rink. That’s how I resumed skating on weekends at first. Now, I visit the rink or skate by the block almost every day. It’s also the most exercise I’ve had in years!”
James Franklin also admits that outdoor skating has caught his fancy. He continues frequenting Moonlight Rollerway on Sunday evenings. “The Rollerway will always be my go-to roller rink. But skating outdoors with the fresh air hitting your lungs is also an amazing experience altogether. I still prefer the community and comfort of indoor rink skating. But I don’t mind taking a day or two skating through the streets of the city, exploring new spots, and finding new destinations,” said James.
