Roller Skating

The Popularity of Roller Skating – as seen on the Silver Screen in Charlie Chaplin’s 1916 Film The Rink – saw at least 8-Rinks in the City, from the Central Hall on Skene Street to the Aberdeen Rink in the Trades Hall on Belmont Street, with Torry & Woodside having their own Roller Emporiums.

Rinking ~ c.1876
A Skating Rink was Opened on a Floor of a Spring Garden Factory. The situation was admittedly inconvenient, but necessary space was difficult to be found. The Floor of Concrete was 62-ft long by 33-ft in breadth & smooth as a Billiard Table. For a time the Rink was popular. It was conducted by an experienced Showman named Duckworth, who was still plying his Trade amongst us. He & his wife were both accomplished Skaters & the Amusement in the Afternoons (Ladies) & in the Evenings (Gentlemen) was greatly enjoyed. This may have later become Donalds Ice Rink.

Roller Skating in Edwardian Aberdeen 1909 ~
Every Era has its Social Crazes and the Edwardian Era was no exception.  The 1st Decade of the 1900’s saw our Edwardian Ancestors go through Periods of Mass Enthusiasm for Postcard Collecting, for Ping Pong, for Diablo Juggling, and for Roller Skating (which they referred to as ‘Rinking’).
1876: William Brown in Birmingham patented a design for the Wheels of Roller Skates. Brown’s Design embodied his effort to keep the 2-Bearing surfaces of an Axle, fixed & moving, apart. Brown worked closely with Joseph Henry Hughs, who drew up the Patent for a Ball or Roller Bearing Race for Bicycle & Carriage Wheels in 1877.  Hughes’ Patent included all the elements of an Adjustable System. These 2-men are thus responsible for Modern Day Roller Skate & Skateboard Wheels, as well as the Ball Bearing race inclusion in Velocipedes — later to become essential on Motorbikes & Automobiles. This was arguably the most important advance in the realistic use of Roller Skates as a Pleasurable Pastime.

Revived in Great Britain
Telegraph London, 26th November 1909
The Roller Skating Craze has been largely revived in many parts of Great Britain & has afforded Employment to as many as 17,000 Clerks, Attendants, & Mechanics.

In 1909 an Explosion of interest in Roller Skating took place.

Only Basic Instructions were proffered –

In 1909 there was a phenomenal craze for Roller-Skating – or Rinking as it was known.  The Pastime had been evident in the UK from the 1870s.  Following the introduction of the 1st Rink in 1869 at Rhode Island (USA). Roller-Skating then went into decline but regained popularity in 1880 & again in 1909.  Rinks were appearing everywhere, and a Specialist Newspaper ‘Rinking World Journal‘ catered for the Followers of this Fashion. Ephemera in the form of Comic Postcards, Photographic & Printed Images & Cinema followed on from the Rinking craze.
There was a World Professional Roller Skating Championship held across Britain in February 1909, with heats in Liverpool, Belfast, Bradford, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham & Glasgow under the auspices of the National Skating Association. The last Heat took place in Edinburgh on 26th February with Races over 1-mile, or 6½-Laps of the Rink. The Prize Money was £150 & a Trophy was given to the Winner. Some 4,000 Spectators witnessed the proceedings.  The Final was held in London. (27th February 1909, Scotsman)

9th October 1909, The Bon Accord Skating Rink,- Northern Skating Rink Proprietors in Aberdeen.
6th November 1909, Aberdeen Olympia, Roller Skating Proprietors in Aberdeen.
18th December 1909, Torry Skating Palace Company, to acquire the Building & Property of the Roller Skating Rink at Torry, Aberdeen.

Moss’ Empires Ltd who owned Theatres across Britain was one of the Companies affected by Roller Skating & its Takings & Profits were hit. 64 Skating Rinks had been Established in 12-Locations where Moss Empires conducted Business in 1909.  The Management viewed the phenomenon as a temporary one & predicted that Business would recover. (Company Statement, Scotsman 16th February 1910)

Across the whole of Scotland in 1911, the collapse of Roller-skating was occurring. All Notices were Published in the Scotsman 1911.

This Steel Framed & Corrugated Iron Structure was Built in 1909 as a Roller SKating Rink later was an Ice Rink

A Roller Skating Rink has been opened in Forbesfield Road, Aberdeen. The Building is 260-ft long & 115-ft wide with a Skating Area of 220-ft x 75-ft. There is a Promenade all-around 10-ft wide at the Sides & extending to 20-ft at the ends. The Plans were prepared by Mr John Rust Jr, City Architect & the Total Cost of the Building has been upwards of £4,000. [Builder 9th October 1909]  The Initial Report in the Builder claimed that the Rink would be capable of Skating 5,000 people at once and would also accommodate 5,000 Spectators. Given the dimensions as-built, these figures would seem over-optimistic. 8th November, 1911, Advert for a Roller Skating Rink for Sale in Forbesfield Road, Aberdeen with right to dismantle and remove. Cost when Built in 1909 between £4000 & £5000.  The Roller Rink’s theme was clearly lavish, with White Liveried Footmen & Page Boys, as well as 6-Instructors & “1-Instructress“: 8,000 Guests were Invited on the Opening day in October 1909.

Woodside  Rinkie – Picture Palace 407 Great Northern Road
The Woodside Roller Skating Rink Co Ltd (in Liquidation).
The Liquidator, James Albert Hadden, Solicitor, Aberdeen, hereby calls a General Meeting of the Company for 10th March 1913, at 4-pm, within his Office, 25-Union Terrace, Aberdeen, for the purpose of submitting his Account & Report of the Winding-up of the Company. 5th March 1913.
The Cinema opened 1912 in the old Roller Skating Rink of 1909.  It was Closed by, or soon after, 1923.  It then became a Garage, then a Hay’s Lemonade Warehouse,  Cheyne’s Fish Shop & Reception Room.  Near the White Horse Bar.

So before 1911 was out, Roller Skating within Indoor Rinks was at an end throughout Scotland.  It had with such a frenzy having caught the Publics imagination but proved to be very a short-lived Fad. The Cinematographic Phenomena which replaced it proved to be a far more enduring Entertainment.

Arcade Skating Rink – Roller Skating, 431-Union Street.
The Electric Cinema, 431 Union Street Opened 29th August 1910 
Arcade Motor Garage Ltd., 431 Union Street & 12-Justice Mill Lane

In the 1930s Roller Skating was a still popular Pastime & the Music Hall was converted to a Roller Skating Rink. In January 1931 an attempt was made on the World Marathon non-stop Roller Skating Title. The Holder gave up after only a few hours because of blistered feet. Rather than disappoint the Audience, Hadyn Marshall, the Professional Manager of the Rink, accompanied by an Amateur Skater, Robert Bruce, took up the challenge. Just before midnight on Saturday 17th January, Robert Bruce became the new World Amateur Marathon Roller Skating Champion with a time of 61-hrs 36-mins – a Record still standing. This spectacular Prize Medal example was presented to Aberdonian Robert
Bruce, as the Amateur World Record Holder for non-stop Roller Sating, at Aberdeen’s Music Hall in 1931.