All above Courtesy of Kidstuffs.
Courtesy of The Baltimore Sun, Friday February 14, 1944. Interesting ad. Each ad was different each time. This one was clearly according to Liberals and Conservatives, there are odds in this ad. The first picture of women, leaving work from a factory helping Americans fighting the War, with their lunch boxes and they went straight to the rink. A police officer from I can see his eyes were looking down to their chests! Shocking! That was a no-no in this "Political Correctness" world of today according to Liberals. But the final drawing showing those two same women dancing to the skate with same officer who was supposed to be working, and one of the women drinking out of a bottle on the rink floor! Or maybe off the rink floor. That is also a no-no according to Conservatives because never know that bottle also represents a beer bottle! Bars were common back the day at many rinks.
Courtesy of The Baltimore Sun, Sunday January 8, 1944. That is right Doc, roller skating is best cardac health exercise and in fact, one of safest sports there is. Do not be hypocrite doctors! Go skating! That is what the ad is saying. Is that is wife? I guess not because I do not see his wedding ring. A bachelor! Nice! Never know you will meet someone at the rink! At least one Doc we know is not going or was going to meet someone at the rink. He met her on a hoverboard instead and fell in love with Claire. Haha.
Courtesy of The Baltimore Sun, Saturday January 15, 1944. This I could not get it. The lady in black hair telling an older heavier lady about roller skating.
Baltimore Coliseum Sports Arena 2201 North Monroe Street, Baltimore, MD
Coliseum Roller Rink 2201 North Monroe Street, Baltimore, MD
This place had rich history, the Baltimore Coliseum was a stadium that was also a roller rink. Besides it was a concert venue with the likes of Fat Domino and "Little" Richard Wayne Penniman played before audiences of 4,500 patrons. Originally the Baltimore Coliseum began by construction in 1938 and had grand opening in 1939 with famous Tommy Dorsey playing music. However, they increased business by having the roller rink opened in 1941 which ran for a little over 20 years into 1960s.
Like Ice Follies, Holiday on Ice, and Ice Capades ice shows, Roller Follies roller shows had world premiere at this very venue in 1942 while their ice versions were at every other venues. Sadly all of those shows are defunct and only Disney which bought out and converted to Disney on Ice. Disney-ification. It is real sad. Not original because its Disney.
Making logical sense the rink can be used as for derbies, roller hockey at many rinks, this one had NBA! Yes, NBA had such teams at small venues back the day! This was the Baltimore Bullets. The team ran from 1944 to 1954. Click on the team name and read more about them. They had interesting history. The first to do so and the last to do so. Other NBA teams that were in smaller cities like Syracuse Nationals was sold and moved to Philadelphia to be come the 76ers. So were Rochester, NY and Buffalo, NY NBA teams moved to bigger cities. Also the Bullets were the only folded team ever to win a NBA Championship. (The team "went on" to be a rebooted Capital Bullets then presently Washington Wizards).
Well, the team did play at the Coliseum Till they folded.
Now back to the rink. Likely the rink was open to skaters when the basketball team played out of town or rest during off season.
By 1960s, apparently without a NBA team, and perhaps bands' and musicians' booking agents decided to go for bigger venues and the changing taste of music went elsewhere. The Coliseum perhaps was in decline financially and it was sold in auction in 1964. By 1968, it was the final year of the Coliseum Sports Arena. Likely the rink had their last set of quads in 1964 before it became city school bus garage four years Later. After the arena was renovated to accommodate buses. The other sets of wheels.
According to the City of Baltimore, that building official name was Baltimore Coliseum Sports Arena. The facility was in much disrepair because of buses and repair shop there with oil leaking, gas leaking, chemicals. And there were tanks underground. A lot of abuses that the city ordered itself a clean up in 2007 and demolish the building as part of clean up in 2008. Between the auction and 1968, the building sat empty.
There was, however, another attempt to revivalize the arena to host all sports again including roller skating, basketball, wrestling, and more. However, it fell through and no wonder, the city took over and became a garage. This is not the only rink the city took over. They also took over the former United Skates of America Shake and Bake rink to become the current Shake and Bake Family Fun Center.
The exterior apparently looked more like a stage theater or movie theater of yesteryear rather than a a stadium or coliseum you thought it would be. It had a beautiful 20th Century marquee upon front of the building and it was Brick veneer building with cinderblock built. Originally it was very much into Late-Period Art Deco which was becoming less notable Art Deco but Mid-Century were hinting in a little bit.
The interior. They were easily converted for different purposes. 6100 people for boxing/wrestling as it was about 4500 people for an ABL/BAA/NBA basketball games. Likely much less people in the stands for the Roller Follies and regular roller skating evening.
The property later became new building for a non-profit organization to help with families in need.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Wood, likely Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1939 Demolished: 2008 due to disused and abused by city.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel with columns Brick Veneer Cinderblock Building.
Roof: Flat
Acres: 0.7 acre.
Operated: (As Rink) October 1, 1941 to Wednesday January 15, 1964 (date of auction).
(Building) April 1939 to Wednesday January 15, 1964 (Auction) but till 1968 when it became bus garage and storage.
Reason for Closure: Sold in auction. Financial issues? Failed to revitalize in 1968.
Wanted: Information regarding photos of interior and exterior.
Sources: Concert Database, Rock Tour Database, frrp,
Maryland Government Report, Wikipedia, The Evening Sun, Fri. Sept. 5, 1941,
The Baltimore Sun Wed Jan. 7, 1942, Monday Oct. 13, 1958, and Sun. July 21, 1968.,
The Evening Sun, Wed., Jan. 15, 1964, (Both newspapers are non-clickable)'
Kid stuff website,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
Coliseum Roller Rink 2201 North Monroe Street, Baltimore, MD
This place had rich history, the Baltimore Coliseum was a stadium that was also a roller rink. Besides it was a concert venue with the likes of Fat Domino and "Little" Richard Wayne Penniman played before audiences of 4,500 patrons. Originally the Baltimore Coliseum began by construction in 1938 and had grand opening in 1939 with famous Tommy Dorsey playing music. However, they increased business by having the roller rink opened in 1941 which ran for a little over 20 years into 1960s.
Like Ice Follies, Holiday on Ice, and Ice Capades ice shows, Roller Follies roller shows had world premiere at this very venue in 1942 while their ice versions were at every other venues. Sadly all of those shows are defunct and only Disney which bought out and converted to Disney on Ice. Disney-ification. It is real sad. Not original because its Disney.
Making logical sense the rink can be used as for derbies, roller hockey at many rinks, this one had NBA! Yes, NBA had such teams at small venues back the day! This was the Baltimore Bullets. The team ran from 1944 to 1954. Click on the team name and read more about them. They had interesting history. The first to do so and the last to do so. Other NBA teams that were in smaller cities like Syracuse Nationals was sold and moved to Philadelphia to be come the 76ers. So were Rochester, NY and Buffalo, NY NBA teams moved to bigger cities. Also the Bullets were the only folded team ever to win a NBA Championship. (The team "went on" to be a rebooted Capital Bullets then presently Washington Wizards).
Well, the team did play at the Coliseum Till they folded.
Now back to the rink. Likely the rink was open to skaters when the basketball team played out of town or rest during off season.
By 1960s, apparently without a NBA team, and perhaps bands' and musicians' booking agents decided to go for bigger venues and the changing taste of music went elsewhere. The Coliseum perhaps was in decline financially and it was sold in auction in 1964. By 1968, it was the final year of the Coliseum Sports Arena. Likely the rink had their last set of quads in 1964 before it became city school bus garage four years Later. After the arena was renovated to accommodate buses. The other sets of wheels.
According to the City of Baltimore, that building official name was Baltimore Coliseum Sports Arena. The facility was in much disrepair because of buses and repair shop there with oil leaking, gas leaking, chemicals. And there were tanks underground. A lot of abuses that the city ordered itself a clean up in 2007 and demolish the building as part of clean up in 2008. Between the auction and 1968, the building sat empty.
There was, however, another attempt to revivalize the arena to host all sports again including roller skating, basketball, wrestling, and more. However, it fell through and no wonder, the city took over and became a garage. This is not the only rink the city took over. They also took over the former United Skates of America Shake and Bake rink to become the current Shake and Bake Family Fun Center.
The exterior apparently looked more like a stage theater or movie theater of yesteryear rather than a a stadium or coliseum you thought it would be. It had a beautiful 20th Century marquee upon front of the building and it was Brick veneer building with cinderblock built. Originally it was very much into Late-Period Art Deco which was becoming less notable Art Deco but Mid-Century were hinting in a little bit.
The interior. They were easily converted for different purposes. 6100 people for boxing/wrestling as it was about 4500 people for an ABL/BAA/NBA basketball games. Likely much less people in the stands for the Roller Follies and regular roller skating evening.
The property later became new building for a non-profit organization to help with families in need.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Wood, likely Maple Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1939 Demolished: 2008 due to disused and abused by city.
Type of Building: Free Span Steel with columns Brick Veneer Cinderblock Building.
Roof: Flat
Acres: 0.7 acre.
Operated: (As Rink) October 1, 1941 to Wednesday January 15, 1964 (date of auction).
(Building) April 1939 to Wednesday January 15, 1964 (Auction) but till 1968 when it became bus garage and storage.
Reason for Closure: Sold in auction. Financial issues? Failed to revitalize in 1968.
Wanted: Information regarding photos of interior and exterior.
Sources: Concert Database, Rock Tour Database, frrp,
Maryland Government Report, Wikipedia, The Evening Sun, Fri. Sept. 5, 1941,
The Baltimore Sun Wed Jan. 7, 1942, Monday Oct. 13, 1958, and Sun. July 21, 1968.,
The Evening Sun, Wed., Jan. 15, 1964, (Both newspapers are non-clickable)'
Kid stuff website,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.