Courtesy of Google Map. Two very poor quality of photos by Google! the 3D drone view (it was a satellite) is curvy. Bad. The road picture did not do any good because of a smear in the photo.
Courtesy of Bob-A-Lu Skating Rink group on Facebook. The admission section. Yes, Bathroom style tiles on the right wall! Hand prints and skates (thought they looked like cars) on the walls. The handprints must have been done in later years.
Courtesy of Bob-A-Lu Skating Rink group on Facebook. Noticed the stripes. Reminded me of the motorhome seen on SHAZAM! TV series and 1973 Open Road Motorhomes. See below for the SHAZAM! vehicle. Vehicle courtesy of DC Comics/Filmation. Photo courtesy of IMCdb. Interesting fact that considering this rink was in Alabama, the childhood home of Jackson Bostwick! The actor who did Captain Marvel on TV series in the 1970s!
Bob-A-Lu Skate Center Main Street, Dothan, AL (original before relocating to E. Southport Street)
Bob-A-Lu Skate Center 600 South Saint Andrews Street, Dothan, AL (Actual: 108 East Southport Street)
Bob-A-Lu Skate Center 600 South Saint Andrews Street, Dothan, AL (Actual: 108 East Southport Street)
Bob-A-Lu Skate Center was originally opened in 1954 on Main Street in Dothan, AL and later in 1968 opened their newly constructed rink on 600 South Saint Andrews Street, Dothan, AL which is Actually at 108 East Southport Street). I know a bit confusion but it is not. The second location according to Google map and a source said to be 108 East Southport Street because of the location of the map shown where the rink was It occupied the entire block corner to corner. Hence, the number 108. Perhaps was a split property combined as one when they built that rink in 1968. Perhaps.
I see that on Facebook the original was on Main Street. I do not know what number. Anyone?
Bob and Lu Brown owned Bob-A-Lu Skate Center hence the name, Bob-A-Lu which is Bob and Lu! Cute name for this rink. Their name is forever on the exterior brick wall of the Southport location. Roland "Bill" Jones was a professional coach.
The Interior.
Main Street location-- It was not clear and only a couple of black-n-whites photos of figure skaters. Apparently I see it was wood constructed wall horizontally built. It does look like it was White wall. With Maple wood floor. Hard to tell.
Southport Street Location-- A lot to describe this large facility. I do not know what the walls were like in 1968 but by seeing old 1970s and 1980s photographs of skaters in those pictures, i was able to capture the walls or rails or whatever. It may have been the same and unchanged or add on along the years. Apparently.
OK, the rink floor was likely Maple but painted to be identical to a professional ice hockey rink. They had Roller Hockey Team for sure as well as speed teams, figure skating, couple skating, and more. They had full programs at the rink. Anyway, the floor was painted in Pale Blue but photos showed more like White. The reporter for Dothan Eagle said Pale Blue. I think Ice White. Even had hockey lines and circles.
For the off-rink floor, it was plastered with linoleum tiles with Red and Yellow colors. Reminds you of who? Yes, that Mighty Moral superhero Same colors as the checkers on the wall. Originally this were the colors. It was checkered design. I do not have photos of the rink before it was shuttered because usually after it is shuttered, it get vandalized and damages due to break-ins of ten. Also titles falling due to leaks. That is normal when a business is closed and abandoned. The ceiling titles were Black and White. Pretty much a lot of things checkered.
There were numerous of murals and usually unmatched. The 1970s look had bold straight stripes and Black-and-Orange checkers on the wall. It was brush painted. Very professional and straight lines and all. The curves with straight line reminded me of Open Road Recreational Vehicles in early 1970s and an Open Road Motorhome used on SHAZAM! TV series on Saturday Mornings in mid-1970s with Billy Batson and Mentor traveling around the country and that vehicle had similar stripe design. See photo above. SHAZAM!, Billy Batson, and Mentor all courtesy of DC Comics and TV series courtesy of Filmation.
I love those bold stripes they had at this rink. But they kept updatng by adding more murals through the years that would not be a match-able. For instance they had the Skate above the skate rental booth with curves and all. not matching. And what worse was that in perhaps around 1990s or early 2000s, they had airbrushed murals. It was getting really cluttered I have to admit. No offense. And second of all, it does not match with paint brush type of paint. It was air-brushing similar you find on some T-shirts you seen at the state fair. They are great art work awesome but it did not go with the other 2 generations of murals. All three in a mix. it is like a scratch sound you hear on an old music album you played on a turntable. It was bit tacky. I love rinks with bold colors. Just my opinion! Remember, opinion!
It would have been nice to stick with the original murals and can update the carpet. It did look bit more like shaggy on hte half wall. There was part of it with skates on that carpet on half-wall. wow, a mixture here or there.
The Exterior.
Main Street-- I have no idea where was it and what it was like. Unknown. Anyone? Photos? Likely it was a wood structure because of the interior photo showing a couple skating and the wall background was very easily to identify.
East Southport Street-- This one was stronger built. They built with Cinder-block as you can see the interior walls but the exterior it was Plain Brownish Red Bricks with White Bricks for the name Bob-A-Lu rink on it. It was pretty difficult to do that without any mistakes. it was true White bricks for the lettering. Making that permanently unless they torn down the building but that is unlikely. Attempt to paint over? I would not advise that because it would look horrible to try to match the rest of the building.
The Ice Blue, Black, and White vertical stripes were noticed on Steel sheet metal for its mansard roof design. The building itself is Free-Span Steel Truss Brownish-Red Brick Brick-veneer Convention center-like Building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: Main Street: Unknown Southport Street: Unknown.
Floor: Main Street: Clear Maple. Southport Street: Likely Maple Ice White painted, Polyurethane coated.
Floor Layout: Main Street: N/A. Southport Street: Maple floor unknown but layout was Roller Hockey.
Building Size: N/A. Built: Original on Main Street: N/A. Newer building: 1968
Demolished: Main Street: N/A. East Southport location: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Brownish-Red Brick Brick-veneer Convention center-like Building.
Roof: Mansard.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: 1954 to 2004.
Main street location: 1954 to 1968.
East Southport location: 1968 to 2004.
Reason for Closure: Original owner passed away, causing defaulting on taxes, sold building at a tax sale in 2009 to a quiet sale (private group) and then in 2015, sold once again to a construction company to convert into offices thus ending the skating rink appearance inside. The private group did not renovate into a newly remodeled rink. Currently a construction company's offices.
Wanted: Information regarding size of building, rink, Where was it on Main Street the original rink.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Dothan Eagle- sold to private group in 2009, Dothan Eagle - sold to construction firm, Manta,
Facebook group, Dun & Bradstreet, Facebook - as page, Do it in Dothan website.
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Ps 86:10.
I see that on Facebook the original was on Main Street. I do not know what number. Anyone?
Bob and Lu Brown owned Bob-A-Lu Skate Center hence the name, Bob-A-Lu which is Bob and Lu! Cute name for this rink. Their name is forever on the exterior brick wall of the Southport location. Roland "Bill" Jones was a professional coach.
The Interior.
Main Street location-- It was not clear and only a couple of black-n-whites photos of figure skaters. Apparently I see it was wood constructed wall horizontally built. It does look like it was White wall. With Maple wood floor. Hard to tell.
Southport Street Location-- A lot to describe this large facility. I do not know what the walls were like in 1968 but by seeing old 1970s and 1980s photographs of skaters in those pictures, i was able to capture the walls or rails or whatever. It may have been the same and unchanged or add on along the years. Apparently.
OK, the rink floor was likely Maple but painted to be identical to a professional ice hockey rink. They had Roller Hockey Team for sure as well as speed teams, figure skating, couple skating, and more. They had full programs at the rink. Anyway, the floor was painted in Pale Blue but photos showed more like White. The reporter for Dothan Eagle said Pale Blue. I think Ice White. Even had hockey lines and circles.
For the off-rink floor, it was plastered with linoleum tiles with Red and Yellow colors. Reminds you of who? Yes, that Mighty Moral superhero Same colors as the checkers on the wall. Originally this were the colors. It was checkered design. I do not have photos of the rink before it was shuttered because usually after it is shuttered, it get vandalized and damages due to break-ins of ten. Also titles falling due to leaks. That is normal when a business is closed and abandoned. The ceiling titles were Black and White. Pretty much a lot of things checkered.
There were numerous of murals and usually unmatched. The 1970s look had bold straight stripes and Black-and-Orange checkers on the wall. It was brush painted. Very professional and straight lines and all. The curves with straight line reminded me of Open Road Recreational Vehicles in early 1970s and an Open Road Motorhome used on SHAZAM! TV series on Saturday Mornings in mid-1970s with Billy Batson and Mentor traveling around the country and that vehicle had similar stripe design. See photo above. SHAZAM!, Billy Batson, and Mentor all courtesy of DC Comics and TV series courtesy of Filmation.
I love those bold stripes they had at this rink. But they kept updatng by adding more murals through the years that would not be a match-able. For instance they had the Skate above the skate rental booth with curves and all. not matching. And what worse was that in perhaps around 1990s or early 2000s, they had airbrushed murals. It was getting really cluttered I have to admit. No offense. And second of all, it does not match with paint brush type of paint. It was air-brushing similar you find on some T-shirts you seen at the state fair. They are great art work awesome but it did not go with the other 2 generations of murals. All three in a mix. it is like a scratch sound you hear on an old music album you played on a turntable. It was bit tacky. I love rinks with bold colors. Just my opinion! Remember, opinion!
It would have been nice to stick with the original murals and can update the carpet. It did look bit more like shaggy on hte half wall. There was part of it with skates on that carpet on half-wall. wow, a mixture here or there.
The Exterior.
Main Street-- I have no idea where was it and what it was like. Unknown. Anyone? Photos? Likely it was a wood structure because of the interior photo showing a couple skating and the wall background was very easily to identify.
East Southport Street-- This one was stronger built. They built with Cinder-block as you can see the interior walls but the exterior it was Plain Brownish Red Bricks with White Bricks for the name Bob-A-Lu rink on it. It was pretty difficult to do that without any mistakes. it was true White bricks for the lettering. Making that permanently unless they torn down the building but that is unlikely. Attempt to paint over? I would not advise that because it would look horrible to try to match the rest of the building.
The Ice Blue, Black, and White vertical stripes were noticed on Steel sheet metal for its mansard roof design. The building itself is Free-Span Steel Truss Brownish-Red Brick Brick-veneer Convention center-like Building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: Main Street: Unknown Southport Street: Unknown.
Floor: Main Street: Clear Maple. Southport Street: Likely Maple Ice White painted, Polyurethane coated.
Floor Layout: Main Street: N/A. Southport Street: Maple floor unknown but layout was Roller Hockey.
Building Size: N/A. Built: Original on Main Street: N/A. Newer building: 1968
Demolished: Main Street: N/A. East Southport location: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Brownish-Red Brick Brick-veneer Convention center-like Building.
Roof: Mansard.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: 1954 to 2004.
Main street location: 1954 to 1968.
East Southport location: 1968 to 2004.
Reason for Closure: Original owner passed away, causing defaulting on taxes, sold building at a tax sale in 2009 to a quiet sale (private group) and then in 2015, sold once again to a construction company to convert into offices thus ending the skating rink appearance inside. The private group did not renovate into a newly remodeled rink. Currently a construction company's offices.
Wanted: Information regarding size of building, rink, Where was it on Main Street the original rink.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Dothan Eagle- sold to private group in 2009, Dothan Eagle - sold to construction firm, Manta,
Facebook group, Dun & Bradstreet, Facebook - as page, Do it in Dothan website.
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Ps 86:10.