Chicago Coliseum 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL. Beautiful Gothic Castle-like arena. Source: Wikipedia.
Chicago Coliseum 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL. Wow, I see that trolley going fast compared to the car in in the photo by the trolley. This has to be taken in late 1910s. The marquee was added in this photograph. Source: Timeout.
Chicago Coliseum 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL. This postcard was painted in color. Noticed a change again. The original marquee was removed. A new movie theater style marquee with big clear vertical sign for the name of the rink. It appeared to be 1950s style they renovated that part. The front door was moved. The arch and canopy marquee were gone from the 2nd photo. All three photo showed it appeared to be on the same side.. same street. Source: Pinterest.
Chicago Coliseum 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL. This is the World's first Roller Derby event being photographed at the time in 1935. Skaters competed to win 500 USD first place prize. That translate into the year 2022 USD worth at 10,175 USD. That is a pretty good pay for playing a day or two. You can notice the banked rink. It was pretty much almost the size of an NHL! Not like the modern Roller Derby today. Source: Brown Paper Ticket website.
Chicago Coliseum 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL. Article about the first ever Roller Derby match. First knockdown. Of course, it was Midge "Toughie" Yes, try that now hundreds of thousands, if not, millions of knockdowns ever since that day in 1935. Source: Chicago Tribune. 26 March 2021.
Chicago Coliseum 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL. A Roller Derby match. Taken on 10 June 1948. Shown are two well known skaters both the middle and right. Both are in Roller Derby Hall of Fame. Midge "Toughie" Brasuhn on the right and I believe that is Mary Lou Palermo in the middle. Source: Chicago Tribune. 26 March 2021.
Chicago Coliseum 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL. Two of the Chicago Westerners team players. From Left: Ann Perice, age 19, and Eleanor Weber, age 24. Ann sure is bored being in the penalty box as Eleanor looked on bit upset. I am sure you both have your turn after you were out of the box. I wish I can time travel... Ann.. woo. Wink! Source: Chicago Tribune. 26 March 2021.
Chicago Coliseum 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL. The skater in middle, Mary Lou Palermo shouted to the other skaters who were dizzy from the fall, "Ya dumb jerks!" Those two may had concussions. No helments.. Long before the days boxers and US footballers were discovered with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) brain injuries. Source: Chicago Tribune. 26 March 2021.
This is how the track was really like. Both the Banked version and the Flat Track are like. The difference is the Banked was bigger, and was about 35 Degreed banked than the Flat version.
Chicago Coliseum 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL. Source: YouTube/Memory Mountain.
Chicago Coliseum 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL
Chicago Coliseum was the third and final Chicago Coliseum and this third edition was held at 1513 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Illinois. This was a famous building and its predecessors as well.
The first Chicago Coliseum was built in 1866. Exact opening and closing is unknown. However, as typical of the most 19th century cities, Chicago had a flourishing The Age of the Bachelor Era or known as Bachelor Subculture, which made events at the Coliseum often rowdy affairs. Thus, its history is bit fogged. This perhaps why it was short lived.
The second Chicago Coliseum was a replacement. It was a strange and difficult history for this one. It was in the Woodlawn neighborhood on the city's south side. Construction began early in 1895 on a 14 Acres on this site where the World's Columbian Exposition was located, but on 22 August, the in-completed structure collapsed, and the builders had to start over again. Construction of the 300-by-700-foot (91 by 213 m) building entailed the use of 2.5 million pounds of steel, 3.2 million feet of lumber, and 3 million bricks, and was finally completed in June 1896. The building was impressive in size for its day, twice as large as Madison Square Garden; its interior was supported by 12 massive arches, 100 feet high with a span of 230 feet. The facility housed 7 Acres of interior floor space. That was massive! Today in Chicago, it would be McCormick Place. One of the largest (ranked number 11).
It was Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show that opened the facility in 1895. There was a Democratic Party Convention that nominated a Democrat in 1896. Later, October 1896 the Coliseum hosted the Barnum and Bailey Circus, the largest three-ring circus in the country.
College US football teams immediately saw the feasibility of playing indoor games in the Coliseum, and four big games took place. This was one of the first indoor US football games. The first was University of Michigan vs. University of Chicago, Thanksgiving Day, 26 November 1896; won by Chicago, 7–6.
Three more games played there.
In January 1897, the Coliseum hosted one of the largest trade shows in the country, the annual Bicycle manufacturer's trade show. The Coliseum was hailed as a financial success. Besides football games, the facility hosted bicycle races, the Military and Athletic Carnival of the AAU, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, horse shows, agricultural exhibitions, and commercial trade shows.
But sadly, on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1897, around 6:00 PM, after the Manufacturers' Carnival and Winter Fair closed its annual show, many visitors had left the exhibit for supper, a fire caused by faulty electrical wiring broke out and swept through the building. Despite initial reports of numerous deaths, only one died (the facility's furnace man). The building was completely destroyed including trade show's amusement park ride exhibits, booths, brochures, etc. Mainly when one of the 12 arches supporting the roof fell over to bring down all the other arches like a row of dominoes. The fire consumed the building within 20 minutes! This massive structure, one of the greatest indoor facilities of the 19th century, had a lifespan of only 19 months! 19 months! As I have worked on Dead-Rinks profiles, many rinks around this era burned down because of faulty wires. I understood that because many electricians were not licensed at the time and the wires back then were not made to code such as rubberized tubes.
The third Chicago Coliseum-- Candy manufacturer Charles F. Gunther built the third one at 1513 South Wabash Avenue. Third a charm because this became more successful to last this long. He purchased Libby Prison, in Richmond, Virginia. The building was constructed as a warehouse which became a Confederate prison during the Civil War. Gunther had it dismantled, shipped to Chicago on 132 railroad cars, and rebuilt in 1889 as the Libby Prison War Museum, which displayed memorabilia from the Civil War. After about a decade the old prison was torn down again, except for a castellated wall that became part of the new Chicago Coliseum.
There were no known roller skating rinks in first or second Chicago Coliseums. However, sources pointed out to the third one. It had a famous opening in 1902 with 7,000 people attended to the rink! This would be the the world's largest grand opening of a roller rink. Seven thousand people! Hard to compare to something for me to show you. This is quite a lot. Often trade shows would have this number of people today in Vegas or McCormick, Jarvis, or Miami Beach Convention Center or anywhere else would have such large number. I do not know how many people attend RSAI convention and trade show. I have no idea. Really.
But they wanted to check out roller skating. In fact, this is the place where Roller Derby had its beginning. It began in 1934. Many teams from around the country would meet in Chicago for their meets. Thousands of fans would watch it. It was Leo Seltzer who invented the sport of Roller Derby and was a promoter. Roller Derby had it's start right in this arena, the Chicago Coliseum on 13 August 1935. It ran for many years in this facility. The first event had 20,000 fans watching the match. They would have annual major event for Roller Derby with many teams from around the country even with big names such as Midge "Toughie" Brasuhn, Mary Lou Palermo, Gerry Murray, and many more. They were like Hulk Hogan and Dwayne Johnson of Roller Derby of yesteryear. Those three ladies are in a couple of hall of fames including Roller Derby Hall of Fame.
Midge's nickname was perhaps the start of many of the Derby girls with nicknames. You noticed no helmets back then? That changed as time went by. Around 1950s on they started to wear them. A skater name Betty was knock unconscious and perhaps was the first one so helmets were required.
However as for public skating, it went further back to 1902 when the Coliseum opened. Yes, with the 7,000 people. Likely roller skating ran as long as the Derby did. Perhaps till 1970s. They would often have to change the floor because the old version Roller Derby up to early 1980s had Banked track or rink (see illustration above). Banked rink is raised track that you have to skate faster to maintain your posture on the track and correctly because if you do not, you fall toward the center or you can be flung out of the rink over the rails and fall. They often changed to tailor to each events. For example, maybe basketball game, they had to put together Maple Hardwood floor for basketball court. Then change to NHL rink for a hockey game.
Many derby racers did knock out others anyway. That was the purpose to knock out so you can get points. Roller Derby is like what "professional" wrestlers from organizations such as WWE, Major League Wrestling, Real Pro Wrestling, etc. (Note, the Real Pro Wrestling is a true wrestling similar to the Olympian, NCAA, and high school wrestling so that is a little different than promotional wrestling. Roller Derby is a promotional skating matches.)
A deadly bus crash transporting Derby skaters through southern Illinois in March 1937 nearly put an end to the sport and perhaps roller skating. But the Golden Era of Skating was in 1937 to 1959. This was strange history for roller skating.
The decline of the popularity of Roller Derby did destroyed the league at the time and the Coliseum as well. This was in 1970s and by 1980s for Roller Derby, they tried it again and failed until the current Roller Derby which began in Texas in 1995 was another story and that league is very popular today. But it was the Derby at the Coliseum began all of competitive promotional sport competition. It is different than standard competitive sports of figure skating, couple skating, ballroom skating, speed skating, and roller hockey. Inline skates brought some of those sports to a modest success including roller hockey and speed skating. That is it.
Since 1995, they use Flat Derby Track.
Roller skating may have ended in early at the Coliseum along with Roller Derby.
The Coliseum was in decline because of derby was gone, fade out of skating, but more reason so is because two main professional sports teams, Chicago Blackhawks of National Hockey League and the Chicago Bulls of National Basketball League prefer to play at a different arena. In fact, the first NBA team in Chicago, the Zephyrs were at this stadium only for a year before they relocated to another city and today, that team is now Washington Wizards. That is when you all knew Michael Jordan was one of the best player ever played for the Bulls and earned championships.
Mainly it was this situation: It was on 08 March 1971, that there were riots occurred at both The Chicago Coliseum and Chicago Amphitheater amongst fans attempting to watch a live, closed-circuit television broadcast of the famed Muhammad Ali – Joe Frazier fight being staged at Madison Square Garden in New York. When Coliseum's projection equipment broke down, the management asked 7,000 fans to leave just before the fight began. There was a group of angry youths, blew their tempers by hearing the announcement, began tearing up ticket counters near the doors and throwing the booths thru the front windows. Others, who had paid 10 USD a head to see the fight, began hurtling chairs and bottles from the balcony onto the main floor. An estimated 80 police were rushed to the Coliseum to restore order.
Due to the damages caused by teens and adults alike with that malfunctioned closed-circuit television, all scheduled concerts were cancelled with the exception of 12 March 1971, featuring James Taylor and Carole King.
On 13 March 1971, the city shut the building due to fire code violations (damages), and it fell into disrepair. In 1982, it was sold for redevelopment and was partially demolished; however, the planned construction never took place and large portions of the outer wall facing Wabash remained until the early 1990s when it was finally cleared. Currently a Buddhist center featuring some of the architecture that is relatd to the Gothic style architecture Coliseum. That arena is right cross the street from the old Chicago Coliseum.
The Coliseum held many events, concerts, trade shows, activities, etc including 5 straight National Republic Conventions (1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, and 1920), some National Progressive Party conventions (1912 and 1916), local political party convention sports including basketball, hockey, and more. In fact, they had conventions for angry groups including the Black Panthers, and a radical antiwar organization Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).
Concerts featuring The Doors and Jimi Hendrix played at the Coliseum.
Also they hosted American Bowling Congress Tournament in 1953. ABC is now United States Bowling Congress (USBC)
The Interior.
Very open spacious with skylight to shine inside. Very airy. For roller rink, it may have had some kind of wood. Maybe Maple hardwood. Not sure. No proven records for that part.
But for Roller Derby, they used Banked Derby Rink and it is likely Maple 8x4 boards.
The Exterior.
This building was very unique, very detailed Segmental Arch with Monitor roof on top of the arch. It was Gothic style with flair and castle look to it. Beautiful architecture. Color of the Masonry is unknown but likely Sand Yellow. A very popular color of its day in the beginning of 20th Century.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Perhaps Maple Hardwood, Non-painted.. Floor Layout: N/A.
Banked Derby Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely Maple 8x4 Boards. Floor Layout: Derby Banked Rink
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: 1982, partial demolished, uncompleted until early 1990s to complete demolished. Now parking lot for the new arena cross the street from old Coliseum.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks, Stones, Masonry - Walled Arena.
Roof: Part-Segmental, Part-Monitor. (A combination of both).
Acres: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
Operated: (Overall for roller skating) -- 1902 to late 1960s.
Coliseum (Building): 1902 to 1982.
Coliseum (Occupation): 1902 to 13 March 1971.
Roller Rink: 1902 to late 1960s.
Roller Derby: 13 August 1935 to c. 1971.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Coliseum (Building): Partial demolish, Then completely by early 1990s.
Coliseum (Occupation): City used fire code violation as means to end building occupation. Riots ruined it, bad events.
Roller Rink: Declining.
Roller Derby: Declining and eventually folded.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Wikipedia - Chicago Coliseum.
Owlcation - History of Chicago Coliseum.
Owlcation - Another strange history of Chicago Coliseum.
DNA Info - Roller Derby.
Forgotten Chicago - Forums.
Chicago Tribune - Roller Derby. (PDF)
Research Gate - History.
Timeout - More history! (PDF)
Community Brown Paper Tickets - History of Roller Derby. (PDF)
Alamay - Has over 1,100 photographs, postcards, and other materials related to the Coliseum! Wow! But you need to purchase the images.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
Worth to visit:
None.
Date of issue: 03 February 2022.
For office use only: 9/1.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
The first Chicago Coliseum was built in 1866. Exact opening and closing is unknown. However, as typical of the most 19th century cities, Chicago had a flourishing The Age of the Bachelor Era or known as Bachelor Subculture, which made events at the Coliseum often rowdy affairs. Thus, its history is bit fogged. This perhaps why it was short lived.
The second Chicago Coliseum was a replacement. It was a strange and difficult history for this one. It was in the Woodlawn neighborhood on the city's south side. Construction began early in 1895 on a 14 Acres on this site where the World's Columbian Exposition was located, but on 22 August, the in-completed structure collapsed, and the builders had to start over again. Construction of the 300-by-700-foot (91 by 213 m) building entailed the use of 2.5 million pounds of steel, 3.2 million feet of lumber, and 3 million bricks, and was finally completed in June 1896. The building was impressive in size for its day, twice as large as Madison Square Garden; its interior was supported by 12 massive arches, 100 feet high with a span of 230 feet. The facility housed 7 Acres of interior floor space. That was massive! Today in Chicago, it would be McCormick Place. One of the largest (ranked number 11).
It was Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show that opened the facility in 1895. There was a Democratic Party Convention that nominated a Democrat in 1896. Later, October 1896 the Coliseum hosted the Barnum and Bailey Circus, the largest three-ring circus in the country.
College US football teams immediately saw the feasibility of playing indoor games in the Coliseum, and four big games took place. This was one of the first indoor US football games. The first was University of Michigan vs. University of Chicago, Thanksgiving Day, 26 November 1896; won by Chicago, 7–6.
Three more games played there.
In January 1897, the Coliseum hosted one of the largest trade shows in the country, the annual Bicycle manufacturer's trade show. The Coliseum was hailed as a financial success. Besides football games, the facility hosted bicycle races, the Military and Athletic Carnival of the AAU, Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, horse shows, agricultural exhibitions, and commercial trade shows.
But sadly, on Christmas Eve, 24 December 1897, around 6:00 PM, after the Manufacturers' Carnival and Winter Fair closed its annual show, many visitors had left the exhibit for supper, a fire caused by faulty electrical wiring broke out and swept through the building. Despite initial reports of numerous deaths, only one died (the facility's furnace man). The building was completely destroyed including trade show's amusement park ride exhibits, booths, brochures, etc. Mainly when one of the 12 arches supporting the roof fell over to bring down all the other arches like a row of dominoes. The fire consumed the building within 20 minutes! This massive structure, one of the greatest indoor facilities of the 19th century, had a lifespan of only 19 months! 19 months! As I have worked on Dead-Rinks profiles, many rinks around this era burned down because of faulty wires. I understood that because many electricians were not licensed at the time and the wires back then were not made to code such as rubberized tubes.
The third Chicago Coliseum-- Candy manufacturer Charles F. Gunther built the third one at 1513 South Wabash Avenue. Third a charm because this became more successful to last this long. He purchased Libby Prison, in Richmond, Virginia. The building was constructed as a warehouse which became a Confederate prison during the Civil War. Gunther had it dismantled, shipped to Chicago on 132 railroad cars, and rebuilt in 1889 as the Libby Prison War Museum, which displayed memorabilia from the Civil War. After about a decade the old prison was torn down again, except for a castellated wall that became part of the new Chicago Coliseum.
There were no known roller skating rinks in first or second Chicago Coliseums. However, sources pointed out to the third one. It had a famous opening in 1902 with 7,000 people attended to the rink! This would be the the world's largest grand opening of a roller rink. Seven thousand people! Hard to compare to something for me to show you. This is quite a lot. Often trade shows would have this number of people today in Vegas or McCormick, Jarvis, or Miami Beach Convention Center or anywhere else would have such large number. I do not know how many people attend RSAI convention and trade show. I have no idea. Really.
But they wanted to check out roller skating. In fact, this is the place where Roller Derby had its beginning. It began in 1934. Many teams from around the country would meet in Chicago for their meets. Thousands of fans would watch it. It was Leo Seltzer who invented the sport of Roller Derby and was a promoter. Roller Derby had it's start right in this arena, the Chicago Coliseum on 13 August 1935. It ran for many years in this facility. The first event had 20,000 fans watching the match. They would have annual major event for Roller Derby with many teams from around the country even with big names such as Midge "Toughie" Brasuhn, Mary Lou Palermo, Gerry Murray, and many more. They were like Hulk Hogan and Dwayne Johnson of Roller Derby of yesteryear. Those three ladies are in a couple of hall of fames including Roller Derby Hall of Fame.
Midge's nickname was perhaps the start of many of the Derby girls with nicknames. You noticed no helmets back then? That changed as time went by. Around 1950s on they started to wear them. A skater name Betty was knock unconscious and perhaps was the first one so helmets were required.
However as for public skating, it went further back to 1902 when the Coliseum opened. Yes, with the 7,000 people. Likely roller skating ran as long as the Derby did. Perhaps till 1970s. They would often have to change the floor because the old version Roller Derby up to early 1980s had Banked track or rink (see illustration above). Banked rink is raised track that you have to skate faster to maintain your posture on the track and correctly because if you do not, you fall toward the center or you can be flung out of the rink over the rails and fall. They often changed to tailor to each events. For example, maybe basketball game, they had to put together Maple Hardwood floor for basketball court. Then change to NHL rink for a hockey game.
Many derby racers did knock out others anyway. That was the purpose to knock out so you can get points. Roller Derby is like what "professional" wrestlers from organizations such as WWE, Major League Wrestling, Real Pro Wrestling, etc. (Note, the Real Pro Wrestling is a true wrestling similar to the Olympian, NCAA, and high school wrestling so that is a little different than promotional wrestling. Roller Derby is a promotional skating matches.)
A deadly bus crash transporting Derby skaters through southern Illinois in March 1937 nearly put an end to the sport and perhaps roller skating. But the Golden Era of Skating was in 1937 to 1959. This was strange history for roller skating.
The decline of the popularity of Roller Derby did destroyed the league at the time and the Coliseum as well. This was in 1970s and by 1980s for Roller Derby, they tried it again and failed until the current Roller Derby which began in Texas in 1995 was another story and that league is very popular today. But it was the Derby at the Coliseum began all of competitive promotional sport competition. It is different than standard competitive sports of figure skating, couple skating, ballroom skating, speed skating, and roller hockey. Inline skates brought some of those sports to a modest success including roller hockey and speed skating. That is it.
Since 1995, they use Flat Derby Track.
Roller skating may have ended in early at the Coliseum along with Roller Derby.
The Coliseum was in decline because of derby was gone, fade out of skating, but more reason so is because two main professional sports teams, Chicago Blackhawks of National Hockey League and the Chicago Bulls of National Basketball League prefer to play at a different arena. In fact, the first NBA team in Chicago, the Zephyrs were at this stadium only for a year before they relocated to another city and today, that team is now Washington Wizards. That is when you all knew Michael Jordan was one of the best player ever played for the Bulls and earned championships.
Mainly it was this situation: It was on 08 March 1971, that there were riots occurred at both The Chicago Coliseum and Chicago Amphitheater amongst fans attempting to watch a live, closed-circuit television broadcast of the famed Muhammad Ali – Joe Frazier fight being staged at Madison Square Garden in New York. When Coliseum's projection equipment broke down, the management asked 7,000 fans to leave just before the fight began. There was a group of angry youths, blew their tempers by hearing the announcement, began tearing up ticket counters near the doors and throwing the booths thru the front windows. Others, who had paid 10 USD a head to see the fight, began hurtling chairs and bottles from the balcony onto the main floor. An estimated 80 police were rushed to the Coliseum to restore order.
Due to the damages caused by teens and adults alike with that malfunctioned closed-circuit television, all scheduled concerts were cancelled with the exception of 12 March 1971, featuring James Taylor and Carole King.
On 13 March 1971, the city shut the building due to fire code violations (damages), and it fell into disrepair. In 1982, it was sold for redevelopment and was partially demolished; however, the planned construction never took place and large portions of the outer wall facing Wabash remained until the early 1990s when it was finally cleared. Currently a Buddhist center featuring some of the architecture that is relatd to the Gothic style architecture Coliseum. That arena is right cross the street from the old Chicago Coliseum.
The Coliseum held many events, concerts, trade shows, activities, etc including 5 straight National Republic Conventions (1904, 1908, 1912, 1916, and 1920), some National Progressive Party conventions (1912 and 1916), local political party convention sports including basketball, hockey, and more. In fact, they had conventions for angry groups including the Black Panthers, and a radical antiwar organization Students for a Democratic Society (SDS).
Concerts featuring The Doors and Jimi Hendrix played at the Coliseum.
Also they hosted American Bowling Congress Tournament in 1953. ABC is now United States Bowling Congress (USBC)
The Interior.
Very open spacious with skylight to shine inside. Very airy. For roller rink, it may have had some kind of wood. Maybe Maple hardwood. Not sure. No proven records for that part.
But for Roller Derby, they used Banked Derby Rink and it is likely Maple 8x4 boards.
The Exterior.
This building was very unique, very detailed Segmental Arch with Monitor roof on top of the arch. It was Gothic style with flair and castle look to it. Beautiful architecture. Color of the Masonry is unknown but likely Sand Yellow. A very popular color of its day in the beginning of 20th Century.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Perhaps Maple Hardwood, Non-painted.. Floor Layout: N/A.
Banked Derby Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely Maple 8x4 Boards. Floor Layout: Derby Banked Rink
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: 1982, partial demolished, uncompleted until early 1990s to complete demolished. Now parking lot for the new arena cross the street from old Coliseum.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks, Stones, Masonry - Walled Arena.
Roof: Part-Segmental, Part-Monitor. (A combination of both).
Acres: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
Operated: (Overall for roller skating) -- 1902 to late 1960s.
Coliseum (Building): 1902 to 1982.
Coliseum (Occupation): 1902 to 13 March 1971.
Roller Rink: 1902 to late 1960s.
Roller Derby: 13 August 1935 to c. 1971.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Coliseum (Building): Partial demolish, Then completely by early 1990s.
Coliseum (Occupation): City used fire code violation as means to end building occupation. Riots ruined it, bad events.
Roller Rink: Declining.
Roller Derby: Declining and eventually folded.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Wikipedia - Chicago Coliseum.
Owlcation - History of Chicago Coliseum.
Owlcation - Another strange history of Chicago Coliseum.
DNA Info - Roller Derby.
Forgotten Chicago - Forums.
Chicago Tribune - Roller Derby. (PDF)
Research Gate - History.
Timeout - More history! (PDF)
Community Brown Paper Tickets - History of Roller Derby. (PDF)
Alamay - Has over 1,100 photographs, postcards, and other materials related to the Coliseum! Wow! But you need to purchase the images.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
Worth to visit:
None.
Date of issue: 03 February 2022.
For office use only: 9/1.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.