Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink 386 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH. This photograph showed when it was under construction. A lot of workers working on building the ballroom and roller rink. It was built by Stadium Ovals Company. Hence where we get the geography term, Stadium, a form or shape that has two parallel straight lines with 2 halves ends of the circle. See link at bottom. Source: Columbus Library photo collection.
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink 386 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH. This photograph showed when it was Big Bear in c. 1930s. Thanks to the automobiles there, it sets around 1930s. Source: Columbus Library photo collection.
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink 386 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH. This photograph showed when it was Big Bear in c. 1970s. Thanks to the automobiles there, it sets around 1970s. They eliminated the windows and updated the front look. Also a new sign. Source: Columbus Library photo collection.
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink 386 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH. This photograph showed when it was Big Bear in c. 1930s. This showed close up and only I can find real upclose. You can see the roof style appeared to be popular Art Nouveau style. This has to be 1900s or 1910s built up. Source: Columbus Library photo collection.
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink 386 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH. This photograph showed when it was Big Bear in 1934. This interior showed how much canned food they put up! Wow! They sure do not have like that anymore. Anyway, this stack of cans were just under the band shell. Source: Columbus Library photo collection.
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink 386 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH. The appearance just before the grand opening. The world's first modern grocery store that we all know today a far cry different than a general store style that you had to order through salesperson to retrieve something behind the counter. Not so with this kind. It was said to have 200,000 people went in the first three days so that people can check this store out and I am sure many loved it at the time and never looked back again. You can see Maple wood floor where the rink was. Look between cash registers and some merchandise in foreground of the photo. Source: Columbus Library photo collection.
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink 386 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH. The appearance after it was grand opening. The world's first modern grocery store that we all know today a far cry different than a general store style that you had to order through salesperson to retrieve something behind the counter. Not so with this kind. It was said to have 200,000 people went in the first three days so that people can check this store out and I am sure many loved it at the time and never looked back again. In the video the former CEO and President of the company in later years showed this photograph and pointed where he was when he began working there. He was a bagger. To find him, look for the gentleman with a tie sort of middle of the photograph, the bagger is front of that neat dressed man with the tie. Hey there bagger up front! (waving). Haha. He was looking at the photographer who took this picture. Source: Columbus Library photo collection.
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink 386 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH. The appearance after it was grand opening. The world's first modern grocery store that we all know today a far cry different than a general store style that you had to order through salesperson to retrieve something behind the counter. Not so with this kind. It was said to have 200,000 people went in the first three days so that people can check this store out and I am sure many loved it at the time and never looked back again. In the video the former CEO and President of the company in later years showed this photograph and pointed where he was when he began working there. He was a bagger. To find him, look for the gentleman with a tie sort of middle of the photograph, the bagger is front of that neat dressed man with the tie. Hey there bagger up front! (waving). Haha. He was looking at the photographer who took this picture. Source: Columbus Library photo collection.
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink 386 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH. Source: YouTube.
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink 386 W. Lane Ave., Columbus, OH
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink 386 W. Lane Avenue Columbus, Ohio. Before Big Bear grocery store had it's start at this location, it was a dance hall and a roller rink. Big Bear store number 1 was at this very location which is cross the street from Ohio State University (OSU). I could not find information about the rink and dance hall as well as for horse shows and polo games before Big Bear had its start on 15 February 1934 in the midst of the Great Depression. A huge risk. But very successful because it was first of a kind of modern grocery store: a self-served grocery store. Stores before Big Bear were pretty much everything behind the counter that you had to ask the salesperson to retrieve what you want to buy but you had to pay on the spot (excellent way to keep crimes down).
Since businesses saw growth in new merchandise, more food, more materials, and items, they need to expand in size. This former rink was an ideal spot for Big Bear founder, Wayne E. Brown who pioneered and revolutionize modern day shopping you seen everywhere such as any grocery stores, department stores, pharmacies, and any large stores today by opening a new concept: modern day grocery store and named it Big Bear. The method he created used until around 2019 that now those very same stores are even going further: switching to cashier-less. In another word, Self-serve and self-serviced. That is you get your merchandise in the cart and then when you want to check out, you go to cash register and scan them yourself.
The name Big Bear was perhaps properly named because the store is amazing large to customers in 1930s compared to general store that is the size of a small drug store that is about the size of a standard shopping mall store. I will use defunct name as an example -- Waldenbooks, I was in an actual store that served as a drug store before Big Bear began. It is in Fulton, NY. I also was at a small partial food store and part drug store with a malt shop in Fayetteville, NY right next to the fire department there. It is no longer there. I still have the 4 stools from that place.
So, you understand the concept of this that this store was new idea. Big Bear store #1 operated all the way until June 1985. It is now Riverwatch Tower. Likely for Ohio State University students. I am not sure. It is merely two doors down from Ohio Stadium where OSU plays. Right cross the street is the arena and field house.
Big Bear closed in 1985 and it was demolished to make way for an apartment tower. A 200 plus units 11-story building.
Now, you know the history of the building but I do not have any information on the roller rink because the history on the Big Bear is greater than the rink. That is too bad that the grocery store closed. It would have turned into a landmark and historical museum to show history. Nice going.
The original name of the place was... Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink. It was a place where they had many functions in that arena. Ballroom dancing, horse shows, polo, and of course, roller skating rink. With the horse show, they would have to put dirt in and fill in even out to allow horses to stride there or make jumps or whatever they were doing. And polo usually associate with horses. Polo was more of a bigger sports in early 20th Century as well as 19th Century that even there was Roller Polo! But Roller Polo was NOT at Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink. But you never know.
I am sure a lot of ladies who were like Cinderella were at this ballroom. Dang, I wish I was at those ballroom over 100 years ago because they were all dressed in beautiful evening gowns and they would dance to the tunes of music played by a big band or an orchestra. Much better than night clubs of 1970s and 80s and bars of 90s. Those trends are gone.
Likely the rink closed in 1933 or before that. It may have been the Great Depression caused it to close.
The racetrack shape building was designed and built by Stadium Ovals Company. This design is quite similar and perhaps was built by the same people who built other similar rinks in Ohio (To remind you that there are over 370 rinks in Ohio that I could not remember which ones that had that shape building but quite a few so enjoy looking for it on Dead-Rinks Ohio list.
Clearly that company focused on that shape rink. They were found at several Amusement Parks and Trolley Parks. Usually built them in early Century or even late 19th Century. This would date around Well, that company long since defunct. Perhaps due to costs, Great Depression, or style changed that they did not change. It is like some merchandise never change. And that is the end result that they would fold.
The Interior.
It had non-painted Hardwood Maple floor. I am not sure if the floor is Fan, Log or Rotunda but because of the shape of the building, likely it was Rotunda.
It was very high vaulted ceiling with thick wood Post-built trusses. Similar to some churches you may have gone to that you can see those exposed wood trusses.
The interior was all rounded and curved with trusses, walls, etc.
The Exterior.
It was an "oblong triangle with rounded ends" It was not really oval because oval is more shaped like an egg shape. Wrong shape. It is 2 straight parallel lines in front and rear but the sides are 2 halves circles. It is almost like Squircles. Not quite. There is no word for it. This is why I never said oval for the floor layout. The floor layout is how wood is lay down. That is all. Most rinks are oblong squares, Squircles, or hockey rink layout. Rarely like a race track floor.
It is also called Stadium shape (2D) or for 3D, it is Capsule shape (3D).
The roof is Monitor style with the skirt all around including the ends of the building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted, Hardwood Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 44,000 SF. Built: Early 20th Century. Renovations: 1934.
Demolished: 23 July 1986 Demolished after sold, now tower.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel - Walled Arena - like Building.
Roof: Monitor.
Acres: N/A.
Builder: Stadium Ovals Company.
Operated: (Overall)-- N/A.
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink: N/A to 1933.
(Big Bear: 15 April 1934 to 25 July 1985.)
(Apartment tower building: 1986 to present.)
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink: N/A. (Opinion: likely the Great Depression hurt business).
Big Bear: N/A.
Apartment tower building: Still occupied.
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:
Columbus Neighborhoods - Big Bear was in roller rink building.
Columbus Underground Forum - Talking about Big Bear location.
Facebook - Gale's growing up in 1950s to 70s group.
Columbus Library - Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink. Found name and more references here.
Columbus Library (2)
Columbus Neighborhood - compare location of former rink and the apartment tower. You slide the photos to compare.
Columbus Library - The construction of Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink.
Wikipedia - Stadium shape (geometry)
Date of issue: 27 December 2021.
For office use only:
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
Since businesses saw growth in new merchandise, more food, more materials, and items, they need to expand in size. This former rink was an ideal spot for Big Bear founder, Wayne E. Brown who pioneered and revolutionize modern day shopping you seen everywhere such as any grocery stores, department stores, pharmacies, and any large stores today by opening a new concept: modern day grocery store and named it Big Bear. The method he created used until around 2019 that now those very same stores are even going further: switching to cashier-less. In another word, Self-serve and self-serviced. That is you get your merchandise in the cart and then when you want to check out, you go to cash register and scan them yourself.
The name Big Bear was perhaps properly named because the store is amazing large to customers in 1930s compared to general store that is the size of a small drug store that is about the size of a standard shopping mall store. I will use defunct name as an example -- Waldenbooks, I was in an actual store that served as a drug store before Big Bear began. It is in Fulton, NY. I also was at a small partial food store and part drug store with a malt shop in Fayetteville, NY right next to the fire department there. It is no longer there. I still have the 4 stools from that place.
So, you understand the concept of this that this store was new idea. Big Bear store #1 operated all the way until June 1985. It is now Riverwatch Tower. Likely for Ohio State University students. I am not sure. It is merely two doors down from Ohio Stadium where OSU plays. Right cross the street is the arena and field house.
Big Bear closed in 1985 and it was demolished to make way for an apartment tower. A 200 plus units 11-story building.
Now, you know the history of the building but I do not have any information on the roller rink because the history on the Big Bear is greater than the rink. That is too bad that the grocery store closed. It would have turned into a landmark and historical museum to show history. Nice going.
The original name of the place was... Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink. It was a place where they had many functions in that arena. Ballroom dancing, horse shows, polo, and of course, roller skating rink. With the horse show, they would have to put dirt in and fill in even out to allow horses to stride there or make jumps or whatever they were doing. And polo usually associate with horses. Polo was more of a bigger sports in early 20th Century as well as 19th Century that even there was Roller Polo! But Roller Polo was NOT at Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink. But you never know.
I am sure a lot of ladies who were like Cinderella were at this ballroom. Dang, I wish I was at those ballroom over 100 years ago because they were all dressed in beautiful evening gowns and they would dance to the tunes of music played by a big band or an orchestra. Much better than night clubs of 1970s and 80s and bars of 90s. Those trends are gone.
Likely the rink closed in 1933 or before that. It may have been the Great Depression caused it to close.
The racetrack shape building was designed and built by Stadium Ovals Company. This design is quite similar and perhaps was built by the same people who built other similar rinks in Ohio (To remind you that there are over 370 rinks in Ohio that I could not remember which ones that had that shape building but quite a few so enjoy looking for it on Dead-Rinks Ohio list.
Clearly that company focused on that shape rink. They were found at several Amusement Parks and Trolley Parks. Usually built them in early Century or even late 19th Century. This would date around Well, that company long since defunct. Perhaps due to costs, Great Depression, or style changed that they did not change. It is like some merchandise never change. And that is the end result that they would fold.
The Interior.
It had non-painted Hardwood Maple floor. I am not sure if the floor is Fan, Log or Rotunda but because of the shape of the building, likely it was Rotunda.
It was very high vaulted ceiling with thick wood Post-built trusses. Similar to some churches you may have gone to that you can see those exposed wood trusses.
The interior was all rounded and curved with trusses, walls, etc.
The Exterior.
It was an "oblong triangle with rounded ends" It was not really oval because oval is more shaped like an egg shape. Wrong shape. It is 2 straight parallel lines in front and rear but the sides are 2 halves circles. It is almost like Squircles. Not quite. There is no word for it. This is why I never said oval for the floor layout. The floor layout is how wood is lay down. That is all. Most rinks are oblong squares, Squircles, or hockey rink layout. Rarely like a race track floor.
It is also called Stadium shape (2D) or for 3D, it is Capsule shape (3D).
The roof is Monitor style with the skirt all around including the ends of the building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Non-painted, Hardwood Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 44,000 SF. Built: Early 20th Century. Renovations: 1934.
Demolished: 23 July 1986 Demolished after sold, now tower.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel - Walled Arena - like Building.
Roof: Monitor.
Acres: N/A.
Builder: Stadium Ovals Company.
Operated: (Overall)-- N/A.
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink: N/A to 1933.
(Big Bear: 15 April 1934 to 25 July 1985.)
(Apartment tower building: 1986 to present.)
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink: N/A. (Opinion: likely the Great Depression hurt business).
Big Bear: N/A.
Apartment tower building: Still occupied.
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:
Columbus Neighborhoods - Big Bear was in roller rink building.
Columbus Underground Forum - Talking about Big Bear location.
Facebook - Gale's growing up in 1950s to 70s group.
Columbus Library - Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink. Found name and more references here.
Columbus Library (2)
Columbus Neighborhood - compare location of former rink and the apartment tower. You slide the photos to compare.
Columbus Library - The construction of Crystal Slipper Ballroom and Roller Rink.
Wikipedia - Stadium shape (geometry)
Date of issue: 27 December 2021.
For office use only:
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.