Early newspaper ad. Modified to clean up by Dead-Rinks.
Courtesy of Steven Butler, Ph.D. Looks like taken in 1940s. One of his parents took that picture. Cotton Bowl stadium was to the left of this photo. Just a few steps away!
Ebay. The clowns...? (shaking head) I personally do not like clowns.
Courtesy of G. William Jones Collection/WFAA Collection. The short video on the Cotton Bowl Roller Rink that was just shut down and closed for good and for demolish.
Fair Park Roller Rink 1300 Robert B Cullum Blvd, Dallas, TX
Fair Grounds Roller Rink 1300 Robert B Cullum Blvd, Dallas, TX
Cotton Bowl Roller Rink 1300 Robert B Cullum Blvd, Dallas, TX
Fair Grounds Roller Rink 1300 Robert B Cullum Blvd, Dallas, TX
Cotton Bowl Roller Rink 1300 Robert B Cullum Blvd, Dallas, TX
This is the rink that wiped out City Park Roller Rink in 1906 because that was the same year they both opened and people liked both however more tended to like the Fair Park Roller Rink better. It was located at 1300 Robert B Cullum Boulevard, Dallas, Texas. This rink was more successful though because of its massive size and better suited for skaters when choosing between those two. One from the State, the other from the city. Quite interesting.
In 1886, the Old Machinery Hall which was also known as the Manufacturers' Hall, was built, then they converted the hall into an auditorium in 1899. By 1902, the Old Machinery Hall was expanded to become an Exposition Building. Auditorium converted into a Music Hall. Part of the Building collapsed during renovation, killing one worker and injured 15 workers.
The rink was opened in the in the old machinery hall in 1906.
They opened in 1906 but were forced to shut down too in 1907 because of something more than what was happening at the rink. Besides selling concessions such as drinks and hot dogs and burgers, they were running an illegal prostitution at the rink! Uh oh! I am sure they were cracked down and shut its doors.
You see, they had a contract for leasing and the lease contract was expired after a year because the building owner discovered this rink was a front for prostitutions. What happened was in May 1907, there was a incident at the rink, when Park Police Chief W. O. Winfrey and rink operator P. G. Cameron were wounded by gunfire by a man named Henry Hill was charged with assault with intent to murder (perhaps 2 charges) and this exposed the rink as a front. So, the rink was shut down for good because of that incident and the prostitution. Perhaps the gunman shot them because he was upset about something to do with prostitutions there.
But this rink had a revival in 1921. It was reopened by the same man who operated in 1906-07! Looked like he attempted to do the crimes again. But did not.
The first time around it was very popular. Maybe it has to do with prostitution. Yes, this roller rink was like a night club or a casino where even prostitutes still hang outs in Vegas and Reno today. I am sure other casinos but all secret. Escorts are what they doing today.
Anyway, not so much at rinks though. No way. Bars, yes, they still do but you have to know how to find them. It is sad.
Ok, yes, I admit there was one prostitute in a small bar that is closed now. It was in North Syracuse, NY but again, its closed and gone, ok, cops? its gone! Done, finish! How I know, she asked me and I said no. The bartender I knew noticed that and does not know why the lady of the night was there.
Whew, now lets get back here. This rink was actually part of the State Fair in Texas.
The rink that opened in 1921 closed again in 1920s but reopened in 1939 by Samuel Bert, when business started to grow again after the Depression bottomed out...They opened at a different location- the old Automobile Museum that was converted to the skating rink in 1939.
However, after that third opening, It burned down on Tuesday, February 10, 1942. It was quickly rebuilt and lasted a bit longer till 1957. August 1, 1942
New Cotton Bowl Roller Rink opens on Saturday, August 1, 1942 at 7:30 PM by Samuel Bert, owner and operator. This is the most unique rink I ever seen for its time. Beautiful Moderne design. Big letters on the roof.. beautiful.
What Cotton Bowl Roller Rink had was the rink right next to the famous Cotton Bowl!
Unfortunately, many said they closed in 1957 but a YouTube video as I show you above has shown they closed in March 1974!
The Interior.
Original- It had Dark Gray Concrete floor with wood posts and beams to support wooden structure. The floor exented to all four walls but skaters knew which part is the rink itself which divided by the posts from seating area as you can see in the photo. The rebuild might have been similar.
The second one was concrete floor possibility because it was an automobile museum converted to a rink.
Third rink, the final one as Cotton Bowl Roller Rink perhaps had it so modern looking but I could not see well in the videos. It was possible but it had Maple wooden floor. And yes, it had columns on the rink floor. I understood why because it was flat roof building that requires columns like that to support flat roofs.
The Exterior.
I have no photo of original two buildings but with the Cotton Bowl Roller Rink, it was a beautiful White Art Deco Moderne. A bit of Mid-Century into it because of the detail of the circles.. those were windows. And thick big letterings on the building. That trend was popular from 1930s to 1950s. And again, from late 2010s to 2020s. It was a fusion actually. Art Deco Moderne with Mid-Century. A rare look and perfect for at least at a State Fair which could have been for the World's Fair.
The Stats: Original built (Old Machinery Hall)
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Gray Concrete. Floor Layout: Standard.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1886. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span wood Truss wood-Walled Venue - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
The Stats: 1939 to 1942 Old Automobile Museum.
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Gray Concrete? Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1886. Demolished: Tuesday, February 10, 1942. Destroyed by fire.
Type of Building: N/A.
Roof: N/A.
The Stats: Rebuilt.
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple, clear coated Floor Layout: Appeared to be Straight
Building Size: N/A. Built: August 1, 1942. Demolished: March 1, 1974.
Type of Building: Flat roof Columns supported Industrial-like building.
Roof: Flat
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- February 1906 to May 1907, 1921 to 1920s, 1939 to February 10, 1942, August 1, 1942 to 1957.
Fair Park Roller Rink: February 1906 to May 1907 and 1921 to 1920s
Fair Grounds Roller Rink: February 1906 to May 1907 and 1921 to 1920s and 1939 to February 10, 1942
Cotton Bowl Roller Rink: August 1, 1942 to March 1, 1974.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
First time - Busted for illegal operations of prostitutions in the rink.
Second time - N/A..
Third time - Burned down by fire.
Fourth Time - N/A (Cotton Bowl Roller Rink).
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Dallas News - History of roller skating and rinks in Dallas by Ana Nino, March 25, 2021;
Texascape - Fair Park; Flashback Dallas; Watermelon Kid; Dallas Morning News - February 10, 1942;
Dallas Morning News, August 1, 1942; Dallas Morning News, July 23, 1974; Dallas History Forum - Cotton Bowl Roller Rink;
Date of issue: 28 March 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
In 1886, the Old Machinery Hall which was also known as the Manufacturers' Hall, was built, then they converted the hall into an auditorium in 1899. By 1902, the Old Machinery Hall was expanded to become an Exposition Building. Auditorium converted into a Music Hall. Part of the Building collapsed during renovation, killing one worker and injured 15 workers.
The rink was opened in the in the old machinery hall in 1906.
They opened in 1906 but were forced to shut down too in 1907 because of something more than what was happening at the rink. Besides selling concessions such as drinks and hot dogs and burgers, they were running an illegal prostitution at the rink! Uh oh! I am sure they were cracked down and shut its doors.
You see, they had a contract for leasing and the lease contract was expired after a year because the building owner discovered this rink was a front for prostitutions. What happened was in May 1907, there was a incident at the rink, when Park Police Chief W. O. Winfrey and rink operator P. G. Cameron were wounded by gunfire by a man named Henry Hill was charged with assault with intent to murder (perhaps 2 charges) and this exposed the rink as a front. So, the rink was shut down for good because of that incident and the prostitution. Perhaps the gunman shot them because he was upset about something to do with prostitutions there.
But this rink had a revival in 1921. It was reopened by the same man who operated in 1906-07! Looked like he attempted to do the crimes again. But did not.
The first time around it was very popular. Maybe it has to do with prostitution. Yes, this roller rink was like a night club or a casino where even prostitutes still hang outs in Vegas and Reno today. I am sure other casinos but all secret. Escorts are what they doing today.
Anyway, not so much at rinks though. No way. Bars, yes, they still do but you have to know how to find them. It is sad.
Ok, yes, I admit there was one prostitute in a small bar that is closed now. It was in North Syracuse, NY but again, its closed and gone, ok, cops? its gone! Done, finish! How I know, she asked me and I said no. The bartender I knew noticed that and does not know why the lady of the night was there.
Whew, now lets get back here. This rink was actually part of the State Fair in Texas.
The rink that opened in 1921 closed again in 1920s but reopened in 1939 by Samuel Bert, when business started to grow again after the Depression bottomed out...They opened at a different location- the old Automobile Museum that was converted to the skating rink in 1939.
However, after that third opening, It burned down on Tuesday, February 10, 1942. It was quickly rebuilt and lasted a bit longer till 1957. August 1, 1942
New Cotton Bowl Roller Rink opens on Saturday, August 1, 1942 at 7:30 PM by Samuel Bert, owner and operator. This is the most unique rink I ever seen for its time. Beautiful Moderne design. Big letters on the roof.. beautiful.
What Cotton Bowl Roller Rink had was the rink right next to the famous Cotton Bowl!
Unfortunately, many said they closed in 1957 but a YouTube video as I show you above has shown they closed in March 1974!
The Interior.
Original- It had Dark Gray Concrete floor with wood posts and beams to support wooden structure. The floor exented to all four walls but skaters knew which part is the rink itself which divided by the posts from seating area as you can see in the photo. The rebuild might have been similar.
The second one was concrete floor possibility because it was an automobile museum converted to a rink.
Third rink, the final one as Cotton Bowl Roller Rink perhaps had it so modern looking but I could not see well in the videos. It was possible but it had Maple wooden floor. And yes, it had columns on the rink floor. I understood why because it was flat roof building that requires columns like that to support flat roofs.
The Exterior.
I have no photo of original two buildings but with the Cotton Bowl Roller Rink, it was a beautiful White Art Deco Moderne. A bit of Mid-Century into it because of the detail of the circles.. those were windows. And thick big letterings on the building. That trend was popular from 1930s to 1950s. And again, from late 2010s to 2020s. It was a fusion actually. Art Deco Moderne with Mid-Century. A rare look and perfect for at least at a State Fair which could have been for the World's Fair.
The Stats: Original built (Old Machinery Hall)
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Gray Concrete. Floor Layout: Standard.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1886. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span wood Truss wood-Walled Venue - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
The Stats: 1939 to 1942 Old Automobile Museum.
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Gray Concrete? Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1886. Demolished: Tuesday, February 10, 1942. Destroyed by fire.
Type of Building: N/A.
Roof: N/A.
The Stats: Rebuilt.
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple, clear coated Floor Layout: Appeared to be Straight
Building Size: N/A. Built: August 1, 1942. Demolished: March 1, 1974.
Type of Building: Flat roof Columns supported Industrial-like building.
Roof: Flat
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- February 1906 to May 1907, 1921 to 1920s, 1939 to February 10, 1942, August 1, 1942 to 1957.
Fair Park Roller Rink: February 1906 to May 1907 and 1921 to 1920s
Fair Grounds Roller Rink: February 1906 to May 1907 and 1921 to 1920s and 1939 to February 10, 1942
Cotton Bowl Roller Rink: August 1, 1942 to March 1, 1974.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
First time - Busted for illegal operations of prostitutions in the rink.
Second time - N/A..
Third time - Burned down by fire.
Fourth Time - N/A (Cotton Bowl Roller Rink).
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Dallas News - History of roller skating and rinks in Dallas by Ana Nino, March 25, 2021;
Texascape - Fair Park; Flashback Dallas; Watermelon Kid; Dallas Morning News - February 10, 1942;
Dallas Morning News, August 1, 1942; Dallas Morning News, July 23, 1974; Dallas History Forum - Cotton Bowl Roller Rink;
Date of issue: 28 March 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.