Godfrey Roller Rink 2312 Centre Ave., Middle Hill, PA. Source: Pittsburgh Music History
Godfrey Roller Rink 2312 Centre Ave., Middle Hill, PA. Bad Google Map. Source: Google.
Godfrey Roller Rink 2312 Centre Ave., Middle Hill, PA. Source: Pittsburgh Music History.
Godfrey Roller Rink 2312 Centre Ave., Middle Hill, PA. Source: Google.
Belmont Palace Rolling Rink 2312 Centre Ave., Middle Hill, PA
Godfrey Roller Rink 2312 Centre Ave., Middle Hill, PA
Godfrey Roller Rink 2312 Centre Ave., Middle Hill, PA
Originally, it was Belmont Palace Roller Rink before it became Godfry Roller Rink which was on 2312 Centre Ave., Middle Hill, Pennsylvania. It only mentioned once in an article from AP
They mentioned once on 01 June 1949, with a couple of squibs in the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph and The Pittsburgh Press.
No advertisements, no articles for the author of the article to find. I could not find either! Sounds like it was a brief run roller rink in the late 1940s-early 1950s. Well, that was AP.. However, I found something.
It was Belmont Palace Roller Rink which began in c. 1895 which would be its humble beginning when they built and opened originally for the roller rink. The purpose of the rink opened and operated for African-Americans.
However, it did not last long. It became the Belmont Hall in 1908. Belmont Hall hosted political events, was a polling place, and hosted community dances but not roller skating. In 1911, the venue became a full-time Nickelodeon with vaudeville as the Center Hall Theatre. Then in 1915, John Elmore bought the venue and renaming it as the Elmore Theatre and concentrates almost exclusively on motion pictures for 600 patrons to view a movie.
During that short period, the demographics of the Jewish and German audiences that the Elmore Theatre was trying to reach largely changed to almost exclusively an African-American neighborhood. Elmore switched the theatre releases to cater for an African-American audience.
There was a little fire caused little damages but it was not even called into question about the fire. Soon thereafter, Elmore contracted with Philadelphia architect Ulysses J.L. Peoples for a New Elmore Theatre costing an eye-raising $150,000 including a $10,000 pipe organ. Joe’s Place which was a restaurant next door served as a de facto concession stand with its soda fountain and candy.
The New Elmore Theatre would launch 03 September 1923 to a full house. “The Rapids” with Harry Morey was the opening title. The two-story brick facility had a terra-cotta front and was still standing 100 years after its launch. The Great Depression took its toll on businesses including the African-American movie theatres which were unable to upgrade to sound systems. The Elmore was one such example when it closed on 30 April 1930. Joe’s Place packed up and moved next door to the surviving Roosevelt Theatre. which was just merely 2 doors away from New Elmore.
The former Elmore Theatre soon sold to Herron Hill Amusement Company which was capitalizing on a miniature golf craze that began in the late-1920’s across America. Herron Hill created Courier Links, said to be one of the finest indoor golf courses in Western Pennsylvania to the plans of Golf Construction Corporation. The name of the golfing attraction was changed to Elmore Gardens to no avail. The craze did not last and the financial woes did so in 1933 the venue was retrofitted for the New Elmore Theatre. The New Elmore Theatre launched on 02 September 1933 on a policy of double features with a stage show. But by the end of 1933, the opening of the Elmore Theatre had faded.
Harry Hendal, the owner of the Roosevelt Theater purchased and remolded the Elmore converting into an upscale dance hall. Hendel was a promoter of big band concerts and musical reviews at the Hill District’s Roosevelt Theater.
In December of 1933, the Pittsburgh Courier covered the grand opening of the Savoy Ballroom. The Courier reported in the newspapers that people who attended were in awe with the updated version of the dilapidated old Elmore into a marvelous beautiful modernly equipped first class dance hall. The writer urged his readers "Pittsburgh needs the Savoy. Let's keep it decently clean and inviting". Harry Hendel invested $15,000 installing a lighted crystal dance ball, softy tinted wall lights, a shinny smooth hardwood dance floor, rich tapestries and bright red velvet curtains. The spacious foyer had fancy furnishings, deep carpet and polished mirrors. Patrons were greeted by uniformed doormen and footmen under the illuminated marquee. The clam shell shaped stage featured the latest in amplification. The Pittsburgh Courier exclaimed "All these features make the Savoy Ballroom a thing of beauty and a joy forever“.
The dance hall, which was named after the world famous Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, New York, New York, along with the Pythian Temple became one of the primary dance venues for African Americans.
The local and well-known bands played throughout the 1930’s. local resident, Mary Lou Williams returned home to play several dances at the Savoy with Andy Kirk’s Clouds of Joy band. Ella Fitzgerald appeared with the Chick Web Orchestra and later her own band. Duke Ellington was the biggest act attracted a packed house full of 1,500 fans at $1.00 a head. Fats Waller and Chick Web were also big crowds as well. In addition to its dances the Savoy also sponsored local dance contests and hosted events such proms and society functions.
However, the Savory was falling apart in about seven years later. Management and patrons didn’t heed the words of the Courier writer who urged them to keep the ballroom decent and clean. This is why it fell apart in 1940 that the interior were in pretty much worn and damaged. The orchestra platform was falling apart. Likely poorly built. So Harry Henderson put the building up for sale. During its final year in 1940 the last national acts to appear at the old Savoy ballroom were Fats Waller and Ella Fitzgerald in September, Cab Calloway and Jimmie Lunceford in November, and Lucky Millender in December.
Dances were moved to the Pythian Temple ball room located above the New Granada Theater that Harry Hendel had purchased in 1937. He reopened the Pyhtian Temple ballroom in January of 1941 as the Hill City Auditorium with an appearance by Earl Hines. Harry Hendel renamed his Pythian Temple dance hall to the “New Savoy Ball Room” (which was not the same location) in January of 1944. The jazz music stopped at the Elmore Theatre building, but the structure still exists on Center Avenue. It is now the home of the Olivet Baptist Church of Pittsburgh.
They found that there were big money made was in African-American nightclubs with live dancing and jazz music. So after just three months, the New Elmore Theatre was quickly switched to the Savoy Ballroom. It started with a Christmas Eve Ball on 31 December 1933. That lasted until the Savoy moved to new digs at the failed Pytherian Temple in 1937. In 1938, the former Elmore Theatre was in a forced sale to settle the Elmore estate. It would first become the Church of God and Christ followed by Beck’s Temple then...
At the end of the 1940’s, the very same would once again become a roller rink – the Godfrey Roller Rink. But it would return to its house of worship days lasting more than 50 years into the 2020’s as the Olivet Baptist Church. The jazz music may have stopped at the Elmore Theatre building, but the structure still exists on Center Avenue. Like I said, it is now the Olivet Baptist Church of Pittsburgh.
The Interior.
The floor was definitely Maple because of the period they had Roller skating and again. I am speaking for both rinks, the Belmont Palace Roller Rink and Godfrey Roller Rink. YThe dance halls had wooden floor as well. Likely they replaced the floor because Belmont had Maple wood floor for skating then it became a movie theater so the floor was likely torn out and rebuilt. Then back to flat floor and new Maple wood floor again throughout the decades of the 20th Century and 21st as well.
Today the church has laid carpet over the skating floor and lower ceiling and has pews.
The Exterior.
The exterior may have had a original appearance before the church built that A-Frame/Gabled roof look on this classic Flatstone appearance. You can tell with the photos. However, there are no antique photographs on the exterior a hundred years ago or so before say 1950s. None.
The exterior may have changed quite a bit for each owner or business running at that location.
You can tell the A-Frame/Gabled was an add on because of the window corner kind of peaked slightly by the roof.
So, this estimated to be close to a full window frames second floor. I would have to draw a rendering of this building without the faux roof look to see how it looked like back then.
Today, the Baptist Church has that look with a giant Cross on the wall.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel - Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gabled.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- c. 1895 to 1908 and 1949 to 1960.
Belmont Palace Rolling Rink: c. 1895 to 1908.
Godfrey Roller Rink: 1949 to 1960.
Reason for Closure:
Belmont Palace Rolling Rink: N/A.
Godfrey Roller Rink: N/A.
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:
AP - About roller skating in Pittsburgh area.
Pittsburgh Music History (PDF)
Cinema Treasures
Facebook - Olivet Baptist Church (Facebook often err putting wrong websites on business pages. Please ignore that wrong website posted on the church's page!)
Additional sources for the article in Pittsburgh Music History:
Hill District Showhouse Open in a Blaze of Glory - Pittsburgh Courier Sept 8, 1923
Pittsburgh to Get Fine New Dancing Palace - Pittsburgh Courier Dec 9, 1933
Lando Gets Exclusive T.O.B.A Franchise - Pittsburgh Courier Jul 19. 1930.
“The Crossroads of the World”: A Social and Cultural History of Jazz in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, 1920-1970 by Colter Harper 2011
Key To The City A Guide to Pittsburgh Music, History, Entertainment & More 1928-1954 by Dave Goodrich
Pittsburgh Courier Archives
Afro American - Mar 15, 1930
The Afro American Feb 23 1939
Worth to visit:
You can if you like to visit church during church services but do not go check it out but attend for God only. You can see the exterior at best.
DISCLAIMER:
Dead-Rinks and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Date of issue: 07 June 2022.
For office use only: 5.
Disclaimer: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with differences result between two sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only.
Rinks that are closed are considered dead. Rinks that are/were sold and with new management names new name(s), the former are considered dead. Previous operating rink that closed but came back years later, are considered dead because the reopening is considered rebooted, nothing to do with the former.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved becomes property of Dead-Rinks and are watermarked but they are credited to you (or where the source is from). Thank you for understanding. To understand more about this, please go to this page: Dead-Rinks List.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 16. Deut. 32:7
They mentioned once on 01 June 1949, with a couple of squibs in the Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph and The Pittsburgh Press.
No advertisements, no articles for the author of the article to find. I could not find either! Sounds like it was a brief run roller rink in the late 1940s-early 1950s. Well, that was AP.. However, I found something.
It was Belmont Palace Roller Rink which began in c. 1895 which would be its humble beginning when they built and opened originally for the roller rink. The purpose of the rink opened and operated for African-Americans.
However, it did not last long. It became the Belmont Hall in 1908. Belmont Hall hosted political events, was a polling place, and hosted community dances but not roller skating. In 1911, the venue became a full-time Nickelodeon with vaudeville as the Center Hall Theatre. Then in 1915, John Elmore bought the venue and renaming it as the Elmore Theatre and concentrates almost exclusively on motion pictures for 600 patrons to view a movie.
During that short period, the demographics of the Jewish and German audiences that the Elmore Theatre was trying to reach largely changed to almost exclusively an African-American neighborhood. Elmore switched the theatre releases to cater for an African-American audience.
There was a little fire caused little damages but it was not even called into question about the fire. Soon thereafter, Elmore contracted with Philadelphia architect Ulysses J.L. Peoples for a New Elmore Theatre costing an eye-raising $150,000 including a $10,000 pipe organ. Joe’s Place which was a restaurant next door served as a de facto concession stand with its soda fountain and candy.
The New Elmore Theatre would launch 03 September 1923 to a full house. “The Rapids” with Harry Morey was the opening title. The two-story brick facility had a terra-cotta front and was still standing 100 years after its launch. The Great Depression took its toll on businesses including the African-American movie theatres which were unable to upgrade to sound systems. The Elmore was one such example when it closed on 30 April 1930. Joe’s Place packed up and moved next door to the surviving Roosevelt Theatre. which was just merely 2 doors away from New Elmore.
The former Elmore Theatre soon sold to Herron Hill Amusement Company which was capitalizing on a miniature golf craze that began in the late-1920’s across America. Herron Hill created Courier Links, said to be one of the finest indoor golf courses in Western Pennsylvania to the plans of Golf Construction Corporation. The name of the golfing attraction was changed to Elmore Gardens to no avail. The craze did not last and the financial woes did so in 1933 the venue was retrofitted for the New Elmore Theatre. The New Elmore Theatre launched on 02 September 1933 on a policy of double features with a stage show. But by the end of 1933, the opening of the Elmore Theatre had faded.
Harry Hendal, the owner of the Roosevelt Theater purchased and remolded the Elmore converting into an upscale dance hall. Hendel was a promoter of big band concerts and musical reviews at the Hill District’s Roosevelt Theater.
In December of 1933, the Pittsburgh Courier covered the grand opening of the Savoy Ballroom. The Courier reported in the newspapers that people who attended were in awe with the updated version of the dilapidated old Elmore into a marvelous beautiful modernly equipped first class dance hall. The writer urged his readers "Pittsburgh needs the Savoy. Let's keep it decently clean and inviting". Harry Hendel invested $15,000 installing a lighted crystal dance ball, softy tinted wall lights, a shinny smooth hardwood dance floor, rich tapestries and bright red velvet curtains. The spacious foyer had fancy furnishings, deep carpet and polished mirrors. Patrons were greeted by uniformed doormen and footmen under the illuminated marquee. The clam shell shaped stage featured the latest in amplification. The Pittsburgh Courier exclaimed "All these features make the Savoy Ballroom a thing of beauty and a joy forever“.
The dance hall, which was named after the world famous Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, New York, New York, along with the Pythian Temple became one of the primary dance venues for African Americans.
The local and well-known bands played throughout the 1930’s. local resident, Mary Lou Williams returned home to play several dances at the Savoy with Andy Kirk’s Clouds of Joy band. Ella Fitzgerald appeared with the Chick Web Orchestra and later her own band. Duke Ellington was the biggest act attracted a packed house full of 1,500 fans at $1.00 a head. Fats Waller and Chick Web were also big crowds as well. In addition to its dances the Savoy also sponsored local dance contests and hosted events such proms and society functions.
However, the Savory was falling apart in about seven years later. Management and patrons didn’t heed the words of the Courier writer who urged them to keep the ballroom decent and clean. This is why it fell apart in 1940 that the interior were in pretty much worn and damaged. The orchestra platform was falling apart. Likely poorly built. So Harry Henderson put the building up for sale. During its final year in 1940 the last national acts to appear at the old Savoy ballroom were Fats Waller and Ella Fitzgerald in September, Cab Calloway and Jimmie Lunceford in November, and Lucky Millender in December.
Dances were moved to the Pythian Temple ball room located above the New Granada Theater that Harry Hendel had purchased in 1937. He reopened the Pyhtian Temple ballroom in January of 1941 as the Hill City Auditorium with an appearance by Earl Hines. Harry Hendel renamed his Pythian Temple dance hall to the “New Savoy Ball Room” (which was not the same location) in January of 1944. The jazz music stopped at the Elmore Theatre building, but the structure still exists on Center Avenue. It is now the home of the Olivet Baptist Church of Pittsburgh.
They found that there were big money made was in African-American nightclubs with live dancing and jazz music. So after just three months, the New Elmore Theatre was quickly switched to the Savoy Ballroom. It started with a Christmas Eve Ball on 31 December 1933. That lasted until the Savoy moved to new digs at the failed Pytherian Temple in 1937. In 1938, the former Elmore Theatre was in a forced sale to settle the Elmore estate. It would first become the Church of God and Christ followed by Beck’s Temple then...
At the end of the 1940’s, the very same would once again become a roller rink – the Godfrey Roller Rink. But it would return to its house of worship days lasting more than 50 years into the 2020’s as the Olivet Baptist Church. The jazz music may have stopped at the Elmore Theatre building, but the structure still exists on Center Avenue. Like I said, it is now the Olivet Baptist Church of Pittsburgh.
The Interior.
The floor was definitely Maple because of the period they had Roller skating and again. I am speaking for both rinks, the Belmont Palace Roller Rink and Godfrey Roller Rink. YThe dance halls had wooden floor as well. Likely they replaced the floor because Belmont had Maple wood floor for skating then it became a movie theater so the floor was likely torn out and rebuilt. Then back to flat floor and new Maple wood floor again throughout the decades of the 20th Century and 21st as well.
Today the church has laid carpet over the skating floor and lower ceiling and has pews.
The Exterior.
The exterior may have had a original appearance before the church built that A-Frame/Gabled roof look on this classic Flatstone appearance. You can tell with the photos. However, there are no antique photographs on the exterior a hundred years ago or so before say 1950s. None.
The exterior may have changed quite a bit for each owner or business running at that location.
You can tell the A-Frame/Gabled was an add on because of the window corner kind of peaked slightly by the roof.
So, this estimated to be close to a full window frames second floor. I would have to draw a rendering of this building without the faux roof look to see how it looked like back then.
Today, the Baptist Church has that look with a giant Cross on the wall.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: N/A.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Steel - Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gabled.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- c. 1895 to 1908 and 1949 to 1960.
Belmont Palace Rolling Rink: c. 1895 to 1908.
Godfrey Roller Rink: 1949 to 1960.
Reason for Closure:
Belmont Palace Rolling Rink: N/A.
Godfrey Roller Rink: N/A.
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:
AP - About roller skating in Pittsburgh area.
Pittsburgh Music History (PDF)
Cinema Treasures
Facebook - Olivet Baptist Church (Facebook often err putting wrong websites on business pages. Please ignore that wrong website posted on the church's page!)
Additional sources for the article in Pittsburgh Music History:
Hill District Showhouse Open in a Blaze of Glory - Pittsburgh Courier Sept 8, 1923
Pittsburgh to Get Fine New Dancing Palace - Pittsburgh Courier Dec 9, 1933
Lando Gets Exclusive T.O.B.A Franchise - Pittsburgh Courier Jul 19. 1930.
“The Crossroads of the World”: A Social and Cultural History of Jazz in Pittsburgh’s Hill District, 1920-1970 by Colter Harper 2011
Key To The City A Guide to Pittsburgh Music, History, Entertainment & More 1928-1954 by Dave Goodrich
Pittsburgh Courier Archives
Afro American - Mar 15, 1930
The Afro American Feb 23 1939
Worth to visit:
You can if you like to visit church during church services but do not go check it out but attend for God only. You can see the exterior at best.
DISCLAIMER:
Dead-Rinks and Mark Falso are not responsible for your physical and legal injuries you may have caused. Please always obey laws and regulations and property owner's signs. Some states allow purple paint on fence which means they even have guns on their property and have rights to shoot you. Please DO NOT attempt to enter property without permission!
For abandoned rinks, after you receive permission, do WEAR safety OSHA equipment including a safety glasses, pair of safety gloves, an orange vest or a jacket, and a construction helmet.
Thank you for understanding.
Date of issue: 07 June 2022.
For office use only: 5.
Disclaimer: The contents including words and photos above on this page and/or on any pages are purely educational entertainment purposes only. I provide what information from other websites, skaters, and operators and it may end up with differences result between two sources. It is not our responsible for errors we caused. All sources are shown on each page. All opinions and statements of mine are also stated and are for purely educational entertainment only.
Rinks that are closed are considered dead. Rinks that are/were sold and with new management names new name(s), the former are considered dead. Previous operating rink that closed but came back years later, are considered dead because the reopening is considered rebooted, nothing to do with the former.
All photos you submitted or we retrieved becomes property of Dead-Rinks and are watermarked but they are credited to you (or where the source is from). Thank you for understanding. To understand more about this, please go to this page: Dead-Rinks List.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 to 16. Deut. 32:7