Both postcards courtesy of Cardcow.com
Hillside Rollerdrome, 127-25 Metropolitan Ave, Richmond Hill, Queens, LI, NY
This rink was originally a used car dealership. Just a car lot. But the car lot owner, Adam Metz Jr. decided to built a roller rink that was soundproofed in 1938. The lot was merely a large 100 X 240 foot and named it Hillside Rollerdrome. During World War II, it was popular and successful with performers and competitions at the rink.
But in October 1948, the owner thought because of televisions could steal people from rinks, he sold it to George Negri of Rego Park. So, George and his brother Frank gave the rink a facelift costing them 10,000 US Dollars with a new Hammond Vibrato Organ. With this facelift and new organ, it was still successful throughout the 1950s. However, by mid-1960s, the rink closed its doors for good. However, the building became a bakery, the Glendale Bake Shop. Today, the building houses an automobile parts store.
Was it the same building or was it demolished and built again for the auto parts store? If it was the same building, then the bird view shows that it has a Trapezoid shaped property. Was it also part where there is a used car lot there also? If that was the case, that would be quite irony because originally before the rink, the used car lot back then. During the rink's run perhaps that part of the lot a parking lot for the rink.
Not much information or pictures. Just one item: post card.
Rink size: N/A Floor: Likely wood. Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A
Type of Building: N/A
Roof: N/A
Acres: 100 X 240 foot
Operated: 1938 to mid-1960s.
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: actual photos and information about the rink.
Sources: Cardcow.com, QueensChronicles.com.
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
This rink was originally a used car dealership. Just a car lot. But the car lot owner, Adam Metz Jr. decided to built a roller rink that was soundproofed in 1938. The lot was merely a large 100 X 240 foot and named it Hillside Rollerdrome. During World War II, it was popular and successful with performers and competitions at the rink.
But in October 1948, the owner thought because of televisions could steal people from rinks, he sold it to George Negri of Rego Park. So, George and his brother Frank gave the rink a facelift costing them 10,000 US Dollars with a new Hammond Vibrato Organ. With this facelift and new organ, it was still successful throughout the 1950s. However, by mid-1960s, the rink closed its doors for good. However, the building became a bakery, the Glendale Bake Shop. Today, the building houses an automobile parts store.
Was it the same building or was it demolished and built again for the auto parts store? If it was the same building, then the bird view shows that it has a Trapezoid shaped property. Was it also part where there is a used car lot there also? If that was the case, that would be quite irony because originally before the rink, the used car lot back then. During the rink's run perhaps that part of the lot a parking lot for the rink.
Not much information or pictures. Just one item: post card.
Rink size: N/A Floor: Likely wood. Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A
Type of Building: N/A
Roof: N/A
Acres: 100 X 240 foot
Operated: 1938 to mid-1960s.
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: actual photos and information about the rink.
Sources: Cardcow.com, QueensChronicles.com.
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.