Courtesy of a OLRR skating fan on OLRR Skate Rats' page on Facebook. Postcard more likely taken in early 1960s or even mid-1960s before tornado hit because of the car parked on the right edge of the postcard photo. And the color composure at the time. Was the floor concrete? Or Wood? The colors on the floor were well reflexes by the walls.
Courtesy of a couple of OLRR skating fans on OLRR Skate Rats' page on Facebook. Noticed the painted mural sign on the side wall for oncoming traffic. This looks like it was taken AFTER the tornado because of the color photo on the right. Compare this left to the one above To me, time looked distorted. The B/W photo on the left looks older than the postcard yet, the color picture above matches to the B/W, not the postcard. Was the rebuilt changed the mural? Or was it done before the tornado hit the rink?
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Courtesy of a OLRR skating fan on OLRR Skate Rats' page on Facebook. Ah, the beauty contest! Wow! Anyway, again, the sign. And the age of the photo. It shows that the sign on the wall pre-dates the tornado. They said this beauty contest occurred in around 1950s. Its sad Rinks do not do that anymore.
Courtesy of a OLRR skating fan on OLRR Skate Rats' page on Facebook. Newspaper clipping source is unknown. Only picture of entire rink known to exist to show the extensive damages made by the tornado.
Oak Lawn Roller Rink 9121 South Cicero Ave, Oak Lawn, IL
Oak Lawn Roller Rink 9121 South Cicero Ave, Oak Lawn, IL was a known rink because of a connection--one of the most disastrous tornado incident in history in the United States, the 1967 Oak Lawn and Evergreen Tornado. There were no warning and because of certain time of day, it was horrible. So, this page is dedicated to all the victims of the 1967 tornadoes in the region. Oak Lawn and other suburbs are part of the Chicago Metropolitan. Children were killed and injured under rumble of the rink. They said 58 lives perished when those tornadoes strike through towns. Also many other victims everywhere in those tornadoes' paths. It was an F-4 Tornado. One of highest which caused 33 fatalities and 1,000 injuries according to Wikipedia. It was the worst tornado of series of tornado family that day April 21, 1967. 44 tornadoes were counted. This specific tornado killed 17 children at the rink (One source, but other said 4, which?). This was not the only tornado that hit a rink. Another rink did too.
Nevertheless, the rink rebuilt and reopened and ran till 1995. At this present time, I am trying to find out when they first opened, and after the disaster, when they reopened and it was at the same location. And exact the date they closed.
Because of the destruction by tornado, I need confirmation how much damages and was it rebuilt from scratch or repaired? I checked their Facebook, I do not see any information that part quite yet. I have to join the group and then I can ask around.
Because of the no warning at the time, and usually with music, you would not be able to hear the siren. I would recommend all rinks (malls, night clubs, or any places with loud noises) to have some kind of exterior emergency siren and ADA fire alarm lights strobes to warn for a disaster striking any seconds. This is why an other rink in another state (in Alabama) had all children saved because of lights went out and quick action made by the staff of day care and the ink to have all saved.
Almost the entire roof of the rink landed at a trailer park. After the tornado damaged the rink, they quickly rebuilt on the same site only to close less than 30 years later in 1995 when they sold it to the then Saturn dealership which later went out of business as General Motors eliminated some brands and it is now a Hyundai dealership.
Again, my heart and prayers for all the families and friends of all victims of all tornadoes occurrences, hurricanes, earthquakes and virus disasters, skating or not.
Pre-Tornado--
The Interior.
The rink which appeared to be Hardwood Maple in the postcard because of the color which was Gray. The edge of the rink showed it had shorter half-wall, with typical cast iron pipes rails.
The Exterior.
Up front, it was a two story building with the rink as one story on the ground level. The front looked more like a 1950s style business with a factory in rear that was quite common back the day. It was more of Orange Bricks style with Landscape style windows on both floors. Another popular style back in 1950s with landscape appearance for many buildings. You would easily noticed with low roof style chain restaurants, Howard Johnston's Orange Roof style which head lead the style in 1950s.
They painted Oak Lawn, the name of the rink where it was located in the same town the name was after.
The roof line for the front section that has two storeys or stories, is Flat roof but the rink section had Arched-Curved.
They had a lot of windows to allow more natural lights to be granted access into the building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Appeared to be Concrete in Navy Gray. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1950?. Demolished: By a tornado at 5:31 PM April 21, 1967.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Brick, two storeys (partial)/one storey Building.
Roof: Flat for front section with two stories, rink section - Arched-Curve.
Acres: 3.66 Acres.
Post-Tornado--
The Interior.
Maple floor according to a skater who went there who explained on YouTube. The half wall was taller in this generation without iron pipes. Apparently the appearance a little resembled to the original.
The Exterior.
N/A. They rebuilt the building. They rebuilt the rink building to duplicate the original with some modifications inside. But it was quite identical according to the YouTube video I saw (not shown due to its language) years till the Saturn dealership bought it and torn it down for their modern cookie-cutter design. Anyone had photos of the rink AFTER the tornado. I mean the rebuilt? The appearance? It had Bricks all around the building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: August 8, 1995, rebuilt as automobile dealership.
Type of Building: N/A
Roof: N/A.
Acres: 3.66 Acres.
Operated: 1950 to 5:31 PM April 21, 1967 struck by tornado, reopened: 1967 to July 22, 1995. Demolished August 8, 1995.
Reason for Closure:
First one-tornado damaged rink.
Second- N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of opening for both rinks. Did they have the rink rebuilt or repair to the rink after the tornadoes. Photos of rink interior, exterior, and damages by tornado would be appreciated.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Wikipedia, Facebook, Only in Your State, Past Perfect Online - the tear down in 1990s,
Flickr -although no photos of the rink here but the town were quite damaged.,
Southwest News Herald - Children survived at the rink, Real Skate Stories, Oak Lawn Tornado,
Loop Net - Saturn Dealership for sale in 2009.
*****Note, there is a YouTube video but Dead-Rinks is G-rated, will not display PG or higher rating with dirty words. Skaters swearing in horror seeing the rink being torn down. Perhaps swearing at the demolishing crew. If skaters wanted the rink, they need to purchase it themselves to prevent any demolishing. Petitions and protests are not the answer. Purchasing is the answer, period. If they do not have the money, tough!
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Ps 86:10.
Nevertheless, the rink rebuilt and reopened and ran till 1995. At this present time, I am trying to find out when they first opened, and after the disaster, when they reopened and it was at the same location. And exact the date they closed.
Because of the destruction by tornado, I need confirmation how much damages and was it rebuilt from scratch or repaired? I checked their Facebook, I do not see any information that part quite yet. I have to join the group and then I can ask around.
Because of the no warning at the time, and usually with music, you would not be able to hear the siren. I would recommend all rinks (malls, night clubs, or any places with loud noises) to have some kind of exterior emergency siren and ADA fire alarm lights strobes to warn for a disaster striking any seconds. This is why an other rink in another state (in Alabama) had all children saved because of lights went out and quick action made by the staff of day care and the ink to have all saved.
Almost the entire roof of the rink landed at a trailer park. After the tornado damaged the rink, they quickly rebuilt on the same site only to close less than 30 years later in 1995 when they sold it to the then Saturn dealership which later went out of business as General Motors eliminated some brands and it is now a Hyundai dealership.
Again, my heart and prayers for all the families and friends of all victims of all tornadoes occurrences, hurricanes, earthquakes and virus disasters, skating or not.
Pre-Tornado--
The Interior.
The rink which appeared to be Hardwood Maple in the postcard because of the color which was Gray. The edge of the rink showed it had shorter half-wall, with typical cast iron pipes rails.
The Exterior.
Up front, it was a two story building with the rink as one story on the ground level. The front looked more like a 1950s style business with a factory in rear that was quite common back the day. It was more of Orange Bricks style with Landscape style windows on both floors. Another popular style back in 1950s with landscape appearance for many buildings. You would easily noticed with low roof style chain restaurants, Howard Johnston's Orange Roof style which head lead the style in 1950s.
They painted Oak Lawn, the name of the rink where it was located in the same town the name was after.
The roof line for the front section that has two storeys or stories, is Flat roof but the rink section had Arched-Curved.
They had a lot of windows to allow more natural lights to be granted access into the building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Appeared to be Concrete in Navy Gray. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1950?. Demolished: By a tornado at 5:31 PM April 21, 1967.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Brick, two storeys (partial)/one storey Building.
Roof: Flat for front section with two stories, rink section - Arched-Curve.
Acres: 3.66 Acres.
Post-Tornado--
The Interior.
Maple floor according to a skater who went there who explained on YouTube. The half wall was taller in this generation without iron pipes. Apparently the appearance a little resembled to the original.
The Exterior.
N/A. They rebuilt the building. They rebuilt the rink building to duplicate the original with some modifications inside. But it was quite identical according to the YouTube video I saw (not shown due to its language) years till the Saturn dealership bought it and torn it down for their modern cookie-cutter design. Anyone had photos of the rink AFTER the tornado. I mean the rebuilt? The appearance? It had Bricks all around the building.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: August 8, 1995, rebuilt as automobile dealership.
Type of Building: N/A
Roof: N/A.
Acres: 3.66 Acres.
Operated: 1950 to 5:31 PM April 21, 1967 struck by tornado, reopened: 1967 to July 22, 1995. Demolished August 8, 1995.
Reason for Closure:
First one-tornado damaged rink.
Second- N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of opening for both rinks. Did they have the rink rebuilt or repair to the rink after the tornadoes. Photos of rink interior, exterior, and damages by tornado would be appreciated.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Wikipedia, Facebook, Only in Your State, Past Perfect Online - the tear down in 1990s,
Flickr -although no photos of the rink here but the town were quite damaged.,
Southwest News Herald - Children survived at the rink, Real Skate Stories, Oak Lawn Tornado,
Loop Net - Saturn Dealership for sale in 2009.
*****Note, there is a YouTube video but Dead-Rinks is G-rated, will not display PG or higher rating with dirty words. Skaters swearing in horror seeing the rink being torn down. Perhaps swearing at the demolishing crew. If skaters wanted the rink, they need to purchase it themselves to prevent any demolishing. Petitions and protests are not the answer. Purchasing is the answer, period. If they do not have the money, tough!
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Ps 86:10.