Parkstown Rink 218 Old Youngstown Rd. New Castle, PA . Source: Google.
Parkstown Rink 218 Old Youngstown Rd. New Castle, PA . Source: New Castle News 04 July 2013.
Parkstown Rink 218 Old Youngstown Rd. New Castle, PA
Skyline Drive-in Theater 218 Old Youngstown Rd. New Castle, PA
Skyline Drive-in Theater 218 Old Youngstown Rd. New Castle, PA
Parkstown Rink 218 Old Youngstown Rd. New Castle, Pennsylvania was a roller rink at one time. Now a home to Yesco Electrical Supply. It was a BINGO hall at one time.
That was built by the Warren Family around 1960 and family operated until it closed. It was mainly owned by John and Elma Warren.
“That was pretty neat,” recalled John Warren, a Vietnam veteran and grandson of the drive-in owners, John and Elma Warren. “We had wrestling in there, wrestlers from Pittsburgh. We had an AKC dog show there. Bingo was there.” Excerpt from New Castle News 4 of July 2013, by Dan Erwin.
First, the Warren Family operated the Skyline Drive-In theater along on the same road where the Parkstown Rink was. The Warrens owned the theater from 1949 to 1977.
They used to have a bus to pick up and drop off children to the rink.
Interesting thing that the Warrens who owned the Skyline Drive-In would work together and they had friendly relationship with the owner of Super Castle Drive-In. Say, Skyline was short on popcorn, they quickly go over to Super Castle and ask for some popcorns seeds and then the Warrens would make it quickly for their patrons. They helped each other.
Next to the Drive-In and the rink, there was Parkstown Bowling Alley. Movie patrons would even park at the bowling alley and watch the movie from there but without the sound. (Didn't they had the radio to listen to the movie? DeWitt Drive-In did have the radio and we would park next door and watch the movie and the radio was turned on to listen. If you parked at Empire Skates, bit harder to see the screen but if you park right, you can listen to the radio and that was cross the street on Erie Boulevard East (then 6 lanes!). Some Drive-Ins did have radio. Some not. Perhaps Skyline did not.
The Warrens sold the Skyline in 1977 to Cinemette Theaters, which operated it for its final few seasons.
As for the theater, The male senior of the family was in his 70s in the 1970s so it was taking much toll on him and because of other new activities including cable TV, video games, etc that children and even parents were not returning to the theater (and to the rink) so it was sold to a chain, Cinemette Theaters. It was writing on the wall that it was time to shut down.
The Interior.
It has Maple Hardwood floor. They also had an organ but no name is provided. Of course, it had Disco Ball.
The Exterior.
It was a Segmental Arch building with Salt-Box Roof on the left side. It sits on the corner of those two street. One is being the highway now.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Sounds like Maple Hardwood according to the grandson who was in the former rink for business (Still there). Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 14,920 SF. Built: 1960. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks - Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Segmental Arch with Salt-Box Roof (extension).
Acres: 7.6000 AC. (part of the property, it is 5.3900 Acres with the building, 2 lots)
Organ: Name unknown but they had organ.
Drive-In Theater: 400 Cars slots.
Operated: (Overall)-- C. 1960 to 1980s.
Parkstown Rink: C. 1960 to 1980s.
Skyline Drive-in Theater: 1949 to 1977.
Reason for Closure: 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:
Email - Tom (25 January 2022)
Google Map.
New Castle News 4 of July 2013, by Dan Erwin. PDF. (Note, you are limited to 4 free viewing. They have 4 parts related to the theaters, not the rink. Only one page has little bit on the rink and this is the page you can click to).
Realtor - Real Estate Records.
Trulia - Real Estate Records.
Zillow - Real Estate Records.
Loop Net - Real Estate Records.
(note, all 4 real estate records show where the former drive-in theater and part of the property now where the exit ramp for the highway. It is next to the former rink. Second of all, only Realtor has information where the former rink is located now.)
Date of issue: 25 January 2022.
For office use only: 2.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
That was built by the Warren Family around 1960 and family operated until it closed. It was mainly owned by John and Elma Warren.
“That was pretty neat,” recalled John Warren, a Vietnam veteran and grandson of the drive-in owners, John and Elma Warren. “We had wrestling in there, wrestlers from Pittsburgh. We had an AKC dog show there. Bingo was there.” Excerpt from New Castle News 4 of July 2013, by Dan Erwin.
First, the Warren Family operated the Skyline Drive-In theater along on the same road where the Parkstown Rink was. The Warrens owned the theater from 1949 to 1977.
They used to have a bus to pick up and drop off children to the rink.
Interesting thing that the Warrens who owned the Skyline Drive-In would work together and they had friendly relationship with the owner of Super Castle Drive-In. Say, Skyline was short on popcorn, they quickly go over to Super Castle and ask for some popcorns seeds and then the Warrens would make it quickly for their patrons. They helped each other.
Next to the Drive-In and the rink, there was Parkstown Bowling Alley. Movie patrons would even park at the bowling alley and watch the movie from there but without the sound. (Didn't they had the radio to listen to the movie? DeWitt Drive-In did have the radio and we would park next door and watch the movie and the radio was turned on to listen. If you parked at Empire Skates, bit harder to see the screen but if you park right, you can listen to the radio and that was cross the street on Erie Boulevard East (then 6 lanes!). Some Drive-Ins did have radio. Some not. Perhaps Skyline did not.
The Warrens sold the Skyline in 1977 to Cinemette Theaters, which operated it for its final few seasons.
As for the theater, The male senior of the family was in his 70s in the 1970s so it was taking much toll on him and because of other new activities including cable TV, video games, etc that children and even parents were not returning to the theater (and to the rink) so it was sold to a chain, Cinemette Theaters. It was writing on the wall that it was time to shut down.
The Interior.
It has Maple Hardwood floor. They also had an organ but no name is provided. Of course, it had Disco Ball.
The Exterior.
It was a Segmental Arch building with Salt-Box Roof on the left side. It sits on the corner of those two street. One is being the highway now.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Sounds like Maple Hardwood according to the grandson who was in the former rink for business (Still there). Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 14,920 SF. Built: 1960. Renovations: N/A. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks - Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Segmental Arch with Salt-Box Roof (extension).
Acres: 7.6000 AC. (part of the property, it is 5.3900 Acres with the building, 2 lots)
Organ: Name unknown but they had organ.
Drive-In Theater: 400 Cars slots.
Operated: (Overall)-- C. 1960 to 1980s.
Parkstown Rink: C. 1960 to 1980s.
Skyline Drive-in Theater: 1949 to 1977.
Reason for Closure: 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:
Email - Tom (25 January 2022)
Google Map.
New Castle News 4 of July 2013, by Dan Erwin. PDF. (Note, you are limited to 4 free viewing. They have 4 parts related to the theaters, not the rink. Only one page has little bit on the rink and this is the page you can click to).
Realtor - Real Estate Records.
Trulia - Real Estate Records.
Zillow - Real Estate Records.
Loop Net - Real Estate Records.
(note, all 4 real estate records show where the former drive-in theater and part of the property now where the exit ramp for the highway. It is next to the former rink. Second of all, only Realtor has information where the former rink is located now.)
Date of issue: 25 January 2022.
For office use only: 2.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.