Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. Source: The Sanderson Family.
Billy Graham Tabernacle 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. This was the site of the 1952 Billy Graham Tabernacle when the town invited Billy Graham to do his Crusade that year. Billy came in November 1952 for entire month before it was sold to Luther Sanderman of East End Roller Rink to convert this building to Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink. Source: Private Collection. Photo taken by First Baptist Church of Albuquerque in 1952. Photo digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. This was the site of the 1952 Billy Graham Tabernacle when the town invited Billy Graham to do his Crusade that year. Billy came in November 1952 for entire month before it was sold to Luther Sanderman of East End Roller Rink to convert this building to Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink. This was taken by in around late 1950s or very early 1960s. Noticed Sears (and Roebuck Company) department store on the left? What a find! SEARS leased for 10 years because they had a fire downtown Albuquerque and they found they get more foot traffic at this location so they stayed for 10 years. Source: Private Collection. Photo digitally remastered. by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. This is an article that Billy Graham had his Crusade for four weeks then Luther Sanderson bought it to convert to a new rink. This signal the coming to an end for East End Roller Rink because the new facility will enlarge the rink to 20,000 Square feet, that would double the size. Actually double the width plus adding a 3,000 Square Feet practice floor which making it a double rink. That overall total would be 23,000 SF of skating floors! Wow! One of the largest. Source: Albuquerque Journal January 2, 1953. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. Finally in April 1953, they began renovations to the arena from being an audience theater style to a skating rink arena. Source: Albuquerque Journal April 12, 1953. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. Almost two years later, the rink opened on Friday January 28, 1955. It was a long progress or slow renovations. Perhaps to perfect the renovations. And so they opened officially on that Friday winter evening. Source: Albuquerque Journal January 27, 1955. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. Almost two years later, the rink opened on Friday January 28, 1955. It was a long progress or slow renovations. Perhaps to perfect the renovations. And so they opened officially on that Friday winter evening. This was an advertisement. The previous was an article. Source: Albuquerque Journal Friday, January 28, 1955. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. They advertised a special event that this animal can skate! Jimmy was traveling around the country to skate on different rinks as part of a show. Sorry, that was not Mr. Ed, the talking horse. It was Jimmy, the SKATING horse long before TV got their version, the talking horse. Source: Albuquerque Journal April 5,1955. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. Wow, they kept having grand opening! Is that a fraud? It is possible. Because they did not say "Grand RE-opening" which should say so. However, the article did say they did open in April but what about January of that year too? Three times they had grand opening in six months! Something was not right. I would stick to the January 28th, 1955 actual Grand Opening for the sake of this website which is a historical e-museum. Source: Albuquerque Journal June 3,1955. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. Advertisement by Max Hood and Staff Auctioneers. They were announcing two businesses' equipment were up for an auction. This sure was not an April's Fool Day joke. The East End Roller Rink was closed for good in 1961 because everyone went over to the Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink. Source: Albuquerque Journal April 1, 1962. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. A nice announcement that there was an award for Eugene Sanderson who owned and operated the rink that his Father, Luther G. Sanderman founded Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink. Source: Albuquerque Journal April 20, 1966. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
This was a large article announcing the anniversary of their marriage for Mr. and Mrs. Luther Sanderson. Source: Albuquerque Journal December 23, 1973. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. Robert "Turp" Sanderson DJed the music booth in March 1980. Source: Albuquerque Journal March 24, 1980. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. Eugene stood proudly outside the main doors of Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink in 1983. Photographer used a wide lens focus which is why the wall and sign appeared bended. Source: Albuquerque Journal 1983.
This was their 60th Anniversary article. Slightly shorter than the 50th. Source: Albuquerque Journal December 18, 1983. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. There was a huge photograph splash cross the upper page of the Aluquerque Journal at the time. I really liked this photograph although it was hard to see in Black-n-White back the day. It was still ink printing on hot plates or cold pates Source: Albuquerque Journal 1983.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. Signs of the times and memories. Wow, did you read this article? Yeah, Quite a bit of guys, yes, 3/4th of all guys in this town met and married their girlfriends from both rinks, the East End and the Rainbow Gardens Rinks. Yes, skating rinks are the glorified unofficial dating services. Haha. Did you meet your spouse at your rink? I met hundreds of females, dated 3 and got engaged with one but did not work out two months later. Oh well. Last female I ever met at a rink was at Empire Skates West in Baldwinsville and her name is Julie. (I like to reveal her last name but for safety online. I cannot reveal but I still remember her last name and if I wanted to reveal her last name so she can find me again!). A beautiful Italian female. Ahhh! I tried to get her number but she admitted she was engaged. Oh come on, where was her ring!? That is right, I did not see it on her. That was in 1994 or 95. Oh well. Yes, I do remember my past well. Source: Albuquerque Journal November 1, 1987.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. Signs of the times and memories. Source: Albuquerque Journal November 1, 1987 (part 2). Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. Signs of the times and memories. Source: Albuquerque Journal November 1, 1987 (part 3). Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. A look back. Source: Albuquerque Journal October 13, 1990. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. Time comes to an end. Up for sale. Source: Albuquerque Journal April 5, 1996. Due to the original article was so blurred, it was not possible to clean up digitally, I had to reconstruct the article entirely by doing through MS Word, and made it very close to the original article. Even a word I see so blurred and that is the result of "misspelled". Entirely digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. A look back at about Billy Graham Crusade in November 1952. Yes. E. Sanderman met with Billy Graham. For me, I saw him across the Dome in Syracuse, NY in 1989. Both parts are from same article. Source: Albuquerque Journal May 5,1998. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
A cute 50th Anniversary announcement in the papers. They both met each other at the rink! Of course, 3/4th of all men in the area met their wives at the rink! Oh well! I did not! Instead, I met mine at a singles dance because the last rink had almost no skaters there). Source: Albuquerque Journal March 31, 2004.
East End Roller Rink 7320 East Central, Albuquerque, NM. This obituary was written about the son of Luther who owned East End Roller Rink. Eugene was the manager of the East End just before he operated and owned Rainbow Garden Roller Rink that his father, Luther purchased the property in 1939. Source: Albuquerque Journal April 17, 2008.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. A look back at about Billy Graham Crusade in November 1952. Yes. E. Sanderman met with Billy Graham. For me, I saw him across the Dome in Syracuse, NY in 1989. Both parts are from same article. Source: Albuquerque Journal April 8,1999. Photo touch up and digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. This photo showed just before it was renovated into Rainbow Business Center, an group of offices and retail. This was photo shopped to remove terrible graffiti on the arch so it was white out on this one to make it look as new as possible. Source: Pinterest. Photo digitally remastered. by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. This is present day view of the complex. Source: Carnm Real Estate. Photo digitally remastered. by Dead-Rinks.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. This is present day interior view of the complex. Source: Carnm Real Estate.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM. This is present day interior view of the complex. In this one, that was where the Maple floor was laid and skaters skated and in the background, it was where Billy Graham preached for a month in cold November 1952 that they had to use makeshift walls and fire stoves. That was before it was renovated again after Billy left, to make into a rink. Source: Carnm Real Estate.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Drome 200 San Mateo Blvd SE, Albuquerque, NM
Rainbow Gardens Roller Drome was the replacement rink to replace East End Roller Rink. This time it was at 200 San Mateo Boulevard South East, Albuquerque, New Mexico. This was one of the largest rink in the world because of its massive size of 55,000 Square Feet facility with 20,000 Square Feet Rink and a 3,000 Square Feet rink. You are not wrong. It was a Dual - rink facility. Several articles said slightly different sizes for the rink floor. I measured the 85 Feet X 240 Feet came out as 20,400 Feet. But the practice floor, some articles said 3,000 Square Feet, 3,500 Square Feet and even one said 12,000 Square Feet (close). Most said in the 3,000 Square Feet so I feel safer to say 3,000 Square Feet which is 85 Feet by 41 Feet. Someone said on a forum that Guptill's really is the largest at 300 Feet by 200 Feet. I will have to go down there and do a measurement or ask the operator of that rink in Latham, NY to give the measurement because their website failed to mention size and the Guinness people failed to provide measurement on their website.
Well, this was one of the largest in the nation for this rink back then.
Originally this rink was supposed to be built in 1939 but the shortage and lockdown on new construction at the end of 1930s was due to World War II overseas even the United States was not in war, this was to limit unnecessary built. It was put away on site covered even passed the War ended in 1945. It was not until 1952 that the town wanted Billy Graham to come and preach the Gospel in town. The Sandersons because of their Faith and members of First Baptist Church, they were able to convict their church leaders and got other churches involved to built on the same property with the same materials originally for the rink.
So, this was made possible to built the 85 Feet Steel Trusses with Segmental Arch roof. The trusses appeared to be Bow Arch. And they only quickly built with just steel sheets to cover up making as a "Shanky" appearance. They only had dirt floor and installed lights and wood stoves for heat all around the arena. They had electricity for lights for sure. This event was in cold November 1952 when Billy Graham came and preached the Word of God. After Billy Graham left, the lease ran till February 1st, 1953. And the auction to sell was sold to L. Moulton, a Contractor because of the lease ownership was by churches I believe. Anyway, then in December 10, 1952, L. Moulton handed over ownership to Gene and Eugene for the building and had to wait till February 1, 1953 to do something and the architect drew up plans for additions and actual built up.
They also got Sears to be a tenant because Sears' store in downtown Albuquerque was burned to the ground so the relocation was to the outskirts of the city where the rink was. This was when suburban malls and plazas were starting to built outside of cities. Sears saw that as good potential to stay longer so they did for ten years. I am sure they were going to go back to downtown. I do not think they did. They relocated to elsewhere.
This enabled the Sandersons to expand the rink. so they officially ran from 1962 to Fall 1997 when they sold to some investors to convert into a business center. Several businesses are in that building today known as Rainbow Business Center.
They opened with big fanfare on Friday, January 28,1955. Then they had Jimmy, the Roller Skating Horse that was on tour around the country at rinks. They had Skating Review, a touring roller skating show similar to what Ice Capades was to ice skates.
It was a stable for many decades. But the rising costs and insurance and the decline of skaters in 1980s really putting Rainbow Gardens into last fumes and closed for good.
Billy Graham Crusade-- The Billy Graham Tabernacle--
The Interior.
It was a quick make-shift facility in last minute for Billy Graham to come and preach for 21 days or 27/28 days says some. Anyway, it was all dirt floor and shanky temporary walls up but all steel trusses were up. They had cruel heating system for cold November. No electricity for heating.
The Exterior.
They actually built the Segmental Arch part of the building that they quickly built for the Crusade revival event in 1952. But shanky walls, just sheet metal walls and temporary walls around. It was just that part, that was all not the rest of the building. That came after the Crusade ended.
The Stats:
Rink Size: (no rink, just floor) Floor: Dirt. Floor Layout: All dirt.
Building Size: 55,000 SF (after the crusade, after renovations for rink and department store.. Built: 1952. Demolished: Still Standing, renovated for the roller rink in 1955...
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses makeshift steel walls ("shanky" style) Arena venue Building.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink--
The Interior.
The center part of the building where the Segmental Arch was designed for the two rinks. To the left, It was Sears and Roebuck and Co. Department store which occupied about a third of the building. The other side were a couple of businesses. The rink business had not just one but two rinks. Michigan Maple floor consisting the size of 240 Feet long by 85 Feet wide. That was the main floor to skate. They had a practice floor which was only 35,000 Square Feet. Likely this size. roughly 85 Feet, the same as the width of the main floor and it was 41 feet wide. That was almost half full size of an NHL floor. That was pretty big practice floor! I know my local home rink had 85 feet by 20 feet. So, I know how big that was. Main floor at 20,000 Square Feet, that is doubled the East End which was bit too narrow. It made sense why they wanted to built a new rink to give more proper sizing. It did not say in the article but I knew that was the real reason. The total rink floors were 26,000 Square Feet making it the largest. 281 Feet by 85 Feet! How big is Guptill's Arena? I could not get that from Guinness World Records nor Guptill's. Well, Guptill's IS the CURRENT record holder because it is OPERATIONAL today.
After Sears left, the rink expanded into where Sears left in 1965ish.
The Exterior.
After Billy Graham left his San Mateo mission to go on to the next city, E. Sanderson purchased which took time to close the deal and then had an architect design the full 55,000 Square Feet building that you seen in the photos. That was the expansion and replaced the shanky with actual mortar and concrete built. They built with Orange Bricks and had windows pretty much everywhere. For Sears, for the rink, and other businesses. It was technically a plaza at the time. They had 2nd story up front where the rink was. I believe that was storage and offices were for the rink. It was quite modern building. They built to wrap around the Segmental Arch with the Flat Roof building.
Today, it was renovated for the plaza in late 1990s and it became a business plaza.. again. It is named as Rainbow Business Center. Nice to keep the name of the Rink. I think they should have named as well-- Graham Rainbow Business Center.
The Stats:
Practice Rink -
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Main Rink -
Rink Size: 240' x 85' (MUCH larger than NHL/OLY rink). Floor: Michigan Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 55,000 SF. Built: 1955. Demolished: Still standing, renovated heavily for business center.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Orange Bricks Brick-Walled Arena venue Building.
Roof: Segmental Arch with Flat
Acres: Appx. 2 AC.
Operated: (Overall)-- Friday, January 28,1955 (had FOUR grand opening in less than six months) to 1999.
Reason for Closure: It was perfect time to sell, less skaters, rising cost of operations and insurance. And retirement.
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:
Pinterest.
Carnm Real Estate.
Albuquerque Journal - Obituary Luther Eugene Sanderson in 2008. (Thursday April 17, 2008).
Albuquerque Journal - many dates. Microfilms. Some digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Date of issue: 17 June 2021.
For office use only: 30 p. (26 np, 4 p.)
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
Well, this was one of the largest in the nation for this rink back then.
Originally this rink was supposed to be built in 1939 but the shortage and lockdown on new construction at the end of 1930s was due to World War II overseas even the United States was not in war, this was to limit unnecessary built. It was put away on site covered even passed the War ended in 1945. It was not until 1952 that the town wanted Billy Graham to come and preach the Gospel in town. The Sandersons because of their Faith and members of First Baptist Church, they were able to convict their church leaders and got other churches involved to built on the same property with the same materials originally for the rink.
So, this was made possible to built the 85 Feet Steel Trusses with Segmental Arch roof. The trusses appeared to be Bow Arch. And they only quickly built with just steel sheets to cover up making as a "Shanky" appearance. They only had dirt floor and installed lights and wood stoves for heat all around the arena. They had electricity for lights for sure. This event was in cold November 1952 when Billy Graham came and preached the Word of God. After Billy Graham left, the lease ran till February 1st, 1953. And the auction to sell was sold to L. Moulton, a Contractor because of the lease ownership was by churches I believe. Anyway, then in December 10, 1952, L. Moulton handed over ownership to Gene and Eugene for the building and had to wait till February 1, 1953 to do something and the architect drew up plans for additions and actual built up.
They also got Sears to be a tenant because Sears' store in downtown Albuquerque was burned to the ground so the relocation was to the outskirts of the city where the rink was. This was when suburban malls and plazas were starting to built outside of cities. Sears saw that as good potential to stay longer so they did for ten years. I am sure they were going to go back to downtown. I do not think they did. They relocated to elsewhere.
This enabled the Sandersons to expand the rink. so they officially ran from 1962 to Fall 1997 when they sold to some investors to convert into a business center. Several businesses are in that building today known as Rainbow Business Center.
They opened with big fanfare on Friday, January 28,1955. Then they had Jimmy, the Roller Skating Horse that was on tour around the country at rinks. They had Skating Review, a touring roller skating show similar to what Ice Capades was to ice skates.
It was a stable for many decades. But the rising costs and insurance and the decline of skaters in 1980s really putting Rainbow Gardens into last fumes and closed for good.
Billy Graham Crusade-- The Billy Graham Tabernacle--
The Interior.
It was a quick make-shift facility in last minute for Billy Graham to come and preach for 21 days or 27/28 days says some. Anyway, it was all dirt floor and shanky temporary walls up but all steel trusses were up. They had cruel heating system for cold November. No electricity for heating.
The Exterior.
They actually built the Segmental Arch part of the building that they quickly built for the Crusade revival event in 1952. But shanky walls, just sheet metal walls and temporary walls around. It was just that part, that was all not the rest of the building. That came after the Crusade ended.
The Stats:
Rink Size: (no rink, just floor) Floor: Dirt. Floor Layout: All dirt.
Building Size: 55,000 SF (after the crusade, after renovations for rink and department store.. Built: 1952. Demolished: Still Standing, renovated for the roller rink in 1955...
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses makeshift steel walls ("shanky" style) Arena venue Building.
Rainbow Gardens Roller Rink--
The Interior.
The center part of the building where the Segmental Arch was designed for the two rinks. To the left, It was Sears and Roebuck and Co. Department store which occupied about a third of the building. The other side were a couple of businesses. The rink business had not just one but two rinks. Michigan Maple floor consisting the size of 240 Feet long by 85 Feet wide. That was the main floor to skate. They had a practice floor which was only 35,000 Square Feet. Likely this size. roughly 85 Feet, the same as the width of the main floor and it was 41 feet wide. That was almost half full size of an NHL floor. That was pretty big practice floor! I know my local home rink had 85 feet by 20 feet. So, I know how big that was. Main floor at 20,000 Square Feet, that is doubled the East End which was bit too narrow. It made sense why they wanted to built a new rink to give more proper sizing. It did not say in the article but I knew that was the real reason. The total rink floors were 26,000 Square Feet making it the largest. 281 Feet by 85 Feet! How big is Guptill's Arena? I could not get that from Guinness World Records nor Guptill's. Well, Guptill's IS the CURRENT record holder because it is OPERATIONAL today.
After Sears left, the rink expanded into where Sears left in 1965ish.
The Exterior.
After Billy Graham left his San Mateo mission to go on to the next city, E. Sanderson purchased which took time to close the deal and then had an architect design the full 55,000 Square Feet building that you seen in the photos. That was the expansion and replaced the shanky with actual mortar and concrete built. They built with Orange Bricks and had windows pretty much everywhere. For Sears, for the rink, and other businesses. It was technically a plaza at the time. They had 2nd story up front where the rink was. I believe that was storage and offices were for the rink. It was quite modern building. They built to wrap around the Segmental Arch with the Flat Roof building.
Today, it was renovated for the plaza in late 1990s and it became a business plaza.. again. It is named as Rainbow Business Center. Nice to keep the name of the Rink. I think they should have named as well-- Graham Rainbow Business Center.
The Stats:
Practice Rink -
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Main Rink -
Rink Size: 240' x 85' (MUCH larger than NHL/OLY rink). Floor: Michigan Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 55,000 SF. Built: 1955. Demolished: Still standing, renovated heavily for business center.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Orange Bricks Brick-Walled Arena venue Building.
Roof: Segmental Arch with Flat
Acres: Appx. 2 AC.
Operated: (Overall)-- Friday, January 28,1955 (had FOUR grand opening in less than six months) to 1999.
Reason for Closure: It was perfect time to sell, less skaters, rising cost of operations and insurance. And retirement.
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:
Pinterest.
Carnm Real Estate.
Albuquerque Journal - Obituary Luther Eugene Sanderson in 2008. (Thursday April 17, 2008).
Albuquerque Journal - many dates. Microfilms. Some digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks.
Date of issue: 17 June 2021.
For office use only: 30 p. (26 np, 4 p.)
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.