Courtesy of Tami Fulcher (Facebook). The building was very colorful with the shape of the rainbow and naming it The Rainbow Ballroom and Rollerdrome.
Courtesy of Dead-Rinks. Noticed the difference between those two above? I do not know which came first in style. I think the color postcard was first then the B/W photo because of new likely Red stripes in front and adding new sign on the big canopy.
Courtesy of Dead-Rinks. Noticed it was all wood built and wood truss. floor looks so modern and shining. They clearly had a coating back then! Good because many rinks back then did not have such kind of coating that shines. But on the other hand, you noticed scratches on the floor. Look at darker area of the floor. Oh no! Hard to see background what it was.
Courtesy of Christopher Setterlund. Showing the distance.
As Reebok shoe store. It was an outlet store. They closed sometimes around 2014, 2015 ish. Source: Google.
As Salvation Army Thrift Store today. The building still stands today. Source: Google.
The Rainbow Ballroom and Rollerdrome 174 Main St, West Yarmouth, MA.
This rink was very unique. It was The Rainbow Ballroom and Rollerdrome on 174 Main Street at West Yarmouth, Massachusetts which was operated by Ernie Baker who ran this facility from Wednesday August 13th 1930 to 1965. The roof and the building looks like a Red Barn restaurant building stretched out wide. It was Gambrel roof design. This is what it made it unique. Beautiful design. He did not start roller skating till 1933.
It began when Ernie Baker had his Novelty Orchestra during 1920s and of course, this is why The Rainbow Ballroom and Rollerdrome was build and opened in 1930s after Ernie in 1920s had a plan for a permanent home. Ernie bought 6 lots of land. He bought it on Main Street. It was cross the street from a well known Mill Hill Tavern, likely a competitor there. Never owned Mill Hill Tavern.
They had a contest for the name and the winning name was The Rainbow Ballroom. The winner who submitted that name won 20 Dollars and 2 season passes to the ballroom and rink.
This was the largest floor in the Cape Cod region. The opening night was packed cheek to cheek. This was the state of the art facility with new disco lights that can change colors. A new technology in 1930s that those type of lights continue to this day.
They had a women's dressing room to allow women change into costumes to dance to the tune of the music. There were in fact, two orchestras at The Rainbow Ballroom. Yes, TWO. They would switch to keep the music playing all night. The opening night was a huge success.
In 1931, Ernie started a basketball league in the building. Between games, there were dancing.
Ernie was a pioneer in many things including the lights, different activities there, and of course, he would give away his Chevy that he was using for advertising. Ahead of time with vehicle wrap, and advertising vehicles we know today. Way ahead. He started to advertise his vehicle in January 1932.
Finally Ernie began the rink in 1933, not Wednesday August 13, 1930 as many believed. It was 1933! All photos above were taken AFTER 1933.
Word spread around and because of good reputation, bigger names came such as Ella Fitzgerald and Chick Webb and his NBC Orchestra. Wow, big names!
Wresting and later, boxing were added to play there.
The well known Old Mill Tavern went out of business, then replaced by the Mill Hill Club. But Ernie Baker’s The Rainbow Ballroom and Rollerdrome was still going strong. Clearly Ernie had good reputation and good marketing skills like he did advertise on the company vehicle.
Both the bow and the building itself really made it different and unique. But it was the rink at the Rollerdrome.
Ernie sold the building in March 1970 to take a retirement. French Shriner Shoes. Now it is a Salvation Army thrift store. Before the thrift store, it was a Reebok Shoes Outlet store.
UPDATE -
I received an email from someone who worked for Ernie at the rink! Wow! Today date 17 July 2021.
I worked for Ernie Baker from 1965 to 1970, and remained close friends with him until he passed away on July 4, 1975. He was a GREAT guy and truly enriched my childhood. Once the building was sold it became French Shriner shoe store. (it was never Clancy's Restaurant) [then those other sources on the internet about the restaurant was in error.]
Ernie did not own the Mill Hill Pavilion, which was across the street. His band played there occasionally and it burned down in the late 1920's, prior to The Rainbow being built. [This is why Ernie, in my opinion, decided to built the Rainbow Ballroom and Rollerdrome.]
I recall Ernie telling me that the construction took about two months with over 100 men working to build it.
Ernie operated the Rainbow until he sold it in March 1970. It remained OPEN until the sale.
There was mostly roller skating, but in 1966 there were some "dances" which included Chubby Checker, Percy Sledge (When a man loves a woman).
The Interior.
Beautiful wooden floor. Likely Maple spread out entire building. It was pastel colors with White as a shade with a White stage and of course, White Piano with flowers painted on it. The feeling of grand at the time.
The Exterior.
Gambrel Roof designed building that does look like a roller rink and ballroom. Not a Red Barn Restaurant. Haha.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Still standing...
Type of Building: Free-Span wood Truss wood siding-Walled Dance hall - like Building.
Roof: Gambrel.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Opened as ballroom: Wednesday August 13, 1930), roller skating started: 1933 to March 1970..
Reason for Closure: Retirement and sold.
Wanted: Information regarding, size of rink. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Facebook - Yarmouth group; Christopher Setterlund -blogger;
Date of issue: 27 December 2020. Update: 17 July 2021.
For Office Only: 6 p.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
It began when Ernie Baker had his Novelty Orchestra during 1920s and of course, this is why The Rainbow Ballroom and Rollerdrome was build and opened in 1930s after Ernie in 1920s had a plan for a permanent home. Ernie bought 6 lots of land. He bought it on Main Street. It was cross the street from a well known Mill Hill Tavern, likely a competitor there. Never owned Mill Hill Tavern.
They had a contest for the name and the winning name was The Rainbow Ballroom. The winner who submitted that name won 20 Dollars and 2 season passes to the ballroom and rink.
This was the largest floor in the Cape Cod region. The opening night was packed cheek to cheek. This was the state of the art facility with new disco lights that can change colors. A new technology in 1930s that those type of lights continue to this day.
They had a women's dressing room to allow women change into costumes to dance to the tune of the music. There were in fact, two orchestras at The Rainbow Ballroom. Yes, TWO. They would switch to keep the music playing all night. The opening night was a huge success.
In 1931, Ernie started a basketball league in the building. Between games, there were dancing.
Ernie was a pioneer in many things including the lights, different activities there, and of course, he would give away his Chevy that he was using for advertising. Ahead of time with vehicle wrap, and advertising vehicles we know today. Way ahead. He started to advertise his vehicle in January 1932.
Finally Ernie began the rink in 1933, not Wednesday August 13, 1930 as many believed. It was 1933! All photos above were taken AFTER 1933.
Word spread around and because of good reputation, bigger names came such as Ella Fitzgerald and Chick Webb and his NBC Orchestra. Wow, big names!
Wresting and later, boxing were added to play there.
The well known Old Mill Tavern went out of business, then replaced by the Mill Hill Club. But Ernie Baker’s The Rainbow Ballroom and Rollerdrome was still going strong. Clearly Ernie had good reputation and good marketing skills like he did advertise on the company vehicle.
Both the bow and the building itself really made it different and unique. But it was the rink at the Rollerdrome.
Ernie sold the building in March 1970 to take a retirement. French Shriner Shoes. Now it is a Salvation Army thrift store. Before the thrift store, it was a Reebok Shoes Outlet store.
UPDATE -
I received an email from someone who worked for Ernie at the rink! Wow! Today date 17 July 2021.
I worked for Ernie Baker from 1965 to 1970, and remained close friends with him until he passed away on July 4, 1975. He was a GREAT guy and truly enriched my childhood. Once the building was sold it became French Shriner shoe store. (it was never Clancy's Restaurant) [then those other sources on the internet about the restaurant was in error.]
Ernie did not own the Mill Hill Pavilion, which was across the street. His band played there occasionally and it burned down in the late 1920's, prior to The Rainbow being built. [This is why Ernie, in my opinion, decided to built the Rainbow Ballroom and Rollerdrome.]
I recall Ernie telling me that the construction took about two months with over 100 men working to build it.
Ernie operated the Rainbow until he sold it in March 1970. It remained OPEN until the sale.
There was mostly roller skating, but in 1966 there were some "dances" which included Chubby Checker, Percy Sledge (When a man loves a woman).
The Interior.
Beautiful wooden floor. Likely Maple spread out entire building. It was pastel colors with White as a shade with a White stage and of course, White Piano with flowers painted on it. The feeling of grand at the time.
The Exterior.
Gambrel Roof designed building that does look like a roller rink and ballroom. Not a Red Barn Restaurant. Haha.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Still standing...
Type of Building: Free-Span wood Truss wood siding-Walled Dance hall - like Building.
Roof: Gambrel.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Opened as ballroom: Wednesday August 13, 1930), roller skating started: 1933 to March 1970..
Reason for Closure: Retirement and sold.
Wanted: Information regarding, size of rink. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Facebook - Yarmouth group; Christopher Setterlund -blogger;
Date of issue: 27 December 2020. Update: 17 July 2021.
For Office Only: 6 p.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.