Rollerena 280 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA. An old Black-and-White postcard showing the original look on the outside with a sign almost similar to the famed certain Green background hotel chain sign. Source: Google.
Rollerena 280 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA. The 2013 really showed evidence of old rink look architecturally. And the front door was on the side as I attempted to capture roughly same corner of the building as original photo on very top (The B/W one I am talking about). Source: Google.
Rollerena 280 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA. The 2019 photo showing they just about to finish renovations. They had football/futbol league and small stores but now entire facility for another sports. Bosse Sports Training Center. It is a fitness center. Source: Google.
Rollerena 280 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA. Sorry those poor quality photocopying from an individual was not that great. Anyone have better photos or better brochure that you can send me? Please let me know at [email protected] Source: Private individual.
Rollerena 280 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA
Skate Rink Corp. 280 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA
Skate Rink Corp. 280 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA
Ranny Colaianni began Rollerena in 1953 (according to the laborer who helped construct this rink) in an Arched-Curved building with some extension on the side which is located at 280 Worcester Road, Framingham, Massachusetts.
On February 22nd and March 1st, 1957, Rollerena finally got their dance license from the Town of Framingham. They were a little too late to get that license because they closed up later that year! It was noted in the Town of Framingham minutes on February 18, 1957 board meeting. I believe they opened as roller rink in 1955 but wanted to add dances and wrestling matches there in 1957 as an attempt to keep the business operating but....
However, it did not last long. Likely he opened in the fall of 1955 and closed in likely late Spring 1957. By September 1957, Skate Rink Corp. took over operations and reopened in October but it was so unsuccessful, they closed in December 1957! This was one of shortest operating rink ever. Skate Rink Corp. was not just a rink, it was a company owned rink, not a family owned, apparently. That is how I see it. I could be wrong but that was the information I got off the net.
This one is harder one to get information.
This location was excellent but apparently it was marketed for adults as I can see from the brochure. It has a very good walking score of 80 points according to Loop Net. What was wrong with the rink? Both failed real short. 25 years are missing on this location before Rollerena.
31 percent for public transportation. Well, not that great. Maybe this is why both rinks failed.
The Interior.
Hard to see with those grainy photos. Anyone has photos, please let me know. Preferred without people. I found figure skaters at that rink with real wood panels on the wall. Clearly they are pine wood for paneling. Color photographs! Yes! 1950s Technicolor Kodak photographs!
They had a stage for their orchestra or bands to play on. They also had curtains on the wall in background on stage which was popular and common during early- and mid-20th Century. Even you seen on television such as the Tonight Show and Jack Paar Show and Original Price is Right. Look up in YouTube for 1950s television shows. Too many to list. The Ed Sullivan Show, Dick Clark's American Bandstands, even game shows, and televangelists' shows. Most of them do this till 1980s. Even 1950s music videos! Well, they were called clips back then!
The floor I can see in the color photos were clearly White Maple wood floors. It does look like Fan floor thanks to the color photos.
The Exterior.
The look was two part of the same building. One was Segmental Arch as you can see in the photograph and the right side was flat. The arch part was where the skating rink was. Now you cannot see it as it is heavily renovated to hide that arch. Original color is unknown. Cinderblocks built.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Clear coated White Maple wood. Floor Layout: Appeared to be Fan.
Building Size: 29,116/33,000 SF (both from Loop Net 2 profiles). Built: 1953/4. Demolished: Still standing. Heavy renovated few times and most recent in 2019 to hide that old rink look.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblocks-Walled Warehouse Arched-Curved Building.
Roof: Multiple-- Arched-Curved, Flat.
Acres: 1.3758 Acres.
Organ: Hammond.
Operated: Fall 1955 to December 1957.
Rollerena: Fall 1955 to Spring 1957. (One of shortest operating rink ever!)
Skate Rink Corp: September 1957 (Actually opened October 1957) to December 1957
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Rollerena: N/A. Likely unsuccessful.
Skate Rink Corp.: Unsuccessful, likely lack of skaters.
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: Town of Framingham minutes on February 18, 1957 board meeting.
Loop Net 1.
Loop Net 2.
Email
Date of issue: 29 December 2020. Update: 01 October 2021.
For Office Only: 6
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
On February 22nd and March 1st, 1957, Rollerena finally got their dance license from the Town of Framingham. They were a little too late to get that license because they closed up later that year! It was noted in the Town of Framingham minutes on February 18, 1957 board meeting. I believe they opened as roller rink in 1955 but wanted to add dances and wrestling matches there in 1957 as an attempt to keep the business operating but....
However, it did not last long. Likely he opened in the fall of 1955 and closed in likely late Spring 1957. By September 1957, Skate Rink Corp. took over operations and reopened in October but it was so unsuccessful, they closed in December 1957! This was one of shortest operating rink ever. Skate Rink Corp. was not just a rink, it was a company owned rink, not a family owned, apparently. That is how I see it. I could be wrong but that was the information I got off the net.
This one is harder one to get information.
This location was excellent but apparently it was marketed for adults as I can see from the brochure. It has a very good walking score of 80 points according to Loop Net. What was wrong with the rink? Both failed real short. 25 years are missing on this location before Rollerena.
31 percent for public transportation. Well, not that great. Maybe this is why both rinks failed.
The Interior.
Hard to see with those grainy photos. Anyone has photos, please let me know. Preferred without people. I found figure skaters at that rink with real wood panels on the wall. Clearly they are pine wood for paneling. Color photographs! Yes! 1950s Technicolor Kodak photographs!
They had a stage for their orchestra or bands to play on. They also had curtains on the wall in background on stage which was popular and common during early- and mid-20th Century. Even you seen on television such as the Tonight Show and Jack Paar Show and Original Price is Right. Look up in YouTube for 1950s television shows. Too many to list. The Ed Sullivan Show, Dick Clark's American Bandstands, even game shows, and televangelists' shows. Most of them do this till 1980s. Even 1950s music videos! Well, they were called clips back then!
The floor I can see in the color photos were clearly White Maple wood floors. It does look like Fan floor thanks to the color photos.
The Exterior.
The look was two part of the same building. One was Segmental Arch as you can see in the photograph and the right side was flat. The arch part was where the skating rink was. Now you cannot see it as it is heavily renovated to hide that arch. Original color is unknown. Cinderblocks built.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Clear coated White Maple wood. Floor Layout: Appeared to be Fan.
Building Size: 29,116/33,000 SF (both from Loop Net 2 profiles). Built: 1953/4. Demolished: Still standing. Heavy renovated few times and most recent in 2019 to hide that old rink look.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Cinderblocks-Walled Warehouse Arched-Curved Building.
Roof: Multiple-- Arched-Curved, Flat.
Acres: 1.3758 Acres.
Organ: Hammond.
Operated: Fall 1955 to December 1957.
Rollerena: Fall 1955 to Spring 1957. (One of shortest operating rink ever!)
Skate Rink Corp: September 1957 (Actually opened October 1957) to December 1957
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Rollerena: N/A. Likely unsuccessful.
Skate Rink Corp.: Unsuccessful, likely lack of skaters.
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: Town of Framingham minutes on February 18, 1957 board meeting.
Loop Net 1.
Loop Net 2.
Date of issue: 29 December 2020. Update: 01 October 2021.
For Office Only: 6
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.