ROOF STYLE AND TERMINOLOGY.
There were and are many styles of roof that roller rinks used. Anywhere from Flat to Quonset Hut style. To clearly understand the terminology in the profiles many you may wonder what they are. For example, Quonset is bend aluminum (usually) from one end to another end on the ground in semi-circle. This is not a very common roof today compared to first half 20th Century. So, this is the discussion. Each photo represents an illustration of the roof and a photo to illustrate an actual rink with that style of roof. Also pros and cons.
There were and are many styles of roof that roller rinks used. Anywhere from Flat to Quonset Hut style. To clearly understand the terminology in the profiles many you may wonder what they are. For example, Quonset is bend aluminum (usually) from one end to another end on the ground in semi-circle. This is not a very common roof today compared to first half 20th Century. So, this is the discussion. Each photo represents an illustration of the roof and a photo to illustrate an actual rink with that style of roof. Also pros and cons.
HISTORY OF ROOF STYLES WITH ROLLER RINKS.
Roofs have gone through changes and styles and trends. In 19th Century from when James Pimpton began first roller rink, his one of two inventions (the other was common quad skates we all know today). Those styles were quite grandiose and fancy along with the architecture of building. Many mixed styles they had. They are very hard to find photos let alone illustrations by artists to showcase such buildings. That is because the landmarks are more succcessful symbol of a city. For example, here we will compare to any place, rinks, and buildings in my hometown, Syracuse, NY. The Gridley Building is a landmark in Syracuse which is more well known than any roller rinks that were in Syracuse, NY.
Speaking of the Gridley Building which was an Edwardian style with the clock and hip-style roofline which resembled closely to Victorian. There was, a rink closely in style somewhat was the second Alnambra Roller Rink. The second Alnambra had Hip or Gable roof as the photo was not clear since it is a B and W photo. Looked more like Edwardian style Hip roof. Similar to the Old Wendy's Copper Hip roofline. The original Alnambra was also common roofline that it was curved arch. It was not straight arch. It was combination roofline. Many antiqued buildings of its time still standing has that roofline. Almost the same as the Center of Progress Building found at the New York State Fairgrounds (At one time, called Empire Expo).
Later, in early 20th Century, more rink owners like the arched roof which is also called D-Roof which is almost the same. More on that explaination later. There is no alphabet letter for this arched Roof. Can be C roof but it is not. Many rinks used arches at the time because it was convenience to use without pillars or columns or posts interfere the rink floor.
But in mid-century such as 1950s on, many rinks opened using Flat roof. Cheaper, and with hope no heavy snow and even much rain pressure the roofline. They were the "Big Box" and many still are. Some rinks eventually went into shopping plazas. Too rare they would go into a shopping mall. As of January 25, 2020, I only could find out 3 or 4 rinks were in shopping malls around the country with only two still operating in a mall (ironically, one of them is in my hometown, Black Mamba, ShoppingTown Mall, Erie Boulevard East. DeWitt, NY) and the Interskate-91 (North) in North Hadley, MA.
So far with 700 plus rinks I worked on has no 1950s Google style architecture. Hmm. None! I was hoping there were Google style because people in past 50 years thought roller skating was the big common thing with Roller Skating and carhops as well as cruising on boulevards and main streets, the poodle skirts and greased hair.. Right John T and Olivia N-J and Henry W and Ron H?
Wrong. No rinks were truly 1950s Google style. Most of those Googies were confined to diners, drive-ins, and fast food chains. Even some homes had that Googie looks. Closest one would be a rink out somewhere in Mid-West but it was actually a Gable roof rink with a tiny bit of Googie look on it but the interior were no way 1950s look. (See Architecture History page).
Flat Roofs are the mainstay today.
Roofs have gone through changes and styles and trends. In 19th Century from when James Pimpton began first roller rink, his one of two inventions (the other was common quad skates we all know today). Those styles were quite grandiose and fancy along with the architecture of building. Many mixed styles they had. They are very hard to find photos let alone illustrations by artists to showcase such buildings. That is because the landmarks are more succcessful symbol of a city. For example, here we will compare to any place, rinks, and buildings in my hometown, Syracuse, NY. The Gridley Building is a landmark in Syracuse which is more well known than any roller rinks that were in Syracuse, NY.
Speaking of the Gridley Building which was an Edwardian style with the clock and hip-style roofline which resembled closely to Victorian. There was, a rink closely in style somewhat was the second Alnambra Roller Rink. The second Alnambra had Hip or Gable roof as the photo was not clear since it is a B and W photo. Looked more like Edwardian style Hip roof. Similar to the Old Wendy's Copper Hip roofline. The original Alnambra was also common roofline that it was curved arch. It was not straight arch. It was combination roofline. Many antiqued buildings of its time still standing has that roofline. Almost the same as the Center of Progress Building found at the New York State Fairgrounds (At one time, called Empire Expo).
Later, in early 20th Century, more rink owners like the arched roof which is also called D-Roof which is almost the same. More on that explaination later. There is no alphabet letter for this arched Roof. Can be C roof but it is not. Many rinks used arches at the time because it was convenience to use without pillars or columns or posts interfere the rink floor.
But in mid-century such as 1950s on, many rinks opened using Flat roof. Cheaper, and with hope no heavy snow and even much rain pressure the roofline. They were the "Big Box" and many still are. Some rinks eventually went into shopping plazas. Too rare they would go into a shopping mall. As of January 25, 2020, I only could find out 3 or 4 rinks were in shopping malls around the country with only two still operating in a mall (ironically, one of them is in my hometown, Black Mamba, ShoppingTown Mall, Erie Boulevard East. DeWitt, NY) and the Interskate-91 (North) in North Hadley, MA.
So far with 700 plus rinks I worked on has no 1950s Google style architecture. Hmm. None! I was hoping there were Google style because people in past 50 years thought roller skating was the big common thing with Roller Skating and carhops as well as cruising on boulevards and main streets, the poodle skirts and greased hair.. Right John T and Olivia N-J and Henry W and Ron H?
Wrong. No rinks were truly 1950s Google style. Most of those Googies were confined to diners, drive-ins, and fast food chains. Even some homes had that Googie looks. Closest one would be a rink out somewhere in Mid-West but it was actually a Gable roof rink with a tiny bit of Googie look on it but the interior were no way 1950s look. (See Architecture History page).
Flat Roofs are the mainstay today.
ROOF STYLES.
In the list below, you will see 3 columns. Illustration, Photo example, and description.
In the list below, you will see 3 columns. Illustration, Photo example, and description.
FLAT ROOF