Courtesy of Omaha World-Herald. Photograph taken on August 5, 1969, a year after the rink first opened. If that is the case, wow, the floor really scratched many times badly! Oh right, many skates had METAL wheels and Polyurethane coat was not in practice--yet. Scratching floors were quite common back the day. One more thing, you see 3 "K" in the photo. Those are the photographer's or editor's marks to reduce size or cropping for the newspaper printing and leave it original. Apparently they must have forgotten to make duplicate without any marks on.
Courtesy of Cernik Family/Skate Daze. This one showed an advertisement for Skateland at 108th Street location. This is the one I can find with the street number. Often back then Skateland Skate Centers would not have such numbers. They tend to add two streets at a corner.
Skateland 5103 South 108th Street, Omaha, NE
This Skateland at 5103 South 108th Street, Omaha, NE was the first named as Skateland. Frank Cernik opened this rink in 1968. This was the first in series with such name. Perhaps this is when many rinks that were NOT owned by Frank Cernik were opened in other parts of the country. Legally you can use the same name as long as it is not in the same state. However, if copyrighted, Trademarked or Registered name, you cannot use the same name. Like with the famous Putt Putt® that the Late Don Clayton registered, no mini-golf courses owners cannot use that name because it belongs to to Putt Putt® Fun Centers. Same you cannot use name Ford on your automobiles. And similar names too like with the White Castle v. White Tower lawsuit because of the appearance and name.
The Interior.
I have only one evidence: ONE photograph related to this specific rink that was taken on August 5, 1969. Skaters skating by the photographer as one girl looks toward camera as she skated by. It showed it was Maple wood floor. The appearance was perhaps similar to other Skateland Skate Centers in terms of design for both interior and exterior.
The Exterior.
I have no proof but likely it was similar to the Spanish look. However, from what I seen on Map Google, it was shown as more modern looking building. I am not sure when they closed but I can see the former big chain called, Gold's Gym which later went out of business and several gyms and fitness centers bought out Gold's Gym. Presently it is Blue Moon Fitness. So fitness went from skating to gyms. This rink's exterior was quite different for sure. The rest of the building is intact as Gabled roof building with steel sheet metal walls. Of course, cinder-block built.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple wood. Floor Layout: Fan
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: N/A
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse-like Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1968 to N/A
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding good photos! Both interior and exterior, exact dates of open and closed. Why close this one?
Sources: Frank Cernik Genealogy, Skate Daze, Omaha World-Herald,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
The Interior.
I have only one evidence: ONE photograph related to this specific rink that was taken on August 5, 1969. Skaters skating by the photographer as one girl looks toward camera as she skated by. It showed it was Maple wood floor. The appearance was perhaps similar to other Skateland Skate Centers in terms of design for both interior and exterior.
The Exterior.
I have no proof but likely it was similar to the Spanish look. However, from what I seen on Map Google, it was shown as more modern looking building. I am not sure when they closed but I can see the former big chain called, Gold's Gym which later went out of business and several gyms and fitness centers bought out Gold's Gym. Presently it is Blue Moon Fitness. So fitness went from skating to gyms. This rink's exterior was quite different for sure. The rest of the building is intact as Gabled roof building with steel sheet metal walls. Of course, cinder-block built.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A Floor: Maple wood. Floor Layout: Fan
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: N/A
Type of Building: Free Span Steel Warehouse-like Building.
Roof: Gable
Acres: N/A
Operated: 1968 to N/A
Reason for Closure: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding good photos! Both interior and exterior, exact dates of open and closed. Why close this one?
Sources: Frank Cernik Genealogy, Skate Daze, Omaha World-Herald,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved.