Skateland 650 7th St., West Salem, OR
Rollertime 650 7th St., West Salem, OR
This was the original location of Skateland. There are two paths of history because it is like a spin off for one of the rink. Skateland closed up at this location in 1966 after it was opened in 1955. Then the same management reopened as Skateland in Salem, not in West Salem as it was originally. The Skateland if you want to follow, you check out Skateland (Rebooted) page. Then the building there has a history to go on as Bremerton Skateland page. Check both links that are underlined to follow those histories.
The other path from the same building with the same owner of the building, the lease ran out for Skateland so they did not renew it there. The owner of the building leased it to new management for Rollertime which ran from 1967 to 1977 which were operated by Earl and Betty Hardy. The building then was demolished to make way for a couple of stores including the defunct Payless Shoes store that was located there. Now it is all different.
They also had a roller skating drill team that went to parades in the summer to promote roller skating as well as an artistic team with many national finalist and placements throughout their years of operation. When the lease ran out Mr Taggart’s son and daughter who had taken over his operations wanted to triple the rent and with 3 rinks in town it just wasn’t fees able so Earl and Betty stepped away from skating at that time.
The building was then leased to the Boys and Girls Club for Bingo. Which it was until they moved to another building on the East side of town.
The Artistic and Hockey teams and coaches moved to Skateland South in Salem, OR.
Michael Gilliam begin my coaching at Rollertime in 1973 and moved to Skateland South when Rollertime closed.
Unfortunately, there are no photos. All day searching for photos but not available. It was quite odd. Even they had an article about Salem's history with roller rinks. Nothing to mentioned any photos. Just the photo of the new rebooted Skateland on Commercial Street location. Architecturally, I do not know. Any photos would be appreciated! And you will be credited! One thing though, the original rink could house 1,350 skaters. The new relocated rink built bigger with 220 by 100 feet rink, that is huge. That housed 1,500 skaters.
In February 1956, Skateland hosted Roller Skating Beauty Pageant for girls age 16 up similar to Miss USA, Miss America beauty pageants but on roller skates.
They had unusual event- A wedding in 1974. A couple named Diane Swartwout and Richard DaPas married Aug. 31 that year on roller skates. Members of the wedding party also wore skates, the Sept. 1, 1974, Oregon Statesman reported. Congrats on 45 plus years of marriage (if still they are still married!)
On an interesting side note. There is a street named likely after the rink building owner, Jack R. Taggart right behind Seventh Street where the rink used to be located. I could not find information but Google Map clearly shows the street's name.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1954. Demolished: after 1977 to make way for Payless Shoe store and other stores. Then demolished again for modern bank and offices. Capacity limit was 1,350 skaters.
Roof: N/A
Operated: As Skateland: January 19, 1955 to January 1966
As Rollertime: January 1966 to 1977.
Reason for Closure: As Skateland: Lease ran out.
As Rollertime: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding exact date of closure of both rinks. Exact date of opening of Rollertime.
Sources: Stateman Journal, Bremerton Skateland, FRRP, Stateman Journal, New Roller Rink Planned, Stateman Journal Tuesday January 26, 1965, New Skating Rink to Open, Stateman Journal, January 12, 1965; New Roller Rink due for Salem, Daily Capital Journal, Friday September 21, 1956 (providing date and size of rink itself). Michael Gilliam.
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
Rollertime 650 7th St., West Salem, OR
This was the original location of Skateland. There are two paths of history because it is like a spin off for one of the rink. Skateland closed up at this location in 1966 after it was opened in 1955. Then the same management reopened as Skateland in Salem, not in West Salem as it was originally. The Skateland if you want to follow, you check out Skateland (Rebooted) page. Then the building there has a history to go on as Bremerton Skateland page. Check both links that are underlined to follow those histories.
The other path from the same building with the same owner of the building, the lease ran out for Skateland so they did not renew it there. The owner of the building leased it to new management for Rollertime which ran from 1967 to 1977 which were operated by Earl and Betty Hardy. The building then was demolished to make way for a couple of stores including the defunct Payless Shoes store that was located there. Now it is all different.
They also had a roller skating drill team that went to parades in the summer to promote roller skating as well as an artistic team with many national finalist and placements throughout their years of operation. When the lease ran out Mr Taggart’s son and daughter who had taken over his operations wanted to triple the rent and with 3 rinks in town it just wasn’t fees able so Earl and Betty stepped away from skating at that time.
The building was then leased to the Boys and Girls Club for Bingo. Which it was until they moved to another building on the East side of town.
The Artistic and Hockey teams and coaches moved to Skateland South in Salem, OR.
Michael Gilliam begin my coaching at Rollertime in 1973 and moved to Skateland South when Rollertime closed.
Unfortunately, there are no photos. All day searching for photos but not available. It was quite odd. Even they had an article about Salem's history with roller rinks. Nothing to mentioned any photos. Just the photo of the new rebooted Skateland on Commercial Street location. Architecturally, I do not know. Any photos would be appreciated! And you will be credited! One thing though, the original rink could house 1,350 skaters. The new relocated rink built bigger with 220 by 100 feet rink, that is huge. That housed 1,500 skaters.
In February 1956, Skateland hosted Roller Skating Beauty Pageant for girls age 16 up similar to Miss USA, Miss America beauty pageants but on roller skates.
They had unusual event- A wedding in 1974. A couple named Diane Swartwout and Richard DaPas married Aug. 31 that year on roller skates. Members of the wedding party also wore skates, the Sept. 1, 1974, Oregon Statesman reported. Congrats on 45 plus years of marriage (if still they are still married!)
On an interesting side note. There is a street named likely after the rink building owner, Jack R. Taggart right behind Seventh Street where the rink used to be located. I could not find information but Google Map clearly shows the street's name.
Rink Size: N/A Floor: N/A Floor Layout: N/A
Building Size: N/A Built: 1954. Demolished: after 1977 to make way for Payless Shoe store and other stores. Then demolished again for modern bank and offices. Capacity limit was 1,350 skaters.
Roof: N/A
Operated: As Skateland: January 19, 1955 to January 1966
As Rollertime: January 1966 to 1977.
Reason for Closure: As Skateland: Lease ran out.
As Rollertime: N/A
Wanted: Information regarding exact date of closure of both rinks. Exact date of opening of Rollertime.
Sources: Stateman Journal, Bremerton Skateland, FRRP, Stateman Journal, New Roller Rink Planned, Stateman Journal Tuesday January 26, 1965, New Skating Rink to Open, Stateman Journal, January 12, 1965; New Roller Rink due for Salem, Daily Capital Journal, Friday September 21, 1956 (providing date and size of rink itself). Michael Gilliam.
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.