Tiny's Jefferson Hwy, New Orleans, LA
Tiny's was a tent roller rink on Jefferson Highway in New Orleans, Louisiana according to Schatze on Mr. Lake's New Orleans Forum. Perhaps set up at different locations time to time. Many rinks around the country began with tents. Like with restaurants, they began with their lunch wagons yesteryear and grew into train car, diners, then big box fast food restaurant chains you all familiar since 1930s.
What more interesting is that Tiny himself was not tiny. He was rather a large round guy. This sounded familiar and similar to the other Tiny I know of from reading in books of fast food restaurants. yeah, still on the subject about that. This Tiny was also large round guy who owned Tiny Naylor's in Greater Los Angeles Metro especially one that was famous (demolished) jet setting look of modern Drive-in restaurant.
So, now I know in history there were two business owners with the same nickname, "Tiny" and both of those men were large round men. One was for fast food and the other skating. Both of their businesses were destroyed, the restaurant met the wrecking ball and the rink met with angry Betsy, the hurricane. Both iconic at the height of Twentieth Century (1930 to 1980). This is pure coincidence. No kidding.
Some one said it was Hurricane Betsy in September 1965 destroyed the tent rink. It was destroyed and Tiny decided not to restart with a new one. Instead he went on to buy a rink in Biloxi, Mississippi.
UPDATE --
I received an email from a skater named C.R. who knew Tiny back then. I received her email today 17 August 2021. Here is what she has to say --
I skated there in late 50s until hurricane Betsy destroyed it in 1965. My friends and I helped Tiny and his wife pick up the morning after the storm. It was totally destroyed. Tent in pieces and wooden floor all buckled. After that they acquired a rink in Biloxi Miss. That one went in hurricane Camille. Tiny, whose name was Horace also owned a lumber business in Mississippi. They gave up on the rinks. I am 73 years old and I will never forget all those good times skating. I still miss it.
Wow, I really felt bad for Tiny because twice hurricanes destroyed rinks. Hmm. Those area are hot zone for hurricanes. Katrina, Rita, and a few others hit those area hard in more recent years.
The Interior.
N/A. Likely wood floor.
The Exterior.
Basically a tent rink. Large canopy.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely wood because of traveling tent rink. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Was a tent rink. Hurricane Betsy destroyed it.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: N/A to September (6 to 13),1965.
Reason for Closure: Hurricane Betsy (of September 1965) destroyed it.
Wanted: Information regarding photos, material for rink, layout, size, when first started? Who was this Tiny?
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Mr. Lake's New Orleans Forum. Tiny Naylor's,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Jn 3:16
What more interesting is that Tiny himself was not tiny. He was rather a large round guy. This sounded familiar and similar to the other Tiny I know of from reading in books of fast food restaurants. yeah, still on the subject about that. This Tiny was also large round guy who owned Tiny Naylor's in Greater Los Angeles Metro especially one that was famous (demolished) jet setting look of modern Drive-in restaurant.
So, now I know in history there were two business owners with the same nickname, "Tiny" and both of those men were large round men. One was for fast food and the other skating. Both of their businesses were destroyed, the restaurant met the wrecking ball and the rink met with angry Betsy, the hurricane. Both iconic at the height of Twentieth Century (1930 to 1980). This is pure coincidence. No kidding.
Some one said it was Hurricane Betsy in September 1965 destroyed the tent rink. It was destroyed and Tiny decided not to restart with a new one. Instead he went on to buy a rink in Biloxi, Mississippi.
UPDATE --
I received an email from a skater named C.R. who knew Tiny back then. I received her email today 17 August 2021. Here is what she has to say --
I skated there in late 50s until hurricane Betsy destroyed it in 1965. My friends and I helped Tiny and his wife pick up the morning after the storm. It was totally destroyed. Tent in pieces and wooden floor all buckled. After that they acquired a rink in Biloxi Miss. That one went in hurricane Camille. Tiny, whose name was Horace also owned a lumber business in Mississippi. They gave up on the rinks. I am 73 years old and I will never forget all those good times skating. I still miss it.
Wow, I really felt bad for Tiny because twice hurricanes destroyed rinks. Hmm. Those area are hot zone for hurricanes. Katrina, Rita, and a few others hit those area hard in more recent years.
The Interior.
N/A. Likely wood floor.
The Exterior.
Basically a tent rink. Large canopy.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely wood because of traveling tent rink. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: N/A. Demolished: Was a tent rink. Hurricane Betsy destroyed it.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: N/A to September (6 to 13),1965.
Reason for Closure: Hurricane Betsy (of September 1965) destroyed it.
Wanted: Information regarding photos, material for rink, layout, size, when first started? Who was this Tiny?
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Mr. Lake's New Orleans Forum. Tiny Naylor's,
© 2019-2020 Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Jn 3:16