Shamrock Skate Arena 1851 Mullin Avenue, Torrance, CA. All boarded up after it was closed. Source: Facebook group.
Shamrock Skate Arena 1851 Mullin Avenue, Torrance, CA. All boarded up after it was closed. Source: Facebook group.
Shamrock Skate Arena 1851 Mullin Avenue, Torrance, CA. Appeared to be taken in 1980s thanks to the photograph and the vehicles by the big sign and door of the former rink. Source: Facebook group.
Shamrock Skate Arena 1851 Mullin Avenue, Torrance, CA. New memberships including Shamrock. It was called Tor Roller Drome at the time. Source: Billboard 16 May 1960, page 55, 4th and 5th column.
Shamrock Skate Arena 1851 Mullin Avenue, Torrance, CA. Classic looking late 1970s advertisement. Sorry your coupon above is expired. Source: News Pilot - Friday, 09 November 1979.
Shamrock Skate Arena 1851 Mullin Avenue, Torrance, CA. Rink closing. Source: The Daily Breeze - Sunday 01 September 1985, Page B1.
Shamrock Skate Arena 1851 Mullin Avenue, Torrance, CA. Rink closing. Source: The Daily Breeze - Sunday 01 September 1985, Page B2.
Tor Roller Drome 1851 Mullin Avenue, Torrance, CA
Shamrock Roller Skating Rink 1851 Mullin Avenue, Torrance, CA
Shamrock Skate Arena 1851 Mullin Avenue, Torrance, CA
Shamrock Roller Skating Rink 1851 Mullin Avenue, Torrance, CA
Shamrock Skate Arena 1851 Mullin Avenue, Torrance, CA
The luck of the Irish did not make this rink, Shamrock Skate Arena 1851 Mullin Avenue, Torrance, California last forever. It became a Honda Motors company headquarters. Originally, it was Tor Roller Drome that was operational from 1954 until 1966 then it became Shamrock in 1966.
Mr. George Anderson and his wife first operated Tor Roller Drome from 1954 to 1959 but then, Robert R. & Thomas H. Block took over operations in 1959 until around 1960's.
Ella Schwartz and Norma Greene of Francis Levy's estate became new owners and operated the rink including Shamrock Skate Arena.
Shamrock Skate Arena began in pre-1955 (date unknown yet) and it became well known and well established roller rink in the land of movie and television industry where thousands of stories are told. Shamrock Skate Arena is no stranger to stories as you can see in source section below.
They had an organ and when the Disco Craze came along in the 1970s, like any other roller rinks at the time, the owner and management followed suit to turn the rink into Roller Disco rink. But when Disco died in 12 July 1979 when Rock-n-Rollers had a protest at a baseball stadium during a Chicago White Sox double header games with Detroit Tigers, during between two games, the protesters burned albums and causing a riot damaging chairs, equipment, bathrooms etc prompt a second game cancellation. Disco died that day and roller rinks acted like a blind mice went along with it. Again, like Many rinks closed, Shamrock Skate Arena closed on Tuesday 27 August 1985.
A Wikipedia article has more to the story as well. It was called Disco Demolition Night. History too.
When they closed the rink, several young die-hard Shamrock regulars showed up on skates in front of Torrance City Hall on Friday morning 30 August 1985 carrying signs protesting the closure of the rink.
The city’s then-recreation administrator Bill Klement told them their skates were damaging the tiled grounds and they would have to remove them, which they did. He also told them of plans to build an outdoor rink at Wilson Park, an idea which became the park’s roller hockey facility that finally opened in October 1993.
It had other Shamrock Skate Arenas in Greater Los Angeles including one in San Gabriel, California.
The Interior.
Tor Roller Drome: It said to have Hardwood floor but did not say specific what kind of wood. Normally when you write, "Hardwood" Most skaters and operators and readers will assume it meant "Hardwood Maple" So for now I will say it was Hardwood Maple. It lasted throughout Tor Roller Drome and Shamrock Skate Arena.
Shamrock Skate Arena: Read above.
The Exterior.
Tor Roller Drome: It was a very basic looking building with Flatted Roof Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks and Flatstone Veneer - Walled Storefront - like Building.
Shamrock Skate Arena: Same as above. The exception was likely painted into Heavy Tan with Script-writing font for the name.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely Hardwood Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: Likely 1954. Renovations: N/A.
Demolished: 1990 by American Honda Motors Company for their new headquarters that is still operational today.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks and Flatstone Veneer - Walled Storefront - like Building.
Roof: Flatted.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1954 to Tuesday, 27 August 1985.
Tor Roller Drome: 1954 to 1966.
Shamrock Skate Arena: 1966 to Tuesday, 27 August 1985.
Reason for Closure:
Tor Roller Drome: Owners sold the rink for unknown reasons but name kept the same till the final pair of owners changed its name to Shamrock Skate Arena.
Shamrock Skate Arena: The owners, Ella Schwartz and Norma Greene, fell two months behind on their rent, and made the decision to close the rink down.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Billboard - 16 May 1960
The Daily Breeze - By Sam Gnerre 03 February 2011 Updated: 06 September 2017.
Facebook - Private group. Ask for permission to join.
Blogger A - Curt and Cindy's story about the couple skating at Shamrock.
River Dave's Place - Forum about roller skating in that town.
Blogger B - Another Cindy is featured.
The Daily Breeze - 03 February 2013 article about Shamrock.
American Honda Motors Co.
Paskal Family Blog - Cindy loves to skate at the rink, outdoors.
The Daily Breeze - by Sam Gnerre - 02 February 2011.
Blogger B - connecting to the rink.
Blogger C - Listed where he went including Shamrock.
Worth to visit:
None.
Date of issue: 16 February 2022.
For office use only: 7.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
Mr. George Anderson and his wife first operated Tor Roller Drome from 1954 to 1959 but then, Robert R. & Thomas H. Block took over operations in 1959 until around 1960's.
Ella Schwartz and Norma Greene of Francis Levy's estate became new owners and operated the rink including Shamrock Skate Arena.
Shamrock Skate Arena began in pre-1955 (date unknown yet) and it became well known and well established roller rink in the land of movie and television industry where thousands of stories are told. Shamrock Skate Arena is no stranger to stories as you can see in source section below.
They had an organ and when the Disco Craze came along in the 1970s, like any other roller rinks at the time, the owner and management followed suit to turn the rink into Roller Disco rink. But when Disco died in 12 July 1979 when Rock-n-Rollers had a protest at a baseball stadium during a Chicago White Sox double header games with Detroit Tigers, during between two games, the protesters burned albums and causing a riot damaging chairs, equipment, bathrooms etc prompt a second game cancellation. Disco died that day and roller rinks acted like a blind mice went along with it. Again, like Many rinks closed, Shamrock Skate Arena closed on Tuesday 27 August 1985.
A Wikipedia article has more to the story as well. It was called Disco Demolition Night. History too.
When they closed the rink, several young die-hard Shamrock regulars showed up on skates in front of Torrance City Hall on Friday morning 30 August 1985 carrying signs protesting the closure of the rink.
The city’s then-recreation administrator Bill Klement told them their skates were damaging the tiled grounds and they would have to remove them, which they did. He also told them of plans to build an outdoor rink at Wilson Park, an idea which became the park’s roller hockey facility that finally opened in October 1993.
It had other Shamrock Skate Arenas in Greater Los Angeles including one in San Gabriel, California.
The Interior.
Tor Roller Drome: It said to have Hardwood floor but did not say specific what kind of wood. Normally when you write, "Hardwood" Most skaters and operators and readers will assume it meant "Hardwood Maple" So for now I will say it was Hardwood Maple. It lasted throughout Tor Roller Drome and Shamrock Skate Arena.
Shamrock Skate Arena: Read above.
The Exterior.
Tor Roller Drome: It was a very basic looking building with Flatted Roof Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks and Flatstone Veneer - Walled Storefront - like Building.
Shamrock Skate Arena: Same as above. The exception was likely painted into Heavy Tan with Script-writing font for the name.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Likely Hardwood Maple. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built: Likely 1954. Renovations: N/A.
Demolished: 1990 by American Honda Motors Company for their new headquarters that is still operational today.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Trusses Cinderblocks and Flatstone Veneer - Walled Storefront - like Building.
Roof: Flatted.
Acres: N/A.
Organ: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1954 to Tuesday, 27 August 1985.
Tor Roller Drome: 1954 to 1966.
Shamrock Skate Arena: 1966 to Tuesday, 27 August 1985.
Reason for Closure:
Tor Roller Drome: Owners sold the rink for unknown reasons but name kept the same till the final pair of owners changed its name to Shamrock Skate Arena.
Shamrock Skate Arena: The owners, Ella Schwartz and Norma Greene, fell two months behind on their rent, and made the decision to close the rink down.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you. You can also use this form.
Sources:
Billboard - 16 May 1960
The Daily Breeze - By Sam Gnerre 03 February 2011 Updated: 06 September 2017.
Facebook - Private group. Ask for permission to join.
Blogger A - Curt and Cindy's story about the couple skating at Shamrock.
River Dave's Place - Forum about roller skating in that town.
Blogger B - Another Cindy is featured.
The Daily Breeze - 03 February 2013 article about Shamrock.
American Honda Motors Co.
Paskal Family Blog - Cindy loves to skate at the rink, outdoors.
The Daily Breeze - by Sam Gnerre - 02 February 2011.
Blogger B - connecting to the rink.
Blogger C - Listed where he went including Shamrock.
Worth to visit:
None.
Date of issue: 16 February 2022.
For office use only: 7.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.