Credit: Forgotten Roller Rinks of the Past. Appeared to be taken when first opened as entertainment center (roller rink and swimming pool) in 1937 thanks to the car and photograph itself. Noticed they have had a lot of doors! Advanced in emergency exits of its time!
Photo courtesy of Ted Fudjinski (Facebook). Noticed the six-sided hexagon benches? It had plants on top of it! And the dinning room style table and chairs. Long before the benches.
Postcard courtesy of Susan Miller. Quite busy banners on ceiling! Appears to be large rink with limited space on sides.
Wal-Cliffe Rollerdrome, Johnson Avenue, Elmont, New York
This is the original rink of three rinks. This was on Johnson Avenue however, there is no street number available since it was long ago. Might have to look up in phone books and their historical societies. This rink was designed as like a 1930s night club interior because of the plants, fancy circle benches which predates the popular "high wire spools" of 1960s and 1970s. It was a full size rink covering most of the building as in observation with the photos. Because of those pictures are copyrighted, I could not post those, unfortunately. I will need to use from Elmont Historical society. There are pictures but from a book.
Unfortunately, I have the exterior of the facility. This first generation Wal-Califfe Rollerdrome was first opened in 1937 nearing the end of the Great Depression and the upcoming World War II. It was built made of cinder blocks and simple looking exterior as seen in the photo. It was curved dome and even in front, it was built to curve as well as in the rear of the building.
It appeared to be very simple design on the outside but look grand inside with an organ. They focused on roller ballroom dancing, couple skates, figure skates.. and regular skating sessions. A copyrighted photo from a book showed they were skating by themselves and a very few skated as couple. All dress up in suits and dress. It appeared to be very late 1930s or early 1940s by the look of their attire. Zoot suit was clearly seen in on a gentleman but another who was skating backward had a name on the rear of his sports jacket which was rarely at the time. So, that dates to early 40s.
Wal-Cliffe was opened and operated by Milton Hinchcliffe and Mr. Waldren. The rink was successful and survived the Depression and the War when it was first opened. It did not survive on April 16, 1959 as spring season was already underway. The maple wood floor burned as well as most of the structure except for some parts and of course, the swimming pool survived because it was not adjoined.
The damage was a half million dollars worth caused by the fire. 100 firefighters fought the fire and was under control within an hour which was pretty quick. It was reported by Billboard, April 20, 1959.
So, people thought it was all lost and gone for good. However, they were wrong: the New Wal-Cliff was reborn. See New Wal-Cliffe Roller Rink page.
Rink Size: N/A (20,000 square feet) Floor: Maple wood Floor Layout: Fan.
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: April 16, 1959 by fire.
Type of Building: Free Span Hip-Arch Clinderblock Building.
Roof: Hip-Arch
Acres: 3 Acres
Operated: September 7, 1937 to April 16, 1959 -due to fire.
Reason for Closure: Fire damaged the building and rink. (But rebuilt shortly after).
Wanted: Original Wal-Clifffe Rollerdrome interior photos, please NOT the book photos!
Sources: FRRP: Susan Miller; Bill Florio, the author of Around Elmont and Rosedale (Images of America). Billboard, April 20, 1959, Third Anniversary program booklet.
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.
This is the original rink of three rinks. This was on Johnson Avenue however, there is no street number available since it was long ago. Might have to look up in phone books and their historical societies. This rink was designed as like a 1930s night club interior because of the plants, fancy circle benches which predates the popular "high wire spools" of 1960s and 1970s. It was a full size rink covering most of the building as in observation with the photos. Because of those pictures are copyrighted, I could not post those, unfortunately. I will need to use from Elmont Historical society. There are pictures but from a book.
Unfortunately, I have the exterior of the facility. This first generation Wal-Califfe Rollerdrome was first opened in 1937 nearing the end of the Great Depression and the upcoming World War II. It was built made of cinder blocks and simple looking exterior as seen in the photo. It was curved dome and even in front, it was built to curve as well as in the rear of the building.
It appeared to be very simple design on the outside but look grand inside with an organ. They focused on roller ballroom dancing, couple skates, figure skates.. and regular skating sessions. A copyrighted photo from a book showed they were skating by themselves and a very few skated as couple. All dress up in suits and dress. It appeared to be very late 1930s or early 1940s by the look of their attire. Zoot suit was clearly seen in on a gentleman but another who was skating backward had a name on the rear of his sports jacket which was rarely at the time. So, that dates to early 40s.
Wal-Cliffe was opened and operated by Milton Hinchcliffe and Mr. Waldren. The rink was successful and survived the Depression and the War when it was first opened. It did not survive on April 16, 1959 as spring season was already underway. The maple wood floor burned as well as most of the structure except for some parts and of course, the swimming pool survived because it was not adjoined.
The damage was a half million dollars worth caused by the fire. 100 firefighters fought the fire and was under control within an hour which was pretty quick. It was reported by Billboard, April 20, 1959.
So, people thought it was all lost and gone for good. However, they were wrong: the New Wal-Cliff was reborn. See New Wal-Cliffe Roller Rink page.
Rink Size: N/A (20,000 square feet) Floor: Maple wood Floor Layout: Fan.
Building Size: N/A Built: N/A Demolished: April 16, 1959 by fire.
Type of Building: Free Span Hip-Arch Clinderblock Building.
Roof: Hip-Arch
Acres: 3 Acres
Operated: September 7, 1937 to April 16, 1959 -due to fire.
Reason for Closure: Fire damaged the building and rink. (But rebuilt shortly after).
Wanted: Original Wal-Clifffe Rollerdrome interior photos, please NOT the book photos!
Sources: FRRP: Susan Miller; Bill Florio, the author of Around Elmont and Rosedale (Images of America). Billboard, April 20, 1959, Third Anniversary program booklet.
© 2019 - 2020 Dead Rinks. All Rights Reserved.