As Webster Square Arena at the time.
Skating News May 1947. Only known photo so far of what the rink interior was like. Very sleek design. Very clean look. Windows wrapped around, a single line loop of neon lights around the ceiling parallel to the rink floor. Very modern for its time. It showed a blend of Art Deco but more toward to Mid-Century Modernism as the style evolved at that Post-War Era. Sorry for the blurring. It said, "The beautiful interior of the Webster Square Arena, Leo Doyle's newest venture at Worcester, Mass. The Massachusetts State (tournament) meet was held at this rink in April (1947)."
Billboard January 12, 1946, page 58. Clearly explained about the rink in this brief article announcing opening soon.
Billboard September 14, 1946. Page 84, 3rd column.
Billboard, November 15, 1952, page 66, 3rd column. It was sold! Converting to an ice rink. It was sad to hear that.
Billboard, May 23, 1953. What was happening while it was ice rink. It did have some roller skating but this one explained a home expo was happening. It was acting as a convention center as well.
Roller skating was back! As Getaway Skating Center! Unfortunately. It was a bust 5 years later or so.
Courtesy of TheTelegram.com April 27, 2015 and updating May 27, 2015.
At least they kept the name with Arena in this plaza. Arena Plaza and in fact, Arena Family Dental. Nice of them to keep the name because you never know!
Webster Square Arena 1049 South Main St., Worcester, MA
Worcester Arena 1049 South Main St., Worcester, Ma (Ice)
Getaway Skating Center 1049 South Main St., Worcester, MA
Worcester Arena 1049 South Main St., Worcester, Ma (Ice)
Getaway Skating Center 1049 South Main St., Worcester, MA
Several rinks which was at 1049 South Main Street, Worcester, MA ran for a while each in a D-Shaped Arched-Curve roof building you can still see hidden behind the fake front façade of this current as a shopping plaza. Originally it was Webster Square Arena followed by Worcester Arena which was an ice rink and that folded then finally Getaway Skating Center and they folded as well. Now a shopping plaza properly called Arena Plaza! At least they still named it "Arena" in association to the original names -- Webster Square Arena and the Worcester Arena.
Webster Square Arena began by Leo Doyle, the same guy who sold all of his rinks eventually and was seeking for a management job at any skating rinks. This rink opened in September 7, 1946 according to Billboard. But Leo sold all of the rinks eventually including this rink. He sold it to Larz J. Anderson who renamed it to Worcester Arena ice skating rink. He reconfigured the size of the rink to 82' x 185 which is slightly smaller than a NHL rink. And certainly smaller than the original roller rink.
Later, in 1985, another Anderson bought the ice rink facility and converted into roller rink in late 1985 but only lasted till December 31, 1990. It was Robert Anderson who purchased the rink from Larz.
You may say Loop Net said it was built in 1955. Yes, it was because it was rebuilt away from the road (looks like road needs more room and more parking spaces needed. But still had that D-Roof design.
Webster Square Arena -
The Interior.
This rink had consider one of very large, slightly larger than an NHL rink floor with 88 Feet long by 200 Feet long "floating" Maple floor with possible Rotunda because of the "Floating" but I am not sure. It brought in a lot of lights due to windows wrapped around the building. It was very clean and sleek design interior with tube lights parallel to the rotunda of the rink.
The interior was quite beautiful and had that Mid-Century Modernism look with a speck of Late Period Art Deco into it. It was revolutionary between the two greatest period of Architecture. The ceiling neon lights for the rink was a continuing loop around of neon light tubes to parallel to the floor shape. And more lights that had arched making it look like a C-shape. This was revolutionary in its design. The steel pipes wrapped around the rink was rails. And the stadium seating were positioned facing the rink.
The windows inside had storm shutters that you can open up to air in and to let light in as they attempt to reduce electricity consumption. Many old rinks did the same thing-- Going "Green" at the time up to 1950 by having windows to let sunlight in. Down side was energy losses. Going "Green" in 1940s was truly extraordinary as I can see in that photo.
On the other hand, since 1950s, skating rinks went windowless and this, had different perspective on energy saving. No windows making the interior stay cool in summers and warm in winter. I was at a warehouse-like Steel walled steel Truss built building one time in the summer and the owner of this billiard hall told me he has no air conditioning. It was quite hot outside and it remained cool. No windows! This concept is understandable and new ways to reduce energy waste. By the way, he went out of business a couple of years later as amusement and entertainment has declined since 1980s. This was in 1990s when I visited his billiard hall.
The Exterior.
It is and still is a D-Roof Arched-Curved White painted Cinderblock-walled Late period Art Deco that the front resembled as like a movie theater marquee. It was very unique design marquee and framing the front doors. That part extend out of the building. and quite close to the road! One thing though, 55 feet from the road (likely the main wall to the street curb). Pretty much like a 1940s car length from front door to the road. That close. But enough room for parking cars that size back in 1940s. There was a neon sign that includes WEBSTER ARENA ROLLER SKATING on each side of the marquee sign above the door. It showed it was black background to make it easier to show the name of the place for skaters to find this rink at nighttime.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 88' x 200'. Floor: "Floating" Maple. Floor Layout: Rotunda(?).
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1956. Demolished: 1955 for new arena.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss D-Roof Cinderblock-Walled Theater - like Building.
Roof: D-Roof Arched-Curve
Acres: 3.00 Acres.
Worcester Ice Arena -
The Interior.
Larz Anderson converted completely from roller to ice and converted back and forth but also he used as a convention center for trade shows including annual home show. Larz often converted the floor for various uses. Larz had the building rebuilt in 1955 which ended the original look. The rebuilt had that D-Shaped Arched-Curved roof.
The Exterior.
Entirely new building, moved few feet further back from the road.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 82' x 185. Floor: Ice (layers unknown). Floor Layout: Ice.
Building Size: 26,864 SF. Built: 1955. Demolished: Still standing, frontage demolished to make room for Arena Plaza.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Red-Brick Bricks-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: D-Roof/Arched-Curved.
Acres: N/A.
Getaway Skating Center -
The Interior.
N/A.
The Exterior.
Likely further changes to include the removal of the ice arena's name off and a new sign posted somewhere! The radiators for the ice rink likely thrown out and redo the floor completely. Maple? I am not sure or concrete. There are no further information on this rink.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple?. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 26,864 SF. Built: 1955. Demolished: Still standing Now as Arena Plaza.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: September 7, 1946 to July 12, 1953, October 1985 to December 31, 1990.
Webster Square Arena: January 1946 to 1952 (Roller skating continue till July 12, 1953.
Worcester Arena: (Roller Skating) till July 12, 1953; Ice skating July 14ish, 1953 till 1985.
Getaway Skating Center: Back to skating- Accorporated registered October 18, 1985 to December 31, 1990.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Webster Square Arena: Leo Doyle who sold all of his rinks for some strange reason, no one knows why.
Worcester Arena: N/A.
Getaway Skating Center: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Loop Net - Plaza section rental; Bizapedia - Getaway Skating Center;
Open Corporation DB - Getaway Skating Center; TheTelegram.com April 27, 2015 and updating May 27, 2015 (you cant get it unless you subscribe. I was fortunate to capture that for you); Billboard May 23, 1953 - crowd at home show;
Billboard, November 15, 1952, page 66, 3rd column - conversion to ice; Billboard September 14, 1946. Page 84, 3rd column - the opening; Billboard January 12, 1946, page 58 -Opening soon of the new rink;
Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts business database- Getaway Skating Rink;
Date of issue: 17 January 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.
Webster Square Arena began by Leo Doyle, the same guy who sold all of his rinks eventually and was seeking for a management job at any skating rinks. This rink opened in September 7, 1946 according to Billboard. But Leo sold all of the rinks eventually including this rink. He sold it to Larz J. Anderson who renamed it to Worcester Arena ice skating rink. He reconfigured the size of the rink to 82' x 185 which is slightly smaller than a NHL rink. And certainly smaller than the original roller rink.
Later, in 1985, another Anderson bought the ice rink facility and converted into roller rink in late 1985 but only lasted till December 31, 1990. It was Robert Anderson who purchased the rink from Larz.
You may say Loop Net said it was built in 1955. Yes, it was because it was rebuilt away from the road (looks like road needs more room and more parking spaces needed. But still had that D-Roof design.
Webster Square Arena -
The Interior.
This rink had consider one of very large, slightly larger than an NHL rink floor with 88 Feet long by 200 Feet long "floating" Maple floor with possible Rotunda because of the "Floating" but I am not sure. It brought in a lot of lights due to windows wrapped around the building. It was very clean and sleek design interior with tube lights parallel to the rotunda of the rink.
The interior was quite beautiful and had that Mid-Century Modernism look with a speck of Late Period Art Deco into it. It was revolutionary between the two greatest period of Architecture. The ceiling neon lights for the rink was a continuing loop around of neon light tubes to parallel to the floor shape. And more lights that had arched making it look like a C-shape. This was revolutionary in its design. The steel pipes wrapped around the rink was rails. And the stadium seating were positioned facing the rink.
The windows inside had storm shutters that you can open up to air in and to let light in as they attempt to reduce electricity consumption. Many old rinks did the same thing-- Going "Green" at the time up to 1950 by having windows to let sunlight in. Down side was energy losses. Going "Green" in 1940s was truly extraordinary as I can see in that photo.
On the other hand, since 1950s, skating rinks went windowless and this, had different perspective on energy saving. No windows making the interior stay cool in summers and warm in winter. I was at a warehouse-like Steel walled steel Truss built building one time in the summer and the owner of this billiard hall told me he has no air conditioning. It was quite hot outside and it remained cool. No windows! This concept is understandable and new ways to reduce energy waste. By the way, he went out of business a couple of years later as amusement and entertainment has declined since 1980s. This was in 1990s when I visited his billiard hall.
The Exterior.
It is and still is a D-Roof Arched-Curved White painted Cinderblock-walled Late period Art Deco that the front resembled as like a movie theater marquee. It was very unique design marquee and framing the front doors. That part extend out of the building. and quite close to the road! One thing though, 55 feet from the road (likely the main wall to the street curb). Pretty much like a 1940s car length from front door to the road. That close. But enough room for parking cars that size back in 1940s. There was a neon sign that includes WEBSTER ARENA ROLLER SKATING on each side of the marquee sign above the door. It showed it was black background to make it easier to show the name of the place for skaters to find this rink at nighttime.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 88' x 200'. Floor: "Floating" Maple. Floor Layout: Rotunda(?).
Building Size: N/A. Built: 1956. Demolished: 1955 for new arena.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss D-Roof Cinderblock-Walled Theater - like Building.
Roof: D-Roof Arched-Curve
Acres: 3.00 Acres.
Worcester Ice Arena -
The Interior.
Larz Anderson converted completely from roller to ice and converted back and forth but also he used as a convention center for trade shows including annual home show. Larz often converted the floor for various uses. Larz had the building rebuilt in 1955 which ended the original look. The rebuilt had that D-Shaped Arched-Curved roof.
The Exterior.
Entirely new building, moved few feet further back from the road.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 82' x 185. Floor: Ice (layers unknown). Floor Layout: Ice.
Building Size: 26,864 SF. Built: 1955. Demolished: Still standing, frontage demolished to make room for Arena Plaza.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Red-Brick Bricks-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: D-Roof/Arched-Curved.
Acres: N/A.
Getaway Skating Center -
The Interior.
N/A.
The Exterior.
Likely further changes to include the removal of the ice arena's name off and a new sign posted somewhere! The radiators for the ice rink likely thrown out and redo the floor completely. Maple? I am not sure or concrete. There are no further information on this rink.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: Maple?. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: 26,864 SF. Built: 1955. Demolished: Still standing Now as Arena Plaza.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Building.
Roof: Gable.
Acres: N/A.
Operated: September 7, 1946 to July 12, 1953, October 1985 to December 31, 1990.
Webster Square Arena: January 1946 to 1952 (Roller skating continue till July 12, 1953.
Worcester Arena: (Roller Skating) till July 12, 1953; Ice skating July 14ish, 1953 till 1985.
Getaway Skating Center: Back to skating- Accorporated registered October 18, 1985 to December 31, 1990.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Webster Square Arena: Leo Doyle who sold all of his rinks for some strange reason, no one knows why.
Worcester Arena: N/A.
Getaway Skating Center: N/A.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Loop Net - Plaza section rental; Bizapedia - Getaway Skating Center;
Open Corporation DB - Getaway Skating Center; TheTelegram.com April 27, 2015 and updating May 27, 2015 (you cant get it unless you subscribe. I was fortunate to capture that for you); Billboard May 23, 1953 - crowd at home show;
Billboard, November 15, 1952, page 66, 3rd column - conversion to ice; Billboard September 14, 1946. Page 84, 3rd column - the opening; Billboard January 12, 1946, page 58 -Opening soon of the new rink;
Secretary of Commonwealth of Massachusetts business database- Getaway Skating Rink;
Date of issue: 17 January 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:16.