Elmhurst museum will celebrate 'Chicago Rink Rats'

In the wake of the Great Depression and into the 1960s, America found itself with a new pastime: roller skating.

At the height of The Golden Age in 1950, roller skating became the top participatory sport in America with nearly 5,000 rinks and 18 million skaters - and Chicago was at the center of it all.

From the 1930s to the 1960s, Chicagoans and suburbanites packed legendary rinks with names like Arcadia, Riverview, Savoy, Elm and New Planet. Across the country, skating appealed to the masses at a time when Americans needed affordable fun and community connections. They found both at their neighborhood rinks.

With that in mind, the Elmhurst History Museum is creating an original exhibit, "Chicago Rink Rats: The Golden Age of Roller Skating," that takes a nostalgic trip to the glory days of roller skating to learn about the "rink rats" - the regulars at the skating venues.

The exhibit will open July 13 and run through Nov. 4 at the museum, 120 E. Park Ave.

It's based on a recently published book by self-professed rink rat Tom Russo, who served as exhibit content writer and shared his personal collection of photos and memorabilia. The museum also tapped into its collections and received numerous loaned artifacts from the roller skating community.

Visitors will explore "Rink Rats" through first-person video accounts and archival footage from skaters, rare photos, artifacts and memorabilia.

What made skating so popular?

Russo says the formula was simple: "The wheels were wooden, the music blared and roller skating was hip," he writes.

The exhibit goes back to the roots of roller skating that evolved from more respectable highbrow activities such as ballroom dancing.

"In the late 1800s, roller skating was perceived as low-class amusement for roughnecks, not something that refined people took part in," said Daniel Bartlett, curator of exhibits. "It wasn't until the 1930s that roller skating was perceived as a wholesome, affordable and healthy activity and it began to rise in popularity. "

During World War II, service members often asked for roller skates from home, and factory workers - especially women entering the workforce - used them on the job to traverse expansive industrial facilities and stay healthy. Rinks also provided a respite from the stress of war as a community hub where friends could meet and socialize.

The museum also chose the topic because many skating rinks popped up in the suburbs during the 1950s and '60s. Featured prominently in the exhibit are photos, taped interviews and artifacts related to The Elm skating rink, including skates, jacket, skate competition outfits and trophies.

The Elm played a major role in the burgeoning roller skating scene in the Western suburbs when it was opened in 1956 by Bill and Linda Fuchs at 375 W. Roosevelt Road. It boasted a pair of eye-catching green doors and a huge sign out front with a giant roller skate that became a local landmark.

At the time, The Elm was the largest rink in the Chicago area. A hallmark feature was its massive pipe organ commandeered by a versatile organist named Tony Tahlman for more than 20 years.

The Elm and its iconic sign disappeared from the Elmhurst landscape in 1989.

To launch "Chicago Rink Rats," the museum is hosting a free opening event from 6 to 8 p.m. July 13 that will feature a re-creation of The Elm roller skating rink on the museum grounds (with a limited number of roller skates available for guests) plus live music by School of Rock. The event also will include members of area roller derby teams, and hot dogs and ice cream will be available for purchase.