'Rollerspeak' presentation coming to Elmhurst History Museum

If you grew up strapping wheels to your feet and had the sound of organ music pulsing through your veins at the local roller rink, the Elmhurst History Museum is offering a program to evoke memories and relive your skating years.

"Rollerspeak and a Pop-Up Exhibit with James Turner" will take center stage at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, at the museum, 120 E. Park Ave.

The program will be presented by Turner, one of the founders of the National Roller Skating Museum in Lincoln, Nebraska, and co-author of "The History of Roller Skating."

He'll present a slide lecture on the evolution of roller skating from the late 1880s to modern times, and discuss the sport's explosion in popularity during the Golden Age in the 1950s and '60s.

Following the presentation, guests will be encouraged to participate in a discussion about the sport and share their memories, photos, skating gear, and memorabilia to create a pop-up mini exhibit.

The program takes place in the museum's Education Center. Registration is required and can be made online at www.elmhursthistory.org (in the Adult Programs section) or by calling (630) 530-6879. The cost is $5, but free for members of the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation.

The "Rollerspeak" program is presented in connection with the museum's current exhibit, "Chicago Rink Rats: The Golden Age of Roller Skating," which is open through Nov. 4. The exhibit takes visitors on a trip back to the glory days of roller skating to learn about the "rink rats" - the regulars at the legendary Chicago area skating venues - through video footage, rare photos and artifacts.

Admission to the exhibit is free; program participants are welcome to view the exhibit before or after the program.

For museum hours and the latest exhibit and program information, visit www.elmhursthistory.org or call (630) 833-1457.