I've seen references to this skating rink being called both Roller Garden and Roller Dome. I'm not sure which was the official name, or if this rink had different names over time. Maybe someone knows the answer to that.
A couple of OCThen readers share their memories of the Roller Garden...
Chris said...
Does anyone remember a steakhouse in Garden Grove or Westminster called Mother, Jugs, Beef and Brew? My friend Kathy Lester used to sing there occasionally. I lost contact with her years ago so if you know of her please let me know.
Also, are there any skaters from Roller Garden in Garden Grove at GG Blvd. and Haster? It's gone now but in the late 60's and early 70's we had a blast on the weekends there.It was such a big part of our lives.
I want to say this is my favorite site. Love reading about all the things I forgot about but it breaks my heart that they're gone forever.
Pat /pismo beach said...
Chris, I remember the Roller Dome skating rink on gg blvd and haster. All of us from that general area would skate there on Friday and Saturday night in the late 50's and 60's. I couldn't wait until I was old enough to stay for the second session starting at 10:30pm. My parents bought my sister Melody the best high top percision skates from their skate store in the office area. Our friend Jody use to sing live sometimes while the owner played an organ up in the attic. We would go to "sock hops" once in awhile and dance in our socks on the rink floor during special times of the year. Remember the snack bar where you could get pizza or a sucide drink ( coke, rootbeer, orange mixed together). That was bad tasting, but we ordered it anyway. The men's bathroom offered black plastic combs from a machine for 10 cents and they would always break when you sat on them. My sis took lessons and entered several skating tournments (doubles) where we would travel to other cities like Bakersfield for competitions. Do remember any names of the people you knew there? Thanks for the post.
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8 comments:
I'm impressed that you remeber this. I graduated from GG High in "61" and just barely remember skating there. I actually lived on GG Blvd.
Phyllis11343@msn.com
WoW this brings back memories. I went to Gilbert,hare and RAHS. The rink was the place to be. It was a blast! I look at my kids now, even though they are into sports- do so much gaming! I thought we didnt have that (except pong) we went outside and went skating and dancing at knotts Berry farm. Those were the days. Now in GA. Lisa 1983 grad
OMG....what a blast from the past, i too went to Hare around 77-78 and yes i remember the rink well.Does anyone remember Shakeys pizza?Hot after school spot or my friends and I would always go to Farrells Ice cream parlor for the banana split on our b-days,remember that place anyone. I dont live in OC anymore but i visit twice a year to see family...sure miss the "OLD DAYS".
Stacey Schreiber
Houston, Texas
Steve - thanks for this great website....
I, too, graduated from GG High in '61. I lived in Garden Grove from 1953 to 1964 and then moved to Santa Ana and lived there for 34 years. I skated at Roller Gardens occasionally, but my brother and sister skated there all the time. My sister met her husband at the rink (he was a Marine stationed at LTA) and they have been married for 47 years. It's a shame the kids nowadays don't have the safe/fun things we had to do when we were kids.
I skated at that roller rink when I was young in the '50s. On Sundays I went to 8 am mass at St. Columbans in GG and then to a 10 am session at the roller rink UNTIL that time was taken over by some church who held their services there. I have always blamed the Crystal Cathedral for being the culprit who stole my time. I remember being told that the church moved to the Orange Drive-In to hold their services but the 10 am sesssion was never re-opened. If you read the history of the Crystal Cathedral, they don't mention holding services at the Skating Rink. I remember being asked by "some" boy if I wanted to skate and I told him "I was doing fine by myself!" What a kick!
I sure do remember skating there! In the 70s I remember they wouldn't let anyone inside to skate if they had metal "studs" on their jeans - they said it would damage the floor if we fell. :-)
@ Lisa: You weren't allowed to wear jeans at all, studs or not. Mrs. C was a tough cookie!
Is that the rink that had a dark floor with the walls painted with blue sky and clouds??? I think I skated there for a few years. I took a few lessons there....
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