A history of roller rinks

Rinks listed in bold are still operating.

Ardmore Gardens ( Forest Hills): This rink was first mentioned in newspaper archives in a 1938 advertisement. In 1947 a newspaper squib referred to it as “Nu- Ardmore Gardens.” It is unclear what its relationship was to the Memory Lane Roller Rink, also on Ardmore Boulevard.

Ardmore Roller Skating Palace ( 2400 Ardmore Blvd., Forest Hills): This was built on the same plot of land as the Memory Lane rink. The Ardmore closed in 2005 after problems with “unruly” teens.

Bedford Roller Rink ( Bedford Avenue and Erin Street, Hill District): This rink was listed in the 1908 Pittsburgh Directory and was still in business in 1912.

Broadway Roller Rink ( Ohio Avenue, Glassport): This rink was first mentioned in online newspaper archives in a 1946 advertisement. High winds collapsed its roof in 1963.

Chateau Roller Rink ( 329 Forest Grove Road, Coraopolis): This rink opened on Dec. 30, 1954. It is unclear when it closed.

Ches- A- Rena ( Route 88, Cheswick): Built in 1947, its last mention in local newspaper archives as a roller skating rink was in 1998.

Diamond Market ( second floor, Market Square, Downtown): This rink closed in 1951 when the traffic police division moved into its space.

Eden Park ( 428 Eden Park Blvd., McKeesport): This rink has been operating since at least 1964.

Flamingo Roller Rink ( Larimer Avenue at Auburn Street, East Liberty): Its first newspaper advertisements appear to date from 1945. It burned down in 1954.

Godfrey Roller Rink ( 2312 Centre Ave., Middle Hill): The only mention of this rink in online archives comes from June 1, 1949, squibs in the Pittsburgh Sun- Telegraph and The Pittsburgh Press.

Greater Pittsburgh Coliseum ( 7310 Frankstown Ave., Homewood South): This rink closed sometime between 1989 and 1991.

Greater Pittsburgh Roller Rink ( Steubenville Pike, Robinson): The earliest mention of this rink in Pittsburgh newspapers was from 1955. It closed in 1961, with the property being leased to Bruce Molded Plastics Corp.

The Lexington Roller Rink ( Broad Street and Larimer Avenue, East Liberty): The earliest mention of this rink in newspaper archives is a 1945 advertisement. The rink closed in 1958, and the building burned sometime before April 26, 1960.

Memory Lane Roller Skating Rink ( Ardmore Boulevard, Forest Hills): Memory Lane, a former streetcar barn, had a grand opening in 1950. Its closing date is uncertain. See Ardmore Rolling Skating Palace above.

Neville Roller Drome ( 5109 Neville Road, Neville Island): This rink has been operating since 1948.

Palisades ( 100 Fifth Ave., McKeesport): This rink appears to have begun newspaper advertising in 1945. It may have closed in 1976, when Bill and Sandra Speney stopped owning it, but the exact time it ceased being a roller rink is unclear.

Penn Roller Skating Rink or New Penn Roller Skating Rink ( 5200 Penn Ave., Bloomfield): The last reference of this establishment seems to be from 1942.

Pine Valley Roller Rink ( 9700 block of Perry Highway, McCandless): This rink first appears in local newspapers in 1960. Its last mention as a roller rink is in 1964.

Pythian Temple Roller Rink ( 2007 Centre Ave., Hill District): This rink was the first open to black skaters. It opened inside a black social club in 1935 and closed about two years later. Romp N Roll ( Shaler): Closed Dec. 3, 2016. Sheraden Roller Rink ( Sheraden): The first newspaper archive mention of this rink comes from 1937. Its last mention in local newspapers is from 1945.

Spinning Wheels Roller Rink ( 2940 Library Road, Castle Shannon): The last mention of this rink as a roller skating venue was 1995. A Busy Beaver opened on the site in 1996.

Sports Haven Roller Rink ( Carol Street, Bridgeville): This rink was mentioned in local newspaper advertisements from 1949 to 1953.

Weaver Roller Rink ( Penn Township): This rink appears in local newspapers only in 1949.

Westray Plaza ( 917 Lincoln Ave., East Liberty): It is unclear when this venue stopped being used as a roller rink.