Chicago Rink Rats exhibit showcases Golden Age of Roller Skating

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 number one participatory sport in America with nearly 5,000 roller rinks and 18 million skaters—and Chicago was at the center of it all.

From the 1930s to the 1960s, Chicagoans and suburbanites thronged to legendary rinks with names like Arcadia, Riverview, Savoy, Elm, New Planet, and many more. Across the country, roller skating appealed to the masses at a time when Americans were in dire need of affordable fun and community connections following the Depression and during and after World War II. People found both at their neighborhood roller rinks, and a new trend was born.

“Chicago Rink Rats: The Golden Age of Roller Skating” is a new original exhibit created by the Elmhurst History Museum that takes a nostalgic trip to the glory days of roller skating to learn about the "rink rats"—the regulars at the legendary skating venues that sprang up across the region. The exhibit is on display from July 13 through November 4, 2018 at the Elmhurst History Museum, located at 120 E. Park Ave. in downtown Elmhurst.

The exhibit is based on a recently-published book by self-professed rink rat Tom Russo. Russo served as exhibit content writer and shared his personal photos and memorabilia with the museum for the exhibit. The Elmhurst History Museum tapped into its collection and received numerous loaned artifacts from the roller skating community to share in the exhibit. Visitors will explore “Chicago Rink Rats” through engaging first-person video accounts and archival footage from skaters, rare photos, artifacts, and memorabilia. Museum patrons will encounter an eclectic array of items from skating jackets and gear to competition medals, rink decals, posters, memorabilia, and more.

To launch “Chicago Rink Rats” in style, the Elmhurst History Museum is hosting a free Public Exhibit Opening event on Friday, July 13 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. The evening will feature a recreation 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 opening event will also include members of area roller derby teams, and hot dogs and ice cream will be available for purchase. Another “can’t miss” event is the free Skating Tricks of the Trade at the Elmhurst YMCA, located at 211 W. First St., on Wednesday, July 18 at 7 p.m. Talented skaters including professional competitor Carrie Svihilik and members of Chicago Roller Talent, Chicago Outfit Roller Derby team members, and the Osiris Initiative will demonstrate various skate styles from the past and present on the outdoor rink—including shuffles, spins, jumps, and Chicago’s own JB (James Brown) style of skating. Limited seating is available, doors open at 6:30 p.m. Concessions will be available for purchase.

Don’t miss “Chicago Rink Rats: The Golden Age of Roller Skating” when it rolls into Elmhurst from July 13 through November 4, 2018. The Elmhurst History Museum’s hours are Sunday and Tuesday through Friday from 1 to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. General admission is free, and limited free parking is available. For the latest exhibit and program information, please visit www.elmhursthistory.org or call (630) 833-1457.