|
These days, you simply go to the local skating center, |
| put wheels on your feet and you're ready
for fun. |
| But is was not
always easy. |
| A Belgian
inventor names Joseph Merlin introduced the first patented roller skate in
1760. |
| What an
introduction!. |
| He wore his
new skates to a party in London, |
| where he crashed into a very expensive
mirror. |
| He was not
very interested in skating after this experience. |
| However, other
inventors produced some roller skates, |
| mostly with in-line wheels
imitating the ice skating blade. |
|
| In 1863, a
businessman by the name of James Plimpton |
| invented a roller skate that
could turn. |
| It was called a
"Rocking Skate" . . . |
| the first one that really would let people
skate curves and turn. |
| Plimpton opened a
skating club in New York |
| where gentlemen enjoyed showing off for the
ladies. |
| The gentlemen
showed off by doing fancy figures, steps and turns. |
|
| Within twenty
(20) years, roller skating had become a popular pastime for men and women. |
| Roller skating
contests began to increase. |
| Indoors, wealthy
gentlemen in Newport, Rhode Island, began playing |
| "Roller Polo",
a hockey style game. |
| Others held
contests in dance and figure skating. |
| Outdoors, men and
women were racing in speed contests. |
| The more the
public saw of skating, the more they wanted to try it themselves. |
| Roller Skating
was soon enjoying its first boom. |
|
| Just before World
War II, in 1937, |
| a group of skating rink owners formed an association to
promote roller skating. |
| With this
association they would establish good business practices for the skating
rinks. |
| The RSROA was
formed. |
| Now known as the
RSA (Roller Skating Association), |
| roller skating has enjoyed a tremendous
growth. |
|
| In September of
1977, three gentlemen opened a new wave of skating . . . |
| First
with the Kendall Super
Skating Center. |
| Disco lighting
and booming sound started a second coming of roller skating. |
| In April of 1987,
these gentlemen opened what soon to became legendry . . . |
| The Hot Wheels
Skating Center in south west Miami. |
| This facility
introduced fog to the incredible array of lighting |
| and total entertainment
DJ's with live concerts by today's top artist. |
| While competitors
try to steal the look or style, |
| no one has become close to the extensive
operations and community programs. |
|
| In November, 1993, Kendall
resident Mr. James R. Ritter, Sr. (Jim) |
| purchased Galaxy Skateway
located at |
| 7500 Southgate Boulevard, North
Lauderdale, Florida. |
| He began an
extensive renovation program by |
| expanding the
snack bar, |
| offering three
(3) types of skate rentals, (regular, speed and in-line) |
| opening a
"candy store" and introducing a complete redemption center. |
|
| In February,
1998, Jim purchased Hot Wheels Skating Center. |
| He followed the
same renovation programs as he did at the North Lauderdale facility. |
| His goal was to
renovate and run both of his facilities as similar as possible. |
|
| Jim is a
six (6) time National Roller Skating Champion
|
|
who's love for the business extends deep into his family. |
|
|
|
On October 15th, 1999, Hurricane Irene
took an unexpected turn |
| and was a direct hit on west Miami Dade and the
Kendall area. |
| Extensive amounts
of water poured thru the roof |
| causing extensive damage to this legendary
facility. |
|
| In February, 2001, Jim purchased
Galaxy Skateway of Davie which is located at |
| 3737 N Davie Road Extension,
Davie, Florida. |
| This facility was renovated to a
state of the art level making this facility |
| as similar as
possible to the other facility. |
|
| On November 14, 2002, Jim lost
his fight with Leukemia, |
| but his love and passion for the
sport of roller skating |
| will never be lost.
|
