Fun on Rollers

by way of going back to the beginning of things in this thriving past time our cameraman not a bad skate himself snuck up on a little fledgling here in the act of shoving off on his own and from the way he's warming up it looks like we're here in the nick of time so get set neighbor you may have missed the first flight of the wright brothers but think nothing of it you've got the same suspense right here as willie contemplates his first solo flight so stand by folks for the take off camera action my music he's off ladies and gentlemen not much flying speed and a might unsteady but he's winging whoops he's pancake nothing serious just a bit tail heavy he'll be up again as soon as he untangles his landing gear but that's how it goes a short hop a forced landing then a longer flight until soon he'll be gliding along with the rest of them but right now we're down again still a bit baggy around the knees but we'll get along just give us time to get acquainted with these newfangled trappings after all it's only a short time ago that we learn how to walk so what do they want for a starter a loop down we go again a little hard on the landing gear in fact along about now it's enough to make a fella soar so i think we'll say bye-bye for now willie we'll be seeing you again in the movies to get a pictorial impression of what goes on when boys and girls get together on a skating soiree let's tag along on a trail that leads to a typically modern indoor rink the big new jersey highway arena one of about 5 000 skating plants scattered throughout these united states an industry representing an investment of about 250 million dollars seventy thousand employees and a million dollar weekly payroll in these established drinks skates and shoes may be rented and while there are three recognized types of skates on the market the majority are fiber or wood wheels with a few still using the aluminum types of a now old-fashioned age and thus completely outfitted in the accepted style of a roller skater all that's needed now is the end escape and the ability to remain vertical on one's own two feet the records claim that roller skating goes back to the 18th century or thereabouts when the belgians who went in for ice skating in a big way got to talking about what to do for buzzing around in the good old summer time so who should be listening but a musical instrument maker named joseph merlin say look at that handsome couple out there they're right in the groove now joe to said played a snazzy violin so instead of standing in one place thought joe why not attach wheels to a pair of shoes and thus get around a little more well why not well sir the story goes that when the hep cats got a load of joe knocking out his jive on roller skates well so they flocked around him like ants at a picnic lunch and joe became slightly colossal but joe got careless one night and he skates rolled out from under him and joe made a six mark on his violin result no more fiddle no more joe but the skate's caught on and they've been rolling ever since there's a show coming on kids so let's snag ourselves a drink while there's time incidentally nothing stronger than soda pop in this league so one will be enough i guess and the first number on the program brings the swing and sway of walt's time and knowing nothing more about it thorgerson why not pipe down so the folks can hear the music and now a 14-step dance specialty and here again pal it seems like a swell opportunity to sit back and enjoy it introducing now two fifteen-year-old performers in grace swint and gloria wagner the difficult archback spin graceful and effortless when executed with such practiced poise the young ladies have another number here building up to a flaming climax when grace is spun holding a match between her teeth a roller skating spinner demanding the last word in control and trigger balance and not recommended for the tyrol or unless you're young and agile you can come out of this trick spelling calisthenics with a capital k [Applause] [Music] [Applause] ah hiya there small fry looks like the bowery gets a good going over now there ladies and gents is a guy what gets his mom say i'll give you the lowdown on him that little twerp is so tough he chewed nails when he still had his baby teeth [Applause] professional trooper is betty latel her acrobatic talent has brought her distinction as a national silver medalist seen in her intricate routine she displays an eye-filling repertoire of pivot turns handsprings and kicking spins a skating artist with the last word and stuff on wheels and now the scene say let's get down out of here before we run down by an eagle our backdrop is the famed classic fountain in radio city's rockefeller plaza in winter a midtown spot where young and old cut capers on the ice in summer it's glazed marble surface a roller skating rink where tea time is skating time and manhattan's debutants mingle with out-of-towners window shoppers strollers and passers-by and mama takes time out for a spot of tea at a spot where the center of attraction this afternoon is little florence radish a dainty miss of four and a half years a future pavlova striving to perfect the difficult steps of a skating arabesque and phased not at all by the crowd that looks out upon the open stage very good florence me for you honeybunch professional form with accent on teamwork when three whirling dervishes named leonie depkey and scaola combined in a swing session that could throw 10 bystanders out of bounds if they ever let go slow motion gives you an inside track on what it takes in timing and precision to throw two partners around and come out of it on friendly terms or there verily is a lad with a load on his hands [Music] another spinner this time a duet in the way of a man with a maid be careful brother this is no time for a fumble [Music] and an airplane spin fun on rollers should you happen to lose a wheel pal you'd lay them in the aisles [Music] you