This Is Roller Skating (1950s)

[Music] this is roller skating America's favorite fun sport a wholesome yearr round Recreation one of our truly great allamerican participant Sports roller skating is everywhere north south east east west in all the 48 in big cities small towns and in rural communities dotting the map from Maine to San Diego sunny Florida to Puget Sound Milwaukee to the Gulf of Mexico everywhere the were of Rolling Wheels teenagers rated Taps for exciting fun and for wholesome Recreation it's year INE out popularity with high-spirited fun loving teenagers has no real [Music] equal their parents too Mom the family's busy Homemaker and hardworking [Music] Dad it's Leisure fun for them too here's Grandpop reading his evening paper grandom with her needles and yarn they too enjoy roller skating it's wholesome sport for all ages today more than 18 million Americans are roller skating enthusiasts thanks to an inventive young man from Massachusetts named James Leonard Plimpton he contrived in 1863 the Forerunner of our modern roller skates plimpton's invention inspired other designs these oddl looking early roller skates produced a new popular sport roller skating skyrocketed a popularity almost overnight in New York fashionable Newport and in London as well the cream of high society introduced roller skating to the ballroom soon it was the rage everywhere and everybody was roller [Music] skating by the turn of the century The Fad had passed and roller skating was firmly established as a popular sport roller skating today and our modern Precision Roller Skates would amaze and surely Delight James Clinton a leading industry figure Chicago's Mr Joseph chevelon the most dramatic proof of the growth and development of the sport of roller skating is seen in a close examination of this modern streamlined Precision skate compare this beautiful Precision engineered skate with the relics of olden days here is a pair of Chicago custom gold medalist skates the skate is equipped with double rubber smooth action and the wheels are made of a durite plastic compound that roll easily smoothly and silently on the floor each wheel is equipped with two Precision bearings similar to those used in Precision equipment it's no wonder that the advance in the design of roller skates has made roll roller skating a top sport as well as a delightful Pastime the sport of roller skating today is just as beautiful as these Precision skates roller skating offers wholesome outdoor fun on sidewalks playground slabs protected streets and outdoor [Music] Rings here on New York Central Park Mall finalist in the annual Journal American Wing skate Derby buy for [Music] honors and indoors too at the almost 5,000 established roller rinks throughout the country wholesome fun and Sport for everybody more than 200 leading colleges more than 5,000 Public Schools private and parochial schools have roller skating [Music] programs new Air Force trainees roller skate to develop physical fitness coordination and stamina West Point CET Roller Skate 2 for recreation and physical conditioning roller skating plain and fancy centers in the ring here the just for fun skater the budding Enthusiast and the practi expert all Focus their interest the rink operator a small businessman and respected member of the community extends a friendly welcome to one and all but draws the line fast at undisciplined and Rowdy [Music] conduct [Music] K when the board flashes couples the dancing begins simple graceful rhythmic dance skating highlights every [Music] session wow watch those Jitter bugs Cut [Music] Loose you'll almost always find Girl Scouts at the rink roller skating is a popular girl scout proficiency badge activity [Music] and of course Boy Scouts enjoy this great sport rink professionals are glad to help beginners improve their skill these youngsters will develop into good skaters after only a few lessons and here's a young miss a bit awkward now who'll get the hang of it with a bit of practice then watch her go Advanced skaters developing their techniques and style get plenty of encouragement and coaching at every stage plenty of practice [Music] too roller skating plays an important role in church sponsored youth activity programs everywhere Fellowship wholesome Recreation and religious devotion blend together daytime skating sessions for housewives to keep figures slim and trim enjoy a growing popularity mothers bring their youngsters with them overweight roller skape here's Gil McDougall star shortstop of the the New York Yankees Gil Mrs McDougall and their four children like to go roller skating for family [Music] fun it's wholesome Recreation they all can enjoy [Music] together baseball is gild's business roller skating is fun America's number one participant sport year after year decade after [Music] decade time out now for light refreshment thirst gone they're ready and eager to roller skate some more roller skating shows exhibition performances and amateur competition all serve to encourage development of proficiency and style small five beginners have fun being little teapots as they develop skill and confidence the crew of The Good Ship Lollipop executes a Charming skating routine [Music] dance skating couples waling with form grace and beauty [Music] now the Tango footwork and timing [Music] race and [Music] fluency [Music] Precision figure skating spins and jumps roller skating in its most advanced [Music] form this is something to [Music] watch swing your partner with an alaman left Lively square dancing on roller skates by these youngsters from Missouri the roller Cade swingsters [Music] family skating dance figure work Speed games all this is roller skating in its many forms speaking from our nation's capital Dr Shane McCarthy director of the president's Council on youth Fitness we are convinced that on the American scene one of the most potent ways of attaining Fitness is by well administered wholesome healthy Sports and what profits into this category better than Roller Skating here is something that can be done by boys and by Girls by Young And by old by parents and also by their children by teachers and by pupils in summer in Winter around the home in the school and we hope with safe Pathways between home and school this sport is inexpensive this sport is healthy this sport benefits the entire system and therefore in the attainment of fitness goals we are hopeful that it will become very popular go to it and God bless you yes 100 years ago James Plimpton had a dream today that dream is a reality for teenagers for Mom and Pop Grandma and Grandpa it's everywhere the plants the offices the Farms the campuses in fact everywhere yes even the cets of West Point roller skate this is America's number one sport and Recreation yes this is roller [Music] skating [Music] the