The rink opened in 1905,[2] and represents the long and rich story of a roller skating rink that survived the civil strife of the 1950-60s, development overtures and the musical whims of generations to become a rink gifted for perpetuity. Today, the Oaks Skating Rink remains America's largest and oldest under the umbrella of the Oaks Park Association, a nonprofit organization that manages both the rink and park attractions.[3]
During the Great Depression, admission prices were reduced so families could better afford skating. Additionally the park owner, Edward Bollinger, started the Junior Roller Skating Club which skated on Sunday afternoons. This led to the largest number of active roller skaters ever at Oaks Park Skating Rink.[4]
Built in a flood plain, in 1948, water damage from the same flood that destroyed Vanport required five months to repair. During rebuilding, engineers installed iron barrels under the rink floor so it could float above flooding waters in the future. The rink flooded again in the Christmas flood of 1964 but it suffered some damage because workers could not immediately access the rink due to 8 feet (2.4 m) of flooding waters in the park. A day later and after four hours of effort, they severed the floor supports to allow it to float.[5][6]
Interior, 2018
Dale and Jeanne Pritchard were longtime instructors at the rink.[7]
In 2017, Damian Lillard and Adidas released a version of his "Dame 4" shoe, called "Glow in the Park", which was inspired by the rink.[10][11]
Today, the Oaks Rink carries the tagline "Skaters Paradise" to accompany its 100 x 200 square foot (20,000 sq ft skating surface) Michigan maple floor and the last live Wurlitzer pipe organ to operate in a U.S. roller rink.[3]
Organ
The rink's organ in 2018
From 1905 until an organ was installed, a live orchestra played from the balcony above the skating rink.[12]
In 1922, a William Woods (a local builder) theatre organ was installed. It began as a 2/5: two manuals and five ranks (rows of 61 pipes of similar timbre, each one a different size and pitch) and eventually became a 4/18. It was moved to a military base's roller rink in 1955; as of 2003 it was in a private home in Newport, Oregon.[12] Some parts may have been retained at Oaks Park.[13]
The current pipe organ was originally installed in 1926[12] at Portland's Broadway Theater, but had fallen into disuse since the early 1930s with the popularity of sound films. It was relocated to Oaks Park skating rink in 1955.[citation needed]
The organ is described by Oregon Public Broadcasting's April Bauer as "an impossible-looking hulk the size of a semi truck, hanging about twenty feet above the rink floor".[13] Keith Fortune has served as the rink's organist and "unofficial curator".[14]
The rink is the world's only location where visitors can skate to music provided by a live pipe organ, as of 2009.[14]
The Hangar
The roller rink has an annex, separate from the main rink, in a detached building roughly 200 feet east (and behind) the public rink. The oval flat track is used by the Rose City Rollers (women's roller derby) for practice and some tournaments.[15][16]
^ abRusso, Tom (2017). Chicago Rink Rats: The Roller Capital in Its Heyday. Charleston, SC: The History Press. p. 89. ISBN9781625859686.
^ Beck, Dana (March 30, 2018). "Inner Southeast experiences the Great Depression". The Bee. Pamplin Media Group. Knowing that few families could afford admission to the skating rink at Oaks Park, park owner Edward Bollinger reduced prices at the rink and started the Junior Roller Skating Club on Sunday afternoons. Revenue increased as more children ventured to the skating rink and Oaks Park witnessed the largest group of active roller skaters ever.
The current Theatre Organ is a 4-manual, 18-rank Wurlitzer from the Broadway Theatre, Portland. It was built for the theatre in 1926 and moved to The Oaks in 1955.
The first organ at The Oaks was a 2-manual, 5-rank William Woods (a local builder), which was expanded to a 4-manual, 13-rank instrument, which is now in a Newport, Oregon in the home of member Arthur Allen. Prior to the Woods organ, a live orchestra played from above the rink floor.
The Wurlitzer has had the Dulciana removed and replaced with a Gamba, and a Robert-Morton Post Horn was added. The relays are all original.
^ Vondersmith, Jason (April 16, 2018). "Bits & Pieces — Desperate Rollers". Portland Tribune. Retrieved April 18, 2018. Fire code and zoning rules at their current home, The Hangar at Oaks Park, are forcing the roller derby club to find a new home ... by July 1.
^ Ashton, David F. (November 24, 2017). "Oaks' roller derby team loses its show venue". Portland Tribune. Retrieved April 18, 2018. The "Rose City Rollers" team has used a large structure east of the skating rink adjacent to Oaks Park Way, a building which organizers call the "Hanger", as their practice hall and competition venue for the last ten years.
