Roller skating 1979 style 11/09/11
Ahh 1979.
I had a brand new pair of Fireball roller skates in a fabulous red-white-and-blue pattern, freshly re-strung with glittery rainbow shoelaces, topped with a set of baby blue fuzzy pom poms. Every Friday night and many weekend days I lined up with my friends at PearWood Skate Rink to chase the reflections of the mirror ball around the hardwood floors. I could stay there all night and frequently did.
Holy crap I was HOT. I could do all the moves, including stay upright which is my biggest roller skating challenge now. I could flip around backward, do spins, drop down with one leg out front, all the fancy stuff. We were fueled by Frito Pies and Dr. Pepper. I loved when they’d do the races, but I was always left in the dust. I never missed a special skate, even if it meant grabbing a good friend for the couple’s only songs.
This is pretty much exactly what I wore, except my blue satin jacket had a rainbow roller skate embroidered on the pocket. I still remember gathering up my roller skating equipment/uniform and the excitement of waiting in line to get in and put my skates on and TOTALLY ROCK IT.
Who else donned this look? I know you did! Fess up!
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2 Responses to this article
I had white skate, and a black silky jacket. Also had the socks. And all these yrs later, still skating
I had a jacket, mid 80s, sateen, midnight blue, big skate with wings (I think?) on the back. I would skate EVERYWHERE. And I LOVED going to The Elm Skating Rink in Elmhurst for outings and fun (it was down Roosevelt on the way to Oak Brook).
Those skates were the best. THE BEST.