Roller Skater's Gazette 2007 Rink Operator
Reprinted from the May 2007 Issue of the RSG Newsletter, Written by Larry Cole, edited by Kathy Ferreira, Editor
Editor’s Note: Larry Cole is the “Roller Skater’s Gazette’s Rink Operator of the Year” for 2007. During the 6th Annual Adult Extravaganza held in Kissimmee, Chester Fried presented Larry with a trophy and certificate. Chester said, “It was very necessary to honor Larry Cole for his dedication to our skating sport. He has made great strides in helping the continuation of ‘artistic dance skating’ and in the promotion of skating music and skating sport. Thank you, Larry!” Read on as Larry tells his skating story in his own words.
I was born December 21, 1933 to George and Mabel Cole in Muncie, Indiana during a blizzard. My father worked at Ball Corporation, the home of Ball Fruit Jars and Canning Supplies. My mother was a homemaker and took the best care of her new son. At about age 6, my parents bought me a pair of clamp on steel roller skates and I wore them out on the concrete sidewalk and soon needed a new pair. I loved to roller skate, so my dad bought me a pair of shoe skates and introduced me to skating at the rink. Gibson Arena in Muncie, Indiana was only about 2 miles from our house. I begged Dad to take me back again and again. I developed a love for organ music and began to learn the different tempos and dance skating. Roller skating was in my blood!
I skated and skated all through my school years, making most of my friends at the rink. My family moved across town during my high school years and many times I rode my bicycle 15 miles carrying a skate case never missing my favorite skating sessions. The owners of the rink, Earl and Glenn Gibson asked me to work for them during my junior year of high school. I was so excited—I would have worked for free—but they paid me fifty cents an hour back in 1950. I started out working in the skate room and soon became a floor guard. Since I knew the music, I moved on to become D.J. and floor guard. While my classmates were at basketball games and having fun nights, I was at the rink working and also having a good time.
After graduation in 1951, Skateland, a new rink was being built about 20 miles from Muncie in Alexandria, Indiana. I decided to check it out and found the rink had a maple hardwood floor and live organ music. I started skating there on the opening night and the 3 nights a week regularly. This was the most exciting rink I had ever been in during my skating experiences. Skateland Roller Palace drew skaters from all over the state. I became involved in the dance class program and found a partner from Anderson, Indiana. I skated a bit competitively for a short time—but I decided “just skating for fun” was a much more enjoyable experience.
I became instant friends with the organist—Mr. Bill Blunk, and helped him install a pipe organ in the rink several years after its opening. Every Saturday night at Skateland there was the Fox Trot-Boogie Contest, a skate where you just made up your own steps. My partner and I won the contest and both received a large trophy. I tried all the rinks around the state of Indiana and wore out a ’39 and a ’51 Chevy driving to Skateland 3 times a week. I eventually met a girl at Skateland and was married. We had a son, Darrel, who I taught to skate there at the age of 4. Darrel, like his dad, has always loved to skate.
Then the 60’s rolled a round and the Beatles, Elvis and rock and roll began to filter into the old rink. I hated this music in the rink with a passion and still do! You CAN’T skate to it! I stopped skating for a few years while I opened a new business in Muncie. I had graduated from Electronics School and was a TV Technician, so my new business was TV and Appliances sales and service. The business was a success and I was saving money in the hay day of TV.
In 1971, I could see major changes ahead with the Japanese beginning to dominate the market. I had come to Florida to see friends in the winter and decided to move to a state with a better climate. There was a good opportunity to sell my business, so I bailed out with some money in my pocket and the beautiful, sunny Florida rays and days on my mind.
After moving to Florida during the early 70’s, I began to service TVs for the big motels around Disney World. Then in 1977 a new rink in Florida was being built by a former competitive skater, Edward Hadlock. The rink had a beautiful wood floor 185’ x 85’ and organ music one night a week. I began to skate again, remembering the dances I had learned in my youth and the live organ music I had loved so much. Then in 1979, just as skating was the hottest thing around during the Disco Craze, I decided to purchase ownership at this rink, “Sun State Roller Rink” in Orlando, Florida. During the Disco Craze, 4 new rinks were built in the area—then in 1981 when the Craze died, well, the rinks went with it. With the overhead high and the business less than half of what it was during the boom year, the rink was closed and the building sold! But, there was still a ray of hope for me. We were building a new large rink 20 miles south in Kissimmee just east of Walt Disney World. In 1982 we opened as the “Roller Ranch.” Immediately, we had 2 sessions a week for the adult and competitive skater. Monday evening was mostly dance music and Adult Day every Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. for a mixture of dance and bounce music—all keyboard, of course.
Roller Ranch had done well. In 1989 we had the rink remodeled and changed the name to “Skate Reflections.” The country image, both name and look was gone forever. The business again picked up and we continued to offer sessions for mature skaters with the music they demand. Marketing and Sales Director, Yvonne Hart has been with me for over 20 years. Tony Piscitello has been with me over 20 years as well and is one of the best career operators in the business. Tony and Yvonne are business partners for many years now with me. Anyone in roller skating rink business knows that a large portion of income comes from the age group of 15 years old and under. As long as I can take a breath, I will create enjoyable sessions at Skate Reflections for the skaters younger and older who still enjoy the music of the organ and more recent keyboard generating sounds of all the instruments. As a rink operator, my last dream which goes back to my skating days of youth is to offer live music in my rink. January 1999 was a dream come true when Nick Viscuso moved to Florida. He was my first choice for the best rink musician in the country and we are honored to have him. Nick plays live at our Wednesday morning sessions from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
In February 2001, we held our first Adult Extravaganza. Every year for six years now this annual event has become bigger and better. It takes a full year of planning to create a fun filled adult activity! We feature 4 days of marathon skating to this country’s best keyboard artists. It doesn’t matter if skaters are competitive, beginner or experts, what matter is that they all love to skate! Skaters come from all over the US, to rekindle old friendships, create new ones, and just to skate-skate-and skate some more. Dance sets, fun-filled contests, raffles, dinner activities, museum memorabilia, and more fill our days.
So, to the mature and competitive skaters all over the country, please support your rinks for your rink operator is not making big bucks from your session, it is an accommodation to the skaters in their rinks. Skaters keep supporting the good music, exercise and fellowship as we strive to keep good skating alive for our children and grand children.