Roller Skater's Gazette
2006 Rink Operator
Reprinted from the July 2006 Issue of the RSG Newsletter,
Written by Kathy Ferreira, Editor
In June 2006, Dominic Cangelosi of Glendale, CA received a trophy from the Roller Skaters’ Gazette Newsletter, naming him as “The 2006 RS Gazette Rink Operator of the Year.” If we had to describe Dominic Cangelosi in one word, the word that comes to mind is “polymath.” A polymath is a person who excels in multiple fields, usually arts and science. Dominic is a man of many talents and learned skills. He is a recognized businessman, a rink operator, a PR person, and a very talented organist.
Dominic treats people with gentleness, courtesy and respect. He listens to his staff, his customers, and his coaches. He answers questions, offers opinions, and shares his knowledge with everyone. He has a great sense of humor, always wearing a smile and sharing a handshake. He is dedicated and generous, especially when it comes to roller skating sport. His personality comes though in his music. Many of the songs he plays are “happy songs” with a strong heartbeat!
Dominic’s approach to roller skating rink business is imaginative, unique, and innovative. The Moonlight Rollerway, owned and operated by Dominic, is in the newspaper, radio, and on television promoting roller skating recreation and sport more than any other skating rink in the United States.
Promotion and celebrity status help Dominic and his skating rink’s popularity. Close to Burbank, Pasadena and Hollywood, Moonlight Rollerway is located in Glendale, California and a skating haven to famous celebrities. Dominic’s rink has skated such personalities as: Prince, Eddie Murphy, Cher, Jessica Simpson, Pink, Tommy Lee Jones, Ellen Degeneres, Robby Love and Eva Longoria.The general public and celebrities have used his rink for birthday parties, private parties, and session skating. Dominic has hosted public and private parties for organizations including: Universal Studio’s, Disneyland, T-Mobile Cell, Warner Brothers and TV Fear Factor. Moonlight Rollerway has been used as a backdrop for movies, sit-coms and commercials, including: Roll Bounce, “CO”, McDonald’s, T-Mobile, Batman and Robin, Leave it to Beaver, Wonder Years, Judging Amy, Love or Money, and Quantum.
Articles written about roller skating at the Moonlight Rollerway reach newspapers and Internet sites across the United States. Just last week, two articles were featured in the New York Post. On June 25th a picture of “Desperate Housewife” Eva Longoria was featured, practicing her roller skating at the Moonlight Rollerway as she prepared for her part in a video shoot with Jessica Simpson. Then on June 26th, there was a ½ page picture of the beautiful Jessica Simpson in her roller skates, promoting her newest video of her latest single “A Public Affair” that was shot at Dominic’s rink over the weekend. Upcoming July Magazine spreads include: Star Magazine, OK Weekly, and People Magazine. All issues include 2-3 full pages of Jessica Simpson at the Moonlight Rollerway. Several years ago, Dominic’s rink was used as a backdrop for a photo shoot by Seventeen Magazine for their special prom edition that included 10 full pages of elite models dressed in the latest prom fashions!
Type in “Moonlight Rollerway Glendale, CA” at google.com and 14 pages of information, articles, and references about this skating rink will pop up! Dominic hosts several websites for his rink as well as his recording business. He stays on the cutting edge, keeping his information about himself, his rink, and his recording business updated and in front of the general public’s eye! Promoting a business is hard work, but Dominic doesn’t mind. Roller skating sport has been good to him and he has been good to our sport!Dominic is a famous Hall of Fame roller skating organist and has been providing the music for skaters at the National Championships since 1969. His dedication to roller skating sport became apparent last year. On March 26, 2005 while putting down plastic on the skating floor in his rink, Dominic stepped into a puddle of wet plastic - slipped, and fell –breaking his hip. This accident would not stop this determined man. He had to recover quickly so he could play for his beloved dance skaters at 2005 National Championships.
Dominic is generous as well as dedicated…what many people don’t realize is that Dominic provides the organ, as well as the music. He drives across the country to the skating venue with his organ in tow. That means he has to take the organ and other equipment out of his rink, load it on a truck, drive to the location, then unload, play music for the duration of the championship, then reload all of the equipment back on the truck and drive back to California and set his equipment back up in his own rink. All of this is done at his own expense. Then while at the Nationals, Dominic continues to support our sport by renting a vendor’s space and by handing out the RS Gazettes from his booth.
Dominic purchased a recording studio in 1968 from Fred Bergen. In 1950, Bergen formed the company “Rinx Records” for the purpose of creating new music for the RSROA dance skating committee. Dominic explains the rise and fall of organ music in an article he wrote,
“One must remember that the 30s 40s and 50s were the era of the big bands and ballroom dancing. This contemporary music could be easily transferred from the dance hall to the roller rink via a Hammond Organ played in strict tempo to regulate pace within the skating center. The Hammond Organ had just the right flowing rhythmic sounds for dance skaters and the percussive sounds for solid beats during general sessions.
In the 1950s radio became more disc-jockey-oriented and many people identified organ music with “rink music”. That is, until the rinks slowly began to abandon organ music in favor of more contemporary recorded music. Rock ‘n’ roll music was taking over and skating rinks began converting to 45-rpm records. The organist was being replaced by a disc jockey, so live organ music began to diminish in the 60s and early 70s, until the advent of the disco era. For many rinks, this was the final blow that pushed out organ music almost altogether. Of course, when the disco fad faded in 1981, so had many dance skaters that followed organ music.”Despite all the set backs and fading trends of organ music, Dominic’s hard work has made Rinx Records a successful business in today’s roller skating industry. Organ dance music is not in high demand, especially in today’s music market, and only a select audience will purchase it. With the introduction of computers, many people purchase a CD and make pirated copies for their friends, making it even more difficult for people like Dominic to turn a profit. Despite all of the marketing problems, Dominic has released 3 NEW recordings of his dance music. Also, he owns the music rights to several songs that were created solely for roller skating by his company “Rinx Records.” One of those songs is the famous “hokey-pokey.”
Dominic goes the extra mile to help promote artistic roller skating. His rink is home to eight skating coaches who work together and with him to create a happy, healthy skating environment. Dominic demonstrates his loyalty to his coaches and their skaters by not booking private parties during club or lesson times unless absolutely necessary. In return, he asks that each coach bring in two NEW skaters every year—that is 16 new skaters total for our sport! Head Pro Bob Jones, and teaching staff David and Carrie Allen, Roberta Gantz, Jeff Biggs, Maria Chrysanthou, Doug Eley and Tammy Gantz-Patino all work very hard together and keep classes and club activities running smoothly. Dominic, the coaches and club members, has formed a partnership. Club members purchase ALL skating supplies at their home rink. Dominic can count on the skaters and coaches business and loyalty to his rink—the skaters and coaches skate year round, and the club’s skating accomplishments creates another avenue of promotion for the skating rink and business. Everyone involved get benefits.
As busy as he can be, Dominic is still attracting hundreds of West Coast skaters two nights a week as he plays organ music in his rink. It is estimated that over 75,000 people frequent his premiere skating center in Glendale.
Dominic has received many awards for his business success and organ specialty skills. In 1996 Dominic received the Distinguished Service Hall of Fame recognized by USA Roller Sports. At the 2003 National Roller Skating Championships held in Lincoln, NE, a plaque was presented to Dominic recognizing him for 35 years serving the USAC/RS National Roller Skating Championship. On May 12, 2004, he received the Roller Skating Manufacturer Life Membership from the RSA and on February 5, 2005 he was made an Honorary Member of USA Roller Sports.
Dominic—Thank you for all that you have accomplished, for all your hard work, and for your love of our sport.