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In the 1760s, a Belgian mathematical genius named John Joseph Merlin invented the roller skate. But it took more than a century for the invention to get some real traction. (Perhaps literally!) The roller skate’s eventual popularity is thanks in part to a man named Levant M. Richardson, who was determined to improve the ride. 129 years ago this month, Richardson obtained a patent for his innovation: placing steel ball bearings in the wheels. This created more traction and helped for a smoother glide.
The improvement gave skaters the ability to go fast without trying so hard. Suddenly roller skating became easy and was practiced by both men and women. “Roller skating is an activity that you can do as a family. It transcends all generations and is a nice way to exercise,” says James Vannurden, director of the National Museum of Roller Skating. As Vannurden explains, rollerskating is one of the first truly democratic sports: “Women were accepted participating in roller derby. In 1935, during the first roller derby match in Chicago, men and women competed on the same team, which was unusual for the time.”
Before long, roller skates made their way into movies, songs and TV shows. Let’s pay tribute to the roller skate’s greatest appearances in pop culture.
1. Charlie Chaplin – The Rink
The first person to roller skate in a movie was Charlie Chaplin in the 1916 silent film The Rink. In the film, Chaplin does daring moves and really shows off his skating finesse!
2. The Skating Vanities – Pin Up Girl
The popular skating troupe called “The Skating Vanities” were featured in a skating number in the 1944 Betty Grable film Pin Up Girl. Graceful Gloria Nord led the group of skaters who traveled the world and performed before the Pope and Queen of England. They were even immortalized in an Alberto Vargas roller skating poster.
3. Gene Kelly – It’s Always Fair Weather
It’s hard enough roller skating in a movie, but the talented Gene Kelly really shows off his mettle in the film It’s Always Fair Weather. Without missing a beat and with endless charm and panache, Kelly managed to do an entire tap dance number, perform show-shopping dance moves, and sing in the 1955 film.
4. Car hops – American Graffiti
Who can forget the rollerskating car hops at Mel’s Drive-In in George Lucas’ first film, American Graffiti? Is there any better way to get a cherry-vanilla coke and chocolate mountain brought to your candy-colored car?
5. Marsha and Fonzie – Happy Days
Rolling skating played a prominent role in the hit TV sitcom Happy Days, which ran from 1974 to 1984. Early episodes featured the roller-skating carhop Marsha. And what fun to learn that Fonzie was all too human and actually terrified of roller skating.
6. James Caan – Rollerball
Roller skating got down, dirty, and political in the 1975 futuristic film Rollerball starring James Caan. Set in the faraway year of 2018, the film featured gladiator-esque brutality and corporate evil. In 2002, the film was remade with Chris Klein, Rebecca Romijn, and LL Cool J.
7. Cher – “Hell on Wheels”
The video for Cher’s 1979’s song “Hell on Wheels” featured the sassy superstar on roller skates. “I’m hell on wheels, I’m a roller mama. I can slide down places that you never knew,” sang Cher in a traffic-stopping fabulous zebra print leotard with matching leg warmers and skates.
8. Linda Blair – Roller Boogie
Six years after her head-turning terrifying performance in the Exorcist, Linda Blair traded in the bed for a roller rink! Blair showed off her roller disco moves and pure adorableness in the 1979 musical, Roller Boogie.
9. Olivia Newton John and Gene Kelly – Xanadu
This 1980 fantasy musical movie combined Olivia Newton John, Gene Kelly, and Electric Light Orchestra tunes with a whole lot of roller skating. The film was to mark Kelly’s final screen appearance. And the movie inspired the hit Tony-nominated broadway show, Xanadu.
10. Drew Barrymore – Whip It
Drew Barrymore directed and produced the 2009 film Whip It about a girl (Ellen Page) who escapes her life and follows dream to join a roller derby league. Barrymore, who also appeared in the film as Smashley Simpson, did her own roller skating stunts and arranged a hardcore derby training camp for the cast. “We did bruise a lot,” said the daring actress. “You’ve never seen a more pathetic looking injured pigeon, but then one day you skate backwards and you don’t fall down. Or you jump over a girl and land on your skates… and you get excited to strap on your skates… and you really get better.”
Original article and pictures take static.parade.com site
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