I’m Not the Only Elderly Enough to Recall the Purpose of This Thing, Can I?
Ah, roller skating! It’s like a rite of passage, an nostalgia-filled pastime that countless kids and adults have cherished over the decades.
Would you believe that the first use of roller skates dates back to 1743 in a London stage performance? John Joseph Merlin claimed the invention of the first skate while living in London in 1760. So, yes, roller skating’s been around longer than the Constitution!
Now, talk about versatility! During World War II, some folks even floated the idea of using roller skates to move infantry around Europe to save gas. Can you imagine soldiers zooming by on skates? Sadly, that idea never really got rolling.
Back in the U.S., roller skating first hit its popularity stride in 1935. However, it was the disco era of the 1970s that really made it the bee’s knees, with skating rinks blaring funky beats and disco tunes, turning every session into a dance party on wheels.
If you’re of a certain age, you might remember those clunky, heavy metal skates that clamped onto your shoes. They could be adjusted as your feet grew, but here’s something that many have totally blanked on—a mysterious metal object often worn around the neck of skaters back in the day.
People these days are sharing images of these copper-colored objects on social media. Many are guessing it’s some vintage bottle opener or unconventional tool. Close, but no cigar!
That curious piece of metal is actually a skate key. For those of us who skated before the 1970s, it was as essential as laces for your shoes. This seemingly modest key was an indispensable part of the roller skating experience.
The skate key was used to adjust the metal skates to fit snugly on your shoes. You’d insert it into the back of the skates, twist to adjust, and off you’d skate! Most of us kept the key on a string around our necks to make sure it wouldn’t be lost during our skating adventures.
Believe it or not, songs have even been penned about this little but mighty piece of metal. Talk about leaving a footprint—or should I say, skate print—on pop culture!
So, do you remember those days of skating with a key jangling from your neck? Share your nostalgic skate stories with us on our Facebook page. We can’t wait to roll down memory lane with you all!
