Aloha Roller Palace in San Jose California

[rolrsk8r]

I am looking for those who skated at Aloha Roller Palace in San Jose, especially back from when in opened till the early 80's. Is anyone on this forum from this area?

Thanks!

[pacificsk8r]

Originally Posted by rolrsk8r

I am looking for those who skated at Aloha Roller Palace in San Jose, especially back from when in opened till the early 80's. Is anyone on this forum from this area?

Thanks!

Well, not from waaay back there. But I was skating there just a couple of years back.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by rolrsk8r

I am looking for those who skated at Aloha Roller Palace in San Jose, especially back from when in opened till the early 80's. Is anyone on this forum from this area?

Thanks!

I skated there last night Been skating sessions there for about 15 years. I know a few of the regulars were involved with art back in the day, but I'm not sure how far back. In the early 90's they had a huge club, but now they are trying to get a new one going.

What type of skating did you do when you skated there?

Bill.

[rolrsk8r]

Was an artistic skater who was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, the first production number win for Aloha......

Am looking to find old friends and just keep in touch with skating. Got to go to Gold Skate the last few years and have been disappointed with the way the sport has gone.

[bigcityskater]

Originally Posted by rolrsk8r

Was an artistic skater who was Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, the first production number win for Aloha......

Am looking to find old friends and just keep in touch with skating. Got to go to Gold Skate the last few years and have been disappointed with the way the sport has gone.

Why were you dissapointed with the way the sport has gone? I didn't have an opportunity to go to GOLD skate this year.

[rolrsk8r]

I guess because there used to be at least nine to ten rinks doing the big production numbers. I know our production numbers all had over a hundred skaters in them. The Wizard of Oz had 135 I believe. Fiddler on the Roof, the Sound of Music, Willie Wonka, all winners with many skaters.

The last several years that I have been able to attend Gold Skate, since it is held near where I live, there has only been two to three big Production numbers, with only about 30-40 skaters in each. When I skated, rinks were only allowed one entry in each division per rink. Now there are several rinks that send three or more entries in each.

The quality of skating is all right, I guess I am just disappointed in the amount of skaters that are participating. I have to admit, this is my only contact with the sport these days, except when I was able to attend Nationals when it was held in Fresno. There is no rinks around where I live that have competitive skating and since I blew my knee out and had it replaced, I'm not sure I could even skate anymore.

Okay, off my soap box now!

)

[pastskater]

Originally Posted by rolrsk8r

I guess because there used to be at least nine to ten rinks doing the big production numbers. I know our production numbers all had over a hundred skaters in them. The Wizard of Oz had 135 I believe. Fiddler on the Roof, the Sound of Music, Willie Wonka, all winners with many skaters.

The last several years that I have been able to attend Gold Skate, since it is held near where I live, there has only been two to three big Production numbers, with only about 30-40 skaters in each. When I skated, rinks were only allowed one entry in each division per rink. Now there are several rinks that send three or more entries in each.

The quality of skating is all right, I guess I am just disappointed in the amount of skaters that are participating. I have to admit, this is my only contact with the sport these days, except when I was able to attend Nationals when it was held in Fresno. There is no rinks around where I live that have competitive skating and since I blew my knee out and had it replaced, I'm not sure I could even skate anymore.

Okay, off my soap box now!

)

Sorry to jump in, but I really needed to ask a question if you find the time to answering.

How many rinks are in the competition? The names of the production numbers you mentioned... I remember very well. They were good shows! The gal Irene Miller was the main voice on those production numbers if I am correct?

Thanks,

[rolrsk8r]

Irene was my coach for about six years and as far as how many rinks, each rink was only allowed one production number.

This of course when it was still being held in Bakersfield in the huge civic center, not the small offshoot of the Fresno one.


I have been looking for Irene, but last I heard, she was very ill.

[pastskater]

Originally Posted by rolrsk8r

Irene was my coach for about six years and as far as how many rinks, each rink was only allowed one production number.

This of course when it was still being held in Bakersfield in the huge civic center, not the small offshoot of the Fresno one.


I have been looking for Irene, but last I heard, she was very ill.

So the only one left is the Fresno? Or is there any other Gold skates further down in Southern California? The amount of roller rinks in participation in the Gold skate for Fresno is how many would you say?


I was reading the participation for the amount of skaters in Fresno for the production is around 30. This is the number or close to the mini production numbers if I remember right.

That is sad to hear about Irene. I remember her daughter Kristy and her partner Deborah lynn. Do let us know of any news with regards to Irene. She was a great coach.

[rolrsk8r]

Yes, the production numbers now remind me of the old mini-production numbers. I couldn't remember what that division was callled! Thanks!!!

My brother used to skate with Kristy for dance, then with Kimmy Wait. Before he passed away, he had recently contacted one of them, but can't remember which. It was he who told me that Irene was ill. Then, my mom and Richard hogg saw her somewhere and also said she looked ill. So I have been wondering about her myself as she was my coach for so long!

Hope someone knows about her and her family!

[pastskater]

Originally Posted by rolrsk8r

Yes, the production numbers now remind me of the old mini-production numbers. I couldn't remember what that division was callled! Thanks!!!

My brother used to skate with Kristy for dance, then with Kimmy Wait. Before he passed away, he had recently contacted one of them, but can't remember which. It was he who told me that Irene was ill. Then, my mom and Richard hogg saw her somewhere and also said she looked ill. So I have been wondering about her myself as she was my coach for so long!

Hope someone knows about her and her family!

Irene was well known throughout Roller Skating. If I find anything out through my old coach and friend I will let you know. Best of Luck!

[pastskater]

Originally Posted by rolrsk8r

I guess because there used to be at least nine to ten rinks doing the big production numbers. I know our production numbers all had over a hundred skaters in them. The Wizard of Oz had 135 I believe. Fiddler on the Roof, the Sound of Music, Willie Wonka, all winners with many skaters.

The last several years that I have been able to attend Gold Skate, since it is held near where I live, there has only been two to three big Production numbers, with only about 30-40 skaters in each. When I skated, rinks were only allowed one entry in each division per rink. Now there are several rinks that send three or more entries in each.

The quality of skating is all right, I guess I am just disappointed in the amount of skaters that are participating. I have to admit, this is my only contact with the sport these days, except when I was able to attend Nationals when it was held in Fresno. There is no rinks around where I live that have competitive skating and since I blew my knee out and had it replaced, I'm not sure I could even skate anymore.

Okay, off my soap box now!

)

Had to come back and ask one more thing from you. The building that the Gold Skate is at is it small? Is there seating alike the Bakersfield place with it going up or is it one level? I have never been there . I recently saw a clip and it looked really small.

thanks!

[rolrsk8r]

It's incredibly small! the rink is about the same size but it is about the size of Aloha's building. there is room on the sides for about three rows of folding chairs (one side only) and at the front, maybe six or seven rows. Our annual shows at Aloha held more people, I think!

[pastskater]

thanx for the information on the venue of the gold skate. May reconsider the trip for this and just come to a skating show.

best in your friend hunting!

[bottledsensation]

Hey There ~ I use to skate at Aloha from the middle 70's (when I was a child) all the way until 2000. It would be great to connect again. I now live in South Carolina, and man the rinks are different as well as the skate style!

[Bill]

Originally Posted by bottledsensation

Hey There ~ I use to skate at Aloha from the middle 70's (when I was a child) all the way until 2000. It would be great to connect again. I now live in South Carolina, and man the rinks are different as well as the skate style!

I skayed at aloha in the early 90's were you there when nekoe skated she in in the charlotte area now. there is a new club in san jose now the rink is named san jose skate. getting started. it has a big adult night on sundays. come out for gold skate in febuary it still is a lot of fun. put your skates back on.

[ogfarmskater]

Sunday Adult night in San Jose is epic whenever im in the Bay Area i try to make that part of my trip.. Great skaters and a awesome turnout..

[Thom Ahl]

I started at Aloha when it first opened with Roger and Marni as the original owners. I was the first floor guard. Before that I had worked at Cal Skate in Milpitas. I helped Irene during her Saturday morning lessons until 1979 when she asked me to be a teacher. Jackie Reber was also a teacher there but was too nervous to teach groups of kids. I worked with Ralph & Kay Wait and Larry Chop.

I taught from March of 1979 until I left for Washington in November of 1991.

As for Gold Skate, I was in "Swan Lake?" as the Queen Swan, skating with Jim Reber.

I haven't seen or heard from Irene since about 1997.

[RollerGoddess]

I love that roller rink. I've been skating at Aloha Roller Palace since the mid 80's when I was a little kid. That was the first rink I ever went to and I still view that roller rink as my 'rink home'. I remember it being called Aloha with the front sign having a cute little hula girl dancing next to the logo. That was when the place still seen better days. Later it was changed to Roxy's Roller Rink, and Golden Skate briefly before finally landing the current name of San Jose Skate. I wish it would go back to Aloha. That name will forever be in my heart.
The Sunday night adult (which now I think is switched to Mondays) skate is the closest to how I remember the rink back then. But I remember there use to be more lights flashing on the walls and stuff then what they do now. I hope the rink is starting to do renovations now cause the mural on the back wall is so beat up now with holes and scrapes. The carpet on the floors is patched up in places with duct tape and the floor is warped in spots. I did notice the last time I was there the little practice rink of to the left side of the building was completely demolished. I'm not sure what they plan on putting there in it's place.
But Aloha's spirit still remains. I had to rent a pair of quads (mine were in disposed at that time) and when I put them on, I noticed that the wheels (which were red, orange and yellow) mold stamp print said Aloha Roller Place. Wow! Those wheels are still going strong, well not really. They were well worn and tiny in height from being worn most likely. Which makes scene since I had like no grip in them.

[Lowly Roller]

Roller Goddess,
Makes me wish that I had gotten back into skating when I was out that way. I was stationed in Monterey back in '91 and '92. Unfortunately I was spending my time mountain biking and kayaking on the bay on my weekends. Didn't get back into skating till just recently now that the kids are old enough to join in. My kids think I'm nuts half the time, and I find myself trying a lot of things on my new skates that I never would on the rentals I grew up with.