Shoes with wheels were invented in the 18th century, but it wasn’t until 1863, with the addition of a fourth wheel, that the roller skate became a reliable apparatus for exercise and entertainment. John Joseph Marlin designed the quad skate, and actively promoted it. He established the New York Roller Skating Association and in 1866 opened a skating rink in Rhode Island.
Indian Territory newspapers of the 1880s mention roller skating and ads appear for “roller rink skates.” Vinita had a rink in 1884, but skating really became popular here after 1900 when roller rinks were created in Caddo and Durant. Some were specifically built for the sport and others were merely remodels of ballrooms or warehouses. Most emphasized order and decorum and ladies were “especially invited to attend.” However, there were still some concerns about safety, segregation, and morality. A few pastors declared skating “sinful” and many towns were forced to create ordinances against skating on sidewalks or in the middle of the street. This assertion appeared in the Caddo Herald in 1910: “Roller skating may be all right, but the tired man who is trying to sleep beside a window that overlooks a broad cement walk on a warm evening, does not fully appreciate it.”
Skating parties, competitions, and contests were soon the craze and demonstrations of skill drew large crowds. In 1913 Mr. Glasscock, proprietor of rinks in both Caddo and Durant, awarded a lovely umbrella to the “most popular lady,” as determined by the votes of his patrons. Each hour of skating earned five votes. Thelma Harris won the prize. His new skating rink completed in Caddo in 1914 boasted “by far the best skating floor in this part of the country,” and was soon booked for an exhibition of trick skating, a Masquerade ball, an employee party, and a fall dress ball. It also became a popular meeting site for churches. The Baptists held a two-week meeting for their Orphan’s Home, and the Presbyterians booked two weeks for a conference. It was also frequently used by political speakers.
In 1916 a new roller rink opened in Durant at Fifth and Main, managed by E. P. Slaughter. In 1921 Franklin and Williams opened a rink above the Franklin Garage at Fourth and Evergreen. It was “crowded with skaters every night” and also offered daytime sessions for ladies and children. Gentlemen were encouraged to “give your girl a whirl.”
Skates sold for $1.89 in the thirties and were frequently mentioned in “Dear Santa” letters published in the paper. School groups were rewarded with trips to the rinks for an hour of fun and games. Skating also expanded into a few workplaces where mail and supplies were delivered by skaters.
Three more roller rinks are mentioned in the newspapers of the forties: Randy’s Rink (near Colbert), Frenchies’ Roller Rink (a portable rink set up in a tent one mile south of Durant on highway 69/75), and Teague’s Roller Rink (one mile east on highway 70). Although the Durant paper named Roy Teague as the owner of the popular Teague’s Roller Rink when they reported on its fine accommodations in 1950, he was only fourteen years old and his father, Willie E. Teague actually owned it. Roy and his twenty-year-old brother, Billy Mack managed it, along with employee Thomas Spencer. The rink was large enough for 300 skaters and they boasted they had had 200 on the floor at one time. It was open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and admission was 35 cents. Seats were available for onlookers. In the summer of 1951, it was closed for a month for some remodeling, including the installation of neon lights inside.
Roy Teague was an outstanding athlete and in 1951 he was the captain of Durant’s roller skate hockey team. They beat Sherman 12 to 11, with Roy scoring nine of those points.
A large ad in the 1952 paper announced that “Clark’s Roller Skating Bears” would be performing at Teague’s.
The City Armory building was the 1951 home of the Durant Armory Roller Rink Skate Club, with 175 county skate members. In 1952 they installed a new floor and air conditioning. An ad in the classifieds sought “100 boys and girls to attend our Semi-Annual Shoe Skate Club Skate Meet at the new Armory Roller Rink on West Main”.
Willie Teague sold his skating rink in 1952 so that he could devote his time to campaigning for county commissioner. Chester Kincannon bought it and changed the name to “Durant Skating Rink.” They soon started holding an annual “roller skating queen” contest. La-Verne Hampton was the 1959 queen and Becky Ann Morris won in 1963. Chester sold the rink to Larry Eades in 1963 and its name changed again, becoming “Wheel Roller Rink.”
Skating rinks have come and gone in the ensuing years and like many other activities of our ancestors, roller skating has changed to meet the needs and expectations of each generation, but the fundamentals of the sport remain and traveling on the little wheels still provides exercise and entertainment.