Rolling On
Keeping alive the timeless rhythms of roller skating
STORY AND PHOTOS BY Steve Martarano
Skaters circle Roller King ’ s 12,800-foot rink under the disco ball on Retro Night , Feb . 12 .
It ’ s Saturday Retro Night at the Roller King Skating Center in Roseville . Skaters of all ages , from toddlers to adults , circle the rink in a counterclockwise endless loop , as the sparkling disco ball spins to the beat of music from the 1970s , ‘ 80s and ‘ 90s .
Since the mid-1970s , family-owned Roller King has occupied the corner of Riverside Avenue , off Interstate 80 and just past Cirby Way , and the scene during any session there is a timeless piece of Americana .
“ It ’ s a unique activity ,” says current owner David Jacques , whose parents first began running Roller King in 1976 . “ Everything has gone virtual these days , so there are fewer and fewer things where you can interact and be with other people and see them face-to-face .”
Along with its popular Saturday Retro Nights and other public skating sessions , Roller King sponsors STEM ( Science , Technology , Engineering and Math ) field trips , as well as hosting private parties , school fundraisers and lessons .
“ We see kids who never roller skated in their life ,” says Randy Nemeth , an elementary school teacher at Ophir
30 comstocksmag . com | April 2022