Dorchester Illustration no. 2442 Winter Garden Rollerway and Riverview Ballroom
On April 30, 1932, the Winter Garden organization opened the Winter Garden Rollerway at 725 Gallivan Boulevard, located approximately where the Expressway off-ramp is now located between Staples and the gas station at Hallet Street – maybe set as far back as the Expressway itself. Every summer beginning in June, 1933, the roller skating activity moved to Nantasket to allow the use of the facility in Dorchester as the Riverview Ballroom where many traveling name bands performed, including Rudy Vallee, Fred Waring, Isham Jones, Cab Calloway, Larry Clinton, Gene Krupa, Fats Waller, Ina Ray Hutton, Tommy Dorsey and many others. Note, however, that “jitter-bugging” was never permitted at Riverview, while the Old Time Dance Tempo of Ed Andrews caught on and became popular with dancers of all ages.
The Winter Garden Rollerway celebrated its 10th anniversary in 1942 with the publication of a booklet with photographs of many of the personnel of the organization as well as many of the skaters. The Winter Garden Tattler was published here until 1936 when its name changed to Roller Skater’s World Tattler. By 1942 this weekly publication had a circulation of 7,500 each week with demand coming from all over the country. Fred and Lou Freeman managed the entire organization.
Here is a selection of comments received about this facility:
From: Susan Liss
I skated at the Chez Vous skating ring everyday after school. I belonged to the skating club from there. Dick Dontrimont (sp) was our teacher. I have a lot of fond memories from that time. I still have my gold skate key that I got after taking a test to complete my program. The judges were all over the rink; it was some very happy times.
From: Ronald Santosucci
The Sholes rink at Neponset was located where Staples is now. Across the street where Bickford’s presently is, was Linda’s Fried Chicken. That’s where we went, after skating, (if we were fortunate enough to have the extra 0.15 cents), to get an ice cream.
I used to skate here in 1955-56. The organist’s name was Harry Garafola. I grew up in Dorchester, and South Boston…….and I not only skated at Shole’s, but also at Chez-Vous on Rhoades St. Back then, between the side entrance of the Morton theatre, and the auto parts store,(which used to be a car dealer), there was an old wooden fence which had a hole in it, and we used to cut through to get to the diner,(which used to be where the doughnut store is now). The last that I heard, Sam Sholes was living in Florida,(don’t know if he’s still alive). A pity that the young people have lost interest in the sport, and opted for video games. Trying to keep a certain culture is like trying to stop the tide…………….Ron
As a young lad back then….with no car, or license…..I didn’t have occasion to go near the Lincoln-Mercury property. I used to arrive via trackless trolley at Neponset Ave. and Gallivan Blvd. and walk to the rink. The drive-in was there, along with the Keystone Camera Company, as well as…of course…..the rink. Rayco auto seat covers was next to the car wash at the circle, (I don’t remember how long the car wash has been there). There really wasn’t a lot on Gallivan Blvd., don’t forget….the expressway wasn’t even there in 1956. That’s supposedly the reason that they destroyed the rink,(for the X-way). Hope this helps….Ron