Goodbye Rainbo
Wednesday April 2, 2003 – 7:24 pmThey’ve closed down the Rainbo Roller Rink! What a shame, I had lots of good times there. They had a good wood floor and it was the only skating rink I’d ever been to that allowed skating while drinking. It was also the only one I’d ever seen that had two levels of skating; the main floor downstairs and another little floor upstairs by the bar. Did I mention it had a bar? Only in Chicago, the same place where you can buy hard liquor at the grocery store, right in the aisle next to the potato chips.
The last time I went to the Rainbo a few years ago, the vibe was a little weird. Me and my friends were the only white people skating. That was no prob for me, I only judge people based on their skating ability. But one of my friends overheard some rude words about our skin color. Something like "Oh, now the whities want to take over our rink." That’s no good, we only wanted to go there to have a good time skating, not for any kind of racial territorial challenge! But we got over it and had a good time anyway and didn’t let the funny looks bother us. But then I got pissed when the DJ yelled at me over the PA for skating backwards. It was an adult night, WTF, you’re not allowed to even skate backwards? Screw that, how are you supposed to do any jumps or spins if you can’t even turn the fuck around? Anyway… I have to find another rink. It needs to be BIG and it needs an adult session where you’re allowed to skate fast and do whatever tricks you want.
I used to be really serious about figure skating; now it’s just a long-lost love. I’m not the greatest skater on earth but I do love every minute of it, and I’m better than most people. I can do a reasonably graceful two-footed spin, and I can do a toe loop as well, those are my best tricks. A toe loop is when you’re skating backwards, you stick your left leg out behind you, stub the toe-stop into the floor and use that leg to push yourself up and around a full 360 degrees. It was a huge breakthrough for me to learn that jump, but then after that I sort of hit a plateau with my skating. It was also a problem with location… in Austin I used to go to Playland at least once or twice a week, but when I moved to NYC I couldn’t find a good rink nearby. I could only go to Wollman in the summertime and skate outdoors on concrete. Which is fun, but not really my favorite way to skate. Here in Chicago the only decent rink I knew about was the Rainbo. I’m sure there are tons more out in the suburbs, but I’m picky! I don’t wanna mess around here. I has to be BIG, they have to let you do tricks, and I don’t wanna skate with little kids around. Nothing against little kids, I just don’t wanna watch out for ‘em. :-)
April 4th, 2003 at 10:01 am
This is the coolest thing I’ve read all day! I am also sad about saying goodbye to Rainbo. I didn’t ever go there, but just having it in my neighborhood made me happy.
When I worked at second hand tunes, a regular told me that there are good rinks on the southside but that I wouldn’t be welcome there because I’m white. I kid you not. He said that if I went with him, it’d probably be okay but that the rinks are very popular and they don’t like it if people from outside the area come there to skate. ?? Sounds a little similar to your story.
Anyway, what I thought was cool was your skating stories. I’m very impressed! Skating rules, and I don’t know anyone who is seeminlgy as adept at it as you. I used to go to my neighborhood rink every single weekend when I was 12-13, but I never managed to learn any tricks besides spinning a little bit.
April 6th, 2003 at 1:58 am
I loved reading this. I am also impressed by your skating prowess. I never did get the hang of it too much, but I used to go to the Rainbo with my girl scout troop and it rocked. Sad that it’s closing…places like that are a dying breed!
June 17th, 2003 at 8:25 pm
I was a regular at the Rainbo, and I’m sorry about the negative vibes you received there. It was one thing for regulars to get into a snit because someone couldn’t skate well and/or follow the rules of the rink. However, it was inappropriate for people to make snide racial remarks.
I have the option of going to the Rink Fitness Factor on 87th, or Hawthorne on 76th. However, I live on the far north side of the city, and I don’t have a car. When I was younger, it was nothing for me to travel to 95th and Eberhart to skate at the Loop or to 95th and Jeffrey to skate at East Side Wheels. I also used to go to Hot Wheels on Madison and Pulaski on the west side. All of those rinks are gone now, too. These days, taking public transportation to travel way out south to skate is not only a pain, but an inconvenience, time-wise. The Rainbo was perfect because it was practically a straight shot to get there.
I did hear something from a friend of mine who was a regular at Rainbo (and the only white guy who consistently came to the otherwise predominantly black adult skates). An alderman told another former regular that there is a possibility that Rainbo might reopen, although it might not function as a roller rink, but as another entertainment venue. I would love to see it open up as a rink again if the City of Chicago buys it.
I agree about kids in the rink–I was so happy when I was old enough to attend the 21 and 25 and over rink sessions. I haven’t skated at a family (read: mostly kids) session in years.
June 17th, 2003 at 9:58 pm
That was fun to read Hillari. I think you’re the first serious skater I’ve heard from since I moved to Chicago. Well… when I say serious, I mean someone who regards roller skating as a good way to exercise as opposed to those who only see it as an activity for kids.
I think in my post I might have made it seem like I’m one of those a*holes who wants to push my way around the rink and not follow any rules of courtesy and right-of-way. I’m all about politeness in skating, as long the rules are clearly stated. When you have a lot of experienced skaters on one rink, things naturally flow a certain way. You develop an eye for the other skaters and you instinctively know when a space will open up so you can speed up to make a jump. You don’t get in the way of the people practicing in the middle. If you accidentally bump into somebody, you quickly apologize, and you NEVER get yourself into a position to actually knock somebody else over. That’s really bad! So… I just didn’t want you to think I was one of those jerks. You know the kind I’m talking about.
November 4th, 2003 at 12:19 am
I remember the 1st time I ever stepped foot into the Rainbo Roller Rink, I was about 8 yrs old this was 1983…I had a ball!!! I couldn’t skate very well though…My mom was a single parent, but made an effort to get me & older brother to the early morning Saturday & Sunday lessons…The instructors were all races two of my favorites were Milton & Marty, that was a time when it was safe & fun….I made a lot of friends also of many races…I often wonder where these people are to this day, I would love to see them if they are still alive…I apologize for the ignorant experience the 1st writer had…As an African American woman I welcome all to have fun, no matter what the race…Some people are just idiots!!! I’d like to open a new skating rink one day…
December 2nd, 2003 at 1:04 am
Man the days of Rainbo : ) I was a regular during the 80’s and wanted to go back for one last spin but like others I was told it would not be wise for me to go to Rainbo because I am white. Back in the day that didn’t matter people came to skate and dance and have a good time not judge you on your skin color. I will always cherish my days at Rainbo it’s said to see the old girl go.
The Rainbo will live on in my heart forever.
December 2nd, 2003 at 6:57 pm
thought that I’d ad to this string with a little something from the Novemeber 27th issue of The Chicago Sun Times:
Demolition crew finds human remains
Construction crews demolishing the old Rainbo roller rink on the North Side discovered what appeared to be human remains Wednesday afternoon. The bones were found in paper bags in a secluded section of the basement at 4836 N. Clark, the roller rink site that originally housed an ice skating rink, police said. The basement still had a maze of old ice-making equipment, and construction crews were sent scrambling after finding the bones near the machinery, police said. The remains were taken to the Cook County medical examiner’s office in hopes of determining the age, gender and cause of death. An autopsy is scheduled for today.
December 5th, 2003 at 9:11 pm
I WAS A REGULAR AT RAINBOW SINCE I WAS 6 YEARS OLD EVERY SATUDAY FROM 12-3 OR 4 TO 7PM I LOVED IT IT WAS A PASSION I HAD JUST GOING AROUND AND THEN TRYING TO TRICKS I EVEN KNEW HOW TO DANCE ON MY SKATES AND AS I GOT OLDER RAINBO WAS HOME TO CONCERTS SUCH AS LISA AND LISA AND READY FOR THE WORLD I LOVED LISA LISA AND STILL A FAN HER ALBUMS ARE SOMEWHERE IN MY BASEMENT AND WHEN I DUST THEM OFF AND LISTEN TO THEM MY NEPHEWS FREAK OUT HES NOW 15 I LOVED RAINBO IT WAS MY HOME AND MY ESCAPE IT KEPT ME OFF THE STREETS EVEN AFTER MY PARENTS PASSED AWAY THE ONLY WAY I WOULD RELEASE MY STRESS WAS GOING TO RAINBO AND I EVEN WORKED THERE FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS YEAH IT WAS MY FIRST JOB I LOVED RAINBO AND IF THEY OPEN ANOTHER ONE I HOPE ITS STILL ON THE NORTH SIDE WHERE IT BELONGS
December 9th, 2003 at 10:47 pm
I grew up in Rogers Park. My parents took me and my brother to Rainbo to skate a few times around 1977/78? Though it could have been earlier or a yeat later. Anyways I really liked the place and even though our skating wasn’t very good we enjoyed the place. Later we moved out of town to the suburbs and I still recall what a cool place Rainbo was. Years later one of my aunts married a guys(uncle rich) who saw Led Zepplin open for headliner Jethro Tull and blew the audience away, as they had just toured the sates for a few months. It’s very sad to hear that places like this can’t survive or are torn down for condo projects costing $400,000 per unit! My times are changing indeed.
January 1st, 2004 at 5:46 am
I remember in the early eighties traveling to the north side to go to the rainbo, it was such a treat to go to this huge roller rink. As I grew older I would return to attend the wednesday evening adult sessions , it was a nice crowd I got to meet a lot of new friends . It was not only a social gathering but it was a stress reliever not to mention I gained some badly needed exercise.When I heard of the closing I was surprised. I went to the final wednesday and Sunday skate, there was not a parking space to be found, when I got inside there was people of all races coming together to bid farewell to the rainbo. It was a beautiful thing! I returned in October to find the lot fenced off and the north wall had been torn down revealing the hanging disco balls and the painting of the city, I realized the good times I had would all be in my memory. Farewell Rainbo! at least we have the memories.
January 16th, 2005 at 10:12 am
What about the bones? I’m so curious! I guess its not solved already. I used to go to dance parties there in the 80’s and had a fun time. write me if any info emerges.