When it comes to the history of roller skates, things get a bit tricky. It seems that almost every nation has their own “roller skates inventor”. However, according to many, the first official inventor was John Joseph Merlin from Belgium in the 18th century. Masquerades were very popular events at that time when everyone wanted to show up as eccentric as possible and Merlin definitely accomplished his goal. The funny thing about his story is that he was probably the worst roller skater ever.
According to “The History of Roller Skating” by James Turner and Michael Zaidman, John Joseph Merlin made a spectacular entrance at the party, but his five minute fame ended with his direct crush into a huge (and probably very expensive) mirror that he smashed into million tiny pieces. So can you imagine the result? Of course nobody wanted to get on those wheels and make a fool out of themselves. That’s why Merlin will always be remembered as the clumsiest roller skates inventor in history.
In the 19th century, many years after Merlin, the first two-by-two roller skates were patented. James L. Plimpton, a furniture dealer from New York, thought of a great way to move around the city and later even founded the New York Roller Skating Association. Plimpton never intended to promote the sport to the masses, so he didn’t sell his custom made roller skates, but rented them instead. In the summer of 1866 a resort hotel in Newport converted their dining room into the first roller rink open for the public in the USA and Plimpton was the one giving lessons to everyone who wanted to feel the “feet on wheels” excitement.
However, the era of roller skates were the 50’s. Everyone wanted to grab a bite in America’s fast food restaurants where boys and girls were serving hamburgers and coca-cola’s on four wheels. People seemed to love the idea of “walking on wheels” and by the 70’s and the 80’s roller skating became a huge hit among young people who loved partying and staying out late in the roller-disco rinks.
Today, roller skating is yet another fun activity for all of us busy people of the 21st century. Enjoying the park in a cool pair of custom made roller skates after eight hours of work is many people’s favorite way to disconnect and feel free once again. Plus, it makes our leg muscles strong, it teaches us how to balance and gives a chance to socialize and have fun with our skating buddies. Although in the past roller skating was considered an activity for the young, today you can see whole families skating around the city and the bravest even “roll” to work on wheels. Roller skating is healthy, fun, adventurous and will make you feel younger, so I have to ask you dear reader, what’s your excuse?
