Oaks Skating Clubs & Shows
The Social Club was started in the late 1930's. Dues were $1.00 per year. Club members could purchase pins, sweaters, patches and emblems to identify themself as club members. There were regular meetings. Members could participate in the yearly Spring and Fall season opening shows.
Season opening shows were demonstrations of skating to educate the public to the changes in skating. These led to formal skating shows starting about 1941 with the last known show in 1966.
Competitive skaters were given an opportunity to “polish” their competitive skills by participating in annual skating shows. Ruth Bollinger designed most of the costumes. The Oaks Social Club, volunteers and mothers of skaters led by Ruth Bollinger were the "Sewers & Doers" for costuming.
Over the years interest in " Dance, Figures, Free Skating, Speed and Hockey" increased. So around 1946, Dean Songer spearheaded a drive to create The Oaks Figure Skating Club. Bill Brunner was the first President with Evelyn Stratton as Secretary. Practice was on Sunday mornings at 10 am. A ballet instructor and his daughter were made available on Wednesdays between the afternoon and evening sessions. There was an $8 per month fee allowing members to skate anytime.
The "Social Club" remained and functioned such as, bus trips to the skating rinks in the Northwest, Skating Parties at The Oaks, picnics during the summer and activities that were just plain fun.
Bill Romans was the driving factor in the continuing popularity of the Oaks Social Club, which was disbanded about 1960.
Next Art, Speed & Hockey Clubs were formed with the emphasis on "Competitive " skating.
Below are a few pictures from the 1952 and 1953 shows plus two videos of show pictures.
1952 program cover
show program
“Swingin’ In Rhythm”
John Gustafson
as the Lullaby of Broadway’s
Manhattan Playboy in
“Swingin’ In Rhythm” 1952 show
Joe Juchemich is featured as
The General in Rhythm Militaire
(Swingin' In Rhythm" 1952)
Lloyd Rich is shown on stilts skates
Skating in the Clouds in 1952
“Swingin’ In Rhythm”.
Panda Bear Picnic - 1953
“Holiday in Rhythm” show.
The lady wearing the full Panda
costume (shown upper right)
made animal costumes
for many of these shows.
Skate club members and session skaters were the cast members.
Competitive skaters were assigned solo numbers.
These shows were used to raise money for the club's travel fund.
Skaters who placed first, second or third at the Regional Meet were eligible to
compete at the National level. All the shows were sanctioned by the
Roller Skating Rink Operators Association of America.
Oakettes (ladies), Ka-Dettes (gentlemen), Junior Oakettes (young ladies)
and Junior Ka-Dettes (young gentlemen)
Although he did not play at the Oaks, Nick Viscuso graciously provided
the background music. Click to learn about Nick
This video starts and ends with pictures of Nick Viscuso. Although he
did not play at the Oaks, he graciously provided the background
music. Click to learn about Nick
