We entered up the ramp and walked through two open doors. Its been at least 35 years since I had been here last. It still looked the same. I stood there for a few moments looking around at the aged surroundings. I made my way over to the main entrance to the rink, looked out across the darkened dance floor. There were colored lights illuminating the huge room and there in the center of the ceiling hung the old familiar disco ball. The small stage still stood in the corner, and it was decorated for the season. Halloween was in the air. The old organ was silent, but I could hear the old familiar music in my mind. The disco ball was moving slowly casting a glimmering display of lights across the room. Most of the party goers had not arrived, but there were a few people seated on the benches in the center of the rink. I set up my camera and tripod, and took a few shots of the huge dance floor using a long exposure. As I stood there and looked around, I imagined the excitement contained within these walls during the past 80 years or more. In my mind I visualized happy couples skating hand in hand to the musical tunes being played on the organ. After taking a few shots I viewed the photos I had taken, and immediately I noticed what appeared to be ghost like figures on the dance floor. I looked at the people seated on the benches, there were not many. What were these figures? Were they members of the party, or perhaps, could it be there were still a few lingering spirits from years gone by, still wanting to join in on the festivities? We are approaching Halloween. One never knows.
I had the opportunity to get out a little tonight as we were invited to a birthday party for my Niece's Daughter who turned 9. The party was held at the Mt. Gretna Roller Rink, a well known roller rink for the past 80 years or more. The original building was constructed in 1896 and intitially used as a place to conduct social events like fairs for local farmers. Then in 1930 it was converted to a roller rink. Since it is that time of the year, I thought I would dress up the photo a bit with some editing from Picnik, giving it a slight ghostly appearance. Even though I had to sit most of the time, I still enjoyed watching everyone have fun. It brought back a lot of memories. It is a grand old rink, and so glad it is still operational.
Those ghost shots sound so cool! What a surprise. Nice job with the collage. What program do you use to make them? I have been working on one in photoshop...............whew! takes forever!
Glad you were able to get out for a while.
Great Collage.. bet it was great to get out into the world for awhile.. lets hope your back continues to let you move about,.. thanks for your comment on my coconut shot.. :)
I hope everyone has a roller rink in their past. It has its own set of memories like no other, including the immediately recognizable music and the atmosphere and of course members of the opposite sex! Thanks for evoking it so effectively.
Nice collage. The roller rink in our area was converted to a hockey rink and then back to a roller rink. You could see the roller boards under this ice when we played hockey.
NIce shots, and I like the spooky twist. I don't know if we even have a roller rink still in town, but I remember going as a kid for the safety patrol end of year party...I practiced for weeks so I could skate at that party! Thanks for the memory.
Isn't it lovely that people still love to get out and enjoy skating as their parents and grandparents did years before?! It's wonderful to have the beauty of so many vintage places around you...I'm delighted you bring them to us in photographs! And I was glad to hear you were up to going out for a celebration, albeit a sedate one on your part!
I remember going to skate! :) Fun days! I find this interesting that you took them on long exposure which isn't always easy to do. Nice ghostly atmosphere. I hope you are feeling better!
Great shots ;)
Glad you were able to get out for a while.