Draft:Roxy Roller Rink

Roxy how it came together.

After returning to NYC, from a five-year walkabout I (Richard Newhouse) was invited by my old friend and world renown Coty Award winner Patricia Underwood to roller skate at the Village Rink in Greenwich Village, NYC.  I suggest Village created by Richard “Dick” Clammer restarted skating in NYC.

At Village I was inspired by the fabulous Village Wizards (Marrion Green, Michael Belgrave, Gail and Pam). Though I had the requisite clip-ons with metal wheels, back in the day, and attended a few birthday parties at indoor rinks later on I don’t remember having this much fun. We were skating to Disco – music that moved you.   So right there and then I decided to have my own rink.

Hooked on skating I went to Brooklyn’s Empire Rink on Wednesday nights to skate with some of the best on or off wheels. Bill Butler the godfather of skating prominent among the many incredible skaters.  It was Lamb who encouraged keeping the beat was the primary objective.

While searching for a suitable facility I traveled to many rinks local and across the country learning about the roller-skating business.  Many of the owners where full time building contractors who saw an opportunity as in rural areas the only competition was bowling.  The owners where forthcoming about the business.  Skating for them was largely a big space with a good floor – something they could easily do

After a year-and-a-half of searching I was introduced, by my old law school buddy, Richard Eisenberg to a clear span parking garage on 18th Street.  It was then owned by Eisenberg’s client, Mendon Truck Leasing.  I spent over a year attempting to convince Mendy and Don that yes, a roller rink could pay the rent.  As Mendy tells it! It was largely through the honorable actions of uncle Irving Newhouse that the lease became available.  Seems Irving honored a debt which bankruptcy would have dismissed.

This is how I first saw the soon to be Roxy. A truck parking garage in a forgotten NY west side neighborhood at 10^th Av and 18^th street :

Bette Wanderman, the famous Cuban film director, was instrumental in connecting me with Steve Bauman, an old college buddy, who introduced me to Stephen Greenberg.  Greenberg eventually became the funding source for the Roxy.  Having separate and distinct skills and interests this was a great partnership. I got to build the roller rink I dreamed of and Greenberg turned my dream into the world-famous Roxy Roller Rink.

The 26,000 square foot clear span garage was ideal but not quite ready for skating.  To level the floor, we engaged the same folks who did JFK runway who, in one evening, delivered and paved 21 truckloads of cement – it all had to be done in one pore and these guys were the pros.

Next came the 20,000 sq ft maple floor and Greenberg deferred to me and I hired arguable the best in the biz Tillinghast. Tilly lived up to their reputation.  I do remember being freaked when a worker put out his cigarette on my new floor – not to worry maple could handle that and thousands of skaters.  I was quite protective.

Barry Imhoff, a friend of Greenberg’s, became our construction manager.  We had sent out thousands of invitations for opening night December 5, 1979 and we were sorely behind schedule.  Imhoff brought in Bill Graham, the world-famous rock concert promoter, who brought in 3 of his road crews - who worked through the night and miraculously we were ready the following night with a generator supplying power. Con Ed was not impressed by our needs and schedule. We opened to rave reviews as the NY Times article describes (see below for article).  Credit to Greenberg, PR genius that he was. Steven worked the phones nonstop inviting every star and publication.

The lighting and sound systems where great though originally, Greenberg was somewhat cautious in his investment. After he saw the rave success, especially the NY Times review (attached below) and celebrity crowd that attended he opened the purse strings to vastly upgrade.  The upgrade was undertaken with the help of Richard Long.  Per Wikipedia - Richard Long was known as the preeminent sound designer of the disco era, having installed systems at clubs including Paradise Garage, Dorian Gray, Studio 54, City Hall, Max's Kansas City and Roxy Roller Rink.

During my search for location: I discovered that Roseland, the NYC nightclub, was once the Metropolitan Roller Rink founded in 1905. I approached the owners who showed me their legal occupancy and 7 bars – roller skating couldn’t compete conversation over. The next obvious large clear span spaces were the armories which had wood floors and heavy floor loads – think tanks. But it seems the “generals” preferred tennis.

As to the naming of the Roxy:  We batted around multiple names finally adapting Roxy which had been suggested by another old friend, West Lawner.

The rest as they say is history – to be continued and added to hopefully by those who where there.