We went to the Planet and the Swank. I can hear Plantation Boogie playing right now. Ha! Ha! We also went to St Basil when we were younger and a bunch of us from St Michaels would go to St Joe & St Ann on Friday nights.

The Rainbo was another one. It use to be an old club on Clark, just north of Lawrence, that played a lot of big acts like the Big Bands. I found out that The Who played there as well and I'm sure a lot of famous acts played there. I think it use to be a big dance hall as well. I roller skated there once back in the 80's. It was quite a big place. I did not know of it's past during that time. They tore it down a few years ago and put up a couple of 'modern design' buildings. Shame Chicago doesn't try to save it's richly historical established institutions.

As a kid on the southside, we skated at a rink at 76th & S. Racine AVe. I think it was called the "Planet," or some such similar name.

[b]How about the Hub about 4000 n harlem? itwas the worlds largest roller rink. About a block long inside.[/b]

Spent every weekend at Riverview Rink back in the late 40s and the 50s. Best organ player around. But i'll bet nobody remembers Hollywood roller rink on Kedzie ave north of Lawrence ??

The Planet. Can still hear the Hammond organ.

Riverview on Belmont west of Western. It was across the river from Riverview amusement park on Western.

I was up in Chicago over Thanksgiving and visited the former site of Madison Gardens Rink and the neighborhood. I see that the site is now occupied by Johnny's IceHouse West...a hockey training rink and serves as the primary Chicago Blackhawk training center.

I would be interested in rink floor size of those old-time chicago rinks. I assume Roller Bowl and Arcadia were huge while a rink like Madison Gardens was middle of the road.

Anyone have a feel for that topic?