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If reality television shows were around in the 1970s, the highest ratings would probably go to a program revolving around the United Skates of America, Inc. Roller Skating Rink in the West Belt Mall of the Willowbrook Shopping Center.
Gang fights in the parking lot, teenage make out sessions in the "penalty box," and unsupervised overnight skating marathons.
"It was all in good fun," said Tommy Kosh, a Little Falls resident who met his wife Eileen during a couple's skate at the rink. "It was a great atmosphere. A lot of great people, it was a great place to grow up. It kept us off the street. It was a big family – everybody knew each other. It was a home away from home."
Kosh said the rink was always packed, especially on weekends. The lines would wrap around the building. There was a disco nightclub next door to the rink called Night Moves and a drive-in theatre across the highway. Kosh remembers watching "Grease" while waiting in line to go into the rink.
Kosh didn't mind the long lines. He skated four or five nights a week. He was there all day on Saturdays and Sundays. He got a job working at the rink to support his skating habit. Working at the rink ensured him perks like free food and skating.
Each night offered something special for skaters. Monday nights were family nights; Wednesday nights were Whacky Wednesdays: Skaters would get in free if they came with a roll of toilet paper. Friday nights were rock nights, but Kosh said disco music was the best to skate to.
"Disco had a better tempo," he said.
Kosh got kicked out of the rink one time for throwing a sneaker around like it was a football – while on roller skates. Kosh had no ride home and skated down Route 46. He grabbed on to the back of a truck and held on until he was almost home. Then he jumped onto the grass to stop himself.
"There was no way my skate brakes were going to stop me," Kosh said.
But all the good times came to an end when the rink closed in the mid-1980s. It came as a shock to everyone because it happened so suddenly.
"It was like an anthill getting run over by a car," said Wayne resident Jay Rapp. "No 'farewell skate.' We kind of knew that it was going to happen, but not like that."
Rapp still enjoys skating, but things have changed. Now instead of disco, house music is played in the rinks.
"I like it now because it's physically active," Rapp said. "We leave the rink on a Saturday night and I'm drenched in sweat."
Rob Cusmano of Sayreville was also a part of the skating magic. He keeps the essence of roller mania alive by organizing skating reunions every year at a rink in South Amboy. The reunions are not only for people who were fans of the rink in Wayne, but other rinks in New Jersey that have closed down.
"The perception is that it's a dying art," he said. "I don't think it's a thing that has died. Not having a rink, that was the problem."
caroline mannheimer
9:17 am on Thursday, December 30, 2010
Thanks for this article! It brought back such sweet memories of a time when all was possible and life stretched before me like a never-ending ribbon of Jersey Shore sand...sigh. Of course, being from Morris County, my rink was the Florham Park Sating Rink but we'd always heard about United Skates...of course, to a Jersey kid, another county seemed soooooo far away, laugh.
I am also amused by the timing of this...I was just telling my 6 year-old daughter about what a good skater I was "back-in-the-day", last night. She expressed a desire to learn and I thought to myself, "it could never be like it was..." I can only hope that rollerskating- true rollerskating, not rollerblading- continues on and is even better for the next generation!
Great subject matter, Mary Anne, and I look forward to follow-up articles!
Rob C
12:34 pm on Thursday, December 30, 2010
Hi Caroline
There are a bunch of us that still skate Adult nights at Rollerjam on Sat. Nights....
http://www.rollerjamusa.com/
We also take our kids to Wed. night cheap skate at South Amboy Rollermagic , I have a 7 & 16 year old that skate.....
http://www.sk8rollermagic.com/sahome.html
Jacki Linaberry
11:18 am on Thursday, December 30, 2010
Great article Mare! I learned to skate there (even did the lesson thing)! I still take the kids skating at USA in Woodbridge Rec Center.
Rob C
12:36 pm on Thursday, December 30, 2010
Hi Jacki,
Usa is no longer involved at the rink in Woodbridge..... The Township took it over....
a few miles away is South Amboy & IMHO its much more fun for the Kids, Lots of kids to learn from too
DONNA ABRAMS
12:55 pm on Thursday, December 30, 2010
great article , I spent the end of the 70.s until 1980 there , best times of my life , You always had a place to go on the weekends even during the week not like our kids now they have nothing but the computer or to walk the mall , we have tried the ice skating thing but no one goes there , and how many times can you hit the movies and not go broke , I really wish they would bring them back so I could show my daughter what its like to really have fun .
Lori F
1:34 pm on Thursday, December 30, 2010
Great article. I grew up at USA it was my home away from home. Learned to skate there, worked there, made many friends there that are still friends of mine today. Still remember the day I got the call that they closed it. No notice or warning. Wish I still lived in Jersey so I could go to the reunions.
Chris S
5:27 pm on Thursday, December 30, 2010
Spent many a night at the rink, I still have my skates that I bought in the shop there. Those were very specials days. Also went to Livingston to skate and there is a rink in Hackettstown that the kids love to go to. MaryAnne you brought a smile to my face with this article, thanks.
Brian F. Babcock
7:14 pm on Thursday, December 30, 2010
FOR ...ALL ! ( United Skates of A . RING in WAYNE ! ) - I was the Last D J at the Rink when the owner Charlei told me we are closed for good !...The last 2 songs was played there - by me ! is ....Foolishbeat ( Debbie G ) And 1 more try ( G M ) !
Mike T
8:16 pm on Saturday, January 1, 2011
Make out sessions in the penalty box...ah, some of the best memories of my life. Don't forget the pinball row in the middle of the rink. My first real kiss occured underneath the 'Meteor' pinball machines. Most memorable kiss of my life.
dave hill
9:45 pm on Friday, February 25, 2011
hi people
i don't know if you remember me or not'im dave hill i managed u,s,a, from 78 to 81 they were good times i am on face book,with a lot of the usa skaters.they were good times.they use to call me the old guy with the glasses also managed skaters world in wayne ..dave
Gayle Stancil
2:00 am on Sunday, May 15, 2011
Great to read this! Theres no doubt that was a special place to many people. If I could I was there 4 times a week! Oh boy the memories........... Gayle
DeeCC
9:19 pm on Monday, April 2, 2012
I used to skate at USA in Willowbrook, I miss the people we were all friends they did know your name - we even used to have them play the Cheers theme because it went so well. I remember the movie screen that lowered down out of the ceiling and the small practice dance floor in the center surrounded by carpet. I became a Skate guard and even performed the Hokey Pokey in the Skatasaurus costum. I still talk about it to some of the people I have met in my new rink home, Kendall Park Roller Rink on RTe 27 in North Brunswick. I take my grands 9 and 12 to skate and my son who also got his start skating at USA in Wayne also skates with us at Kendall Roller rink. What memories! I would love to track down some of my okd skate buddies like Pablo, Sue and Alphonso and see if they are still rolling.
Frank Speer
11:06 pm on Saturday, January 12, 2013
This is Frank Speer - my bro Michael and I grew up in West Paterson. Skating at USA 78-80 were great days! Fights, girls, friends, Smugglers Attic in Willowbrook Mall - Razzamatazz game room at West Belt Mall. Remember skating to The Devil Went Down to Georgia and We Will Rock You?? We sat out the lame tunes eating slices of pizza or in the game room at the center of the rink.