The GoGo's played Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace on Friday, December 5, 1980.
Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace was located at 8491 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood.
photo: Jenny Lens
Flipper's Roller Boogie Palace opened up in July 1979.
In 1979-1981 - Flipper's was hard to miss. It was the flashy purple-blue building on the northeast corner of La Cienega and Santa Monica Blvds.
Same view today
2008 photo: tlc
The owner was Denny Cordell, Nicholas Cowan and Flipper (a mysterious Englishman named Flipper). The property was partly owned by Berry Gordy, Motown's head man.
Denny Cordell was born in Buenos Aires but grew up in England. In the '60's he worked as a producer for Island Records. (He produced the Moody Blue's 1st album Magnificent Moodies).
Cordell went on to become president of Shelter Records. (Later he dabbled in racehorses).
In the 1979 he turned his attention to opening a star-studded member's only nightspot that would combined the disco and roller skating fad. Cordell had previously visited a similar type club in New York City.
Flipper's was a posh and exclusive nightclub for skaters. It was also a private club. However, one didn't have to be rich and famous to join. Membership was limited to 1,000. A 5-man membership committee chose the members who paid $200 annually plus a $7 entrance fee. It was open 8pm 'til late.
The outside sign calls it a Roller Boogie Palace. Originally the club was a place for skating and talking.
Flipper's - All lit up at night
Flipper's had a bar, restaurant and a custom skate shop. It was decorated to look like a plush exotic tropical fantasy paradise.
It had mirrors, disco balls, mural and private booths. Rather than wood, the skating floor was made of polyurethane.
Looking east from Santa Monica Boulevard toward San Vicente Blvds.
2008 photo: tlc
La Cienega Lanes - Bowling Alley
Before it became Flipper's, the site was a former bowling alley called La Cienega Lanes.
LAPL Herald Examiner collection
It seemed like La Cienega Lanes stood northeast corner of Santa Monica and La Cienega Blvds. forever. Indeed, it was built in 1940 and stood here about 40 years. For years it was West Hollywood's beloved bowling alley.
2008: tlc
La Cienega Lanes survived until the late '70's. In the '70's, many of the old bowling alleys had gone out of business. Many were converted into dance clubs or roller rinks.
1979 Roller Skating/ Disco Craze
One of the biggest movies of the '70's was Saturday Night Fever with John Travolta. Released in 1978, this movie help create a disco craze across the country.
Movie Poster
The amazing dance moves inspired many to dance to colored strobe lights in disco clubs.
By the end of 1979 there were over 10,000 discos in the USA.
It was only natural that disco music would filter into roller rinks and prompt a roller disco craze. Roller skaters were eager to perform disco dance moves on skates. Roller disco dancers would dress in stretchy, brightly colored satin pants and enter competitions at roller rinks and in parks.
By 1979 was the height of the huge roller skating- disco craze.
Rinks were no longer hangouts for street kids. Roller rinks became fashionable places with disco atmospheres. Rinks had flashing lights that are synchronized with the music.
AP photo: 1979
The big change in skating had to do with the wheels. The new polyurethane wheel that revolutionized skateboarding made the transition to roller skates. The wheels cushion the bumps, creaks and vibrations.
In Los Angeles, a popular place to skate was along the bike and pedestrian paths of Venice Beach.
Roller skating at Venice Beach
LAPL digital archive, Louise Stern: 1988
There were estimated 50 roller rinks in the Los Angeles area. Popular rinks included:
Bellflower Rollerena 9140 E. Alondra Blvd., BellflowerBuena Park Rollertorium 7951 Commonweath Ave, Buena ParkHarbor Roller Rink 1726 Superior Ave., Costa MesaSkate-O-Rama Skating Center 12310 S. Woodruff Ave., DowneyFountain Valley Skating Center 9105 Recreation Circle, Fountain ValleyRoller Village 464 W. Commonwealth Ave, FullertonMoonlight Rollerway 5110 San Fernando road, GlendaleRoller City 945 W. bonita Ave., GlendoraLaguna Hills Skate Palace 23251 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna HillsRoller Skatium 2517 W. Washington Blvd., Los AngelesNorthridge Skateland 18140 Parthenia St., NorthridgeT-Bird Rollerdrome 8252 W. Whittier Blvd., Pico RiveraPomona Skateland 3964 E. Mission Blvd., PomonaSherman Square Roller Rink 18430 Sherman Way, ResedaFiesta Roller Rink 136 S. San Gabriel Blvd., San GabrielSkate Ranch 2526 N. Main St., Santa AnaShamrock Skate Arena 1851 Mullin Ave., TorranceCarousel Roller Rink 1133 N. Azusa Canyon Road, West covinaRoller Skateen Center 300 Hampshire road, Westlake villageWhittier Skateland 12520 E. whittier blvd, WhittierSkatopia 7100 Knott Ave., Buena ParkMarina Del Rey Skatepark 12980 Culver Blvd., Marina del ReyThe Big 'O' Skateboard Park 157 N. Wayfield St., City of OrangeThe Endless Wave 1965 N. Oxnard Blvd., OxnardScatercross 6734 Reseda Blvd., Reseda
The Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale is one of the oldest rinks in the country. It opened in 1956. It has maple floors. It's still there - though not sure how much roller skating goes on.
In West Hollywood there was Flippers Roller Boogie Palace!
Disco Skating Movies
Several movies were made about the Disco Skating Craze including Roller Boogie, Xandu and Skatetown, USA. These movies glorified roller disco.
Movie poster
Flipper's was now open to the public!
In February of 1980 Flipper's went new wave and rock 'n' roll. It was open to the public and started to present live music with rock 'n' roll nights on Thursdays and new-wave nights of Tuesdays.
Summer 1980
In 1980 Flippers Roller Boogie Palace offered weekly roller skating instruction, yoga classes, skating competition and entertainment. Wednesday night was ladies night - ladies were admitted free. Tuesday nights featured new wave, raggae and rock 'n' roll music.A kids summer fun vacation program included; special games, competition, prizes, celebrity visits on Saturdays; skating on the blue lagoon rink with jungle fantasy decor. Mon - Sat 10:30am - 6pm. Sunday 10;30 - 3:pm Weekdays; over 12 $3. Skate rentals and food available.
LAPL digital archives: 1980
1980 (sample of shows presented at Flipper's)
OrchidsLondonLeroy & the Lifter (house band)Rockabilly Rollersthe Pencils, KingbeesLittle girls, Bugs TomorrowGary Myrickthe Pop, the LimitBus BoysToni & the MoversBilly and the BeatersInk SpotsPhil SeymourBerlinModelRubber City RebelsGreat Buildingsthe BlastersTextonesNaughty Sweeties, Bullet BoysBilly Burnette, John Lawry GroupJo Allen and the ShapesLinda RondstadtPlimsoulsJimmy RabbittNo Sisterthe Limit, ResistorsBerlin, Falcons, Soldierthe Limit, Adaptorsthe Last, Wet PicnicTHE BLASTERSCandy Apple, the JohnnysZippersJohn Cougar
Flippers wass where Linda Rondstadt and Nicolette Larson and Chaka Khan roller skated to raise money for Gov. Jerry Brown's presidential campaign.
Flippers hosted veil nights on Wednesday nights. It would book local pop rocks acts as well as more known acts.
Dead Kenney'sBlack Flagthe GermsAlley CatsDada'sPatti SmithThe RamonesTalkng HeadsX
1981
Prince (age 21)Stranglers
Nearby Flippers on Santa Monica Boulevard.
Holloway Motel was at 8465 Santa Monica Blvd.International House of Pancakes at 6461 Santa Monica Blvd.Barney's Beanery was at 8447 Santa Monica Blvd.Starwood was at 8151 Santa Monica Blvd.
2008 photo: tlc
2008 photo: tlc
In 1983 the site became a Esprit De Corps. - a woman's apparel retail shop.
Today a CVS drug store occupies the site.
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8 comments:
Thanks for this labor of love! I LIVED at the Laguna Hills Skate Palace when I was a kid. I took lessons, competed, etc. It's a furniture store now.
Here's the rub, we're moving to Portland OR and there is an AMAZING skate rink there--Oaks Park--over 100 years old. This thing made me just gasp! Wood floors, huge and natural lighting. Check out the website.
Still, it wouldn't hurt this generation if they had more skating rinks around and fewer video games!
Thanks for this wonderful remembrance. I used to play guitar with Leroy & The Lifters, and have some wild memories of this rink.
I saw the GG's at Flipper's, Prince too, wearing only briefs and one of his housecoats.
I lived West Hollywood from '75 to '85 and saw the Go Go's whenever I wanted. Then in 1980 I happened to pass through London returning from Canne and there they were! Could not get to them to tell them I was one of their homeboys though.
Still have some of there 45's with the colored plastic- with jacket!
Always wanted to see if Jane wanted them. She was my favorite ever since the little pixie in the kilt walked to the edge of the Starwood stage and hocked a big 'ol lugie. It was gross, but I died laughing.
Amazing! I was a kid in the streets of Hollywood back then. I used to bowl at La Cienega Lanes. And when it turned in to Flippers I was in amazement, IN A GOOD WAY!!! :) I never was allowed into Flippers, but wanted to go in SO BADLY!!! And then one day it was gone... and so was I. Moved to the east coast. I wish I had gone to Flippers. It's like the dream of meeting an actor that has long since passed away. BUT I LOVE THIS POST!!!!! Thank you! :)
ARI
THanks sooo much for this post and pics.. Donna Summer's passing just brought up soooo many memories of skating at Flippers when I was a kid.... We were ALWAYS at FLIPPERS!! My mom worked in the area.. just down the street, in fact!
Wonderful memories of ROLLER DISCO!!!!
Sk8fanatics for life! Og rollers still bouncin world on wheels, Cerritos Skate depot, skate express chino, Skateland Northridge.
I barmanaged Flippers from the day it opened in 1979 until '82. The staff was way cool and we had some serious fun times there the first couple of years. My fave buddies who worked there were the bartenders, rollerskating waitresses, and let's not forget bouncers Early Benjamin and Rodrigo Obregon, Good times and fond memories, especially throwing Black Flag offstage and hanging at Elton John's parties. PS Flipper was an asshole.
Just watched an old Charlie's Angels episode that was largely filmed at Flipper's. Too funny!
My little town, north of Los Angeles, had a roller rink...and, as a kid, it was so much fun. Good memories.
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