Roller skating is a pastime enjoyed by generations of children and adults alike. It’s hard to believe that the first useof roller skates took place during a theatrical performance in London in 1743!
John Joseph Merlin, a resident of London in 1760, is credited with inventing the first skates. Roller skates have certainly come a long way since then! In the USA, roller skating became a popular pastime in 1935. But it wasn’t until the introduction of rinks playing disco music in the 1970s that roller skating became a big trend. It seems that everyone wants to go to the rinks and let the music rock them. 
Speaking of roller skating, let’s take a trip down memory lane. Remember those heavy metal skates you could strap to your shoes? At the time, they were a real fad. But there’s something else you might remember if you were a skater before the 1970s: the iconic skate key. 
Skate keys were such an integral part of roller skating that songs were even written about them! They symbolize a time when roller skating was a beloved activity, full of fun and memories. So, do you remember the skate keys?
Roller skates and skate keys: A nostalgic return to the past