Presented by U.M. & M. Corporation and Adolph Zukor as part of the Grantland Rice Sportlight series, this black and white newsreel style film is titled “Rhythm on Wheels” and was originally released in 1944. It showcases the history and rise in popularity of roller skating as a cultural phenomenon in the United States. “Rhythm on Wheels” was produced by Jack Eaton and narrated by Ted Husing however additional commentary was done by Justin Herman and associates Russell Ervin and Rod Warren. Approved by the Amateur Roller Skating Association of the United States, the film presents the roller rink as a new kind of community center where athleticism and music go hand in hand to create a style of folk dancing that is typically American and at the time was the fastest growing amateur sport in America.
Opening credits (0:10). Young girls roller skate down the sidewalk (0:35). Young boys tie laces of roller skates before a street hockey game (0:48). Twin City Arena roller skating rink in Elizabeth, New Jersey entrance (1:31). Crowded interior of roller skating rink while swing band plays music in the background (1:42). Skate rental booth (2:10). Close up of a type of clamp skate nicknamed The Chopper (2:21). Close up of roller skate boots with precision skates (2:35). Teens sit and lace up skates at the rink (2:54). Couples do partner skating and synchronized dance (3:02). Close up of someone’s feet wearing roller skates, analysis of their capabilities (3:36). Frank Copeland skates and does tricks around an empty rink (3:42). Shot from Jones Beach, New York of June Hendricks who was Novice United States Single Champion (4:39). June Hendricks skates around an empty outdoor rink and does a split, Salchow Jump, and Jackson Haines Spin (4:46). Two young women do precision synchronized skating (5:09). William Bickmeyer Jr. tying up laces who was United States Senior Champion (5:50). William Bickmeyer Jr. does different tricks around the rink like Loop Jump (5:55). Ernie Wetler demonstrates skills of acrobatics on wheels like Axel Paulsen Jump, Waltz Jumps, Loop Jumps, and a split (6:15). Couple dances on wheels at the rink – Tango, Fox Trot (7:15). Different couples dance around the skate rink (7:44). Close up of the feet of a couple as they do the Fourteen Step (8:23). Skaters skate over to a bench on the side of the rink (9:08).
U.M. & M. Corporation was an American media company best known as the original purchaser of the pre-October 1950 short films and cartoons produced by paramount Pictures. The TV company was in operation from 1954 until 1957.
Henry Grantland “Granny” Rice was an early 20th century American sportswriter. In 1914 he began his Sportlight column in the New York Tribune and later went on to do the monthly Grantland Rice Sportlights as part of Paramount Newsreels from 1925-1954.
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