PASTIME ARENA/ROLLER GARDEN

That big building on Lake Street has been used for the amusement of St. Louis Parkites for decades, as a horse arena, as a roller rink, with some other activities in between.  This is the story of how it was built and how it evolved.  If you have any additions or corrections to this chronology, please contact us.

Be sure to see Riding Stables for events that took place before and after the Pastime.

In May 1930, Herbert B. Allen of Middlebrook, Virginia opened the Pastime Arena [Indoor Riding Academy] at 5622 West Lake Street (between Webster and Xenwood). The $55,000 ($75,000) structure was constructed by Pete Pearson. It was backed by 23 prominent Minneapolis businessmen, headed by Frederick B. Wells, and including such names as Dayton, Crosby, and Pillsbury. It was designed to seat 2,000 people for horse shows, extending the riding season. There was a dirt floor, and a balcony for the judges. The roof was made of copper, which was removed during WWII.  The riding ring was 129 x 222 ft., “spacious enough to meet the demands of the most pretentious horse show program,” according to the Minneapolis Journal. The facility was said to be the ideal size for polo matches. The arena was the first permanent building for holding horse shows in the Twin Cities other than the pavilion at the State fairgrounds.

Allen was known as one of the best trainers of walk trot and five-gaited horses in the country.  He and his sponsors wanted the arena to be a model for horse shows and one that would be renowned throughout the country.  Many prominent figures from Minneapolis boarded their horses at the arena's horse barns.

Although a contingent of neighbors petitioned the Village Council to revoke its license, the Council refused to act on the motion. An article mentioned that the arena was close to several local riding academies, including that of Mrs. F.M. Ingram of St. Louis Park.

Above:  The Paul Revere bowling team of the Masonic League; Ed Warner, Ed Stoops, Earl Ainsworth, HJ Bolmgren, and Fred Lupien.  Headline:  Paul Rever Bowlers Get on Horses and Go Places.  Undated.

The 1933 St. Louis Park directory listed Allen’s Stables – Riding Academy – Pastime Indoor Riding Arena. “Gentle horses for Riding. We are making a specialty of $1.00 per hour per person for class lessons.” One old-timer remembered a terrible fire that killed several horses.

In 1939, Allen sold it to Arthur J. Eaton and a woman from Chicago.  In 1941 it was called the Lilac Way Riding Academy and Pastime Arena, featuring indoor riding and beautiful bridle paths. In the winter, the owners would flood the floor and make the facility available for "for figure and general skating. Competent Instructions, Good natural ice. Music by Electric Organ." The 1941 skating season opened on December 1. A similar notice was posted in 1942.

In mid-1943, Arthur Eaton installed a wooden floor to half the arena and added roller skating to the offerings. The neighborhood was up in arms, however, citing noise and lack of supervision as reasons why the activity should be stopped. Six months later the issue had gone all the way to District court. At the time the 10-acre grounds consisted of the arena, a horse barn, and a house (or 3). At the same time this was happening, Eaton was considering an offer to sell the complex to the Sperzel Co., which made plastics, but that fell through.

In 1944 the Pastime Arena Roller Skating shared the facility with the Lilac Way Riding Academy. The facility was called the Pastime Arena Roller Rink – “One of the world’s largest rinks.” Music by Tommy Arsenault.

1945

The horses weren’t quite phased out yet; on July 28, 1946, Eaton held a rodeo, horse show, and musical entertainment.

The ad from 1947 has a curious sub-ad to “Visit Eaton’s Dude Ranch” on Cedar Ave., 4 miles south of the Minnesota River, so it appears that Eaton still owned the place. (Eaton was reported to own ten western cattle ranches.) Also in 1947 there was some indication that the facility’s legal name was AAA Stables Inc., with the names A.C. McLaury and W.A. Simpson as owners. Other evidence points to an I.H. Rickerman and C.E. Peterson, who were admonished not to have horses on public streets – all lessons were to be held inside. (Many people remember seeing people riding horses alongside Highway 100.)  Rickerman and Peterson also bought and sold horses.

Roller skaters in the 1940s must have been rowdy, for in 1947 and 1948, the Village added special police for the rink and in 1948 the Village Council saw it necessary to pass a roller rink ordinance.

In 1950, Arthur J. Eaton presented plans to turn the property into a shopping center. There was much resistance to the notion.

A cryptic note in August 1951 says that Lee Redman petitioned the Village Council to re-open Pastime Stables for boarding only. His request was denied.

In 1957, Eaton sold the arena to the Park Investment Co. for $270,000.  Around that time, the facility was given over to tennis. The arena was plagues with birds who disrupted the action.  The huge windows created patterns of light and shadow, further flummoxing the players.

In 1958, manager Larry Tobin came before the City Council to request permission to hold a public dance at the Arena on October 3 from 10-11:30. Only Councilman Jorvig voted nay. Subsequent dances were approved as well.

In September 1960 it was sold to Howard Hardacker, who put in a plastic floor for three tennis courts. The 1964 directory referred to it as just the Roller Garden, and the facility became a part time rock ‘n’ roll dance venue. Other activities included Fire Department smelt fries and the new Hudson car show.

In 1969, the building was purchased by current owner Bill Sahly and his father-in-law Russell Johnston. It was still a tennis venue in 1976, when the owners got in trouble with the city for painting a huge tennis racket on the building.  Tennis was dropped in the late 1970s as better courts became available and the boomers made roller skating popular again.

The venue has frequently been plagued with complaints about noise, from the sound of the skates, the music, the DJ, etc. In 1983 the building had no air conditioning, and skaters would open the doors to cool off. Skaters would also do nasty things in the parking lot, which concerned people in the apartments nearby.

A published account reported that “Around 1986, blacks began roller skating in increasing numbers. The Roller Garden developed themes for teen-aged blacks who became the largest identifiable group skating on Friday nights. On Friday nights the skaters’ average age was approximately 12 years, they were predominantly black and had traveled over three miles to go skating. On Sunday nights the skaters’ average age was approximately 20 years, they were predominantly black and had traveled over three miles to go skating.” The article goes on to detail three incidents outside the Roller Garden involving guns during a six-month period. In June 1990, the City Council increased the owners’ license fee and restricted the hours of operation. The Roller Garden took the City to court as a result.

From 1930 to today this amusement palace has survived – a St. Louis Park landmark, with or without its rooftop dinosaur.

For a memoir about the Pastime Arena written by Harry Allen, see Something in the Water.

2000

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.