Roller Skating Was Crazy Awesome!
Pop-Wheels were wildly popular

There were many versions of pop wheels that were easier on the eyes, they were just like sneakers. But the roller sandals were pretty rough. They were basically like clogs but with retractable wheels built-in. Cringe-worthy nowadays, but pure gold in the 1970s.
There were skating festivals full of shiny happy people

Skating was a huge deal, entire streets would be blocked off in major cities for skate festivals and races. Even the Golden Gate Park in San Francisco was once overrun with the happiest looking skaters ever photographed. They even managed to earn a world record at a Golden Gate event– “World’s longest skating serpentine.”
The seventies may have corrupted roller skating

Leave it to the 1970s to take a perfectly good, family-friendly activity and make it as pornographic as possible. The seventies was like that bad influence friend that roller skating shouldn't have been allowed to play with. But, they just had so much fun together! The influence of the eighties (oddly enough) is what calmed things down a bit and skating rinks became kid-friendly again.
Even fully covered they still let it all hang out in the groovy era

It was a time of sexual revolution and even when covered from head to toe, women found ways to exude sex appeal while boogieing on down. Stars like Cher were infamous for embracing the sheer and “barely there” look of clothing in the 70s. So much glitter, such little left to the imagination.
"Playboy" threw a Roller Disco & Pajama Party

In 1979, ABC’s Primetime Special: “Playboy’s Roller Disco & Pajama Party” made both, playmate and roller skating history. Hugh Hefner knew a good fad when he saw one, so he put some of his bunnies on wheels and threw the ultimate party at his California mansion. There was even a live performance by the "Village People" because if you can’t skate to Y.M.C.A., why bother?
It was a time when everyone had skating fever

The skating craze got people out of the house

Roller skating rinks were the hangout spots for teens

Even if you didn’t want to skate, the Roller rink was where you wanted to be. It was a "be there or be square" situation. Sure, roller rinks were popular in the 1970s but they became the social hubs of the 1980s for most teens. All the popular music of the time was blared over loudspeakers, they flashed colorful lights, had video game arcades, and snack bars.
Roller movies flooded theaters

The hilariously random ads that dragged roller skating into everything

Skating even made its mark on the music industry

Music and skating may be perfectly fine on their own but are totally bitchin together. Some of the more famous roller-inspired songs were, Arabesque’s “Roller Star”, “Roller Derby Queen” by Jim Croce, Dolly Dots “Rollerskating”, The Beach Boys “Roller Skating Child” and let’s not forget “Roller Skate Rag” by Barbra Streisand.
Bringing your own tunes was a gloriously ridiculous task

Artistic skate competitions evolved greatly in the groovy era

During the 1970s, an interest Precision Roller Skating grew and led to rapid development within the sport. This particular form of skating places emphasis not only on the artistic ability but also on maintaining precise formations and timing within a group. Each season has evolved more and more in creativity, innovation, sophistication, and speed. Then other countries began to take an interest, resulting in World Championships.
Weddings on wheels

Creepy skating dolls cruising through your nightmares

Interest in roller skating for adults didn’t start to dwindle down until the mid-80s. Many children however, were just starting to get into it and Mattel took the opportunity to cash in on the craze while they still could with roller skating dolls. As creepy as she was, she may have been a part of keeping the fad alive for the new generation.