Step into the glittering world of 70s roller disco, where flashing lights and funky beats made it one of the decade’s hottest fads.
Let’s head inside a roller disco in the late 1970s. The pulsing bass of Chic’s “Le Freak” sets the rhythm for skaters gliding under a mirrored disco ball. Neon lights flash on the satin and sequined outfits as the skate wheels hum over the polished wood of the rink. Roller disco blended music, fashion, and movement into a dazzling spectacle that also offered a dose of child-like fun.
Like so many 70s fads, roller discos seemed to appear out of nowhere to become extremely popular and then faded just as quickly.
But exactly where did the roller disco come from? And why did it vanish so quickly? Let’s lace up our skates and explore the rise and fall of this 70s craze.
What Is a Roller Disco?
At its heart, a roller disco was a nightclub on wheels. Imagine a traditional discotheque—flashing lights, thumping music, and a crowd dressed to impress—but everyone was on roller skates, gliding along to the beat instead of dancing on a checkered floor.
Bill “Mr. Charisma” Butler served as the inspiration for roller discos. As a serviceman in Alaska, he perfected “jam skating,” roller skating that featured dance and gymnastic moves. After he left the service, he visited the Empire Skate Center in Brooklyn, where he found the black patrons skating to the traditional organ music of the time.
Butler persuaded the rink to play more jazz and R&B songs so he could show off his style of roller skating. The other skaters loved the music and Butler’s style of skating, and the trend took off.
Check out the video below to see the master in action.
Eventually, roller rinks incorporated more disco elements, with DJs spinning the latest disco hits, skaters performing synchronized dance routines, and everyone in the rink dressed up for a night out on the town.
Roller discos spread nationwide, with celebrities like Cher and Grace Jones embracing the trend. Cher, in particular, became a roller skating enthusiast and even released a 1979 single, “Hell on Wheels,” showcasing her impressive skating moves in a video for the song.
The trend grew so popular that even your local family skating rink had a disco night, where the lights were turned low, and everyone showed up in their favorite roller disco outfits.
Roller Disco Songs: The Soundtrack of the Rinks
No roller disco was complete without a killer soundtrack to accompany the skaters around the rink. This roller disco playlist will get your body moving.
- Don’t Bring Me Down, Electric Light Orchestra,
- Love Rollercoaster, Ohio Players
- September, Earth Wind & Fire,
- Boogie Shoes, KC & The Sunshine Band
- The Emotions, Best of My Love
- MFSB, T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia)
- Boogie Nights, Heatwave
- Let It Whip, Dazz Band
- Love Train, The O’Jays
- Le Freak, Chic
- Boogie Wonderland, Earth Wind & Fire
- I Will Survive, Gloria Gaynor
- Funkytown, Lipps, Inc.
Of course, every popular trend of the 1970s needs a novelty song (or two!) that mentions it. I found two that mention roller discos:
- Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll – Vaughan Mason & Crew (a true roller disco anthem)
- Roller Skating Child – The Beach Boys (a forgotten song that’s a total bop)
Roller Disco Outfits
A big part of roller disco’s charm was the fashion. It was a chance to get dressed up in your best disco fashion, with a touch of athletic wear.
Let’s revisit some of the best disco roller outfits.
Satin Shorts and Tube Socks – A staple for both men and women, often paired with a form-fitting tank top. Jackie rocked this look on That 70s Show during their roller disco episode.
Sequined Tops and Jumpsuits – Perfect for shining under the disco ball’s light.
Leotards and wrap skirts – Borrowing from the dance world, these outfits allowed for both movement and flair. Once again, Cher shows us how it’s done.
Roller Disco in Movies and Television
Any big 70s trend had to be featured in movies and TV episodes. Here are just a few notable examples.
Roller Disco Movies
- Thank God It’s Friday (1978) – While primarily a disco movie, it included roller skating scenes that captured the vibe of the 70s club scene.
- Roller Boogie (1979) – A cult classic starring Linda Blair, centering around a roller disco competition in Venice Beach.
- Skatetown, U.S.A. (1979) – A roller disco extravaganza starring Patrick Swayze in his first major film role, featuring wild skate routines and disco music.
- Xanadu (1980) – The movie that ended the trend. A fantasy musical featuring Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, blending roller disco with Greek mythology and pop music from ELO.
Roller Disco Episodes on TV
- Charlie’s Angels (“Angels on Wheels,” 1977) – The Angels go undercover at a roller derby rink to solve a case, with plenty of roller disco moments.
- CHiPs (“Roller Disco: Parts 1 & 2,” 1979) – The classic roller disco episode everyone remembers. This hard-hitting look at the world of roller disco was so detailed they needed two episodes. Seventies teen idol Leif Garret also appears as a young singer.
- That ’70s Show (“Roller Disco,” 2002) – A nostalgic throwback episode featuring the gang trying out their roller disco skills.
What Happened to Roller Disco?
By 1979, roller discos had reached their peak. Fashion magazines showcased the latest roller disco outfits, and even The New York Times published a guide to help readers navigate the trend. But no fad lasts forever.
The beginning of the end came in 1980 with the release of Xanadu, starring Olivia Newton-John and Hollywood legend Gene Kelly. While the film has a loyal cult following, critics at the time roasted the movie for its bizarre mix of 1940s-style musical numbers and 70s roller disco glitz. Instead of cementing roller disco’s status in pop culture, Xanadu became a symbol of its excesses.
At the same time, disco itself was on the decline. The infamous “Disco Demolition Night” in 1979 made it clear that the genre faced a severe backlash. Music trends were shifting toward punk, new wave, and rock, and the smooth, danceable beats that defined roller discos began to feel outdated in a new era of edgier sounds and rebellion.
Roller skating itself didn’t disappear, although it’s not as popular as it was when every kid went to the skating rink on Friday nights. Many rinks transitioned into family-friendly venues, focusing on birthday parties and youth skating rather than late-night disco culture. Others closed their doors, unable to sustain the momentum of the late 70s boom. The glitter and glamour of roller disco faded into nostalgia.
What are your memories of the roller disco years? Let us know in the comments!
