New Research: ‘Trick’ Skaters Associated with Scotland

“The atmosphere of such places could not be helpful to the spiritual life of Christian lads and lasses…They thought skating, talked skating and devoted their energies to skating.”

‘Skating Rinks’, Aberdeen Press and Journal, 11 November 1909, p.3, The British Newspaper Archive (online).

This new research investigates ‘trick’ or ‘acrobatic’ skaters who were born, lived or skated in Scotland. Through newspaper research it is evident that there were both male and female trick skaters who travelled throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe during the early nineteenth century. One example was The Great Monohan, also known as the ‘The American Wizard on Skates’, who travelled extensively performing various celebrated tricks such as ‘walking on a barrel with skates’ and ‘steeplechasing over nine chairs’.[1] Below are a few profiles of skaters who performed in Glasgow rinks during this period.

[1] ‘Visit of a Famous Skater’, Kenilworth, Warwick, Kenilworth and District Daily Circular, 26 October 1909, The British Newspaper Archive (online).

  • Dolly Mitchell

    Skater

    Mitchell hailed from Pollokshields in the south side of the city and she specialised in ‘trick, fancy and acrobatic skating’ and performed at various Glasgow roller rinks including the Kilmarnock Roller rink, the Olympia & Ibrox roller rink Kilmarnock Roller rink. In 1909 at the age of 16, she became skating and business partners with Mr Harley Davidson (1881 -1946), who was remarked as being ‘the world’s undisputed champion roller-skater’. Davidson was a huge figure in the speed-skating world in 1909 having won numerous speed-skating championships including the American Championships in Newbery (1895), World Indoor Championships in St. Louis (1899) and the Queen Victoria Diamond Jubilee medals for the half mile and one mile races in Chatham (1897).

  • 'Baby' Lily Franks

    Skater

    Child performers were also encouraged into the rink. ‘Baby’ Lily Franks was a 10 year old American from Chicago who performed throughout Europe undertaking tricks and dances on skates. She was incredibly popular and often sold out her appearances in the rink.

  • The Great Mohonan

    Skater

    The Great Monohan, also known as the ‘The American Wizard on Skates’, who travelled extensively performing various celebrated tricks such as ‘walking on a barrel with skates’ and ‘steeplechasing over nine chairs’. Monohan even wrote a text book on skating entitled Text book of Roller Skating – Roller Skating for the Novice and Expert.