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| Photo courtesy of Uptown Chicago History blog (linked below) |
From an obituary in the Sun-Times for June Marie Carvell:
In 1957, she and her husband, the late Allan Carvell Jr., opened the Rainbo Ice Skating Arena.
The rink, at Lawrence and Clark, became quite popular, drawing hundreds of people during open skate sessions. It also served as a practice arena for figure skaters and hockey players.
“The rink for a number of years went all night,” said her daughter, Chrissy Washburn. “The hockey players would go ’til 3 a.m., then they’d make the ice and then the figure skaters would come in at 4 a.m. It was a crazy business.”
If you'd like to know more about the Rainbo and its many personalities (restaurant, speakeasy, concert hall, wrestling arena, skating rink, roller rink), read about it in the
Uptown Chicago History blog (from whom we borrowed this photo) and in
Jazz Age Chicago.
During the late 60's this was the orginal Kinetic Playground, where many "psychedelic" acts played to crowds who...as they say, if they remember it, they weren't there!
ReplyDeleteI just drove by there last week when I was in town as my parents apartment was the old Lawrence House building on the northwest corner of Lawrence and Clark. There is a group on FaceBook called "I grew up near Wiinnemac Park" that talks a lot about the Old Rainbo. I spent many a Friday nioght there circumventing the Hippies asking me for spare change and smelling that starnge cigarette smell? Love the 60's music to this day...
ReplyDeleteI can remember like it was today I’m 59 now playing hockey 🏒 with friends rivals Friday night open skate it was magic thanks
DeleteDid they ever discover who the body remains belonged to that were found in the rainbows basement? was there an investigation done?
ReplyDeleteI've been wondering that for years. From what I've gathered it seems like that story was never solved.
DeleteI remember hearing about Rainbo from Herman "Ham" Cavosie and Neil Vetter.
ReplyDelete