Skating Around Trivia Quiz

Answer: The Rink

In "The Rink" Charlie worked as a waiter to great comic effect and then went off on a break from the restaurant to go skating. At the rink, he won the girl and she invited him to her skating party.

Charlie had already worked for Keystone Studios and Essanay Studios, and he was immensely popular. Mutual Film Corp signed him for a twelve film deal and created a subsidiary, The Lone Star Corporation, to produce his films. While working for the Mutual Film Corp Charlie was able to refine both his acting and directing talents.

Answer: Shall We Dance

During this number Pete Peters (Fred Astaire) and Linda Keene (Ginger Rogers) sang while sitting on a bench, but then proceeded to skate and tap dance on the skates around a small rink-like space in the park. Several sites state that to complete the shoot, Fred and Ginger skated approximately 80 miles in the four days it took to finish the scene.

In this romantic musical comedy, Pete and Linda were attracted to each other, but decided to turn the tables on the publicity that said they were secretly married. Their answer was to marry and publicly divorce, or at least that was the plan until they discovered that they belonged together.

The list of possible answers are all Fred Astaire movies, but only in "Shall We Dance" was he paired with Ginger Rogers.

Answer: The Fireball

When Johnny Casar found a pair of skates that were knocked out of a trashcan, he intended to sell them until he ran into a suspicious policeman. Instead, under the policeman's eye, he put the skates on and then careened down a hilly sidewalk. Eventually he became a roller derby skater on both flat and banked rinks.

Mickey Rooney had been in over seventy films when this movie was released in 1950.

Answer: It's Always Fair Weather

Three World War II soldiers vowed to be friends forever as they left the service, and all agreed to meet ten years hence. Though they all went to the reunion, they found that they didn't like each other and had nothing in common anymore.

Supposedly this was to be a sequel to "On The Town" where the servicemen were in the Navy, but all of the same actors were not available and so the story was modified and the three buddies were Army veterans.

Answer: Rollerball

Throughout the movie Jonathan E. was pressured to retire, but he resisted despite all pressure. The company chairman wanted him to retire because he was too well known and the object of the game was intended to make everyone realize that there was no reason for individualism.

The director, Norman Jewison, was so impressed with the stuntmen's skills and techniques that rather than leave them uncredited, he insisted that their names be included in the final credits. This was a first in the film industry.

"Rollerball" was remade in 2002, and the timeline of the plot was moved to 2005. The remake did not make what it cost and it got poor reviews.

Answer: Skatetown, USA

Swazye, playing the part of Ace, was filmed both in a solo routine and a pair routine with champion skater April Allen.

The story was about two skaters who pitted themselves against each other in various skating challenges, even racing on motor-powered skates. The ending showed the two finally accepting each other.

"Skatetown, USA" was released in 1979 when the disco fascination was either on the wane, or over.

Answer: Americathon

In this 1979 movie, President Chet Roosevelt (John Ritter) decided to save America from foreclosure by holding a thirty day telethon.

Ted Coombs had already determined that he would skate across the United States to protest the energy crisis. United Artists were marketing the movie "Americathon" and agreed to be his sponsor. He skated to New York for the opening of the film on August 10 and then began skating back to the west coast. On September 13 he broke the world's distance rollerskating record of 4,900 miles. Due to various tribulations, he was unable to make it all the way back, but skated 5,193 miles to Yates Center, Kansas.

Answer: Xanadu

In this story the Muse, Kira, came to Earth to help people, but she broke the rules when she fell in love.

"Xanadu" did not get very good reviews, but over time has garnered quite a number of fans. The soundtrack also had five songs by Olivia Newton-John (one a duet with Cliff Richard) and Electric Light Orchestra which rose to the top of the singles charts.

The Golden Raspberry Awards were created after the founder, John Wilson, saw a double feature of "Can't Stop the Music" and "Xanadu". The first Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture was awarded to "Can't Stop the Music".

Answer: Solarbabies

In this future, children were sent early to orphanages to be indoctrinated. A deaf child found the orb called Bohdai, and his hearing was restored. The discovery gave a group of children the courage to run away from the orphanage and attempt to defeat the powers dominating the planet.

The opening scenes showed the children playing a game on roller skates somewhat similar to hockey. The children were not only on skates in the competition of the game, but the skates were also their transport across the wasteland.

Answer: Whip It

The movie "Whip It" was Drew Barrymore's debut as a director. The storyline had Bliss (Ellen Page) locking horns with her mother, who really wanted her daughter to compete in a Miss Bluebonnet beauty pageant. Instead Bliss found a roller derby team and became a member, after lying about her age. Bliss learned how to be tough at the rink and began to use this trait in her other relationships, including standing up to her mother.

The story was originally written by Shauna Cross, a former roller derby skater, as the novel "Derby Girl".