In 1972, the Sweetheart Roller Skating Rink in Tampa, Florida, was a hub for local youth. It was an unassuming wooden building where young people gathered to socialize, skate, and show off their style. For seven months of that year, photographer Bill Yates, then a 26-year-old university student, documented the scene inside, capturing the fashion and attitudes of a specific moment in time.
The Rink as a Social Stage
The roller rink served as a self-contained world for the teenagers and young adults who frequented it. It was a place where they could escape and perform for one another. Yates’s photographs show individuals and groups interacting, with the rink itself acting as a social stage. The images depict a range of attitudes; some skaters posed tough for the camera, others acted goofy, and many displayed a sense of youthful confidence and rebellion.
Initially, the young skaters were wary of Yates and his medium-format Yashica Mat camera. This changed when he began bringing back contact sheets—small prints of the negatives—from his previous visits. Seeing themselves in the photographs transformed their relationship with him. He went from being an outsider to their “newest best friend,” and the skaters became more willing participants, actively engaging with the camera.
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The Fashion of the Era
The photographs from the Sweetheart Roller Skating Rink are a time capsule of early 1970s fashion. Bell-bottom pants were a staple for both young men and women, often paired with wide leather belts that featured large, prominent buckles. Platform shoes and go-go boots were common footwear choices, worn both on and off the skates.
The clothing featured a mix of textures and styles. Young men wore patterned button-down shirts with long, pointed collars, often left open at the chest. T-shirts with bold graphics or simple crew necks were also popular. Hairstyles were longer for both sexes, with many of the young men sporting shags and sideburns, while the young women had long, straight hair or feathered styles.
The Atmosphere of the Rink
The environment inside the Sweetheart rink was one of constant motion and energy. The lighting was often dim, punctuated by the glow of scoreboards or signs. Yates’s black-and-white photographs capture the raw, unfiltered atmosphere of the space. The skaters are seen taking breaks along the rink’s edge, smoking cigarettes, and congregating in small groups.
The subjects of the photos are almost exclusively the young patrons. They lean against wood-paneled walls, hang over the rink’s barrier, or pose directly for the camera. Their expressions and body language convey a sense of belonging to this specific place, a weekend haven defined by the sound of rolling skate wheels and the distinct look of a groovier, simpler era.
