“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).

Image taken from Dolly Mitchell | Into the Limelight

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] In a series of short posts I’ll introduce you to some of the skaters. First up, introducing Dolly Mitchell.

Dolly 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). Dolly toured throughout the UK and Ireland throughout 1908-1912 performing various tricks and acrobatics.

Dolly’s impressive skating abilities were lauded in the press, with many newspapers referring to her as a ‘World champion skater’, ‘a wonder on wheels’ or ‘poetry in motion’. The Bristol Times and Mirror provided a good overview of some of Mitchell’s tricks. It reads:

Commencing with a few turns around the rink at a pretty good speed, she turned her attention to backward change eights, and with several variations in the method of changing, she was applauded for her smartness in this direction. Grape vines, from the most simple to the most complicated ones were executed in fine style, and throughout her performance Miss Mitchell showed herself to be especially skilful in her heel and toe work.^[2]

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

[2] ‘Exhibition of Roller Skating’, Bristol Times and Mirror, 24 May 1910, The British Newspaper Archive (online).