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I couldn't help but feel sad when I saw the Brownsdale Roller Rink was destroyed in fire...

Credit: Jimmy Dean Hultgren (Facebook)
Credit: Jimmy Dean Hultgren (Facebook)
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Brownsdale, MN (KROC-AM News) - A well-known entertainment venue that served numerous generations of southeastern Minnesota residents for more than 60 years went up in flames Saturday night.

The Brownsdale Volunteer Fire Department today reported that firefighters responded to reports of a fire at the Rohler Rink Skating Rink in the Brownsdale around 10:50 p.m.

Two members of the Brownsdale fire department were injured during the firefighting operation. See how they're doing when you Read More: Brownsdale Roller Rink Leveled by Saturday Night Fire

You see, the time I went there to guest DJ I ended up with bruises from my funniest roller rink experience.

The Night I Guest DJ'd the United Skates All Night Skate

In the 90's I was on 106.9 KROC and did the roller rink's commercials for the All Night Skates. The ANS's coincided with school vacation time and though I did MANY commercials for them, only once did I get to DJ there. And it was an experience.

First, you should know it's really big, they claim to be the Midwest's Largest Roller Rink, and I wouldn't doubt it. Built in 1960, 250 feet long and fifty feet wide, it was a giant rectangle, not an oval.

LightFieldStudios GettyStock
LightFieldStudios GettyStock
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A new floor was put down in 2006, and I can't really remember the floor really well from my time there in the 90's, but I think it was wood.

Second, the place was packed...I'm sure there was an age rule, but I remember grade schoolers as well as high schoolers. It's a small town, kids take their little brothers and sisters with them.

The DJ booth was a major throwback. An 8-Track tape player, a turntable or two, a cassette deck, and a CD player plus decades of memorabilia on every spare inch. I loved it at first sight, but I swear it took an act of Congress to get a CD to play and talk on the microphone at the same time.

(James Rabe)
(James Rabe)
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I owe everyone there an apology. I was not just nervous (never DJ'd at a roller rink), the dust in the carpeted DJ booth had me crying and sniffling as I tried to announce the games, the skates, and the music.

I was there about two hours, skated some, sat and talked with some kids in the concession area about why I didn't bring Insane in the Brain by Cyprus Hill and what kinda free stuff I got as a DJ.

a) Because I didn't know I was supposed to bring music and, cut me some slack, jack.

ii) LOTS of free t-shirts from walks/runs you MC and the radio station.

Wait, You Roller Skated?

Yes, I did...and I wasn't too bad. Except when I totally crashed into a bunch of kids. Hadn't roller skated since I was in high school, so was probably a bit too full of confidence. When kids started messing with me (very much just in fun), I tried to show off a bit by spinning around and laughing at them, and then turning around again.

I made the first turn...but then when I went to turn back around, I didn't know a bunch of kids slowed down in front of me and I went butt of teakettle into them at full speed.

Like a sitcom. DJ Jazzy James Crashes the Party.

Sad video of history burning to the ground.

As always, if you have a comment, complaint, or concern about something I wrote here, please let me know: james.rabe@townsquaremedia.com

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