Roller skating has been a beloved pastime enjoyed by generations of kids and adults alike. It’s hard to believe that the first use of roller skates was in a London stage performance way back in 1743!
John Joseph Merlin, a London resident in 1760, deserves the credit for inventing the first skates. Roller skates have certainly come a long way since then!
In the United States, roller skating gained popularity as a pastime in 1935. But it wasn’t until the introduction of skating rinks playing disco music in the 1970s that roller skating became a huge trend. It seemed like everyone wanted to hit the rinks and groove to the music!

Speaking of roller skating, let’s take a trip down memory lane. Do you remember those heavy metal skates that you could attach to your shoes? They were quite the fashion statement back in the day. But there’s something else that you might remember if you were a skater before the 1970s – the iconic skate key.
This copper-colored object was an essential accessory for anyone with roller skates. At first glance, it may look like a bottle opener or some kind of tool, but it is actually a skate key. With the skate key, you could adjust the size of your skates by fitting it into the back of the pair. And to make sure they didn’t get lost while skating, most people wore the key around their necks. It was a small but significant part of the roller skating experience.
Skate keys were such an integral part of roller skating that there have even been songs written about them! They symbolize a time when roller skating was a cherished activity, filled with fun and memories.
So, do you remember skate keys? We’d love to hear your skating stories on our Facebook page. Let’s share this delightful blast from the past with others who may have fond memories of roller skating and skate keys too!
Blake Lively Mocks Kate Middleton, Gets Criticized for Apology, «Shame on You»
Known for her sense of humor among other things, Blake Lively poked fun at Kate Middleton and the controversies around her to promote her brands. After the Princess of Wales revealed to the public her tragic diagnosis, the actress quickly apologized after receiving criticism. However, fans think the «apology» she shared is not enough.
Health rumors and digital dilemmas
© princeandprincessofwales / Instagram
The health of Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, has been a topic of public speculation since she disclosed her need for abdominal surgery earlier in the year. This curiosity intensified when several prominent news outlets removed a photograph of Middleton and her kids, citing concerns over potential manipulation. Kate admitted to not being adept at photo editing, which did little to calm the media storm.
Blake poked fun at the editing scandal.
In a now-deleted post, Lively had shared an image that was clearly edited for comedic effect, featuring an oversized lemon tumbling from the heavens, a humorous nod to photo editing exaggerations. She posed for the photos as well, and they were used as promotional images for her beverage brands. «I’m so excited to share this new photo I just took today to announce our 4 new…products! Now you know why I’ve been MIA,» she captioned it.
The actress posted an apology.
Taking to her Instagram story, the actress wrote — «I’m sure no one cares today, but I feel like I have to acknowledge this. I made a silly post around the ‘photoshop fails’ frenzy, and oh man, that post has me mortified today. I’m sorry. Sending love and well wishes to all, always.»
Blake left out Kate’s name from the apology, and the fans are not happy. «We don’t need your love and well wishes. You owe it to one person!!» commented a person on Blake’s photo. «I really liked u but to jump on the bandwagon n make fun of the Princess has made my opinion of u drop immensely! Shame on u…coz at ur age u should know, u can’t take back hurting someone,» added another.
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