Retro Fit

Many Generation X-ers who grew up in Los Angeles have fond memories of the late disco-themed roller-skating palace, Flippers. Well, disco danced its way out, we X-ers grew up and Flippers is now a Rite Aid.

But to walk into Glendale’s Moonlight Rollerway Skating Center on Monday’s “disco night” is to feel that the 1970s and its groovy roller craze never died.

Strolling up to the roller rink’s friendly ticket-taker, you pay the not-adjusted-for-the-’90s rate of $4.25. Then you step on hideous brown-and-orange carpet the likes of which you haven’t seen since John Travolta was still skinny enough to pull off that white suit.

You notice how the carpet clashes with the deeper shades of orange carpet covering the walls. That’s right, folks, orange carpeting on the walls. Ahh, the memories.

Past the Moonlight’s skate-rental counter is an ancient snack bar. Whereas many of today’s ice rinks and gyms stock Power Bars and cafe lattes, this blast from the past offers such old-fangled junk food as milkshakes and popcorn.

The retro theme extends to the rink’s people, too. Many patrons have been hanging around the place since that carpet was actually considered tasteful. Forty-year-old rink manager Mike Lunsford has been working at the Moonlight since he was 13. One of his customers, 42-year-old office manager Tenly Kokrak of Glendale, remembers her father skating there three decades ago.

The Moonlight is so untouched by time that “it’s like its own little world here,” Kokrak said.

Ultra rink regular Frank Fialkoff skates here every night, including teen-filled Top-40s nights on Fridays and Tuesday’s senior-oriented sessions with live organ music.

“I’ve seen people who used to date here coming back and now bringing their kids,” said Fialkoff, a 48-year-old retiree from West Los Angeles.

You would think someone who is such a fan of the place would bring friends with him. Not Fialkoff.

“This is my whole social circle right here,” he said.

John Rozas, 34, of Highland Park probably can’t match Fialkoff’s knowledge of rink trivia, but he’s no less enthralled by the Moonlight.

“It’s fantastic here,” he raved, admiring the disco ball and pink gel lights overhead. “There’s people crashing into walls, there’s old people--to me it’s like a dream place!”

Rozas has told lots of his friends about the place, but you get the feeling the Moonlight is a well-kept secret among seekers of eclectic fun. The joint is so unhip it’s actually cool.

Around the unfashionably early hour of 10:30 p.m., a finale of “I Will Survive” comes on. People indulge in one last skate around the rink--a few hardy skaters attempt to break dance--and then the doors close.

As skaters bid each other goodbye on a first-name basis, manager Lunsford looks around.

“People pay a lot of money to make their theme restaurant look like something from 20 years ago,” he said. “But we don’t have to spend anything at all, because this is the original.”

BE THERE

The Moonlight Rollerway Skating Center, 5110 San Fernando Road, Glendale. Open seven days a week. For rates, lesson schedules and private rentals, call (818) 241-3630.