IT WAS the craze which had Glasgow in a spin in the 70s and 80s.

At one point, there was more than 40 roller skating rinks in the city.

Glasgow Times:

As we previously reported, a new film Skate the City is being premiered by the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust at the Barrowland Ballroom on September 2 and here at Times Past, we figured that was a good enough excuse to trawl through our archives for some roller-skating memories.

Roller-skating has its origins in the world of theatre where it was developed in the late 1700s to simulate ice-skating on stage in musical and theatrical performances.

Glasgow Times:

Since then, skate crazes have periodically swept the nation, and Glasgow has often been right at the heart of them.

These crazes have been inspired by broader social factors such as sports and recreational activities becoming more available to women in the early 1900s. While skating rinks became safe spaces where women could gather with less formality and scrutiny.

READ MORE: From having a Wimpy to pizza at Dino's: Things you used to be able to do in Glasgow

Glasgow’s famous rinks included the Zoo Rink on New City Road, the American Roller Rink (which opened in 1909) on Victoria Road, The Locarno (1929) on Sauchiehall Street, and Fantasia at the Barrowland Ballroom (1981), opened by the Lord Provost (on skates, naturally).

Glasgow Times:

Kelvingrove Park had a skating rink – our photographers captured Ann Holliday, Valerie Livingston, Carol Marshall, Christine Smith and Valerie Watt whizzing around in 1958.

Learning how to use heavy, old-fashioned roller skates was no mean achievement - made of metal and fixed to your normal shoes with leather straps, these old-style skates even needed a key to extend or shorten them to make them fit.

The Kelvingrove Park rink was a favourite spot with courting couples, although you had to be sure of your balance, if you did not want to end up on your backside in front of someone you were trying to impress...

Recently, when we ran a picture of the rink, reader Rosaleen Healy got in touch to say that at the age of 14, she used to skate at Kelvingrove.

"We hired our metal skates, the BBC programme Bargain Hunt produced an exact pair this morning," the 83-year-old told us. "That is where I met my first boyfriend. I feel sorry for the young today who do not have the cheap and happy fun we had."

There were even roller-skating waitresses at the American diner 51st State on Sauchiehall Street (pictured here is the very first woman to be employed in the role, Monica Hardie, in the late 70s.)

Tiffany’s nightclub also had a roller rink – in 1981, manager John Stewart got his skates on to help publicise the place, although he does not look entirely comfortable about the situation.

Rena MacLean, of Cowcaddens, recalls skating at Tiffany's with her school pals.

"I used to go ice skating at Crossmyloof and I thought I'd be quite good at it, but it took a while to get the hang of it," she laughs.

"It was a great night out, and the music was always amazing. In the 80s, the fashion was all leg warmers and big hair so we thought we were like something out of Fame, it was brilliant."

Some readers may recall the roller disco inside F&F Palais de Danse on Dumbarton Road.

This site was originally occupied by the Star Palace cinema, which opened in 1910 and closed in 1925. It was acquired by entertainment entrepreneurs Fyfe & Fyfe who converted it into a combined roller skating rink and dance hall. In the 1960s, it was converted into a bingo hall.

READ MORE: Stunning photos capture days when trams ruled Glasgow's streets

Skate the City, the culmination of GBPT’s My Historic Neighbourhood project, a National Lottery-funded initiative which uncovers and celebrates the heritage on the doorsteps of communities around Glasgow, is on from 7pm until 9pm on September 2. Tickets are free, available through the Glasgow Doors Open Days Festival website, but booking is essential.

Who remembers roller-skating at Tiffany's, or in Kelvingrove Park, or at any of the amazing rinks around the city?

Get in touch with Times Past to share your stories and photos. Write to Ann Fotheringham, Glasgow Times, 125 Fullarton Drive, Glasgow G32 8FG or email ann.fotheringham@glasgowtimes.co.uk