SKATING SENIOR ON A MOVIE ROLL Versions of the following article have appeared in various publications across the country including the Denver Weekly News and The Atlanta Daily World. Roller skating was the fad of the 1980s when thousands from coast to coast hopped aboard the bandwagon after seeing movies like Roller Boogie and Xanadu.  The sport may be on the verge of another mainstream resurrection when new film Roll Bounce is released next summer. Filming is currently taking place in Chicago with director Malcolm Lee, (Undercover Brotha, The Best Man), and starring young hip hop artist Bow Wow.  The cast also includes a number of talented skaters who are being trained and directed by Bill Butler, 70, who long ago earned the title “Godfather of Roller Disco.” Mr. Butler, a native of Detroit (and currently residing in Atlanta), has been skating more than 60 years and is known, particularly on the East Coast, for the unique skating technique he developed and called “Jammin.”  His method was outlined in the 1979 book entitled Jammin - Bill Butlers Complete Guide to Roller Disco. He is serving as Technical Advisor for Roll Bounce and advises on all aspects of skate related scenes, choreography and production. The sassy senior is the oldest person involved in this film yet he feels right at home and is happy for the opportunity to contribute a perspective as one who absolutely loves the sport.  He does not view his age as a drawback but rather as an asset since he has learned much over the years that he wants to share.  Some of the younger skaters find he has more spirit at times than they do. “You think about his age and at the end of the day he's running me around,” said Bryce Sanders, 16.  “He's got more strength and vigor than I do.  He is willing to work at all costs and has got that zeal.  Working with him is crazy but its fun too,” said the Chicago native. Mr. Butler desires to see what some have called “Black Adult” roller skating gain the respect it should have.  This form of roller skating and its history was the subject of 8 Wheels and Some Soul Brotha Music, a documentary produced by skater/film maker Tyrone Dixon.  The film has been featured in a number of Black film festivals and Mr. Butler is featured in that documentary along with a number of skaters who will be appearing in Roll Bounce. Many people are under the impression that quad roller skating is something only youth participate in but the sport is alive and well and has been a mainstay in the lives of many Black adults for years. Mr. Butler has been skating decades without break and even created skate surfaces to roll on in Saudi Arabia when he was in the military years ago.  He is quite unlike other adults who feel they are too old to skate and that its only a youth activity.   “I don't think it has anything to do with age if one really wants to skate and is physically able.... With this sport, you can be doing anything else in life and make this part of your week,” he said. He believes the film he is working on is extremely serious, not just because of the skating but also the dramatic story line which includes some stirring scenes performed by Bow Wow and movie father, Chi McBride (Boston Public). Mr. Butler hopes this film and other upcoming projects bring quad roller skating back to the forefront as it was in the 1980s. “We want to make sure when people see this film that they want to skate.  In years to come, people are going to want to do it on a large scale more so than your more traditional type of roller skating...They will have a concept about The Technique so they will really have fun when they go to the rink,” he said. Filming of Roll Bounce is scheduled to be completed in late August.  For more information on Mr. Butler and to read his roller skating column Good Jammin News, visit online Ezine Roller Skating Today,  http://rollerskatingtoday.com. - Kim Muhammad - August 2004 Back to Top

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