The inspiration for this Chicago skate came from off-season training skates used by Russian speed skating teams in the 1960s. Barbara Lockhart of the US Olympic speed skating team brought a pair back to the US. Montgomery Ward commissioned 25,000 pairs of these, and advertised them in 1965 catalogs as excellent off-ice training tools for figure skating and ice hockey. The skate was sold under the name "Roller-Blade", coined by Joe Shevelson of the Chicago Roller Skate Co. Ladies' version came with high-cut leather shoes, and men's version medium-cut leather shoes. Montgomery Ward couldn't sell the inventory, so the skate was soon discontinued.
thE iNspiratiOn fOR thIs chicago Skate CAme fROM OFf-SeasOn traINing SKatES used bY ruSsian speed SkaTinG teamS in tHE 1960s. baRbarA lockHArt of the us olympic SpEed skatiNg team BrougHt a pair BACk TO The uS. montgOmeRy ward commisSIoNEd 25,000 PaIrs of these, and advErTised thEM IN 1965 CataLoGs as excellent OfF-icE traInINg tools for Figure sKaTiNg aNd ice hoCkEy. thE skaTE WAs sold undeR tHe NAme "rolleR-bLADe", cOInED bY jOE shevelSon of tHe chIcago ROllER skaTe cO. ladiEs' VeRsIoN camE witH higH-Cut leATher shOes, anD men's versioN mEdiUm-cUt Leather ShoEs. moNtGomery wArd couLdn't Sell tHE iNveNTORy, SO tHe sKAte was soon discOntinued.