At the time there was an amusing fellow in Paris who had invented roller skates and who used to practise his favorite sport on fine evenings on the large concrete surfaces of the Place de la Concorde.

Meyerbeer saw him and got the idea of the famous ballet.

In the early days of the opera it certainly was charming to see the skaters come on accompanied by a pretty chorus and a rhythm from the violins regulated by that of the dancers.

But the performance began at seven and ended at midnight.

Now they begin at eight and to gain the hour they had to accelerate the pace.