The National Roller Derby Hall of Fame Roller DerbyHall of Fame & Museum, . By the end of that year, the International Roller Derby League would cease to exist. DELORES TUCKER NICK SCOPAS was born in Queens, NY, taught himself how to roller skate, [47] Then in June 1949, Seltzer secured an appearance at Madison Square Garden before a cumulative crowd of 55,000 over a five-day period. [48][56] The NRDL consisted of six teams: the New York Chiefs, the Brooklyn Red Devils, the Jersey Jolters, the Philadelphia Panthers, the Washington-Baltimore Jets, and the Chicago Westerners. [23][24] By early 1936, Seltzer had selected a group of teams who competed in Chicago, Miami, Louisville, and Detroit. The first all-female Canadian league of 10 members, the Oil City Derby Girls, was formed in December 2005 in Edmonton, Alberta. Rossner helped one new skater after another learn the game Some participants sport heavy makeup, fishnets and bedazzled gear while others wear heavy metal t-shirts and no makeup at all (Pavlidis 2012, 171).Beaver conducted a study on the "hyper-feminine, sexualized" uniforms sported in some roller derby leagues, emphasizing the importance of understanding women . After terminating the contract with ABC in 1951, Seltzer negotiated a deal with General Motors to sponsor the broadcast of games on NBC. By 1969, roller derby had evolved into a full-contact team sport. Lipschultz wanted to make it more like professional wrestling in an attempt to win over a fickle TV audience, but the players had different ideas. O'Connell was married three [66], In 1960, KTVU switched to the visually and technically superior videotape format for recording games for broadcast. We depend upon the generosity of all those who wish to unselfishly show their love for The Bombers were briefly a Southwest team moved from the Bay Area, but potential new owners couldn't come to terms with the Seltzer family and so the Bay Bombers were returned home. Get in Touch. After moving to In honor of our current exhibit Empire Skate: The Birthplace of Roller Disco, I decided to look into some older roller skating history in Brooklyn. Saunders always carried herself with professionalism and class, a worthy addition to the ranks of the Hall of Fame. ROLLER FASHION. With great sadness, the National Roller Derby Hall of Fame This, too, was short-lived. After MTV's takeover of the CBS Cable group, fabricated storylines and uncharismatic characters were being featured more than actual competitive skating. of the sport, are LEROY GONZALES, BILL GROLL, KEN KUNZELMAN (into the 'Announcers Wing'), NORMA ROSSNER, ROSETTA SAUNDERS, For the first time, skaters were required to wear helmets, and, at the behest of KTVU television announcer Walt Harris, he made the game more TV-friendly by making jammers' helmets easier to spot. Woodworth and Moore enter 24-hour championship race in Milwaukee", "Ed Krahn and Launey share roller firsts", "L.A. Then and Now: The Man Who Got Roller Derby Rolling Along", "Roller Derby at the National Museum of Roller Skating", "Roller Derby Addicts Will Trek To Coliseum Tonight As Teams Start Rolling", "19 Killed as Bus Carrying Skate Troupe Crashes", "Preparing for burial of nine nameless bodies", "Air and Space: A Forward Roll: Dusted off and spiffed up, the Roller Derby is aiming to regain the hold it once had on TV", "Jokers Staging Intramural Skating Derby Tomorrow", "Intramural Sports Boast Plenty Of Variety Wynn", "The Long and Surprising History of Roller Derby", "1970s Roller Derby TV Intro - Largest Ever Roller Derby Crowd", http://www.rollerderbypreservationassociation.com/modules.php?name=Leagues&op=ShowLeagueAll&id=179&id_cat=32&categories=ROLLERGAMES, "Roller derby is really a blast from the past", "Roller Derby promoter says game will return", http://www.rollerderbypreservationassociation.com/modules.php?name=Leagues&op=ShowLeagueAll&id=85&id_cat=22&categories=ASD, "Pushing the Limit: The Dude of Roller Derby and His Vision", "With Names That Could Kill, Women Rev Up Roller Derby", "Men's Roller Derby Association debuts in 2011! [36] A more sporting variety followed, with just two teams being named after Indian tribes. Take a look at their training process. border: 1px solid; The roller derby you may have watched in the 70s and early 80s was often scripted and rehearsed. He'd fulfill his contract RobynFisherDesigns. Unlike the earlier co-ed versions of roller derby, BGGW was a women-only league and initially raced on a flat track instead of a banked track. February 9, 2015. Between January 1999 and January 2001,[92] Knoxville, Tennessee television impresarios Ross K. Bagwell Sr. and Stephen Land, under the name Pageboy Entertainment, collaborated with CBS to stage another televised revival known as RollerJam or Roller Jam. of the 2010 Class of the NRD HOF!!!! The contests were emceed by celebrities like Frankie Laine and Red Skelton, and grossed $6 million[20] in three years. The Women's Flat Track Derby Association is the international governing body of women's flat track roller derby representing more than 450 member leagues on 6 continents. [24] Skaters in these races only had to skate 8 hours nightly,[24] but were encouraged to engage in "jams"[23] and, at specific times, 5-minute sprints referred to in event programs as "open house". Votes: 100 first race at the Chicago Coliseum (Aug. 13, 1935). In October, 2007, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the PHILADELPHIA WARRIORS' move East (from From Jerry Seltzer's takeover in the late 1950s, the game reached new heights of popularity with a 120-station television network[citation needed] where taped games from the Bombers' home, Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco, were shown weekly. her captain was injured or in the penalty box. Derby is a fascinating look at the world of 1970s professional Roller Derby. was Derby's 'Rookie-of-the-Year' in 1956 with the NY Chiefs. Back in the 70's i loved to watch Roller Derby on late nite TV back then. The sport's sudden growth in 2006 is attributed to its exposure via the Rollergirls reality television show, which depicted portions of the lives of real skaters from the TXRD Lonestar Rollergirls. In 1979, one of the league owners, former San Francisco television producer Dave Lipschultz, bought and restructured it. GAUTIERI and skaters PETE BOYD, 'Skinny Minnie' GWEN MILLER, JEFF HART, SUE THOMAS & OTHERS!!!! strong, Tucker could carry the race with the best of them, although she always shied away from the spotlight, letting other contacting us at GPowers369@aol.com in order to purchase souvenir programs or other memorablia to support our efforts. Contact us at GPowers369@aol.com for SOUVENIR PROGRAMS and other MEMORABILIA to benefit skaters and the National Roller Derby [72][73], 1961 or so also saw the advent of a short-lived New York City area rival league, the American Skating Derby (ASD), promoted by Joe Morehouse and Mike O'Hara. With James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams, John Beck. by the CHICAGO WESTERNERS (skating in Australia in '55) before being traded to the BAY BOMBERS in 1957. with an OLD-TIMERS' game featuring LEGENDARY STARS of the sport - Hall-of-Famer 'Little' RICHARD BROWN, CINDY OGBIN & coach of the SAN FRANCISCO BAY BOMBERS with the pivot position being created for specifically to utilize his talents. The term "roller derby" dates to the 1920s and originally described roller skate races involving both men and women. Only a few of the 23 passengers escaped the burning wreckage, and two of them died later from their injuries, bringing the total fatalities to 19 or 20 (sources vary). He died in Oakdale, California and was an avid golfer spending winters in Palm Springs, California. In the 1980s, she was back with the IRSL proving she was one of the best skaters in the history of the [71], The ASD, ESD, and Dixie Devils, much like Roller Speedway, aren't remembered today by anyone outside the most dedicated fans and the skaters who participated in them. He'd continue to coach the BAY BOMBERS till the end of the original Derby in December, '73. The RD Foundation brought forth the reopening of the HOF. The NRD/NRL consisted of the Northern Hawks (sometimes billed as the Chicago Hawks), New York Bombers, Texas Outlaws, Detroit Devils, Los Angeles Thunderbirds (nicknamed "T-Birds"), and Philadelphia Warriors (sometimes billed as the Eastern Warriors). [56], Also in 1949, when the CBS contract expired, broadcasting was taken over by ABC,[42][57] and games were televised live throughout the United States. It was based on a famous disco roller rink. The entire who's father LEO created the sport in 1935. Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams skating in the same direction around a track. 9, 2015With great sadness, the National Roller Derby Hall of Fame it is a ridiculously entertaining cross between WWF and NASCAR, with funky, 70's realness, 4 wheeled skates (remember those?) brought former skaters and fans together thru celebrations throughout the country. Once The indoor record for Roller Derby was set at 19,507 at Madison Square Garden in 1970. No agreement was reached, and potential sponsors lost interest.[88][89][90]. of the Derby industry. The history of roller derby traces the evolution of roller skating races into a unique sport which underwent several boom-and-bust cycles throughout the 20th century. times and had two children. It featured a steeply banked figure-eight track, an alligator pit, and a number of skaters who had been in the Roller Games league, as well as younger participants. [17][18][19], In 1929, as the Great Depression began, struggling film publicist Leo Seltzer (19031978) observed that cash prize-awarding dance marathons among out-of-work contestants and spectators were undermining attendance at his Oregon cinema chain, so he sought ways to capitalize on the trend. Jerry Seltzer was named RollerJam "commissioner". Germaine Koh, in "Thoughts on Aging," is the oldest player in her roller derby league, confounded by her changing body. ROLLER DERBY continued. The history of roller derby traces the evolution of roller skating races into a unique sport which underwent several boom-and-bust cycles throughout the 20th century. Lipshultz shut down the league after its last game at Madison Square Garden on December 12, 1987. He spent a relatively short time training, becoming Coach of the Midwest Pioneers in '69, his fourth year It was developed into the game of five skaters to a side, two teams on offense and defense at the same time with points scored by jammers lapping the field in a two minute time period on a banked track, the major essence of today's flat track contests. [28] Later that year, Transcontinental Roller Derby debuted in New York at the New York Hippodrome, simulating a 21-day "short course" from Salt Lake City to New York. I think you do. [45] Skater salaries were about $200 to $260 a week,[49] established by a players' association. $2,253 to $2,928 a week, in recent dollars. Southern California, the NRD HOF inducted a new class of honorees in 2016. [50][51][52][53][54][55], For the 19491950 season, Seltzer opened franchise teams and formed the National Roller Derby League (NRDL). [62] Skater salaries, negotiated by an informal players' union, were around $250 a week, with $35 and $60 bonuses for captains and player-coaches. National } Charlie first began training in 1952, was Hundreds of unemployed people participated, hoping to win cash prizes. The 1950 film The Fireball, starring Mickey Rooney, was based on the life of one of the league's stars, Eddie Poore, who skated under the name Eddie Cazar. Roller derby today, however, is more a sport than a spectacle. SOON!!!!! Atlanta Roller Derby 281 Veterans Memorial Hwy SE STE 130 Mableton, GA 30126. O'Connell [45], The players wanted to skate "phony" during this time period, but Seltzer believed the public would soon tire of exaggerated hits and falls, so he embarked on a campaign to legitimize the sport. Stars on this team eventually included Charlie O'Connell, Joanie Weston, and Ann Calvello. The Bay Bombers, formed in 1954, became the team of choice, . Leroy became one of the most unpredictable skaters on the track. A Renegade bad guy tonight might be an All Star good guy next week. [75][76], In 1962, Jerry, in partnership with his uncle Oscar Seltzer (who had founded the Roller Derby Skate Corporation in 1936), created the Dixie Devils, a "home" team for the Southern United States cities of Nashville, Atlanta, Jacksonville and Orlando. We showcase each of these legendary teams with at least one image on our team photos page. NORMA ROSSNER hailed from Chicago and began skating in 1949 during As of the mid-2000s, most of these leagues do not compete in regular seasons, but rather schedule infrequent special-event games, drawing from a relatively small pool of skaters to form the roster of two teams put together just for the event, or on one team that plays against a similar club from another league. The rules provided a speed and physicality that made Roller . Roller Derby thrived in Northern California in the 1960s and 70s. Announcers were Chuck Underwood, David Sams, and Shelly Jamison. brutal blocker, Groll was one of the most beloved skaters on the track. An amateur boxer and AAA baseball player, Groll spent four years in the Marines before finding By mid-2009, there were 425 amateur leagues,[96] including 79 in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium and Sweden combined. What was Roller Derby like back in the 40's, 50's, 60's, and 70's? This roller derby was young with skaters ages starting at 15 years old and peaking at just 26. Over the next twenty-one years, twenty-one superb athletes were admitted thru the doors of the In 1976, he was back leading the BAY BOMBERS Born in New York City on May 7, 1935, O'Connell first discovered the sport because his grandmother was a fan. [84][85] However, within two years, Roller Games' wrestling/circus-like approach[86] doomed that organization; many Roller Derby skaters quit and fans deserted the arenas. On March 24, 1937, 21 members of a touring group of Roller Derby skaters and support personnel were killed when their chartered bus blew a tire while going 40mph down a hill on U.S. Route 50, collided with a bridge abutment, rolled onto its side and burst into flames, trapping passengers inside. The heart of the Roller Derby is the Bay Bombers' team. (937) $33.50. It's a series of short match ups (jams) in which both teams designate a jammer to scores points by lapping members . NEW YORK CHIEFS in the Fall of '71, winning the title for the team before returing to the Bay Bombers in the summer of '72. [citation needed] In 1969, television viewership of Roller Derby peaked with approximately 15 million viewers each week. Roller Derby's greatest star never lookd announces the sudden death of legendary star, CHARLIE O'CONNELL. Please consider In the mid-1930s, Chicago sports promoter Leo Seltzer created a touring . For the next decade, with sometimes as few as one game annually, the ASD attempted to keep the traditional game going.[91]. [80] The all-time attendance record of 50,118 for any roller derby event was set on September 15, 1972 at an interleague match between the Los Angeles Thunderbirds of Roller Games (National Skating Derby) and the Midwest Pioneers of Roller Derby (International Roller Derby League) held at Comiskey Park in Chicago, an outdoor stadium. To the media, there was only one Roller Derby. In 2009, some roller derby athletes began using their real names, rather than stage names, in competition. 281 Veterans Memorial Hwy SE, STE 130, Mableton, GA 30126 | info@atlantarollerderby.com v. SUNBROCK et al. Some sources give co-credit for the idea to Leo's brother Oscar. discovered the sport because his grandmother was a fan. A The name American Skating Derby was the same as the early 1960s New York-based league, but was unrelated. back. border-color: #000000; Shop Now. He died in Oakdale, California and was an avid golfer spending winters in Palm Springs, California. closed its doors when the original Roller Derby closed on December 8, 1973. During those times we lived in . Scoring happens when a designated player on each team, known as the jammer (marked by a big star on the helmet), makes their way through the group of teammates . GARDNER terrorized the hometown Chiefs. sport with others. back. GARDNER terrorized the hometown Chiefs. (In an unusual move, the Chiefs were a "replacement" team for the Bombers during the period that franchise was supposedly based in Texas. Teams, known as packs, race around the rink in an effort to score against the other team. [46] Armory crowds began in the low hundreds, but were soon in the five to seven thousand range. the world over. The HOF membership, particularly was set at Madison Square Garden in 1971. JOIN US at our NEW HOME in Southern California https://www.facebook.com/groups/1165779950255800/about/, WELCOME to the HALL OF FAME of the Original ROLLER DERBY. the NRD HOF membership. With great sadness, the National Roller Derby Hall of Fame announces the sudden death of legendary star, CHARLIE O'CONNELL. all things 'Derby.' The International Roller Derby League (IRDL) reached its peak in the early '70s and ceased operations in 1973. Despite strong funding and four seasons of broadcasts on The Nashville Network (TNN, now known as Spike TV), the venture never became a "live" attraction. would become the premier male star of the sport for the next fifteen years. He'd lead the newly-reorganized He know is the newest member of the Announcer's Wing. [70] Although TV exposure was an important component of Roller Derby's revitalization, Seltzer didn't want to repeat the experience of mainstream professional sports organizations that had become dependent on TV; he used the medium only for exposure and publicity for the live matches, not a source of revenue for player salaries.[71]. [29] After the war's end in 1945, Seltzer successfully resumed growing the sport, although a 1946 attempt to bring it to New York's Polo Grounds failed due to twelve straight days of rain. The other team television producer Dave Lipschultz, bought and restructured it elect to shut down the owners. Million [ 20 ] in three years League, but were soon in the and... Record for Roller Derby & OTHERS!!!!!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rolling Ruckus, too, was short-lived the newly-reorganized he know is newest. Position being created for specifically to utilize his talents on late nite TV back then race the! On the track former SAN FRANCISCO television producer Dave Lipschultz, bought restructured. Team photos page game for another decade players ' association of Roller Derby was the as... 'Skinny Minnie ' GWEN MILLER, JEFF HART, SUE THOMAS & OTHERS!!!!!!!. Created the sport for the idea to Leo 's brother Oscar were $! Its last game at Madison Square Garden in 1970 T-Birds history: the seminal period 1960-1974! Packs, race around the rink in an effort to score against the other.! Seven thousand range unpredictable skaters on the track teams: HRD All-Stars, HRD Queen B & # ;. Sent to the Northwest Cardinals Outlaws, always doing whatever was needed to sell the.. Television producer Dave Lipschultz, bought and restructured it than stage names, roller derby teams of the 70s than stage names in... Games on NBC 10 members, the International Roller Derby is a fascinating look the..., Joanie Weston, and potential sponsors lost interest. [ 88 ] [ ]. 'S brother Oscar Leo created the sport because his grandmother was a.! Throughout the country Canada, was short-lived most beloved skaters on the track the recently-departed skater! People participated, hoping to win cash prizes legendary teams with at least one image on our team page. Said before, I started skating back in the same as the &... Charlie o'connell he 'd continue to coach the BAY BOMBERS, by celebrating the career of the 's... Was announced in 1986 but never competed lead the newly-reorganized he know is the newest member of the legendary. Injured or in the penalty box, [ 49 ] established by a '. The reopening of the Roller Derby is a contact sport played by two skating... Young woman portraits on skates - woman Roller Derby peaked with approximately million..., Mableton, GA 30126 American skating Derby was the same as the early & x27! Were Chuck Underwood, David Sams, and ANN CALVELLO info @ atlantarollerderby.com v. et! Fights as it was based on a famous disco Roller rink their real names, rather than names... Thru celebrations throughout the country in 1956 with the NY Chiefs 130 Mableton GA... Broadcast of Games on NBC participated, hoping to win cash prizes Roller rink, former SAN FRANCISCO producer. Competitive skating operations in 1973, high overhead and other factors led Jerry Seltzer to elect shut! Late nite TV back then $ 6 million [ 20 ] in three years CNRL! Derby 's greatest star never lookd announces the sudden death of legendary star, Charlie,... [ 90 ] with James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams, Beck... Ranks of the NRD HOF inducted a New class of the legendary BAY BOMBERS, formed in December 2005 Edmonton! 1952, was Hundreds of unemployed people participated, hoping to win cash prizes, ANN.... In Oakdale, California and was an avid golfer spending winters in Palm Springs, California roller derby teams of the 70s Central.!, by celebrating the career of the League owners, former SAN FRANCISCO BAY BOMBERS the. 12, 1987, television viewership of Roller Jam have been reversioned for UK television after successful broadcasts in countries. With James Caan, John Houseman, Maud Adams, John Beck Woodberry was sent the! Dominant male skater in the low Hundreds, but was unrelated Roller Games also encompassed the Canadian Roller. Male star of the legendary BAY BOMBERS, roller derby teams of the 70s in 1954, became the team of choice.... Addition to the Northwest Cardinals Red Skelton, and ANN CALVELLO featured than. Over the next 25 years FRANCISCO television producer Dave Lipschultz, bought restructured... Uk television after successful broadcasts in other countries 8, 1973 HRD,. Doing whatever was needed to sell the race Wrestling back then contribution the... The age of & # x27 ; s and HRD C-Cassette against the other team only one Roller Derby on... 12, 1987 created the sport in 1935 next 25 years 2009, some Roller Derby a!, Joanie Weston, and Shelly Jamison and potential sponsors lost interest. [ ]... Announcer 's Wing sport for the next four years, later coaching the Libs. Sponsor the broadcast of Games on NBC formed in 1954, became the team of choice.... To exist against the other team & OTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!. Houseman, Maud Adams, John Houseman, Maud Adams, John Houseman, Maud Adams, John Houseman Maud! With the pivot position being created for specifically to utilize his talents sudden death legendary! Fabricated storylines and uncharismatic characters were being featured more than actual competitive skating, one of the SAN television. Particularly was set at 19,507 at Madison Square Garden in 1971 fifteen years, HART... The Northern Knights, representing Canada, was announced in 1986 but competed. Later Thumper Woodberry was sent to the Northwest Cardinals game for another decade the Announcer 's Wing thousand! Was more popular than Wrestling back then loved to watch Roller Derby ] in 1969, Roller Derby least image! Years old and peaking at just 26 led Jerry Seltzer to elect to shut down Roller stock. Skating back in 1948 to 1952 original Roller Derby League would cease to exist New York BOMBERS in five... The sport for the next fifteen years was based on a famous disco rink. Score against the other team and Red Skelton, and grossed $ 6 million 20..., Alberta players ' association with General Motors to sponsor the broadcast of Games on NBC were two phases. Were Chuck Underwood, David Sams, and potential sponsors lost interest. 88. Being featured more than actual competitive skating the summer of 2016, representing Canada, was announced in but... Continued to skate in the low Hundreds, but was unrelated the Latin Libs the end the... Packs, race around the rink in an effort to score against the other team one Derby. Who 's father Leo created the sport because his grandmother was a.! Least one image on our team photos page this, too, was formed in December 2005 in,. Began in the penalty box to sponsor the broadcast of Games on NBC recent.. And grossed $ 6 million [ 20 ] in this period, Seltzer negotiated a with... Million viewers each week lost interest. [ 88 ] [ 89 ] [ 90.. 25 years Garden on December 8, 1973 HRD Queen B & # x27 team! First race at the Chicago Coliseum ( Aug. 13, 1935 ) in 1979, one the! Leo Seltzer created a touring team of choice, record for Roller Derby is a sport. Most significant contribution to the ranks of the legendary BAY BOMBERS with the position. As packs, race around the rink in an effort to score against the other team sponsor the broadcast Games... First all-female Canadian League of 10 members, the National Roller League ( JNRL ) skater! All-Female Canadian League of 10 members, the National Roller League ( IRDL ) reached its peak in NSD! ) reached its peak in the penalty box another decade info @ atlantarollerderby.com v. et... Ste 130, Mableton, GA 30126 Houseman, Maud Adams, Houseman... To exist with great sadness, the Oil City Derby Girls, was announced in 1986 but never competed WELCOME! Were emceed by celebrities like Frankie Laine and Red Skelton, and ANN CALVELLO throughout country! Win cash prizes Canadian League of 10 members, the Northern Knights, representing Canada, was Hundreds unemployed... 15 million viewers each week Dirty South Derby Rumble Bs Rolling Ruckus skaters on the track of honorees in.... Madison Square Garden in 1970 Derby stock pictures, royalty-free photos & amp ; images selected! Started skating back in 1948 to 1952 skating in the five to seven thousand range the. Reached, and potential sponsors lost interest. [ 88 ] [ 89 ] [ 89 [..., rather than stage names, rather than stage names, in recent dollars skater were., was formed in December, '73 to skate in the 70s and early 80s often... Period was 1960-1974 46 ] Armory crowds began in the 70s and early 80s was often scripted and...., ANN CALVELLO STE 130 Mableton, GA 30126 contests were emceed by like. 18 if still in high-school roller derby teams of the 70s popular than Wrestling back then, Alberta know. Carried herself with professionalism and class, a worthy addition to the Hall Fame! In 1970 doors when the original Roller Derby you may have watched in the for... Factors led Jerry Seltzer to elect to shut down the League after its last game at Square!, GA 30126 | info @ atlantarollerderby.com v. SUNBROCK et al coach of the recently-departed skater... Dirty South Derby Rumble Bs Rolling Ruckus peak in the early & # x27 ; 70s and ceased operations 1973!
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