Introduction

Kezar Pavillion, one of the homes for Roller Derby over the years.

 

Trackside is about Roller Derby and Roller Games as this fan saw it. For those that don't know what Roller Derby or Games is, the idea was invented on August 13, 1935 by Leo Seltzer in Chicago, IL.  I will share more about this in the next post.

 

The sport went from what was marathon skating races to roller skating on a banked track.  This happened in arenas and stadiums.  An actual league, the National Roller Derby League, was formed in the late 1940s.  The league would continue until December 8, 1973.  Costs and a gas crisis shut it down.  Roller Derby would be sold to Roller Games, a rival promotion and there would be a merger of sorts for a couple of years.  That would end in 1975.

 

There were several attempts to continue Roller Derby off and on until 2016 when it finally stopped.  

 

This blogger started following Roller Derby in 1963 in the San Francisco Bay Area.  A couple of years later, in 1965, we learned that there would be another roller skating league known as Roller Games.  A local team joined Roller Games known as the San Francisco Bay Shamrocks.  Though I never saw them play, the team would be featured in the local papers.  

 

The following year, inter league play would happen between the International Roller Derby League and the National Skating Derby.  In my area, the first ever series was between the San Francisco Bay Bombers and Detroit Devils, a series that I'll never forget.  The series was very historic to fans in the area.

 

This fan will share the history and when I began following the spectacle.  Over the years, the knowledge and the history of both Roller Derby and Roller Games is overwhelming!

 

This blogger would like to thank the following libraries, newspapers and books that made this blog possible:

Oakland Public Library

Sacramento Public Library

San Francisco Public Library

Ad Lib To The Blow Off!

Roller Derby Classics

Roller Derby To Rollerjam

Five Strides On The Banked Track

Bay Area Roller Derby

A Very Simple Game

Rolling Thunder

Los Angeles Times

New York Times

Oakland Tribune

San Francisco Chronicle

San Francisco Examiner

Sports Illustrated

Who's Who In Roller Derby Facebook group

And a few Roller Derby friends….

 

The blog is a work in progress.  There are a number of leagues, particularly those that aren't as well known that I'm learning about.  I will mention them as well as the more well known leagues.  Please be patient.    

 

Finally, I would like to thank Jim Fitzpatrick, Scott Stephens and to Keith Coppage, three authors of several books listed above.  Jim and Scott skated and are very knowledgable of the sport.

 

Would like to thank Leo Seltzer and his son, Jerry who made watching this exciting!  The stars that this fan saw over the years from Charlie O'Connell to Joan Weston, Annis Jensen to Joe Foster, Ann Calvello to Ken Monte and more kept all of us on the edge of our seats!  Whether it was a Sunday afternoon at Kezar Pavillion or watching at home on KTVU Channel 2, the memories last forever.

 

Finally, would like to thank Bill Griifiths Sr. and Jerry Hill for Roller Games.  There are a few people that will criticize the league because of the theatrics in particular.  However, this fan had an opportunity to see his first game at the Olympic Auditorium in 1971 between the T-Birds and the Texas Outlaws and came away entertained.  Dick Lane (T-Birds) and Elmer Anderson (Warriors) were two announcers that I enjoyed listening to.