1954-1958

Following the Eastern Playoffs, the Roller Derby scene would head west to California.  Leo Seltzer came up with two new teams for future play.

 

The teams were the Los Angeles Braves and the California Bombers.

 

From sources and records, the Braves would begin in November 1953 and would skate one of their initial games at the 160th Regiment Armory. It was located in Exposition Park near the Los Angeles Coliseum.  However, their first game, per sources was at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.  They became the first international team when a tour was launched in Europe, also in 1953.

 

The California Bombers were formed in 1954.  The team was known for making their debut in late October 1954.  Their first series was in Oakland, in the San Francisco Bay Area at the Oakland Auditorium.  They would have two successful series against the Brooklyn Red Devils and the Los Angeles Braves.  It was successful that they would return to Oakland for the next three years!  The games were split up between the Oakland Auditorium and the Oakland Exhibition Hall.  It wouldn't be the last time Roller Derby would skate there either. 

 

In 1958, Leo would transfer Roller Derby to his son, Jerry.  Soon afterwards, the headquarters would be moved from Los Angeles to Northern California.  

 

Jerry would also strike a deal involving television. An independent station known as KTVU Channel 2 was looking for programing.  By 1959, Roller Derby would begin televising games nearly once a week.  There would also be an announcer brought in.  His name was Walt Harris.  He was employed by the station and eventually became the sports director for them.  He was, not only a Roller Derby announcer but also did pro wrestling.  Also, he was the producer for San Francisco Giants baseball games during the time with the station.   

 

There would still be Roller Derby around the country during the years of the latter part of 1954 through 1958.  There were no regular season leagues at this time.  Because the New York Chiefs were the last champions of Roller Derby in May 1954, they were declared the champions in 1955 through 1958.

 

Basically for four and one half years, Roller Derby would be skated on the West Coast, the Midwest, the Eastern area and even Hawaii for the first time.  In July 1958, the Chicago Westerners would take on an All Star team known as the Hawaii All Stars.  The trip was successful and set up a possible franchise(s) for future banked track skating.

 

Jerry decided that there should be a league season beginning in 1959.  The league would eventually grow from four to six teams that season.  Gone was the Jersey Jolters.  The Westerners, Chiefs and Red Devils remained.  The San Francisco Bay Bombers, Los Angeles Braves and the Hollywood Ravens would be the new teams.

 

Also the NRDL would have a new home in San Francisco for the bulk of the 1959 season.  More on this in the next post.