WINDY CITY ROLLERS IMAGES High Resolution Images Available Upon Request. Pho<strong>to</strong>s by Gil Leora/Jamie DiVecchio Ramsay
ROLLER DERBY HISTORY IN THE BEGINNING MODERN ROLLER DERBY 1935 Roller derby is born in Chicago. Leo Seltzer, inspired by an article on the popularity of roller skating in America, scribbles the idea on a napkin while eating at Johnny Ricketts. His original idea called for a month-long, transcontinental race between two two-person skate teams. AUGUST 13, 1935 <strong>The</strong> first Transcontinental roller derby race is held Chicago: 25 two-skater co-ed teams skate 3,000 miles (a distance equal <strong>to</strong> that between San Diego and New York <strong>City</strong>!) around a track. <strong>The</strong> winners are the team that covered the distance in the shortest time. 1937 Leo Seltzer creates a governing body for roller derby. He names it the International Roller Derby League (IRDL) and maintains ownership rights. FEBRUARY, 1937 A bus crash in Salem, IL kills over 40 derby skaters and personnel on their way <strong>to</strong> a race in Cincinnati. <strong>The</strong> devastating loss almost destroys the IRDL. 1938 Roller derby gains popularity throughout the country. In 1938, sportswriter Damon Runyon suggests an increase of physical contact <strong>to</strong> Seltzer, and a version of the game evolves in<strong>to</strong> what we know <strong>to</strong>day. 1938 - 1947 Runyon’s version of roller derby is played between two teams of five men and five men, scoring points by lapping opponents. Seltzer’s version of the game continues <strong>to</strong> be played throughout World War Two. 1948 Roller derby is televised for the first time. A co-ed game captures the attention of the nation and two female stars, Midge “Toughie” Brashun and Gerry Murray win the hearts of viewers. 1953 Roller derby hops the pond. <strong>The</strong> IRDL goes on a <strong>to</strong>ur, skating in Paris, Madrid, Barcelona and London. 1958 Leo’s son, Jerry, takes over for his father and moves the headquarters of the IRDL from the east coast <strong>to</strong> California. Jerry Seltzer is still active in the roller derby community <strong>to</strong> this day and continually shows support for the rebirth of the sport. 1961 A rival <strong>to</strong> the IRDL is created – the National Skating Derby, nicknamed “National.” 1972 A skaters’ strike hobbles the IRDL and rising costs makes the league suffer. In September, over 52,000 fans attend an interleague game between the IRDL and the National in Chicago’s Comiskey Park. 1973 Gas shortages and increased costs cripple Seltzer’s family-run league and the original IRDL skates its last game on December 8, 1973 at the Long Island Arena in Commack, NY. Seltzer sells everything <strong>to</strong> the National Skating Derby. APRIL 1977 <strong>The</strong> International Roller Skating League (IRSL) is formed with David Lipschultz at the helm. DECEMBER 12, 1987 IRSL plays its last game in Madison Square Garden in New York. 2001 <strong>The</strong> new millennium heralds the rebirth of Roller Derby. Women working at f<strong>our</strong> different bars in Austin, TX decide <strong>to</strong> host an interesting sporting event. With the help of man named “Derby Dan,” they decide on an all-woman, flat track roller derby bout. Allegedly, the team themes were based on the bars’ décor, and were represented in each team’s DIY uniforms. This established the flamboyant and flirtatious nature that is present in derby <strong>to</strong>day. What was supposed <strong>to</strong> be a one-night-only event became so popular that the women formed Bad Girl/ Good Woman productions (BGGW). 2002 BGGW’s inaugural season. 2003 BGGW splits due <strong>to</strong> business differences and two separate leagues are formed: Lonestar Rollergirls (who switched <strong>to</strong> playing on a banked track, and still operate under BGGW), and Texas Rollergirls (who stayed with the flat-track format). Derby takes off—Phoenix, then New York, Los Angeles, Tucson, and North Carolina create teams. <strong>The</strong> flat track format requires less setup, startup money, and maintenance so its popularity spreads and exceeds that of banked track’s. 2004 <strong>The</strong> Women’s Flat Track Derby Association is formalized. This new governing body created a number of requirements and bout (or game) dates in an effort <strong>to</strong> formally unite leagues across the nation and <strong>to</strong> elevate the image of member leagues. WFTDA wants its members <strong>to</strong> be seen as women who are world-class athletes and business owners, focused on the advancement of flat track roller Derby. Its governing philosophy is “by the skaters, for the skaters.” Women skaters are the primary owners, managers, and opera<strong>to</strong>rs of each member league and of the association itself. Operational tasks include setting standards for rules, seasons, and safety and for determining guidelines for the national and international athletic competitions of member leagues. All member leagues have a voice in the decision-making process, and agree <strong>to</strong> comply with the governing body’s policies. 2009 WFTDA expands from two regions <strong>to</strong> f<strong>our</strong> <strong>to</strong> accommodate growing league membership. Montreal becomes the first international league in January 2009. Hammer <strong>City</strong> of Hamil<strong>to</strong>n, Ontario, became the second later that year. MAY 20, 2010 <strong>The</strong> first Transatlantic bout is played in London. <strong>The</strong> Hustlers, a Texas Rollergirls home team, travel <strong>to</strong> England <strong>to</strong> take on the London Rollergirls. London had already established themselves as the European roller derby champions at Roll Britannia, the first European <strong>to</strong>urnament, in 2009. JUNE 2010 London Rollergirls became the first league outside of North America <strong>to</strong> be accepted in<strong>to</strong> WFTDA. NOVEMBER 2012 WFTDA releases a new ruleset for the 2013 that does away with minor penalties and 2 whistle jam starts. JANUARY 2013 WFTDA releases a new rankings system <strong>to</strong> categorize teams by game results instead of geography. Instead of Regional Playoffs, teams vying for a slot in Championships will now compete in f<strong>our</strong> Division 1 Playoffs <strong>to</strong>urnaments. Division 2 teams will also compete in two separate Playoffs <strong>to</strong>urnaments <strong>to</strong> allow for additional interleague gameplay. 11
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