May 5, 2010
DENVER, CO - Leo Seltzer never lived to see the realization of his dreams for the sport he invented, which most modern roller derby scholars trace back to his 1935 Transcontinental Roller Derby at the Chicago Coliseum.
Seltzer had Olympic ambitions for his roller guys and dolls, and he dared to dream of derby bouts going down in 6,500-seat venues like Broomfield's 1stBank Center well into the 21st century. Alas, the sport had pretty much fizzled out by the time he died in 1978.
His son Jerry figures dear old dad would have liked what he would see if he could have hung in there another 32 years to join him for this weekend's May 8 Denver Roller Dolls doubleheader (Bruising Altitude vs. Utah's O-Town Derby Dames, Mile High Club All-Star Team vs. Texas Rollergirls): On the cusp of its 75th anniversary (the first Transcontinental Roller Derby was held on August 13, 1935), roller derby is alive and well after all.
"We're working on some way to commemorate it," says Andrea "Kendra Blood" Hill, spokesperson for the Denver Roller Dolls. "As a marathoner, I love the idea of trying to hold a true endurance event like it used to be."
For the full story, please visit http://blogs.westword.com/ontheedge/2010/05/denver_roller_dolls_gear_up_fo.php
Real. Strong. Athletic. Revolutionary.