Roller Derby's past can predict the future

The past can only be repeated by moving the sport forward

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Every sport needs a hero. Children need a star that they can look up to

Roller Derby had, Mr. Roller Derby, Bombers, Charlie O'Connel

Always wearing jersey number 40

Charlie is still the highest paid skater in any league

As a young attractive skater, Charlie was popular with the women

He was trim with a skating ability few could match

In Roller Derby, the Bomber team had visiting team rivals

Ken Monte, gave Bomber captain, Charlie O. a rough time every game

The world thinks of a banked track, when they think of the derby.

 Games with body contact and plenty of spills cannot be played on flat surfaces.

Tracks have been built in different sizes.

The first tracks were large, with very high banks.

Over the years the tracks became portable and able to fit on a basketball court.

The banks were lowered so fans track side could see all the action better.

Like Charlie, a female Bomber heroine came along named Joanie Weston.

Nicknamed the blonde Amazon, Blonde Bomber and the Golden Girl

The entire roller derby enterprise began to revolve around this enigmatic athlete in the 60s

Joan's last on camera interview

The Blonde Bomber skated full time for eighteen years, over 250 games each year

Then she skated in the part time leagues for another twenty-four years

This makes Joan the skater who skated the MOST games of any other female over her lifetime

A Bomber jammer, Francine Cochoo taking a rest

The late 60s and early 70s, roller derby packed fans to the rafters with over 250 games a year

Another popular franchise emerged in the East

The New York Chiefs distaff squad were lead by Sandy Dunn

 Above, Sandy duels it out with the Bombers Debbie Cho and Deloris Tucker

Ann Calvello

One of the most memorable "visiting" team skaters

As a visiting skater, Ann Calvello was number three on the league payroll

When ever the Chiefs and Bombers played, arenas around the Nation sold out

Chiefs popularity included young skaters in their late teens and early twenties

Sex sells, especially after the chiefs loaded the women's squad with derby dolls

And... It's all real. Just ask any skater about the injuries they sustained

In 1973 the league expanded into regions.

The Pioneers represented the Midwest home team with Weston and Robinson at the helm.

A skater named Bill Grol left professional baseball to begin a long career in derby.

Bill, a quiet, yet a serious professional when it came to the game skated for decades.

He became the captain of the Bombers once Charlie #40 retired.

Roller Derby appeared in comics, movies, TV commercials and cartoons.

To this day, skaters are called upon to work in movies and commercials.

David Lipshultz kept professional roller derby running for well over a decade.

He owned the Jolters, Dynamite, Braves, and Bombers.

A rare autographed photo from Rollermania when Joan and Bill played on the Eastern Express.

Over 17,000 fans packed Madison Square Garden for the game.

Terry Sol with Weston, hard at work with the WRF league.

The current Bay City Bombers.

Today, this long heritage of loyal players who loved the game have made a mark on the world. Still, groups everywhere try to reinvent what these skaters did when they skated for a living. Those who have passed are still in our memories. Those alive, many work diligently to keep the sport viable.

The Nation has seen an inline league with professional skaters and all-girl's groups who continue this all-American tradition.

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|  The Roller Derby Store  |

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