I loved watching RD on TV with my dad back in the 60's. Black & White TV too. We lived in LA so we were of course T-Bird fans. Go Shirley Hardman! Only name I can remember off hand but wow that was great entertainment.
I like this kind of Roller Derby and also the way it was in the 60's, 70', but the game lost its power with the people and died in the late 80's. Hope it returns like it used to be:
i want this stuff back im 20 years old into fight sports and contact sports and personally i dont see how this stuff isnt back and playin on espn id never miss a match
@roydu100 rollersportDOTtv/Archive/RDRD/RDRD21OlyDuke.aspx Remember, it's flat track, so the laws of physics (working against centrifugal forces rather than with them) mean they're not going to go as fast as banked track. Also, the emphasis of flat track is more on blocking and strategy than speed.
wrestling started after this got popular in the day,1922 roller derby leagues were formed and then in the late 50's early 60's pro wrestling made it way to the leauge......
I think he was referring to the later years of banked-track derby - certainly most of the clips we see on youtube. Although if he's not, and he's comparing it to today's flat track derby, I'm totally with ya. :)
@roydu100 Have you seen any matches by the Oly Rollers and the like (#1 in the nation)? Many of them are professional speed/figure skaters. Watch a bout with them and see if there isn't any skill/talent.
I went to lots of roller games when I was a kid, they really played hard and yes there may have been a little staging off the track, but on the track it was all real. I haven't had the opportunity to see any new games, so I'm not going to try and judge anyone, but it was honestly courageous for the times for women to be out there competing at all. Those were barefoot & pregnant days. It took a lot more for them to get out there then. The ladies doing it today, should thank the women of the past!
"Those were barefoot & pregnant days." Aw...don't buy into that stuff. It's 11 years later, and maybe you've had time to study the actual past a little, forgoing the negative propaganda that agenda-driven "professors" pass off as "fact." I grew up during that time, and the only ones "barefoot and pregnant" were to be found lounging by a swimming pool!
I've seen videos of the amatuer girl's leagues. I skated derby myself and I can say without a doubt, if we were able to get these women as they are in the video and have them play against the flat track girls, they would wipe today's girls out with no problem. Thosw were tough women and extremely well trained atheletes back then.
@DerbyHurts actually there has been scripted/pro wrestling style roller derby in the past, (mainly 70s-90's). the "Rollergames" league was super gimmicky.
True, but once Seltzer sold it to Roller Games and it became the ISC, it really became a circus. The sad thing is that in it's heyday even Roller Games had a quality league. At least both the IRDL and the NRD had some history of it being a better skated sport. Roller Jam was a joke and so are these flat track skating events.
Agree early Roller Games like the early 60's was decent & very watchable. Well past 1970 it all went downhill & stayed that way. From a much more partial Roller Derby fan of course! Though must admit too 1972 into '73 Seltzer's International Roller Derby League took liberties as well in terms of showmanship. Sad the game itself didn't need it though done anyhow!
@roydu100 That's like saying "Mickey Mantle would WHOOP anyone from that adults' recreational baseball team that plays on Friday nights." Well, DUH. Derby girls used to be coached, paid professional athletes. It was all that they did. OF COURSE they'd be good. That market has since dried up. Now, it's a returning grass-roots sport played by unpaid local women with day jobs who play for the sheer love of the game. OF COURSE there's a skill difference, and it's unfair to compare.
They should have let it become a sport, but the Seltzers controlled everything. They turned what was a great game into a circus. It the end it wore out it's welcome. New York wanted Roller Derby to become a real sport, but the Seltzer's were going to keep everything the same.
Be surprised out on the West Coast especially the SF Bay Area they too preferred less of a show more sport. When Roller Games finally appeared in San Francisco many actually in the audience walked out of the games I attended @ the Cow Palace.
Yeah, but I wonder how many of them can do what they do on a banked track. It takes a lot more skill to do what the Roller Derby skaters did back in the 50s, 60s and 70s. BTW, why the crude remark? The person was just commenting on what was seen, and from what was said, I'd have called it bogus...... and pathetic too!
Thanks for posting this video. I don't think I have seen any roller derby bout footage from the 1950s until I watched this clip. Please check out my channel when you have the time to do so. My channel consists mostly of roller derby clips from bouts that I attended, but I hope to add other content such as music, and other sports eventually.
This is a kind a women's sport people would watch, unlike soccer (ugh) or basketball. Not to knock my sisters, but somehow most women's sports just aren't that entertaining, and I don't know why. Maybe tennis, maybe golf, MMA (I actually find that cringeworthy, but it's because of the vicious attitude). Women's boxing isn't too bad, I suppose. Female jockeys are good too, but as you focus on the horse really, and most people pay little heed to the skill of the jockey, so...
This is the Roller Derby I grew up with. I loved it. NO phony fights! Shame the son had to take over & turn it into the WWF on skates !
Love how fast there are going. Makes modern derby look like it's in slow motion.
I loved watching RD on TV with my dad back in the 60's. Black & White TV too. We lived in LA so we were of course T-Bird fans. Go Shirley Hardman! Only name I can remember off hand but wow that was great entertainment.
This is such an awesome looking sport. I have to go see a match. Way to go 50s chicks!
awww as a kid me & mom loved this i miss you mom
I like this kind of Roller Derby and also the way it was in the 60's, 70', but the game lost its power with the people and died in the late 80's. Hope it returns like it used to be:
Check out TXRD in Austin tx! It’s baaaack!
i want this stuff back im 20 years old into fight sports and contact sports and personally i dont see how this stuff isnt back and playin on espn id never miss a match
This is actually really cool... Today's rollerderby is all like 2mph
From 1952
wow i have to agree excellent footage,if its possible, could you post more
that was awesome.
@wsbtam I agree.. it's amazing..no helmets, knee or elbow pads...I wonder if there is anywhere you can find out about the injuries they MUST have got?
I remember roller derby being on TV every weekend in Buffalo.🤔🤔🤔
this is awesome!
Now THIS is roller derby at its finest! Those all-girls leagues of today with the absurd outfits and nicknames are anything but.
@roydu100 rollersportDOTtv/Archive/RDRD/RDRD21OlyDuke.aspx Remember, it's flat track, so the laws of physics (working against centrifugal forces rather than with them) mean they're not going to go as fast as banked track. Also, the emphasis of flat track is more on blocking and strategy than speed.
So that's what you call today's Roller Derby?
tough girls going at it.
1952: NY Chiefs VS. Jersey Jolters
This would be great to revive now with GoPros and some hard body babes.
I think I actually saw this as it happened...
Listen to Leon Russell's "Queen of the Roller Derby"
wrestling started after this got popular in the day,1922 roller derby leagues were formed and then in the late 50's early 60's pro wrestling made it way to the leauge......
I think he was referring to the later years of banked-track derby - certainly most of the clips we see on youtube. Although if he's not, and he's comparing it to today's flat track derby, I'm totally with ya. :)
@roydu100 Have you seen any matches by the Oly Rollers and the like (#1 in the nation)? Many of them are professional speed/figure skaters. Watch a bout with them and see if there isn't any skill/talent.
I went to lots of roller games when I was a kid, they really played hard and yes there may have been a little staging off the track, but on the track it was all real. I haven't had the opportunity to see any new games, so I'm not going to try and judge anyone, but it was honestly courageous for the times for women to be out there competing at all. Those were barefoot & pregnant days. It took a lot more for them to get out there then. The ladies doing it today, should thank the women of the past!
"Those were barefoot & pregnant days." Aw...don't buy into that stuff. It's 11 years later, and maybe you've had time to study the actual past a little, forgoing the negative propaganda that agenda-driven "professors" pass off as "fact." I grew up during that time, and the only ones "barefoot and pregnant" were to be found lounging by a swimming pool!
I've seen videos of the amatuer girl's leagues. I skated derby myself and I can say without a doubt, if we were able to get these women as they are in the video and have them play against the flat track girls, they would wipe today's girls out with no problem. Thosw were tough women and extremely well trained atheletes back then.
@DerbyHurts actually there has been scripted/pro wrestling style roller derby in the past, (mainly 70s-90's). the "Rollergames" league was super gimmicky.
This sport lasted into the mid 70s.
It’s still played today
The fact that they doesn't have helmets takes away so much fun sitting worrying about their heads XD
How much brain hemmoraging did it take before they started wearing helmets ?
Probably none.
True, but once Seltzer sold it to Roller Games and it became the ISC, it really became a circus. The sad thing is that in it's heyday even Roller Games had a quality league. At least both the IRDL and the NRD had some history of it being a better skated sport. Roller Jam was a joke and so are these flat track skating events.
Agree early Roller Games like the early 60's was decent & very watchable. Well past 1970 it all went downhill & stayed that way. From a much more partial Roller Derby fan of course! Though must admit too 1972 into '73 Seltzer's International Roller Derby League took liberties as well in terms of showmanship. Sad the game itself didn't need it though done anyhow!
"And now our Corporate Anthem!"
@roydu100 That's like saying "Mickey Mantle would WHOOP anyone from that adults' recreational baseball team that plays on Friday nights." Well, DUH. Derby girls used to be coached, paid professional athletes. It was all that they did. OF COURSE they'd be good. That market has since dried up. Now, it's a returning grass-roots sport played by unpaid local women with day jobs who play for the sheer love of the game. OF COURSE there's a skill difference, and it's unfair to compare.
They should have let it become a sport, but the Seltzers controlled everything. They turned what was a great game into a circus. It the end it wore out it's welcome. New York wanted Roller Derby to become a real sport, but the Seltzer's were going to keep everything the same.
Be surprised out on the West Coast especially the SF Bay Area they too preferred less of a show more sport. When Roller Games finally appeared in San Francisco many actually in the audience walked out of the games I attended @ the Cow Palace.
Yeah, but I wonder how many of them can do what they do on a banked track. It takes a lot more skill to do what the Roller Derby skaters did back in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
BTW, why the crude remark? The person was just commenting on what was seen, and from what was said, I'd have called it bogus...... and pathetic too!
Thanks for posting this video. I don't think I have seen any roller derby bout footage from the 1950s until I watched this clip.
Please check out my channel when you have the time to do so. My channel consists mostly of roller derby clips from bouts that I attended, but I hope to add other content such as music, and other sports eventually.
Back when roller derby didn't include overweight women jamming everyone up with their huge bodies. This was roller derby not the crap they do today.
Could Pro Wrestling have been thought up after this?
+Heavenfoundwithin: Professional wrestling started in the late 19th Century.
Back when girls were girls and men were men...
This is a kind a women's sport people would watch, unlike soccer (ugh) or basketball. Not to knock my sisters, but somehow most women's sports just aren't that entertaining, and I don't know why. Maybe tennis, maybe golf, MMA (I actually find that cringeworthy, but it's because of the vicious attitude). Women's boxing isn't too bad, I suppose.
Female jockeys are good too, but as you focus on the horse really, and most people pay little heed to the skill of the jockey, so...
Love how fast there are going. Makes modern derby look like it's in slow motion.