Was This the End?

Many skaters and spectators had to enlist in the armed forces, causing crowds to dwindle, and the remaining members of the league were reduced to a single team which skated mainly for soldiers' entertainment. Finally, the war drew to a close in 1945, and it was up to Seltzer to redeem its popularity.

First Attempts

The year after WWII came to an end, Seltzer tried to bring Roller Derby to New York's Polo Grounds, but his attempts failed due to 12 straight days of torrential rain. In 1948, Seltzer figured out how to breathe life back into the sport—by broadcasting it on the television.