These Vintage Photos Prove That Roller Derby Has Always Been Cool

New Formula

Jerry and the Derby obliged, making an appearance before a whopping 9,000 fans in Portland. Jerry realized that he had discovered a new promotional formula and began syndicating videotapes of games to more independent stations and followed up with Derby appearances in the cities where the tapes were sent.

TV Exposure

By 1961, 40 stations carried Derby, and within the next few years, others began to snatch up broadcasting rights for their respective areas. Even though Jerry understood that TV exposure was essential to the sport’s revitalization, he didn’t want to repeat his father’s mistakes and used the medium exclusively to publicize live matches instead of serving as a source of revenue for the skater's salaries.

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The More You Know

  • At the Wife Carrying World Championships in Finland, first prize is the wife's weight in beer.
  • The first roller coaster was invented to stop sinful behavior.
  • The first TV commercial didn't air until the 1940s.
  • Enzo Ferrari told a man "you may be able to drive a tractor but you will never be able to handle a Ferrari properly." The man was so angry that he vowed to create the perfect car. His name was Ferruccio Lamborghini.
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Post originally appeared on Upbeat News.