Leo Seltzer's Influence

The term derby, or race event, was first coined as early as 1922 when a newspaper reported on the results of two multi-day "roller derby" events that had been held that year. However, it wasn't until a man named Leo Seltzer came along that the roller derby became a true sport.

The Derby

In 1929, as the Great Depression took hold of the nation, Seltzer figured out why attendance was dropping at his Oregon cinema chain. The struggling film publicist realized that dance marathons were awarding cash prices to out-of-work contestants, and spectators were drawn to these events over a trip to the movies.