Transcontinental Roller Derby

In 1935, the novelty of walkathons had begun to fade. According to legend, Seltzer read a Literary Digest article stating that 93% of Americans roller skated at least once in their lives. Seltzer discussed the article with regular patrons at Ricketts, a restaurant in Chicago, and was challenged to come up with a sport that incorporated roller skating.

A Lifestyle

Seltzer wrote down his ideas on a tablecloth at the restaurant. He then decided to combine roller skating with six-day bicycle races, which were popular at the time. In August of 1935, Leo Seltzer organized the Transcontinental Roller Derby, which went on for more than a month.