History Lessons

My late father, Leo Seltzer, who created Roller Derby in 1935, did not go out of business in 1960 as Bill Griffiths was quoted as saying. Rather, I started promoting in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1960 and eventually syndicated Roller Derby to 120 TV stations.

Our league did not perform in “musty arenas,” as Meyers writes, but rather Madison Square Garden, the St. Louis Arena, the Oakland Coliseum and others. For an untarnished history of the game, see Frank Deford’s book, “Five Strides on the Banked Track.”

I am sorry that the producers of the coming “RollerGames” television series are not attempting to present the real game with skilled and professional competitors--apparently fostering instead a “wrestling on wheels” approach.

JERRY SELTZER

Chairman of the Board, Bass/TicketMaster

Oakland