The Roller Derby

The Roller Derby
Posted on June 30, 2011 by peartruck1
During my junior high years in the early 50′s I was a fan. Watched the TV on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays and went to games whenever I could mostly at armories around the NYC area and on some great occasions the World Series at Madison Square Garden. The games at the Garden were often doubleheaders.

The Chiefs were my favorite team and my favorite skaters were Billy Bogash, Gene Gammon, Gerry Murray and Mary Lou Palermo.  The Red Devils starred Tuffy, Sammy and Gloria Clearbeaut, the Jolters had Moose and Monta Jean Payne.  On the Panthers I liked Spec Saunders and Elmer Anderson.  Silver Rich was my favorite Jet and on the  Westerners I liked Russ Massro and Anis Jensen.

I sat in the upper deck of Madison Square Garden, usually in the front row, using my NYC GO card the admission was 50 cents.  It was a race to get to the front row when the doors opened, but I always won. It was very high up and gave a terrific of the track and the position of the players. I just loved it.

We had great years featuring the World Series of 49,  50 and 51 and then Roller Derby vanished from New York and became just a memory, going to the west coast.

During this time I skated constantly, steel wheels on the streets and playgrounds,  wood wheels in the rinks.  I dabbled in roller hocky, but preferred racing and waiting for the return of the Roller Derby.