Chicago has a legendary past with the sport of roller derby. It all started during the Depression in 1933 when Mr. Leo Seltzer organized marathon-style competitions where both men and women would test their skating abilities on a flat track.
In 1935, Leo Seltzer introduced the world to the Transcontinental Roller Derby in Chicago, Illinois. This derby group traveled from city to city to spread derby excitement to fans of all ages. Men and women seeking adventure ran off and joined the derby. As the sport grew and evolved, both the point system and the banked track were added to increase speed and competition. The sport became more physical and entertaining with real hits and theatrical plots. By the early 1970s there were teams all over the country competing with lengthy schedules. Derby was watched on television in every home and in packed stadiums in every city.
By the 1970s there were teams all over the country, but the organizational structure of the game was unsustainable. The game crumbled and was not reintroduced until 1999.
In 1999, RollerJam was introduced on television as a physical sport played by both male and female wrestlers, roller hockey players and speed skaters. The production had an orchestrated plot and real hits, but only lasted two years.
Bad Girl Good Women Productions was formed in 2000 by a group of women in Austin, Texas that wanted to revive the sport and have a hand in the organization. In 2002 the women broke into two groups: the Texas Rollergirls (a flat track league) and the Texas Roller Derby Lonestars (a banked track league). From that, non-profit, skater-run leagues formed throughout the country. Today’s game is fast, fierce and female.
Today, there are over 150 leagues that are either members or working towards membership in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA). The Chicago Outfit is a proud member of this organization since June 2010.