Vintage Roller Derby

[Ida Noodleman]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 7:03am

Inspired by Findingnamo's wrestling thread.

I used to love Roller derby back in the day when it was considered a legitimate sport. I applied and was accepted to the RD training program at the age of 19. I wanted so nothing more than to be drafted into the Philadelphia Warriors team.

Did anyone else used to follow this. Does anyone know the names Joani Weston, Judy Arnold, Ann Calvello, Mike Gammon and Jim Trotter? Anyone remember the L A Thunderbirds, the Philadelphia Warriors or the Bay City Bombers?

I remember going to the movie theater and sitting all day (back when you could do this)watching the movie "Kansas City Bomber" with Raquel Welch over and over. Two or three weekends in a row watching the same movie about 6 or 7 times in a day.

[madbrian]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 8:28am

I actually went to Madison Square Garden back in the 70s. I was a huge Joanie Weston fan, so Ann Calvello was a sworn enemy. Wasn't Mike Gammon married to another skater, 'Peanuts' Meyer? I remember watching a lot of the matches on the Spanish language TV stations.

[Ida Noodleman]

Posted: 11/8/07 at 6:22pm

Mike Gammon was married to another skater whose name escapes me. My team was the Philly Warriors so Joanie and Ann were both rivals, but I loved them anyway.