Jerry Seltzer
Encyclopedia
Jerry Seltzer was the second and final owner of the original Roller Derby league. The league and the sport of roller derby
were created in 1935 in Chicago by Leo Seltzer
, Jerry's father. Jerry assumed ownership of the league in 1959 and ran it until its demise in 1973. At one time it was on 120 television stations in the US and Canada and filled Madison Square Garden
, the Oakland Coliseum (34,000, 1971) and Chicago White Sox Park (50,114, Sept 15, 1972).
In 1959, Jerry moved the operation to the San Francisco Bay Area
and established the most fabled team in the history of the sport, the longtime champion San Francisco Bay Bombers. Stars included Charlie O'Connell
, Joanie Weston, and Ann Calvello
.
In 1970, Seltzer attempted to buy the struggling Oakland Seals
hockey team. Although he put in a better offer and had a more detailed plan for reviving the franchise and had investors from 4 of the major franchises in the American Football League
, a majority of National Hockey League
owners (the "old establishment", not the younger owners and newer teams) voted to sell the team to Charlie O. Finley, the flamboyant owner of baseball's Oakland A's. Within two years the team failed and moved out of the Bay Area.
In the 1970s, Jerry Seltzer co-founded Bay Area Seating Service (BASS) Tickets, a San Francisco Bay Area computerized ticket service. From 1983 to 1993, he was a vice president of sales and marketing for Ticketmaster. On his return to the Bay Area he joined Bonjourfleurette.com as marketing and sales director and C.O.O. He co-founded the Sonoma Valley Film Festival (now Sonoma Filmfest) and served on a number of community boards, including the Bay Area American Red Cross
, and he helped produce the 30th anniversary special for Cecil Williams Glide church.
As of mid-2010, Seltzer is currently serving as an advisor to gotdibbs.com and working as a volunteer consultant to the new amateur roller derby leagues.
Jerry said about roller derby that his father, Leo Seltzer, had always wanted roller derby to be a legitimate sport and to be in the Olympics. Jerry said that with the recent grassroots movement of roller derby, including the WFTDA, he thinks roller derby can now be an Olympic sport.
Jerry is currently starting a blog about his involvement in Roller Derby and the role his father played.
Roller derby
Roller derby is a contact sport played by two teams of five members roller skating in the same direction around a track. Game play consists of a series of short matchups in which both teams designate a scoring player who scores points by lapping members of the opposing team...
were created in 1935 in Chicago by Leo Seltzer
Leo Seltzer
Leo A. Seltzer is generally credited as the creator of the sport of roller derby, and was the founder and head of the original Roller Derby league from 1935 until his son Jerry Seltzer took over the business in 1958....
, Jerry's father. Jerry assumed ownership of the league in 1959 and ran it until its demise in 1973. At one time it was on 120 television stations in the US and Canada and filled Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
, the Oakland Coliseum (34,000, 1971) and Chicago White Sox Park (50,114, Sept 15, 1972).
In 1959, Jerry moved the operation to the San Francisco Bay Area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
and established the most fabled team in the history of the sport, the longtime champion San Francisco Bay Bombers. Stars included Charlie O'Connell
Charlie O'Connell (roller derby)
Charlie O'Connell is a retired roller derby player, considered the premier male star of his sport. He was inducted into the Roller Derby Hall of Fame in 1967, after his first retirement.O'Connell was born in New York....
, Joanie Weston, and Ann Calvello
Ann Calvello
Ann Theresa Calvello was a U.S. athlete and notable personality in the sport of roller derby.Ann Calvello graduated from Presentation High School in San Francisco, CA in June 1947....
.
In 1970, Seltzer attempted to buy the struggling Oakland Seals
California Golden Seals
The California Golden Seals were a team in the National Hockey League from 1967–76. Initially named California Seals, the team was renamed Oakland Seals part-way through the 1967–68 season, and then to California Golden Seals in 1970. The Seals were one of six teams added to the league as part of...
hockey team. Although he put in a better offer and had a more detailed plan for reviving the franchise and had investors from 4 of the major franchises in the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
, a majority of National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
owners (the "old establishment", not the younger owners and newer teams) voted to sell the team to Charlie O. Finley, the flamboyant owner of baseball's Oakland A's. Within two years the team failed and moved out of the Bay Area.
In the 1970s, Jerry Seltzer co-founded Bay Area Seating Service (BASS) Tickets, a San Francisco Bay Area computerized ticket service. From 1983 to 1993, he was a vice president of sales and marketing for Ticketmaster. On his return to the Bay Area he joined Bonjourfleurette.com as marketing and sales director and C.O.O. He co-founded the Sonoma Valley Film Festival (now Sonoma Filmfest) and served on a number of community boards, including the Bay Area American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
, and he helped produce the 30th anniversary special for Cecil Williams Glide church.
As of mid-2010, Seltzer is currently serving as an advisor to gotdibbs.com and working as a volunteer consultant to the new amateur roller derby leagues.
Jerry said about roller derby that his father, Leo Seltzer, had always wanted roller derby to be a legitimate sport and to be in the Olympics. Jerry said that with the recent grassroots movement of roller derby, including the WFTDA, he thinks roller derby can now be an Olympic sport.
Jerry is currently starting a blog about his involvement in Roller Derby and the role his father played.