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JOCKBEAT

The Derby Dolls are Leading a Roller Revival in L.A.

Looking at the history — and the here and now — of roller derby.

by

"Stiletto" of the Scream Queens and "Bucket" of the Varsity Brawlers. Grant Palmer Photography/L.A. Derby Dolls

The nightlife in the city of Vernon is all but non-existent, so you’d never simply stumble upon it unless you got lost on your way to downtown L.A., but the Derby Dolls have given Angelenos a reason to descend on the uneven Vernon streets and run-down railroad crossings regularly. One Saturday a month, hundreds gather in an unassuming sports complex, aptly nicknamed “Dollhalla,” to watch 30 athletes whip around and jam each other on one of the few remaining banked-track roller derby leagues in the U.S.

Born from punk rock feminist origins and an early culture of fishnet stockings and rebellious pseudonyms, the Derby Dolls have a 20-year history of not just national championships and raucous home crowds, but creating a unique competitive outlet for women of all ages and backgrounds. As the pastime of roller skating enjoys a renewed interest in 2023, roller derby offers an exciting spectator experience….

 

Click here to read the full story in our sister paper, the L.A. Weekly.

 

This week’s L.A. Weekly cover story.

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