<P> The popularity of roller skate racing, including endurance events, continued in the early 20th century . Races routinely featured amateur skaters as well as professionals, some of whom toured as troupes . Due to rowdiness at some events, including tripping and pushing, speed roller skating acquired a reputation for being something less than a legitimate sport . The International Skating Union of America, a competitor of the International Skating Union, formed in 1907 partly in response . This network of regional associations lasted 20 years, organized championship races, and established rules that prohibited rough play . </P> <P> Although tripping and pushing may not have been allowed at certain events, popular speed and endurance races continued to be held on both flat and banked tracks in the century's first three decades . Among these races was an 8.5 - mile roller marathon organized in 1908 by a group of Chicago rink owners, a 24 - hour endurance championship held in Milwaukee in 1913, and a 24 - hour banked track race held at Madison Square Garden in 1914 . The New York Times noted that the crowd at Madison Square Garden enjoyed the sudden sprints and spills during the event's preliminary races . </P> <P> The term derby, meaning a race or multi-race event, appeared in the press as early as 1922, when the Chicago Tribune announced and reported on the results of two "roller derby" events held that year . These were multi-day events during which various roller skating races were held on a flat track at Chicago's Broadway Armory . </P> <P> In 1929, as the Great Depression began, struggling film publicist Leo Seltzer (1903--1978) observed that cash prize - awarding dance marathons among out - of - work contestants and spectators were undermining attendance at his Oregon cinema chain, so he sought ways to capitalize on the trend . Seltzer began holding his own dance marathons, dubbed "walkathons" since contestants usually ended up just shuffling around for the duration of the contests, which could run as long as 40 days . Hundreds of unemployed people participated, hoping to win cash prizes . The contests were emceed by celebrities like Frankie Laine and Red Skelton, and grossed $6 million in three years . Seltzer held his first commercial walkathon in 1931 in Denver, Colorado, then held 22 more, grossing $2 million before retiring, citing that the events had become "vulgar ." </P>

When did roller derby first appear in the press