Classic banked roller derby with a modern twist
It started in 2003, when Demolicious and Thora Zeen, known off the track as Rebecca Ninburg and Wendy Templeton, recruited skaters via Craigslist with the dream of starting a roller derby league in Los Angeles. The city proved ripe for the sport. From those humble beginnings grew five teams comprising more than 150 skaters and volunteers. Enter the Dolloseum, the self-named Derby Doll coliseum, on a game night and you will typically find the VIP bleachers and general admission floor (standing room only) packed with zealous fans, some toting handmade signs or donning an eagle head, rooting for their favorite team or player. The match is not all camp. Sure, there are a lot of hot pants and fishnets, but these dolls are wicked fierce and true athletes competing for the championship.
But the L.A. Derby Dolls go beyond derby. They are a true community organization with a strong philanthropic bent. Mayor Eric Garcetti rightfully deemed them “a treasure of Los Angeles.” Each year, they host Twentywonder, benefiting the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles, and have opened their stadium and parking lot for health and job fairs as well as self-defense classes.
Info
Address Dolloseum, 4900 Alhambra Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90032, www.derbydolls.com, questions@derbydolls.com | Getting there Paid lot and unmetered street parking | Hours Season schedule varies; check www.derbydolls.com for details.| Tip Nearby is Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (Building #20, 5151 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032), on the Cal State Los Angeles campus, a prestigious public performing-arts school. Traverse the same grounds walked by notable alumni including Josh Groban and the sisters Haim. The cafe on-site serves food and drinks.
The charity tables turned on the Dolls in 2014, when their arena in Filipinotown, west of Downtown, was slated for demolition to make way for condos. The Dolls appealed to their fan base and launched an Indiegogo campaign to raise $100,000 to find and renovate a new location. Within 28 days, they had surpassed their goal. Derby Dolls dismantled their handmade track and relocated it to their new digs in El Sereno near Cal State Los Angeles.
Can’t stand to be on the sideline? Strap some skates on those wobbly feet and take a lesson; L.A. Derby Dolls offer training programs on flat or banked tracks, including co-ed scrimmages. A Junior Derby Doll program, and the opportunity to become a Derby Doll yourself.
Back
To the online map