Ann Calvello
by Rich Besser
When and where were you born?
I was born in Newport, Rhode Island on August 1st, 1929, and I'm a Leo!!!!
When did you get into Roller Derby?
Back in 1948 the league was called International Speedway. In 1949, I was in the Roller Derby League. In 1947 when I got out of high school I would skate every chance I got. After high school, I went to the roller rink and did lots of races. I skated and raced with the guys because I was faster than the women!
How long did it take you to complete the training school and get onto a professional Roller Derby team?
I started back in 1948/49. They didn't have a training school. I went with my friends to a Roller Derby game, but I didn't know what Roller Derby was. Back then, Roller Derby games stayed in one town for about three weeks. Anyway in 1949, I trained and skated in Salt Lake City, Utah. At that time, I was 18 years old.
What was Roller Derby like back in the 40's, 50's, 60's, and 70's?
Like I said before, I started skating back in 1948 to 1952. During those times we lived in buildings where we had skated. In the 40's the buildings had large rats, at night the rats would go after our lunch food and eat our peanut butter sandwiches! Back then we even had a cook who served us 3 meals a day. I even remember the cook's name: Rosie. Also back then, the games were live on TV coast to coast. That was in 1949.
In 1951, I met my husband named Roy Langley and then I got married on August 23rd, 1952 in Nevada. When we got married we both quit the Roller Derby. Then in 1953, on August 11th I gave birth to our daughter, Theresa Ann Langley. We then got divorced in 1956. And i'm still divorced today!...ha ha ha!
In 1954, Leo Seltzer who was in the Bay Area made a San Francisco team called the Bombers. On that original team was myself, Annis Jensen, and Gloria Mifsud. When they put me on the Bombers I stayed on the team for 6 years. I skated on the weekends. We skated in Los Angeles and San Francisco. I stayed on the Bombers until 1959.
In 1959, that's when the rules changed. Jerry Seltzer took over Roller Derby from his father, Leo Seltzer. When he took over the organization, all the skaters had to wear helmets. When I left the Bombers I was on the red shirt team (Red Devils) which meant the visiting team. The Bombers became the white team, (or the home team). This was in 1960. I loved being on the red team!!!
Then in 1963 I was on the Mexican City Cardinales. In 1964, I quit Roller Derby! I went to Hawaii where my boyfriend (Koko) was.
Back in 1965 Roller Games was in Hawaii. Bill Griffiths owned Roller Games. He asked me if I would skate for him. In 1966, I was interested in skating and I skated for the Australian Thunderbirds in Australia for three months. The Thunderbirds played against the Texas Outlaws. I was on the white shirt team, but I preferred to be on the a red team. Anyway, Roller Games did so well during the 3 months, (Jan-Mar), they wanted me to stay a whole year.
After that, I was out of a job. Bill Griffiths called me again, and this time I was on the a red team, with the Shamrocks. I wanted to be on this team. The Shamrocks went against the home team, the Australian Thunderbirds. This was the Roller Games outfit, from 1965 to 1967.
In 1967, Jerry Seltzer called me to skate for him. I skated with the Pioneer team, as Captain. This was from 1967 to 1971. In 1972, when most of the skaters changed teams, they put me on the Jolters as captain. Skating with me were Margie Laszlo, Francine Cochu, Carolyn Moreland, and Susie Wong. However, during the season I had to drive back home to California. I had injured my knees and I was in a lot of pain.
I just would like to say how grateful and honored I was that the Mayor (Richard Glugar) of Indianapolis, Indiana, made April 15th, 1972 the Ann Calvello day! I received a certificate for that. Unfortunately I was not there due to being injured.
In 1973, I was back on the Red Devils with Bob Woodberry. Woodberry and I had a match race against Margie Laszlo and Charlie O'Connell of the Bombers. By accident, Bob Woodberry landed on my knee which severely injured my knee. It was so bad I had pins in my knees.
Later that year I went to Hawaii to relax and recuperate. I saw Joan Weston. I went up to her and said what are you doing here? This was in December 1973. Joanie said the same thing to me. Then Joanie said "Jerry shut down Roller Derby". I thought to myself, "gee it was shut down and Jerry didn't tell me". Well I am unemployed again, back to the unemployment line! This was in 1974.
Then in 1974, another investor took over and that was the only skating league in town. In 1975 I was put on the Bombers with Jensen and Weston. Then later that year we skated a few games and one of the games we played was in San Quentin prison. The prisoners really enjoyed the game. I was skating with my side kick, Lydia Clay, on the Red Devils going against the Bombers. Also in 1975, I worked as the infield coach for the Canadian team with Syverson and Cochu. Then I left that team to be put on the Latin Liberators as infield coach and then became the coach in the infield of the Tokyo Bombers. This was with the Roller Games outfit. I was the International Minister for all three of these teams.
In the 1980's, Dave Lipshultz took over Roller Derby. I was captain of the Southern Stars with Bill Hill and Diane Syverson. We skated in San Francisco and also 1 game in Madison Square Gardens. We played against the NY Express with Sandy Dunn and BJ Peterson.
During your skating career who were your main rivals?
My rivals were whoever was on the opposing team. Back in the 40's 50's and 60's Gerry Murray, Mary Youpelle, Midge Brasuhn, and Annis Jensen were a few of my opponents. Annis and myself worked well together on the same team and competed well as a rival. In the 60's and the 70's, it was Sandy Dunn and Joan Weston. In 1965 Weston and I had a long rivalry with each other!
Who did you admire most and why?
Let's see, Gerry Murray but really Bobby Johnstone. Bobby gave me a chance to be a captain. I was on her team and she was a fair captain. I knew how she ran her team. She gave her skaters a chance to run the team. Some skaters had problems running the team, but I didn't. She let me run the team. This is how I learned to become a captain!
What was it like traveling on the road back in the 60's and 70's?
It was hell!! Back then there was snow everywhere.. the snow was real high. Not like it is today. We drove every day and skated some days of the week and some nights we would be traveling all night! We didn't really have a day off. When we were off we still had to travel to the next town. After we would skate at night most restaurants were not open! We even did laundry early in the morning like 3 or 4, if they were open.
What kind of injuries did you have skating?
I had several injuries. I mentioned my knees before and I broke my nose about 12 times. In addition, my eye was hanging out and I also had broken ribs. In addition, I had a cracked tailbone.....after all, I skated for 52 years and I am not through yet!
What were some of your nicknames in the Derby?
"Banana nose". I got that one from Buddy Atkinson Sr. Another name they call me was "chicken legs". This was when Tony Roman of the Bombers would bring out this rubber chicken during my introduction and showed it to the crowd. when I came out on to the track, the audience booed me! There were some other names they called me but some of them I can't mention! A lot was not printable!
What was your favorite team to skate for?
I would say, the Phil. Panthers, NY Chiefs, with Gerry Murray, and the Bombers with Jensen..
Who did you like skating with the most?
That would be Annis Jensen. I liked skating with and against her!
What are the differences between Roller Derby and Roller Jam?
there is no comparison! Roller Jam is not Roller Derby. We are in different times. Roller Jam had different rules, than Roller Derby.
I just want to say a thing about Roller Jam: in the year 2000, I had the honor to be invited to Roller Jam. I was treated with respect, as I should have been in Roller Derby! I want to thank the Roller Jam company for treating me so well for the 4 days, than in my entire career in the Derby! .....and it is not over yet!!!!!!!!!!!
Why do you think Roller Derby died?
Well back in the early 70's there was a gas shortage. We had more teams on the road and we couldn't get the gas to travel to all those cities and towns. That was one of the main reasons why the Derby shut down.
Tell me Ann, I've read in past books about the Derby that when traveling on the road that you talked about some of the cars you have driven? What were they?
I had 3 cars. The 1st one was a 1957 Chevy. The 2nd one was a 1968 Lincoln Continental, and the 3rd one was a 1974 Lincoln Continental MARKIV. I still have that car today and it is in good shape. Even though it is an antique like me! We are both in great shape!!! ha ha !!!!!
Do you like to travel?
Oh, I love to travel!! I loved Australia and especially Hawaii. However, you have to remember when we traveled, we were skating!! I have been traveling since I was 1 month old! I was the eldest of 6 kids. My father was in the military. I would love to travel and go to all different beaches. Especially if I won the lottery!!!!
Ann, what are some of your hobbies?
I love to sunbathe. Right now it is raining here in San Francisco and I am cooped up here in my apartment! I also love the old movies with a lot of glamour. I also like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
If you had something to say to the fans what would that be?
Thank you !!!!! Thank you for appreciating me! I never knew that I had such an impact with all my fans!! They all grew up and became my "cubs"!!!!!!
I would also like to say to the fans that came across the country to see my movie, "The Demon of the Derby" ...thank you!!! I would especially like to thank the following fans who came to see my movie:
- Gary Powers (from New York)
- Manny Souza (from Florida)
- Andrew Epstein (from Chicago
- Joe Finger (from New York)
- Max The Tax Man (from Connecticut)
- Steve Franklin (from New Jersey)
I just want to mention to my so-called skater friends who couldn't come over the Bay Bridge to see my movie, Thanks a Lot!! I thought you guys were my friends.
Well, Ann, thank you for this interview! You are one of the big Roller Derby super stars of the banked track. Thank you from the fans and myself for giving us seven decades and two centuries of Roller Derby!
As a voice from the past once said, (Walt Harris):
Here she is the unpredictable Ann Theresa Calvello!!
Oh, I would like to thank one other person. Thank you Rich for taking the time to interview me!! I appreciated this...very very much!!!!!!!!!
