Our Story

I'm Andrew J. Epstein, and I'm an artist and photo journalist, as well as a designer. In 1971 I did a photo feature about The Blonde Bomber Joan Weston The Golden Girl of the Bank Track, The Viking Princess, The Blonde Amazon. Joan was the queen of the roller derby for over 25 years, and worked very hard to keep her title.

Joan and I became friends, she very much wanted to be remembered, and asked me to do a book on her. I said yes if she agreed to teach me to skate so I could shoot her in action rather then a spectator. I'm told I was the only photographer that ever did that.

Joan died of Mad Cow in 1997, and we never finished the book, and dying of Mad Cow just didn't seem a fitting end to such a dynamic athletic woman. 

Several years ago the roller derby was resurrected by four woman in Austin and has become a huge hit around the world. I traveled with the teams for a year and have included the new derby as well as the last interviews with The Blonde Bomber's arch villain Ann Calvello who became a close friend for several years before she died.

All of the stories interviews and photos are in my book The Blond Bomber. While roller derby is huge again unfortunately Joan Weston, The Golden Girl of the Banked Track has been forgotten in history. I'm trying to correct that with this book.

The Impact

Joan, Ann and the new roller derby are a n amazing band of athletes that are driven on pure adrenalin and love of the game. I want to give the new skaters their history, I was very lucky to have such a unique view point, my grandmother Pearl Kahn also worked for the derby for over 20 years, running all the concessions and keeping the Chicago mob out. My grandmother also did the books for mobsters, and literally knew where all the bodies were buried.

What We Need & What You Get

I never thought I had an end to my roller derby story, until the reinvention. I also had a near death thing happen to me that made me head down a new creative path, publishing my photography. I also got laid off of three jobs and decided to do it myself, but I'm looking for printing funding, and to be able to produce several derby designs for tee-shirts that I will be giving away for donations to the film.

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$30 will get you one of the shirts. (Your pick) 

$100 will get you a signed copy of the book, and a shirt.

Other Ways You Can Help

Please feel free to pass this project around to anyone you know that may enjoy a unique view of an american sporting event that was in part created by Damon Runyon. Yes, the "Guys and Dolls" guy.

Also please send this to anyone you may know that is in the roller derby now.