Iron History

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08/15/2002 Entry: "Iron History Aug 16-Sep 5, 2002"

NEWS: ironhistory.com is now a registered domain name. TheEditor took care of that piece of business recently. So it appears that iron history will be jammed into cyberspace for some time now. This column completes two thirds of our current effort, that is, of offering the basic, incomplete chronology for iron game events. By the end of the year, many of our sport's highlights will have been mentioned, and many will not have been, but to my knowledge, there is no place else on the net that offers the chronology format that you find here. Good or bad? That's up to you. We are here if you need us.

When the column enters 2003, there will be a different format. In keeping with the trend of some of the modern bodybuilding magazines, we will be having swimsuit photos as half our content, and may include some degrading drawings, and scatter in some curse words just to show we believe in freedom of speech. Just kidding.

Actually, next year, we will be offering more lengthy profiles and histories of certain figures of the sport. More in depth treatments. But that's the future. All we are granted is the moment, so, to the business at hand:

ANSWER: Last column's question was how man different men have won an IFBB pro bodybuilding contest. The answer is 57.

NEED HELP: see Aug 30, 1980 below.

YOUR OPINION: Do you enjoy the letters of Charles A. Smith? I am undecided whether to continue them, so your feedback would be appreciated. Of course, your opinions are always welcome here about any subject we present.

HELP? You may have noticed I tend to ramble on with details, and am always in need of further contacts with the oldtimers. So if anyone reading this has a lead, please contact me via TheEditor or thru the comment button. I don't make this stuff up, so any further contacts are always helpful. I do not hound people- simply contact them and ask if they would be willing to chat about their participations in the sport; not looking for dirt, not looking for negative, looking for some uplifting stories.

I cannot recall at the moment if I told you this story but I was in contact with a very famous former bodybuilder, and when I asked if he would be willing to chat with me about his great contributions to the sport, he politely, but fluently said something like, "Oh, bodybuilding- no I have no interest in discussing that subject- it is no longer part of my life; thank you." Click.

Another time I was pursuing a lead about a son that I had heard Bob Hoffman had, and was on the phone with a woman, who had been very polite to me in a previous call, and who was being polite during this call. Then I said, "May I record our conversation so that I accurately quote you and so that I do not have to scribble notes?" She turned to her father who was in the room, said something I could not hear clearly, turned back to the phone and said, "No, I have nothing else to say to you." Click. Hey, am I a charmer, or what!

On another occasion I was chatting with a famous woman of bygone days who only wanted to discuss what a rascal her ex-husband was. No matter that he had died many years ago, that's ALL she wanted to talk about. She had a daughter so pretty that Playboy was actually interested in her. And this lady herself had a positive participation in the sport, but she was living in the past, but she would not allow me to write an update on her, even though she had begun training again in later life and was again able to squat with some significant weights.

Another man I contacted did not want to talk to me because he said I would not believe what he told me. When asked what he meant, he said, 'Okay, I workout at least seven hours every day. Do you believe that?' I asked how he defined working out- long strolls walking in the park or lifting or what. He said lifting for seven hours. I admitted that at his age of 70 or so that it was hard for me to believe that claim. Click again.

Anyway, please help with leads if you can; it helps the column provide fresh material. We have been online since January 2002 and hopefully you have noticed our slant is positive information. I have plenty of material I could use, but that is not appropriate for our purpose here. Hopefully this column can become a group effort, and yes, I will split my enormous salary with you! Boil the water, I've got the rice!

Ironhistory Aug 16-Sep 5, 2002

NEWS: Anthony Ditillo died Feb 28, 2002 in Vauxhall, New Jersey from natural causes, the morning after his son Adam had watched Anthony perform a set of shrugs with 405 lbs. Anthony was born in Elizabeth, New Jersey in 1947, though his family prefers not to have his exact birth date announced, Anthony's only brother Tom was not into exercising at all.

Anthony trained at home when he lived with his parents, and on occasion used the Elizabeth, New Jersey, YMCA.

Adam his son, offers, ""I'm not sure of all the gyms he went to but I know since I was born he went to Gold's Gym in Cranford and Kennilworth, and when he'd train with me we went to the New York Sports Club in Springfield."

"He was a respiratory therapist. He never mentioned anything about retiring except that it was too far off."

"He trained his whole life with no layoffs until the night before the morning he died where I watched him as he shrugged 405 for a few sets of around ten. He used low rep/high poundages."

In answer to these questions, Adam offered his father's views:

Current bodybuilding: "The sport has lost its authenticity, that the magazines don't tell the truth, and that the gyms are not what they used to be".

Lifting sports: "He never believed in using suits and wraps like Powerlifters use, and that Olympic lifting is the true sport producing the strongest lifters in the world".

Adam reminds us his father "�also wrote 2 books, The Development of Physical Strength (1982), and the Development of Muscular Bulk and Power (1971). Both were reprinted in 1999".

Adam continues that his father was not a man to share when something was bothering him, he never let anyone know. "I know he had heart problems for a long time. If he was in any kind of pain or discomfort leading up to when he died he didn't show it in any way so I'm not sure of the real answer as far as bad health goes."

Please see Roark Reference #16 at the end of this column for a listing of Ditillo's Ironman articles.

Aug 16, 1863 Anton Riha born; was profiled in S&H Aug 1939 by Bob Hoffman, who credits Riha with five reps in the squat with 280- certainly not bad for a man who trained very little and was more known for his supporting strength, such as having five men hang from a 240 pound barbell on his shoulders as he twirled around- approx 1,100 lbs. It was an image of Riha that I used in Iron Game History when my column Ironclad appeared in that publication. And it was an image of Riha that appeared on the business card of Neil Diamond's bodyguard, though the man did not know it was Riha. Tom Parkinson, who was Director of Assembly Hall at that time (now deceased), and who was an expert on the history of the circus, invited me to chat with the man, as I happened to know who the business card depicted.

An aside: Iron Game History, the journal from the U of Texas in Austin, via the Todd- McLean Collection, has not been published since May 2001, so that is about 15 months, though I have been told another issue is in the works.

Aug 16, 1912 Barton Horvath. Horvath, according to Charles A. Smith, while in the employ of Joe Weider, walked into Weider's office, tossed a copy of his own new magazine called Muscle Sculpture onto to Joe's desk, and said, 'Now you've got competition!' Joe is still publishing several magazines. Barton, now living in Florida, is not. This is the birthday Barton gave me; it differs from one that was published years ago.

Aug 16, 1976 On this date a planned Pro Mr. Universe was to be staged in Johannesburg, South Africa, but I have never found anything but an upcoming announcement, no further mention of results, or magazine coverage, so it appears that this event never took place.

Aug 17, 1866 Batta born (full name Jean Baptiste Charles Estienne); died Jun 7, 1939? This French strongman was known for his grip strength. In 1881 at age 15 Batta had strength enough to tie three 44 pound weights together and snatch them with one hand. When he later competed against Apollon, Batta was able to press with one arm Apollon's four 44 pound weights. Gaudreau asserts after much study, that only Apollon 'could have duplicated all of Batta's grip tests'.

Gaudreau wrote of Apollon vs Batta in VIM mag Apr 1941. The contest took place in 1889, and was the occasion on which Apollon acquired the lighter of his two sets of railcar wheels, which Gaudreau states weighed 259 pounds, with a very thick axle. Apollon put it overhead, Batta got it to his shoulders only and thereafter, 'became Apollon's greatest admirer and friend'. Later Apollon acquired the heavier set weighing 365.2 lbs., and according to Emile Valtier, Editor of La Culture Physique, 'was able to handle it as he did the one of 118 Kgs' 259 lbs. It was Batta along with Paul Pons who, unbeknown to Apollon, increased the weight of Apollon barbell when the Rasso Trio came to witness his performance. Apollon lifted the increased weight without any indication the weight seemed heavier to him.

Batta had managed 266 lbs on the Regnier dynamometer; Apollon squeezed 336.6 lbs on his first try and then said, 'you will not catch me again with your tricks, this hurts my hands, I will not try again'. For a solid story on the history of the dynamometer, see the current issue of Iron Grip magazine from England

Aug 17, 1892 Mae West born; died Nov 22, 1980. She gathered some musclemen together, put on a nightclub act and toured around America. At first the men wore what a British magazine correctly described as having the appearance of a diaper. There are a few books available about West which mention George Eiferman, Dick DuBois, and Mickey Hargitay stories in regard to this traveling troupe.

Aug 17, 1935 Charles Poire died; born 1866. Strongman also known as 'Bibi'. In Oct 1897 was able to perform a left hand holdout with 77 pounds, at approx 200 pounds bodyweight. This according to Ironman Dec 1962; Your Physique May 1948 mentions 65 pounds. Charles died in Bichat Hospital in Paris, France at age 69.

Aug 17, 1983 Dave Matlin died; wrote for Lifting News mag Dec 1958 thru Apr 1963 and in S&H he was praised in the Apr 1967 issue, then wrote a letter of praise to Hoffman in the Dec 1968 issue. S&H mentioned his passing in the Jan 1984 issue. He wrote an explanation of the separation of weightlifting from powerlifting in the Jan 1963 issue of Lifting News.

Aug 18, 1916 Harold Ansorge; died Mar 21, 1988. Larry Aumann has been in contact with Harold's sister, who enjoys recalling the incredible strength feats of her brother. In H&S Sep 1944 John Barrs credited Ansorge (Harold not Jean) with an English style deadlift of 680 lbs. [heels together, thus requiring less favorable leverages and requiring pulling the bar maximum height, unlike the current debased, sumo silliness]

Harold bent pressed 302, and managed 335 in the gym, and began an eleven part series for Your Physique on how to demonstrate your strength correctly. The articles are oddly numbered, but in fact there were eleven of them from Aug 1944 thru Jan 1947. For Weider's Muscle Power, Harold offered similar articles in the mid to late 1940s. He weighed approximately 220 lbs at 6' in height.

Aug 18, 1933 Hermann Goerner deadlift 830. At age 42, in Leipzig, Germany, from the book, GOERNER, The Mighty, by Edgar Mueller, page 69:

"830 lb. Two-hands Dead Lift "This amazing feat was performed in Leipzig on 18th August, 1933, the weight consisting of a 441 lb. barbell and two men. Both men stood on the bar, one either end, and balanced themselves by placing their hands on Gorner's shoulders. The combined weight was then lifted by Hermann who stood erect with it and held it in the correct finishing position for several seconds."

It appears to me that if the men stood on the bar, as opposed to the plates on the bar, or the globes, they would have been standing, of course, closer to Hermann, making the lift even harder because they would have subtracted from rather than added to the 'springiness' of the bell. Those who consider Goerner as the strongest deadlifter of his day do not usually mention this lift, perhaps because it is uncertain how to judge how much the two men leaned on Goerner's shoulders, and how much effect, if any, this had in making the lift easier.

Aug 18, 1946 Boyer Coe born. Offhand, the first 'split-biceps' I can remember seeing in modern bodybuilding. Today he becomes 56 years of age. After about six dozen competitions in AAU, NABBA, IFBB,WBBG, from 1962, his last appearance was at the Master's Olympia in 1995 where he placed 10th. I first saw him compete in 1967 in Winter Haven, Florida, which was also the first occasion where I saw Bill Pearl in person.

Aug 19, 1909 or Sep 19? Walter Podolak born in Towpath, New York; died Feb 16, 1984 Was known as The Golden Superman (blond hair). He was a wrestler and won the WBBG Pro Mr. America Over 60 on Sep 13, 1975. After leaving the ring he opened a gym in Brooklyn at 617 86th Street in 1969. [What's there now?]

Aug 19, 1943 Adolph Rhein died at age 87. After a lifetime in weightlifting as a pastime, Rhein near the age of 70 opened a gym in New York City, and one in Long Beach, CA. At the time he died, the war had siphoned away many of his members, and as he lived quietly with his companion dog, apparently in his gym, when he passed, many in the iron community were unaware of his death. Ray Van Cleef who wrote the obituary for S&H eight months later (Apr 1944) had also been unaware that Adolph had died.

This obscurity is still with us- many of the old timers have died without proper mention because there is no network in place to contribute names to. Please feel free to send the information here, and we will mention the contributions of these pioneers, and will credit you as providing the information.

Aug 19, 1948 Phil Pearsall born. I have misplaced some of my notes on Phil. I can relate that in the 1973 Jr. Mr. America he was not in the top 8, perhaps 22nd, and in that same year he placed 13th at the Mr. USA, and second place at the Mr. Gateway to the South. Many of my papers are boxed up in the garage, which ever so resembles a Fed-Ex substation, but I spoke with Phil not too long ago, indeed tried to call him this morning, but with the deadline looming will let it go for now. He and his wife Martha live in Tenneesee.

Aug 19, 1975 Christopher Theophelus (Jim Londos) died at age 78

Aug 19, 1978 Ron Teufel wins AAU Mr. USA

Aug 19, 1978 Ray Mentzer wins IFBB Mr. USA

Aug 19, 1978 Charles Richards died. Peary Rader met Richards in Denver circa 1946 and then again in Richards' garage gym at 331 Fox Street in Denver. It was cold and snowy but the garage doors were open and the group of friends was working out on an exercise set- no Olympic set in evidence. Charles worked out for two or three hours at a time and Rader remembered some presses with 280 lbs:

"When I saw him do this I could hardly believe it weighed that much. He cleaned the weight with a sort of back hand curl motion. Then held the weight at the chest so long that I had decided he wasn't going to press but I was fooled.. He took a deep breath and started his press very slowly. I had never seen anyone press that much even once with such a slow start or wait so long before starting." In all, Richards got three reps in the strict press and then put the weight down, saying he was 'off form' that day!

When Rader profiled the above in Ironman 7:1 Charlie was able to squat 12 reps with 450. His workout was 405 lbs for 5 sets of 10.

On Jul 31, 1965 Charlie was present for Peary Rader Day, and then in Jan 1979 Ironman gave us the sad news that Charlie had died, "Charlie was many, many years ago considered about the strongest man in the world and had lifts to prove it. He was liked by everyone and was hugely muscular, with the most impressive neck I have ever seen. He will be missed by many."

Aug 19, 1997 Jeep Swenson [Robert Alexander Swenson] died at age 40. I spoke to Jeep once after he had curled a heavy barbell and the incident had been shown on TV. I asked if the weights were real or had they used that famous wooden-look-alike set that belongs to Gold's Gym. He acknowledged that they had planned to use the woody, but that it was locked up and they HAD TO use real iron!

Jeep later appeared in a Batman movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Aug 20, 1922 Irvin 'Zabo' Koszewski born. Generally known for his abs, and for the mistaken reputation about them that he has never lost a best abs subdivion, Zabo becomes age 80 today! Or age 78! Have seen both dates. S&H Nov 1943 showed him as an army private. Zabo won best abs almost all the time- one exception was Sep 8, 1950 in new York City, when Wally Ferrell defeated him for that subdivision.

Aug 20, 1926 one of the birthdates given for John McCallum

Aug 21, 1916 Dave Mayor. S&H says his birth weight was 4.5 lbs, but by the time Ironman mentioned him in a Nov 1977 piece, he was credited with a REVERSE curl of 175 for 3 reps! Kim Wood was once capable of reverse curling 135 for a set of at least 8 reps- how about it Kim, did you ever try for a one rep max?

Aug 21, 1916 Eddie Harrison born; profiled in S&H Jul 1937 p 25 by Miller; He wrote the article describing S&H's first photo contest (Apr 1940) and later wrote some for Physical Power magazine in 1964.

Aug 21, 1919 Bob Hoffman wins � mile canoe race

Aug 21, 1924 Joe Pitman. Profiled as America's Newest Champ in S&H Mar 1951. Five years later he wrote al etter to the editor at Lifting News magazine (Jan 1956).

Aug 21, 1968 Bob Hasse died. A writer for Lifting News, Ironman, S&H, the latter from Dec 1949 thru Jan 1964. When he died, he had been working with Walt Marcyan (who is still living).

Aug 22, 1871 Louis Vigneron was killed during his cannon act. "His cannon weighed 672 pounds and was held on his shoulder while a double charge of powder was set off. For a finish, he would place his back under the gun carriage on which the gun was mounted and raise the whole thing clear of the ground, which including his assistant, weighed over a ton." On this date, a mis-lit fuse caused a mishap and explosion resulting in Vigneron's death. More graphic details can be found on page 222 of Gaudreau's first volume of Anvils, Horseshoes, and Cannons.

Aug 22, 1885 David Webster in The Iron Game p 49 tells the story of a meeting which took place on this date in St. Petersburg with Dr. Krajewski and some fellow doctors to discuss "the strength capability and bodily measurements of this modern Hercules."-a reference to Charles Ernest, who had been performing at the Zoological Gardens as a strong man. This meeting also planted the seeds for the development of the St. Petersburgh Weigh Lifting Club.

Aug 22, 1932 Chuck Sipes; died Feb 24, 1993. Chuck would have become age 70 today.

Aug 22, 1933 Sylvia Koscina born. Starred as Iole in Hercules with Steve Reeves in 1957, and died of heart problems the day after Christmas 1994. Her name is sometimes spelled Silva.

Aug 22, 1962 Charles Rigoulot died; born Nov 3, 1903. Will have more on him Nov 3.

Aug 22, 1981 Kike Elomaa won Ms. Olympia. Is a member of the Bodybuilding Hall of Fame in Flex magazine, and is currently a popular singing star in Finland.

Aug 23, 1993 Tony Rose died; born Nov 23, 1923. Though known more recently as a writer for Hard Gainer magazine, H&S in the Feb 8, 1941 issue showed his photo with the caption "Apollon pupil, Tony Rose, as he is today at 16 years old. He is an Apollon Silver Cup and Medal Winner." [two things- I know the age and the dates do not mesh, but do not know which is incorrect. Also the Apollon mentioned is not Louis Uni]

Aug 24, 1924 Kurt Saxon accident "�he suffered an accident when his bridge and motor car support stunt collapsed on him. The car was an old taxi and the driver had been drinking. The car was driven too fast and stopped suddenly over the performer. The driver got excited, gave the ancient hack the gas and raced down the other incline." This quote is from Leo Gaudreau. Kurt's right leg was damaged, and he was black and blue from shoulder to toes. His fate was uncertain for five days, but he pulled through.

Aug 24, 1949 Peter McGough was born in Corby, Northhamptonshire, England. Though he claims that his first published article was on the up and coming future star Eugen Sandow, Peter is not quite that old. Now at the helm of Weider's Flex magazine, Peter wrote articles for MuscleMag starting in Jul 1984, Muscular Development in May 1991, Muscle & Fitness Jan 1992. His first piece in Flex was on Carolyn Cheshire in the Jan 1986 issue.

He began writing gossip/news for Flex in Nov 1991 under the heading Muscle World, but the title of that column changed with the next issue to Muscle Lowdown, then changed again in Jan 1993 to its current Hard Times.

When Jerry Kindela moved over to Men's Fitness, Peter moved into the top spot at Flex, and his introductory editorial in that capacity appeared in the Feb 1998 issue.

Peter is British, of course, and for awhile in England published The Pumping Press(a total of eight monthly issues from Mar thru Oct in 1991)which was a newsprint format full of bodybuilding news, satire and creative writing displaying the absolutely uncanny knack he has of the double entendre and of the twisted phrase. It was this publication that caused Joe Weider to summon Peter to the Hills of Woodland, California.

In the bodybuilding field there are different types of writers: factual, serious, ribald, satirical, funny, witty, and some writers specialize in one of those types. Peter is adept in several of those aspects, and is skilled at combining formats. He is, of course, my boss at Flex, and the following statement needs to be made in spite of the fact that those who do not know me well, may interpret that I am buttering up to him, and in spite of the fact that those who do not know Peter, and therefore do not know he is unbutterable, and cares only for the content, not false compliments, may well not appreciate the unspoken fact that Peter McGough is among the most skilled writers in the history of this sport (there is a good example of a run-on sentence). That was my opinion before I met him, before I worked for him, and will remain my opinion if I am released from association from Flex., unless, of course, he forgets the writing techniques I have taught him.

Peter and fellow Brit Dorian Yates are often mistaken for each other- over the telephone.

Aug 24, 1967 or Sep 24, 1967? Shelley Beattie born. Won 1990 NPC Emerald Cup. It was she who was featured in the 'The Champ' feature in Muscle & Fitness in Jan 1991 but a photo of Nikki Fuller mistakenly accompanied the text! Shelley is deaf and was featured on the cover of DEAF LIFE magazine in Jul 1991. [no photos of Nikki]. In 1994 she was featured in ads for The Better Hearing Institute. For a while she was married to John Romano.

Aug 25, 1906 Hans Streyer died age 57. Or died Jul 25th? Was known as the Bavarian Hercules and was known for one finger lifts. In Vienna in 1879 using only his middle finger he lifted a block of marble up 12"- the weight was 582 lbs.

Aug 25, 1930 Sean Connery born. In spite of assertions that he placed very high in his sole NABBA Universe appearance in 1953, he did not make the top six cut- a situation we covered in Flex under the headline "Was 007th?"

For the record, here are the placings in Class 1 (tall) at the NABBA Amateur Universe of Jul 11, 1953 at the London Palladium:

1. Bill Pearl
2. John Lees
3. Peter Farrar
4. Gaston Sagaert
5. Dennis Stallard
6. Hubert Thomas

Tom (Sean) Connery was among eleven other men who finished out of the top six in this class but who were apparently not in numbered positions.

I probably burned a bridge in regard to Connery. A producer on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno called to ask if I had a photo of Connery in that 1953 contest. I said only photos in magazines. She asked if I would send her the magazine and they could copy the photo for Connery's imminent appearance on the show. I said, no, my magazines do not leave. She said she would be sure to send it back. I said not necessary to send it back since it won't be leaving in the first place�

Aug 25, 1939 Chris Dickerson born. First black man to win the AAU Mr. America (1970), and the second black man to win the Mr. Olympia (1982). Great bodybuilder whose untrained two brothers (triplets) have almost as good calf development as does Chris. Genetics.

Aug 25, 1956 Vince Taylor born. Is the current Masters Olympia champion, and one of the better poser/performers in modern bodybuilding. He looks like he's having fun out there!

Aug 26, 1908 Saramarie Eells born; died. Wife of Roger Eells, publisher of VIM magazine. He later became a minister. Saramarie wrote some for VIM, and in her later years I spoke to her via telephone when she was living in Columbus, Ohio. She died 80 days after becoming 80 years of age. She is buried either in Lisbon, Ohio, or Rogers, Ohio on the Elliott lot at the base if the big Elliott granite stones flat marker (for those in that area that may have more time than I to check on this). When she passed away, she was cremated, and her ashes intermingled with Roger's and they are forever together. They had one child, a daughter, Gayla, who now lives in California.

Aug 27, 1868 John Grun Marx; died Nov 3,1912. The Luxembourg Hercules renowned for his hand strength. He may well be the most under-rated of the really top notch grip men. Often discussed at http://www.grippage.com in the grip board section, one of the members of that board plans to soon see the weights of Marx on display, get photos, and measurements, and perhaps even to attempt to lift Marx's famous pair of dumbbells which weighed 132 lbs and 143 lbs but each of which had a handle diameter of 2.75", which Marx would wrap with metal foil to make slippery. Marx would first lift the bells to demonstrate how easy it was, and then offered a prize to anyone who could duplicate what they had just witnessed.

The grip board is THE place to discuss hand strength, its current practitioners, and the history of it. Some of the strongest fingers in the world pound keyboards from around the world to participate. Drop by if interested.

Marx also deadlifted Desbonnet's 2.36" diameter handle dumbell of 226 lbs in 1897- doing this with one hand and then the other. History may show that Marx was second only to the great Apollon where thick bar lifting was concerned.

Aug 27, 1905 Andy Jackson; died Jul 3, 1999. Maker of Jackson Barbells, some of the finest weights in the sport's history. I spoke to Andy years ago and was screaming into the phone so he could hear me with his hearing loss. Then he said wait a minute I'll go to the phone that has the amplifier on it. I still had to scream (literally) and was going hoarse. Finally told him I would write to him. He made a set of kettlebells for Joe Hise, and though I later bought some of Hise's weights, there was no sign of the kettlebells.

Aug 27, 1921 Johnny Gibson born. He was featured in Entrepreneur magazine. Was known for selling refurbishing exercise equipment, and doing well in general. For the old Lifting News magazine, he wrote eight contest reports from 1955-1965.

Aug 27, 1931 birthdate of a man whose name I will not offer. Supposed strongman who does not understand strength, strength feats, or the fact that fans of both have brains and will not tolerate silly claims of super strength.

Aug 28, 1948 Wedding date for Al & Vera Christensen; divorced Mar 16, 1977

Aug 28, 1977 Arnold Schwarzenegger met Maria Shriver

Aug 28, 1982 Charles A. Smith's grandson, Stephen, born.

Aug 29, 1877 Ernest Peter Gruhn born in London; died Nov 30, 1954. When George Mackenzie wrote the obituary for Gruhn in the Jan 20, 1955 issue of H&S he mentioned that Ernest had died at St. Micheal's Hospital, Enfield, on Nov 30, 1954 and had been cremated Dec 6 at the City of London Cemetery.

Gruhn was a founding member of the British Amateur Wrestling Association, and was a champion wrestler, having won the lightweight title in 1898, 1900, 1901, 1902, and 1904. George Hackenschmidt "�reckoned Ernie was the fastest and cleverest wrestler of his day".

H&S Aug 24, 1950 shows a drawing of a medal and offers "This is the Sandow Gold Medal awarded to Ernie Gruhn by Eugen Sandow himself after the Championships at the Royal Albert Hall in 1901. It was one of Ernie's most prized possessions, a memory of the days when wrestling was wrestling."

He had two sons Ernest Joseph age 44 in 1950, and Douglas, age 40 in 1950

Gruhn wrote 'The Textbook of Wrestling"

Mackenzie who had known Gruhn for fifty years was indebted to him as a tutor and a friend.

Aug 29, 1953 Dinah Anderson born. One of the prettier women in female bodybuilding (and to those who ask if I would describe a male as 'one of the more handsome men in male bodybuilding' no I would not) now back to my chauvinistic point: Dinah never trained down to the point where she looked like someone forgot to close her eyelids when she passed away- she won the Jr. Ms. USA on May 21, 1984, and on Aug 20 that year, the Mid USA Women's.

Most of the magazine coverage about her came in the early 1980s, but interest revived in 1994 when MuscleMag featured her, and two years later when ran seven photos of her. I believe she has a personal training business, or at least did when last I spoke to Steve Wennerstrom about her.

Aug 29, 1953 Mohamed Makkawy born; perhaps one of the more symmetrical bodybuilders of all time, yet at the same time carrying muscularity not usually coupled with the word symmetry. His first IFBB event was the Gold's Classic Jul 29, 1978 where he placed 7th in Los Angeles. His first win was in Stockholm at the Royal Tennis Hall where he loved being served first place at the Grand Prix in November 1982. Three days later he won the GP in Belgium, then the 1983 World Pro Cup. He placed second to Bannout in the Olympia in 1983, and competed in the IFBB several mores times. His 1999 Night of Champions effort landed him in a 25-way tie for last place. Nonetheless, Great classic lines.

Aug 29, 1960 Marriage date for Mr. & Mrs. Ben Weider

Aug 30, 1907 LeBreton performed a right hand press with 124.5 lbs. Real name was M. Francois Jean, but also went by the name Jean Francois LeBreton. He was born Apr 14, 1879, so was 28 when he managed this lift. Several weeks before this in Paris he is also credited with a one hand swing with 199.5 lbs.

The last ref I have in my files is BAWB {Brit. Am WL & BBer] Apr 1949. Can anyone supply something more recent- such as when he passed away?

Aug 30, 1969 AAU adopted the three power lifts. In America there had been Odd Lifts contests (as though one lift is more odd than another), and in England there had been Strength Sets contests, and as usual the British, who began our language, got it right, but we persist in using power instead of strength. Often curls, upright rows and some other movements were included in these contests before the official three were decided upon. After all, how would you build a shirt to make it easier to perform an upright row?

Aug 30, 1969 James Williams benched 601.25 lbs. Big Jim was 29 at the time. He was later interviewed in Powerlifting USA (not Strengthlifting USA) in the Nov 1995 issue, and was featured in MILO Jul 1993.

Aug 30, 1980 The first Miss Olympia, later called Ms. Olympia. Rachel McLish won, and there was a lady who placed 18th whose name remains a mystery- her name somehow being lost in the paperwork. Apparently her last name was Simms. Does anyone know her first name, or how she can be contacted? Please and thank you.

Aug 30, 1981 Deborah Diana won U.S. Women's championships

Aug 31, 1935 James Morris born. On Mar 11, 1967 he won the Mr. New York State Physical Excellence contest, and continued to improve to win the AAU Mr. America in 1973. I chatted briefly with him following his 10th place at the Master's Olympia in 1996. He was a very pleasant man, well spoken, did not wear clown pants, and was a gentle person. He was for a while the bodyguard for rocker Elton John, so I suspect James can leave the gentle side for a moment if he needs to!

As I stood talking with him in the lobby, probably most of the young fans of the sport had no idea who he was. As I said, he was not wearing clown pants. Here it was almost 30 years since his first contest, exercise had become ingrained into his being in a healthy way, and he had found a peace of manner that some of the younger builders were not even seeking. Happy Birthday #67, Mr. Morris.

Aug 31, 1974 Pat Neve won Mr. USA

Aug 31, 1991 Jim Manion/Debby Amello wedding. Jim is head of the NPC, the feeder organization for the IFBB.

Aug 31, 1999 John Terlazzo born in Messina, Italy. Died Apr 1, 1999 in York, PA.
[As Jan Dellinger notices, the birth and death dates I present would be a great trick! Of course John was born Aug 31, 1915 not 1999. Thanks, Jan!]

Sep 1, 1879 Dudley Sargent appointed 'Director of the Gymnasium & Assistant Professor of Physical Training"

Sep 1, 1953 Chuck Sipes married Mary. Chuck, whose Indian name meets 'Meets the Sun', had three daughter from this marriage, Daphne, Kathy, and Patricia, who is called Trish.

Sep 1, 1969 Nancy Georges born. Fitness competitor who placed 2nd in the 1991 Ms. Fitness USA. Saw Nancy years ago at the Arnold Classic, when I was with my friend Bryan Frederick. I had one photo left in my camera, so would it be used as a shot of Nancy and Bryan or for Nancy and me? Some would say that because Bryan was skilled in ultimate fighting techniques (always felt safe when I was with him), that I took the shot of him with Nancy. My wife would not agree with that reason. ?

Sep 2, 1948 Ronald Walker, British weightlifter, underwent surgery on his stomach and on a lung.

Sep 3, 1945 Bill Reynolds born; died Mar 10, 1992. In 1992 in Columbus, Ohio, Bill was sitting across the lobby from me, and, as I had never met him, I was about to walk over and introduce myself. At that moment he arose, and hobbled off in the other direction. He walked with the gait of a 110 year old man, and it appeared he was not at all well, so I did not bother him. Ten days later he was found dead at his residence after not having showed up for work, which was unlike his habit.

Bill wrote extensively in the muscle world, several books co-written with famous bodybuilders. He worked for Weider for many years and was on staff at Flex when he passed away.

Sep 3, 1948 Bob Peoples deadlift of 680 lbs. Spoke to Bob once and his wife. One criticism that was aimed at Bob for his deadlifts was that he never seemed to draw his shoulders up and back, and after hearing this, I checked some photos, and it does seem to be a fair criticism. What do you think?

Sep 3, 1964 John Gleneicki born. Excellent artist known for his MUSCLEHEDZ art work. John's column debuted in Flex in Sep 1993.

Sep 4, 1951 Casey Viator. One of the most impressive physiques to crash onto the scene in the past 100 years. Staggeringly muscular, extremely strong, and a man who reappeared on the physique scene in the Master's Olympia in Atlanta for a sad 12th place finish, with less pec definition than Mrs. Michelin, but as a friend pointed out to me it seemed Casey still had the best forearms in the whole show.

In better shape Casey had won the Jr. Mr. New Orleans Jul 26, 1968, and then in 1970 the Teen Mr. America, the Mr. USA followed the next year with victories for the Jr. Mr. America and the Mr. America. He switched to the IFBB in 1979 and his only victories therein were both Grand Prixs in 1980: LaFayette, and Pittsburgh.

Sep 4, 1956 Steve Reeves/Sandra Smith divorce. She was an actress. The marriage ended before its first anniversary.

Sep 4, 1994 Bodybuilder Dennis Newman into the hospital with leukemia

Sep 5, 1938 At the North American WL championships in Toronto, Canada, John Grimek defeated 17 year old John Davis 830 lbs to 815 lbs.

Sep 5, 1952 Kurt Saxon died; born Mar 11, 1884

INCH 101, part 16

Aug 16, 1913 issue of H&S p 165 Thomas Inch announced "On and after this date my address will be: 70, Falsgrave Road, Scarborough." So, since Inch moved, how often did he see Saxon, in England, after this date? [anybody reading this know what is there now?]

Aug 29, 1908 p 212 in H&S there is an ad asserting, not surprisingly, that Inch uses his own training methods!

Aug 30, 1930 H&S an article by Inch: Fully Armed You'll Win

Sep 5, 1939 part 3, the conclusion of Inch's series, Training for Strength.

Roark Reference 16: listing of the articles by Anthony Ditillo (1947-2002)

Ironman 1968:
Jan p 30 Simplicity- key to great gains
Feb p 30 Chest & back specialization for gains in bulk
Mar p 34 Result-producing power & bulk routine
May p 26 New ideas on training down and how they work
Jul p 39 Increase your bench press power
Sep p 31 Maximum circulation for maximum development
Nov p 28 A new slant on calf development

Ironman 1969:
Jan p 32 Maximum circulation for massive arms
Apr p 26 Develop a massive lower arm
May p 25 These 3 exercises. Will give you fantastic power and size
Jun p 30 Special back building programs
Nov p 34 Great value in peak contraction training

Ironman 1970:
Jan p 31 Specialize on legs for that super physique
Mar p 32 Obtaining that finished physique
May p 24 There is power and bulk in power rack training
Jul p 32 Three result producing routines
Nov p 18 Power bodybuilding

Ironman 1971:
Jan p 26 Try this single rep principle for size and power
Feb p 25 My experience with weight gain
May p 26 Chest and shoulder specialization
Jul p 26 Pros and cons of power rack training
Sep p 19 Pros and cons of power rack training
Nov p 24 Effective methods of training down

Ironman 1972:
Mar p 26 Are you working hard enough for big gains?
Jul p 21 Decreasing bodyweight while maintaining size and strength
Nov p 17 Are you ego training?

Ironman 1973:
Jan p 28 Complete upper body specialization
Jul p 30 For upper body bulk, try a pressing routine
Nov p 36 Power and bodybuilding with Steve Sepaniak

Ironman 1974-1978:
1974: Mar p 24 Upper body specialization with Steve Sepaniak for muscle density
1975: May p 20 Don Colson- Herculean
1976:
Jan p 31 Adaptability- a possible training aid
Mar p 32 mini routines for maxi gains
May p 27 Training intensified simplified
Nov p 39 Several weight gain routines
1977: May p 20 Intensity training for better gains
1978: May p 24 An advancer routine for advanced gains

Ironman 1979:
May p 34 Steve Sepaniak, Mr. Eastern America
Jul p 48 Interview with Dave Shaw, powerlifter
Sep p 30 Develop huge shoulder size and power
Nov p 45 Dave Shaw tells how he trained to win the Nationals in Powerlifting

Ironman 1980:
Jan p 43 A muscle mass program
May p 33 The training wisdom of Mel Hennessey
Jul p 50 Bench pressing with Mel Hennessey
Sep p 28 Power rack training revisited
Nov p 28 Power rack training revisited

Ironman 1981:
Jan p 32 Develop shoulder and trap mass and power
Nov p 43 Training for strength without the use of drugs

Ironman 1982:
Jan p 16 Tim Belknap: Mr. America talks on strength training
May p 12 Tim Belknap: tells how he trains, how you should
Jul p 18 Tim Belknap: pre-contest training and diet
Sep p 34 Tim Belknap: bench press specialization
Nov p 32 Gaining muscular bodyweight

Ironman 1983:
Jan p 14 Secrets of massive muscularity
May p 24 Strict exercise performance for massive muscular size
Jul p 27 The power look- what it is and how to get it part 1
Sep p 20 The look of power part 2
Nov p 26 Problems of developing muscular bulk and power

Ironman 1984:
Jan p 28 The look of power part 3
Mat p 20 Power bodybuilding, a review of its great benefits
May p 24 Training proficiency simplified: do it correctly
Jul p 23 Look of power and how to obtain it
Sep p 20 Training with the power rack
Nov p 32 Olympic movements for size and strength

Ironman 1985:
Jan p 26 Olympic assistance movements for size and strength
Mar p 40 Development of muscular bulk and power
May p 18 Gaining size with the power rack
Jul p 16 Power rack and bodybuilding gains

Ironman 1986:
Nov p 52 Increasing your powerlifting proficiency

Anthony Ditillo also wrote fro Powerlifting USA and for MILO.

Roark Reference #17

We continue with the correspondence I received from Charles A. Smith. Please keep in mind as you read, that these opinions and attitudes were his, and may or may not prove to be accurate when at last all truth is known.

In preparing this text, I am again struck with what skill Charles played his old typewriter keys. I am not using quotes, and have edited out some sections, but nothing is out of context:

Letter from Charles A. Smith to Joe Roark Jul 17, 1985:

In the latest S&H there was quite a spread, plus an editorial re the retirement of JCG. There was a picture of Hoffman-poor old chap- in a wheel chair, obviously not knowing where he was or who he was with. It was sad to me. The editorial was said to have been written by Hoffman but I doubt it.

In the issues of JEM and the other mags. These had, as I think I have already mentioned- with the exception of JEM- started after I had left dear old Joe. However there ARE two names I recognize among the list of authors, I also think that one of them- may have been a pen name of mine, George Smith, but I'd have to see the article to tell if it was. But for two, I know none of the others. The two I do know are Al Mayer, who at the time he wrote for Joe must have been in his late sixties or early seventies. He was an ex newspaper man and an ex wrestling promoter. Originally tied up with Jack Curley, Jack Pfeiffer mob he eventually broke away from the wrestling 'cartel' and became an independent promoter. Had a nice apartment somewhere close to 42nd Street and Broadway. The other name is Don Wan (Juan) who was actually a chap named Bill McCormack, a very good writer, and an ex employee of a wire news service

Bill helped me a great deal with my writing and it is to him that I owe any degree of expertise I reached, if ever I had any.

Where Horvath is now I don't know. He and I used to correspond but I haven't heard from him in some months. While our relationships were cordial, I never cared for him too much. It is possible he felt a bit threatened by my coming into the organization since he was with Joe first and fancied himself as a writer. But I got along well with him.

Getting back to the names you mentioned on JEM and the mast heads of other mags. I have the feeling that they were faked names. I don't know for sure about this, but this is what I think. Joe did have a couple of well known writers working for him on a part time basis- Monroe Harry Crayson, Bob Musel, and Martin Caiden. Also Frances Rushmore, wife of Howard Rushmore, owner, editor, and publisher of the NEW YORK key hole scandal mag CONFIDENTIAL. Frances was quite a pretty ash blonde in her early thirties and was the victim of a tragic accident- if you can call it that. She was having marital problems with Howard. They were in a cab together when he shot her, then shot himself.

I doubt whether the truth will ever be written about what went on behind the scenes. Too much involved here. The truth never comes out until many years later. A good example of this is Pearl Harbor. They KNEW it was gonna be attacked by the Japanese but did nothing to stop them. It was the only way America had to get into a war they knew they had to get into, sooner or later, because of the nature of Hitler's regime. Another good example is the famous editor of a certain bodybuilding and lifting group who served time in jail for selling nude pictures of himself with an erection plainly displayed�

I don't care for_at all. I and my daughter met him in- I think- 1969 at an IFBB show held in Brooklyn. He seemed to me to be an arrogant bastard and far too fast with his lip.

I don't know when I'll ever get to the article about Hise. I have one in the hands of Rader, for which I have been paid. I have two finished, one about Goerner and the other about Marvin Eder. I have one roughed out about the hypocrisy in power lifting and how I think it should be IDEALLY run, and so far that's it.

Was I ever given to feel that as an employee of Weider I was unwelcome? Does a man feel annoyed when run over by a fifty ton tank? I was subjected to numerous attempts by Hoffman to get me into a brawl with him, particularly at the 1953 Mr. America contest, snide remarks etc etc, but I never nibbled at the bait. I just showed him I wasn't in the least afraid of him. Hoffman was a BULLY and backed down to anyone who stood up to him. As I did. There were two men he NEVER messed with. John Davis and Norbert Schemansky. Norbert was a very nice fellow to get along with but translated into an extremely gritty character when he was irked. And he 'irked' easily. It was a source of a great deal of bitterness when I was elected to be secretary of the NYC Metropolitan AAU lifting Committee. Hoffman couldn't understand it IS possible for some one to have dual loyalty. But I had the complete confidence of Dietrich Wortmann, the head honcho of the AAU in NYC. That was all I needed I never did and would NEVER have let Weider's interests come above those of the lifters and the committee. But Hoffman, since he was crooked himself insofar as 'influencing' committees, couldn't understand how I could be honest where he wasn't insofar as BUSINESS was concerned.

As for who started it between Hoffman and Weider. I can only say that from the time I went to work for good old Joe I didn't see ANYTHING initiated by Joe against Hoffman. Indeed it seemed to be the other way around. Take for example that wedding picture and the several anti-Semitic remarks made by the York organization. I thought it all so childish and unnecessary. I still think so, I did, on my word of honor, all I could to stop it. It wasn't. I got fed up with having to watch my rear end when Hoffman was around- he beat up little Mark Berry in 1936 then BRAGGED about it in a 1936 edition of S&H.

When I left Weider he HAD EVERY COPY OF EVERY LIFTING MAG HE EVER PUBLISHED volume bound and I know he still has them since he once remarked to me over the phone that Ricky Wayne said I was the best writer Joe had ever had and he, Wayne, had read and possessed every one of the articles I wrote.

Hoffman himself wrote under the name of Alan Carse.

I personally wrote an article bearing the name of Steve Reeves, but since Joe at the time was paying Reeves for the use of his name, this was, so far as I was concerned, legitimate.

There is so much behind the scenes stuff but it all amounts to the same thing. Humans are humans. We shove people up on a pedestal only to find that they are just people with all the faults- and virtues- that belong to, and are part of the human make up.

Warm regards to you and yours,
Chas.

Jul 25, 1985 Letter to Joe Roark from Charles A. Smith:

This is a very brief letter to give you news which you may already have received- the death of Bob Hoffman. He passed away July 18th, Thursday apparently in his sleep.

He had been complaining for some days previous, about a lot of discomfort, went to bed Thursday and apparently died some time later in his sleep- said cause kidney failure, which I imagine at his age and condition is about right. He was 86.

I will fill you in in more complete details when I see Terry on going to work tomorrow, Friday.

Best wishes to you and yours, Chas.

Jul 27, 1985 Letter from Charles A. Smith to Joe Roark

I was told that Hoffman had become senile. Some had it that he was right out of the picture, others saying he drifted in and out of a state of who he was, where he was and what he was doing. But anyway it is a sad picture. AND already the power struggle has begun. It will probably be between Terpak and Mike Dietz. Both have their sons also in the organization. What sort of will Hoffman made is also not known. His wife, rather common law wife- is that right- may figure in the will. She is around 66 or such. There is also talk- a RUMOR- that they are discontinuing S&H, but I suggest you pay this no heed until you get the real gen. It is all up in the air at the moment, and all I can hope is that there will be a meeting of the minds and the company will not fade out of the picture and leave the whole shebang to dear old Joe.

A typical working day with Weider just didn't exist. Joe was always coming up with new and 'startling' ideas. I was always telling him he was full of donkey dust. But we earned our living, Bart and I. He got both of us- particularly me- at bargain rates. I'll tell you more if and when I see you. We did whatever we felt like doing in the way of writing or getting the mag together ALL the time. Joe HAD to have his finger in whatever was going on! HE was the boss.

In my opinion ALL of Joe's muscle mags were good, and a couple of his other publications. They had a more down to earth, home spun quality, a patina if you will, of sincerity that his present mags lack. It was also my idea to use line drawings rather than pictures for exercise illustrations. I tried to get him to use lots of SPACE

In my opinion a gigantic power struggle will arise in York, with the main antagonists being Terpak and Dietz �The Money Man- as the York Boys call him. I can only hope that it will not divide and by dividing, destroy an institution which I think should continue.

But I am afraid that this is what will happen- depending of course on the contents of Hoffman's will.

I'm sorry I can't tell you the name of the editor who did time, You must remember that what he did then is absolutely without any importance now, In other words it was regarded much more seriously then than now. Take up any copy of HUSTLER and you'll see what I mean.

Who is Bill Hinbern, and why did you give him my address- don't get the wrong impression. I'M GLAD to get letters, living a reclusive life as I do. It's just that I want to be prepared for what he will ask me. I don't mind a bit.

It is pretty well correct that you had to be a York man to win the Mr. A contests. There's lots I can tell you about this too if and when I see you.

Warm regards to you and yours,
Chas.

Aug 12, 1985 Letter to Joe Roark from Charles A. Smith;

Regarding Doug Hepburn:

How did Hoffman treat Hepburn? I don't know. I brought Doug to New York and spent a lot of time with him teaching him the Olympic Lifts- he had no style at all, but caught on very fast. He was with Weider and I for a month or six weeks and then suddenly disappeared one day. Then we heard he was in York. Then he returned to Vancouver and we kept in touch. But I was the one who trained him and got him into shape Olympic lifting wise, although no one mentions it now. He was the only man to beat Paul Anderson and since Anderson and Doug did a lot of writing one another, I can also assume some credit for Anderson's successes since whatever I advised Doug to do, Doug passed it on to Anderson. As you know Hepburn beat John Davis at the world's weightlifting championships in 1953 or 54. __tried to bribe Doug into throwing the match but Doug told him to stuff it.

[Roark note: Doug was not the only man to beat Anderson, but Charles thought so]

I wrote Joe a nasty letter the other day complaining about Wayne's sexist attitude when writing about women. All I can say is that, where women are concerned, Wayne must feel very insecure and afraid of them. For my part, I love'em. They can scare me all they want.

I have no shots of Hack's widow- strange you should mention her and shots- and while I could probably do so- that is write an article about them, I won't do so. I like to remember them, when their hearts were still young and their hopes still high.

And with this I bid you adieu,
Chas.

[comment by Joe Roark: though Hepburn later downplayed Charles' role as a coach, when I visited Charles I saw, and took photos of, the vase that Doug presented to Charles inscribed, 'To my coach', and I am also in possession of a letter from Hepburn to Charles indicating gratitude for Charles' help.]

See you Sep 6! Please mention www.ironhistory.com to those you think may find it interesting. Thanks.