Iron History

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10/03/2002 Entry: "Ironhistory Oct 4-17, 2003"

Good Morning America! And hopefully, some of the other sections of the world. Since we have made the decision to continue with this effort into 2003, I would enlist your help in spreading word of it. If you like the contents, please tell a friend. If you don't care for the contents then tell someone that you think ironhistory.com is unworthy. We will gain more than we deflect, I hope. If not, we gave it a shot.

Frankly, our goal is become the website of choice for those who want as definitive an answer as can be gained in the matters we cover. These answers will not come from me alone, but from the interplay from our expert readers, some of whom know specific areas of this history better than I. So, you will not find a better place to be heard than here, if you care to comment.

I am serious- if you find this effort worth the time it takes to read it, please tell others about it.

BAD NEWS: Just received word that Roland Joseph Essmaker, Mr. America 1939, died Oct 3, 2002 about 12:30am. We will have more information later. In May 2002 we had included Roland in the Joe Weider Hall of Fame in Flex magazine.
Allen Brothers Mortuary of San Marcos, California (Roland's hometown) is handling arrangements. There will be only a graveside service on Monday October 7th at 2pm at the San Marcos Cemetery, 1021 Mulberry Drive in San Marcos. There will be no planned newspaper announcements of his passing.

BAD NEWS/GOOD NEWS: In March of this year Les Stockton, or as he is fond of describing himself, Mr. Pudgy Stockton, was told by doctors that he had cancer in 75% of his bone marrow, and that he probably would not live past June. Les is a stubborn man and tends to struggle against being told when to die. So he was placed in a study program with special drugs to fight the cancer. June, July, August, September came and went. I called him on October 2nd just to chat, and he has been told that the 75% is now ZERO percent! I told you he was stubborn! He will leave us when he is ready, thank you very much. Pudgy is doing okay at age 85.

In an upcoming issue of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED for WOMEN there will be a feature on Pudgy & Les, so please be alert for it. Also about a month ago both the Stocktons participated in an effort for The History Channel in a program about Muscle Beach. Not sure when that show will run.

COMMENT: On the Old School Strength board recent discussion has included the manner in which a two hands anyhow lift should be performed. Because I am unable to post there, I will respond here. (My recent attempts to post, probably because of my poor computer skills, have failed.) Anyway, J.V. Askem, who has impressive knowledge and access to facts and data, and who runs a wonderful website, offered some comments regarding the two hands anyhow with which I respectfully disagree. He also includes the more modern definition of a two hands anyhow lift, but even this more modern definition demands "However, two implements must be used". In spite of that, JV asserts "I consider Taranenko's 586 lb C&J as the best Two Hands Anyhow."

It can be also be considered the best snatch, but it is not. It is the best two hands clean and jerk because only one implement (a barbell, we don't count the plates as separate implements) was used in the performance. Now, had Taranenko shifted the barbell, all 586 lbs of it to one hand, held it overhead, then knelt and picked up a one pound ring-weight, then he would indeed have the best two hands anyhow. Just as distinctions are made regarding whether one hand or two hands were used in many of the old BAWLA lifts, so distinctions were made regarding how many implements were employed.

Two Hands Anyhow lift: Please see http://www.cyberpump.com/features/ironhistory/bawlarules.html for how to perform these movements. Usually, AFTER one weight has been raised overhead THEN the other weight is lifted. It is not a two dumbbells clean and jerk, and it is not a lot of other names that those unfamiliar with the lift seem to think it is! I called it 'these movements' on purpose because it is in fact two lift components in one. Saxon used to perfect his style on this by bent pressing a heavy barbell right handed, then bending down and picking up a NEEDLE with his other hand, figuring that the range of motion needed to grasp the needle would be solid training on the ring-weight or other bell which would replace the needle.

The word 'anyhow' appeared in the BAWLA lift descriptions only twice: Lift #32, The Two Hands Anyhow With Dumb-bells, and Lift #41 The Two Hands Anyhow With Barbell and Ring Weight. Strictly speaking, those were the official lifts. Of course, similar lifts were done with other implements, but these were the official titles. #39 was a lift that was distinct from these two lifts and was titled The Two Hands Clean And Jerk With Barbell. Those who propose performing a #39 and calling it a #32, would not likely call a #32 also a #39. But if things are equal, they are equal both directions.

Now is this written in stone? It was for contests. And here at ironhistory.com we tend to cling to the period of history we adore. Do others have a right to change these definitions? Of course, but why? Why change these definitions? Why not write new rules for newly titled lifts, and allow these old lifts their own identity so that when they are lifted in 'odd-lift' contests, we will be able to compare skills of today with yesteryear. Not maintaining the meaning of a lift's description is what caused the mess with the military press, which so degenerated in form that comparing modern records with the pioneers is hapless and hopeless.

Definitions evolve, so that the deadlift we know today is not the deadlift of the iron pioneers. Ditto for some other lifts. My only point is that we should compare apples to apples by their respective definitions, and it is my goal to preserve the meanings of those pioneers, not to add my slant.

It has been suggested that the 'too purists' should redefine their version of the original two hands anyhow. This is the precise opposite of what should happen. Original definitions should remain, and those who wish to add their touch to history by alterations should note and identify their definitions as distinct from the original. It is they who are trying to introduce change to the established definitions that the pioneers instituted.

By the way, by the time this is posted, I will have emailed JV and offered him a chance to reply here, and please do not interpret this as anything other than what it is intended- my effort to resist introducing confusion by calling an apple an orange. I have large respect for JV, but I happen to think him to be incorrect on this matter, as he may well consider me to be in error.

(No, I don't know if Saxon stuck the needle upright in the floor, or simply had it flat on the floor.)

NEWS: In the Nov FLEX in Factoids, there are some interesting photos: Pudgy Stockton, giving a new meaning to swingbell, David Webster kneeling beside the original Inch dumbell (the 172), and a close-up photo I took of that bell which shows the hole in the handle, into which I believe Inch inserted the stud-ring or stud glove to counter the rotary inclination of that monster bell.

A clarification in that article where I mentioned that the Inch model (replica) and the Millennium bell have the same size handle. Diameter is the same 2.5", but the Inch has a 4" wide handle and the MB 5". The original Inch has a diameter of 2.38" and 4" length. So I should have written they have the same size diameter handle. Oops.

KUDOS: Judd Biasiotto has been writing for Powerlifting USA since May 1981, when he and Ed Ritter co-wrote a series entitled 'Psychological Aspects of Powerlifting'- though in those days he spelled his first name in PLUSA as 'Jud'. It was not until the Jun 1983 issue of PLUSA that he became Judd. (Some guys prefer a double D). He has continued to write for PLUSA all these years.

His two most recent articles are wonderful! He mentions the silliness of equipment and the false readings of strength it offers. In the current, Sep issue, though not naming the man, he tells a very funny/sad story about how a bench shirt and some padding added about 200 lbs to the lifter's bench press in a matter of minutes.

Of course, men who are so weak inwardly will miss Judd's point entirely, but he should be commended for his revelations.

Chronology:

Oct 4, 1906 Apollon performed in Paris at the l'Etoile-Palace and Albert Surier, who attended the show with Desbonnet, concluded that Apollon, though nearly age 45 "had retained all of his former strength, and he gave the impression of invincible power."

Oct 4, 1947 Bob Peoples, age 37, deadlifted 700 lbs. He had joined the Strength & Health League in 1934. I called him years ago (he died Jun 19, 1992) and asked if he was in fact the Bob Peoples of deadlifting fame, and in that drawl one associates with Tennessee, he replied, 'Oh, I've done some deadlifting in my day'. Indeed he had!

He married Juanita on Mar 24, 1939, and shortly after they celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary, on Mar 5, 1949, Bob stood over a barbell loaded to 725.25 pounds and pulled it up in a deadlift. When he had begun training, he had a solid base of strength and was able to pull 350; by 1935 he got 500.

Though not known for his overhead lifting strength, on Feb 6, 1945 he took a pair of 90 lb dumbbells and got four reps with each arm in the alternate press. Six days later he managed 5 reps in the deadlift with 500.

On Jul 18, 1947 his deadlift workout consisted of three rep sets each with 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, and 600. Then for a personal best he got a single with 660. On Aug 2, 1947 success with 650, and he got 700 just off the floor. By Sep 3 that year he was up to 680, and then the stat that started this story, Oct 4, 1947 his world record 700 pound deadlift, fifty-five years ago today! Bodyweight was approximately 175 lbs. so we are describing a quadruple-bodyweight deadlift. This was in the day when the sumo was a no-no.

Oct 4, 1980 Arnold Schwarzenegger won the 1980 Mr. Olympia. Arnold had retired from competition following the 1975 Mr. Olympia, but made this comeback, the result of which was a disillusion for other bodybuilders, the almost formation of a bodybuilding union and several builders claiming they would drop out of the sport.

Though legend has grown that Mentzer was robbed at this show, and he most certainly was, he did not after all place second, but in fact, with 280 points, tied Boyer Coe for 4th place. After Arnold came Chris Dickerson in 2nd, and Frank Zane (who had won the previous three Olympias) in 3rd.

Interestingly, though Zane had been entrenched in the Mr. Olympia crown since 1977, the advert for the contest which appeared in Muscle & Fitness in Jun 1980 (which was the birth issue of the name change from Muscle Builder to Muscle & Fitness) on page 54 featured not Zane but a large photo of Arnold.

Oct 4, 1984 I spent four and a half hours with John Grimek, meeting him at his office in York, having lunch with him and his wife Angela. On the wall in his office was a poster from Samir Bannout signed 'To the godfather of bodybuilding'. Indeed. I remember looking at John's forearms ( and remember that then he was already age 74) and thinking it would indeed be nice to have forearms like his: thick and powerful.

Jan Dellinger former office-mate with John at York will soon be speaking on his experiences of sharing an office with the Glow. Check Bob Whelan's site for details, naturalstrength.com.

Oct 5, 1912 Louis Vasseur right hand snatch 220.5 lbs- at age 27. S&H Apr 1942 asserts that Vasseur is the one credited with introducing the split style of lifting to the public. Leo Gaudreau offers in VIM Jan 1941 that at one time Vasseur was one of only three men to have snatched at least 200 lbs with one hand- indeed he became the second man to do it (Apollon was the first). In The Truth About Weightlifting on page 29 (in my copy) there is a photo of his 205 lb one hand snatch.

Vasseur became a pro sometime between 1910 and 1912 according to Ironman Dec 1962.

Oct 6, 1925 The date of the lifting contest between Ernest Cadine and Charles Rigoulot and the occasion when Rigoulot became a professional. Cadine was 5'6" and 200 lbs, while Rigoulot was up to 216 lbs at 5'7.7". After the ten lifts were contested, Rigoulot's winning margin was 2,388.75 lbs to Cadine's 2,370 lbs- less than two pounds per lift Difference!

Rigoulot on Jan 16, 1926 lifted in the French grip deadlift (both palms toward knees) the amount of 621.70 lbs.

Oct 6, 1936 Bruno Sammartino born; famous wrestler

Oct 6, 1938 Serge Nubret born in Guadeloupe. A few years ago Serge was to guest pose at a major show, but there was a glitch in the details and he did not pose. He earlier had won some WBBG events. You may remember him as Arnold's opponent in the 1975 Mr. Olympia in Pretoria, South Africa, and in PUMPING IRON which showcased that contest.

Oct 6, 1946 Don Ross born; died Jun 2, 1995. To Don Ross I owe the fact that I have met Larry Aumann, fellow researcher in the iron field. Don's column in Muscular Development included a section on Muscle Beach which Larry contributed, and which was accurately written. (not a small feat about Muscle Beach). I called Don to ask who Larry was. Don said he was a man in Wisconsin who kept track of everything about bodybuilding. I called Larry and we have become friends, and I often call him to doublecheck facts. Our wives are friends, and I will be forever grateful to Don for leading me to a person who is as 'kooky' about this field as am I. (Kim Wood once told me that I am a 'kook' regarding details about this endeavor. He was smiling, and he was right)

When Don died and left MD without his material, the graph depicting the quality of the magazine nosedived faster than a fuel-less jet, and has now degenerated to the point where when I bought the latest issue with a topless lady trying in vain to cover her boobs with her forearms, a female clerk at the bookstore commented, 'She doesn't look like she has much muscular development'.

[For some months, when MD was flopping around for a format, I had stopped buying the magazine, but when they returned to hardcore bodybuilding I resumed buying it because I try to keep track of the major publications in the field. But it appears that the 'hardcore' focus is on something other than bodybuilding. ]

Don had first been seen in the Jun 1966 issue of Strength & Health after having trained for three years. In 1972 he won the tall class at the AAU Mr. World, in 1973 he won the WBBG Pro Mr. North America, and the following year placed 2nd in the NABBA Pro Universe, being nudged out by Helmut Reidmeirer.

He went to California in 1978 to become a pro wrestler, by 1981 was managing Clancy Ross's gym, and thru the years wrote more than 400 articles for the various bodybuilding mags, including some for Strength Training for Beauty, Power, Muscle-Up, Muscle & Bodybuilder, Muscle World, as well as all the more famous mags.

Don died Jun 2, 1995, and Weber wrote a tribute in the Nov 1995 MD, and Ironman offered four pieces in the Oct 1995 issue. Flex and MMI also paid tribute. There really is no one currently writing in the field who corresponds to Don's persona.

Oct 6, 1967 Svend Karlsen born; famous in strongman circles.

Oct 6, 1993 Ed Jubinville died; born Nov 1, 1921 This was the saddest bit of news I have received since having been associated with people in this sport. Ed was a jewel of a man, an honorable man who had a fire for life that never dimmed.

He died following a set of lat pull downs, by simply slumping onto the bench. His fame as a muscle control artist was as widespread as his talent at the rare skill. At one time he could flex SEPARATELY each head of the biceps.

He was an all-rounder, wrist wrestling, lifting, bodybuilding- he loved them all. I remember eating supper in Chicago with Ed and Bryan Frederick- Ed insisted on paying with his usual, It's only money' statement. After his stroke he worked hard to regain his speech and his muscle control abilities, and did regain them.

Ed had stories! True, first person, stories. How I wish he were still here. He and Lou Ferrigno toured Italy together years ago. Even in his off-the-record stories, Ed did not dwell on the negative.

Oct 6, 1002 Elaine Mae Jackson (Andy's wife) died; born Jan 3, 1918

Oct 7, 1901 A meeting which later resulted in the formation of the British Amateur Weightlifting Assoc.

Oct 7, 1924 Peggy Lund born. Married for a time to George Redpath (who died in May 2000). She had written a few articles on Ironman in the very early 1950s. I believe she has passed away, but I am not certain of it. When I spoke to George a few years ago, I think that is what he told me, but I have misplaced those notes. (they are probably in those storage boxes that I must get to soon).

Oct 7, 1931 Goerner, while seated, cleaned 220.5 lbs. This is an incredible feat involving, of course, no dipping under the weight!

Oct 8, 1920 This is the date given for Goerner's one hand deadlift of 727.5 lbs in Leipzig, Germany. His bodyweight was 221 lbs. He was still an amateur. [compare this weight with what Bob Peoples could deadlift with TWO hands.(couple of pounds less). Really?

Oct 8, 1933 Warren Tetting born. Warren was the man who made the early grippers for the Raders, and for awhile was connected to Ironmind's early gripper production. I believe David Horne recently interviewed Warren so Iron Grip magazine will soon have an article on him no doubt.

Oct 8, 1977 Joe Greenstein, The Mighty Atom died at age 94 at 10am; born Jul 15, 1893

Oct 9, 1907 Albena Gaudreau born. My recent attempts to contact Albena have not been successful. She would now be age 95, if living. Her husband, Leo Gaudreau was, to drastically understate it, one of the better historians of iron history.

Oct 9, 1931 Ray Routledge born. Won Mr. America Jun 24, 1961, and Mr. Universe three months later (tall class and overall)

Oct 10, 1924 Sig Breitbart died or Oct 13th?

Oct 10, 1948 Steve Wennerstrom born. Take any five of the most informed historians in the field of female bodybuilding, and their combined knowledge of the subject would pale in comparison to Steve's. But he wouldn't walk across the street to see a men's bodybuilding contest. He, John Nafpliotis and Bill Jentz have produced WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE WORLD since 1984. They have also produced the defunct titles of WOMEN'S PHYSIQUE PUBLICATION, and STRONG & SHAPELY- this latter title being aimed at fitness models more than female bodybuilders.

Steve used to drop by and visit David Willoughby in Dave's garage, where most of the fine research was completed. While many admire Steve for his connection to the distaff elel\ment, I envy him for sitting to chat with Willoughby. Steve recently sent me a couple of photos of that garage, and as odd as it sounds, I felt a sense of respect looking at where so much of iron history was preserved.

Oct 11, 1863 Louis Cyr born; died Nov 10, 1912. When we begin our profiles next year, Cyr will of course be treated in depth. In the meantime, those of you who fancy that Cyr ranked greater in strength than Apollon may wish to get your arguments in order.

Oct 11, 1989 Montel Torbit died; born Nov 25, 1907. This was J.C. Hise's brother-in-law, who married Joe's sister Beulah, who was known affectionately as 'Boots'. She died in 1970.

Oct 12, 1938 Larry Scott born. Mr. Olympia 1965, 1966. One of his early physique contests was held on stage at a movie theater, BETWEEN features. 'Hey, I went to the movies and a bodybuilding contest broke out!' What movie was playing? Wish I knew because that would be a wonderful trivia question. In his day, Scott was supreme, and still has some great arms on this his 64th birthday!

Oct 12, 1951 Jeff Everson born. Is now publishing the magazine Planet Muscle, which until recently was available for free, but is now marketed as are the other mags in the field. Jeff was known as 'The Great Uncut' in the early issues of Flex, in the days when he and Cory were still married.

Planet Muscle once noted how much Paul Anderson bent pressed. Paul never did a bent press in his life. His bulk prevented him from the necessary positions, and as we noted earlier regarding the two hands anyhow, let's stick to calling each lift by its proper title. Paul was famous for his side presses, and we cannot take a side press and call it a bent press anymore than we can call it a military press.

Oct 12, 1962 Bryan Frederick born. A good friend, one of the more intelligent people I know. He and I visited Paul Anderson's home in Toccoa, Georgia, and as soon as we saw the safe sitting in the yard, we both mentally slumped because we knew that there was no way under or over Heaven that that safe weighed the claimed 3,500 lbs. I later performed calculations and determined that if the safe were a solid piece of manganese (its main ingredient) it would still not weigh anymore than just UNDER 3,000 lbs. Later the safe was weighed and found to be approximately 2,300 lbs- which was the weight attributed to it in the earliest reports, as well as what company specifications indicate it would weigh.

Anyway, Bryan once wrote a paper on George Hackenschmidt. He never published it, but should have, in my view. He made a few copies, and mine is where? Yup, those boxes in the garage!

Bryan once loaded 300 lbs on a trap bar and got 35 or 36 consecutive reps in the deadlift- a feat I witnessed. When I first met him he was very heavy, and has since dropped almost half his bodyweight.

He is among the most determined and resolute men I know. When my wife and his girlfriend (not the same person here folks) declined to go with us to see the latest action movie, Bryan would buy his popcorn and wait until the movie started before he took a single bite, which was the approximate time I was starting on my second bag of popcorn! I was also determined!

He has since moved away to northern Illinois, married his girlfriend, had a son, and reads continually. Happy birthday, Bryan! Please give some thought to writing in the iron field- we need impartial thinkers.

Oct 13, 1967 Bill & Marlene Starr's fourth child, Renata Lea, born

Oct 14, 1925 Eugen Sandow died; born Apr 2, 1867. For those interested in sifting fact from fiction regarding Sandow, please study David Chapman's book on this Prussian strongman. Again, next year in profiles, we will treat Sandow.

Oct 14, 1954 Norb Schemansky cleaned and jerked the Apollon wheels by cleaning the wheels once and then jerking them three consecutive reps. In reply to my question on how many reps did he think he could have managed in the consecutive jerk, he replied, 10.

Oct 14, 1958 Doug Brolus born. Doug is known for his abs, and for his verve about the sport.

Oct 15, 1932 York's first Athletic Show was held at the York YMCA

Oct 16, 1942 Joe Pitman joined the Navy until Apr 6, 1946

Oct 16, 1948 Zabo Koszewski won Mr. New Jersey, He first appeared in Strength & Health as an Army private in the Nov 1943 issue when he was stationed in Utica, New York. I think this was his first contest- was held in Camden, New Jersey at the YMCA at 614 Federal Street. Bob Moran on this occasion managed a 420 lbs shoulder bridge press. On this same day, see next item:

Oct 16, 1948 Edwin F. Townsend died; born Dec 18, 1877. Grimek in Muscular Development Dec 1965 wrote about 'The Artistry of Edward Townsend', and S&H had covered his passing in the Jan 1949 issue. Townsend, born in Charles City, Iowa, moved to New York in 1915, and became known for his photos of Tony Sansone. The brief obit appears to have been written by Grimek and includes this line: "�and I dare say that Sansone at that time startled the body-builder world, with new and fresh ideas in modern posing, and lighting effects'. MuscleMag International ran a story in the Aug 2002 issue.

Oct 16, 1974 Tom Sansone died; born Oct 20, 1935. No relation to Tony Sansone. Tom won the AAU Mr. America in 1958, the NABBA Universe in 1963 (after nine months of 'comeback' training. On Sep 7, 1975 in New York City at the big WBBG show, a moment of silence was observed for Tom, who was hospitalized with a liver condition. Less than six weeks later he died.

Oct 17, 1909 Peary Rader born; died Nov 24, 1991. When I was a teenager, those decades ago, the only store in my hometown to carry Ironman, which was Peary's famous mag, was a soda fountain diner that carried magazines. There, adjacent to the girlie mags would be the bodybuilding section. Remember those days?

Oct 17, 1927 Steve Reeves, dad, Lester, died at age 28. Please see Chris LeClaire's book on Reeves for a wonderful read. Chris spent time working by day on Reeves' ranch, and interviewing Steve in the evenings. Lester died from complications of being accidentally punctured by a pitchfork when a machine belt hurled it into his abs.

Oct 17, 1932 Paul Anderson born; died Aug 15, 1994. I will have a special feature on Paul on ironhistory.com which may be posted as an extra, OR because there is so much confusion about his lifting history- at least his unofficial lifting history- I may start at the beginning and go step by step in installments regarding his lifting career. Paul would have turned age 70 today.

I will say this: Paul was perhaps the greatest, ungeared, squatter the sport has seen. By no stretch was he the greatest at the Olympic lifts, nor the powerlifts. In lifts not requiring speed coupled with strength he was brutally strong- on par with Doug Hepburn in upper body movements.

In connection with this, I ask that if you saw Paul perform in person, please mention it here via the comment button. At least the year if you do not recall the exact date, the city, and what lifts Paul performed. There are some major gaps of information in his pro lifting career and perhaps you can help fill in some of the missing info. A fire years ago was said to have destroyed many of his papers.

We will be reporting what Paul lifted, that is what can be proved that he lifted, and this adhesion to the facts will be interpreted in some circles as a slam against Paul, which it is not intended to be. How pathetic that sticking to known truth can be perceived as negative.

Some of the statements regarding Paul's strength levels are more shadowy than that photo of him on the cover of THE MIGHTIEST MINISTER. Ever noticed the 'ghost' around the plates on that barbell? How that, as you look at it there appear to be seven plates to the left and six to the right? Or is that an illusion due to photo cropping?

Oct 17, 1943 All Girl Weightlifting contest in Grand Rapids, Michigan. No partial girls allowed!

Oct 17, 1946 Russia joins the International Weightlifting Federation, so after this date Russian records in lifting will be recognized. It was Paul Anderson's 14th birthday.

INCH 101: Part 19

In H&S Oct 10, 1931 Inch recounts details of his Jun 3, 1911 match with Edward Aston. Please keep in mind that whatever amount of weight you can successfully clean with one arm on a standard 1" diameter bar, will be considerably more than you can one arm clean on a bar with 2.38" diameter. With that in mind, think about the implications for Inch's strength levels before this match when he wrote:

"When I state that I had lost form so completely that I only managed 210 lb. two hands clean, 170 one hand clean, and under 200 bent press, it will be recognized that no expert would have taken 100 to 1 upon my chance of defeating Aston."

If 170 lbs on a 1" bar was his limit at about that time in the one arm clean, then only the ignorant would claim he could add two pounds to the weight and add 1.38" to the bar diameter, thus having his challenge bell specs, and be able to clean it.

He of course gained strength, but the point here is that for whatever amount of time he had descended to his lower level of strength, then he was unable to clean the Inch 172 using only one hand. Keeping in mind that he had introduced the 172 in 1907, then sometime within the next four years he lost the ability to clean it.

Before the match mentioned above, he began training a few weeks ahead, of course. By match time he was able to clean 210 lbs and 10 ounces on a 1" bar with one hand. Still, as we now know, due to the prevalence of Inch sized handles and Inch replicas- a WORLD away from cleaning the thick handled 172. Indeed, if all you can clean is 210 on a standard bar, you will not be able to get the Inch OFF the floor!

Of course, he never used the word 'clean' in reference to the bell in that era; he always wrote about 'lifting' it- which could mean simply dead lifting it. He used words cleverly.

In H&S Oct 21, 1933 reference is made to an article in the Oct 7 issue; Inch writes: "Sir: In the Oct 7 issue, in Mr. Valentine's article, reference is made to my performance at Leeds. Lest there be any misapprehension regarding what he described was a challenge dumb-bell, I wish to make it clear that I was using my competition dumb-bell and not the challenge dumb-bell, which for thirty years has withstood every effort of challengers to lift it off the ground."

So for 30 years- means that the challenge bell (172 lbs, 2.38" diameter handle) had been around since 1903? More likely 1906, but perhaps Inch was generalizing the date.

Of course some of this confusion can be traced directly to the doorstep of Mr. Inch, who for many years did not reveal the existence of his four identical-looking but vastly differently weighted bells: 75, 140, 153, and 172. I have an Inch that weighs 152 and one that weighs 172. From more than six feet away it is very difficult to distinguish which bell is 20 lbs lighter. If a person were in the audience, he would have NO chance of this discernment. The hollow 75, and the solid 140 also appeared to be the same size.

So Inch's trickery over the years, in which, after he lifted one of the lighter bells, he would, later in the program offer his challenge, and bring out on to the stage the 172, which was not the bell he lifted, but the unknowing audience thought it was. So, when, Fairbrother and Spacey and Chowles were able to lift the competition bell off the floor, a clarification was needed from Inch to protect his reputation, because many assumed that the bell was the bell that Inch had called his challenge bell all those years.

How much did the competition bell weigh? About 140 lbs.

Roark Reference #22

Sep 11, 1985 Letter from Charles A. Smith to Joe Roark: excerpts.

What do you know of Robert Kennedy of, is it, Muscle Training ILL. [note, it is of course, MuscleMag International] I recently wrote to him over a simply ghastly canard he came up with in a British magazine he supplies a monthly gossip article to. The mag is Body Power and the column is titled 'ACROSS THE POND.' In the August issue he stated that the Bench Press wasn't known before 1940 and this is a load of cock and dangerous since it only firms the young lifter and beginner in the fable that weight training didn't start before now, that all the exercises-and principles are products of the present and they just didn't know what they were doing in the past.

Anyway, Kennedy went on to say that Reg Park didn't use it until very late in his career and before that used the Press On Back. I got incensed and it doesn't take much to do that. So I wrote him a letter pointing out NOT POLITELY, that he didn't know what he was talking about, that Joe Assirati and I were using the bench press back in 1932, and thought we had invented the exercise until we found out that some lifting club members in London, England-where Joe and I lived at the time-were also using the exercise. The Pembroke Club, The Plaistow Club, The First West Central Club and countless others. No one seemed to know how they started it, they just began to do it. Then Joe and I read about it in Mark Berry's writings from 1930 and 1935. Then we saw a picture of John Grimek taken around 1934 illustrating how to use the bench press using a box.

I also pointed out to Kennedy that although we couldn't claim the bench press as our 'invention' we certainly could do that with the INCLINE BENCH PRESS. We would prop a board up against the kitchen stove and use that as an incline. We were also the FIRST to sue a cambered bar for bench pressing-that bar, although shaped differently- to what is being claimed as 'NEW' among power lifters. It, the bar we used, was a Pullum patent cambered bar that Bill Pullum came out with originally for BENT PRESSING. We at once saw its possibilities for squats and it proved to be a great improvement over an ordinary straight exercise bar for squatting purposes. Then one day we both got the idea of using it for our benches. It worked like a charm and we sued the cambered bar for bench pressing ever after. Terry Todd saw this very same bar when he visited Joe Assirati this year. It is a great pity that this sort of crap is tossed around with the freedom of a juggler at his trade. And of course it points out the importance of your bulletin as a source of historic accuracy. Anyway, I am wondering if he will bother to reply and, more, acknowledge his error. Who knows. He might even ask me to write for him.

When you next write to Grimek, give him my regards, tell him I hope he finds peace and contentment in his retirement and say that he has always been regarded by me as the greatest. In fact, if he cares to drop me a line, I'll do as always, reply right away.

Did I tell you I met Otto Arco personally when I was on leave in NYC- our crusier was being repaired in Brooklyn Navy Yard after having been taken apart at the Battle of Crete- Two YEARS previously. But that's a story for our meeting. No man- like Sig Klein did- could have treated me so kindly and hospitably. Both Sig and Otto took me to their homes, put to dinner, talked about whatever I wanted to chatter about and did all they could to make my three months stay a happy and enjoyable one. FINE MEN. Otto was a squat little guy, traces of his Mongol ancestry still showing in his features.

I was in uniform, wearing all my decorations-I was a glory hunter-and looked great in my white uniform. Since I had come from almost two years in the Indian Ocean and other points East, I was tanned black.

Sorry about having caused puzzlement over what I said were plastic weights. What I should have said was COMPOSITION WEIGHTS covered with plastic. Today these are regarded as 'modern' inventions and ARE NOT. In fact, in the late 1920s and thirties in Hull, England H.H. Broom made them. THERE IS NOTHING NEW IN OUR GAME- only steroids- and THESE were being used in 1920.

I have no idea what the lift 'devisse' is and have never before heard it used. [Roark note: form of bent press]. The Bent Press was originally called 'The Screw Lift.'

Gaudreau's description of the clean as opposed to the Continental is right on the nose. It had to be taken to the shoulders without any part of the bar touching the body on the way up. And no part of the body except the feet could touch the platform. I can recall an occasion when Schemansky got ruled out by me in a snatch. I had thought I had heard a slight thumb when he split and looked as his knee. There was the white pressure spot turning pink again. So I 'redded' him. He told me I was full of what food turns into when you've eaten and digested it. But he had a grin on his face for he knew I had caught him at it.

The continental could be brought in to the shoulders in as many movements as your stamina could stand. In fact I have seen some guys ROLL the bar up to the upper thighs, then onto the belt, sustained by a thick wrapped towel, and then onto the shoulders. Naturally they didn't have any jerk left when they did this. The usual was to take it off the floor to the belt, then into the shoulders and then overhead. This lift favored those guys who were strong jerkers, but those who weren't got lost somewhere down the line.

Warmest regards to you and yours, Chas.

Letter Sep 21, 1985 from Charles A. Smith to Joe Roark, excerpts:

Here again, and believe me when I tell you this is not to put myself in a good light or 'know it all position', but if it hadn't been for me Joe would never have gone into the food supplement business.

I had seen what Irving Johnson- aka Rheo Blair- had done with it and how he advertised in Hoffman's mag, how Hoffman had obtained reports about Johnson's success, had blown Irving off and gone into it himself.

I suggested to Joe that he do likewise and was immediately opposed by Bart who opined it was a passing fad and wouldn't last. I pressed my argument and Joe finally decided to give it a three months run. Net of the first month-NIL. Net of the second month- around 100 bucks. Bart meanwhile laughing his head off and saying 'I told you so'. Net of the third month 400 bucks. Net of the fourth money Two THOUSAND BUCKS and from then on I was smiling, Joe enthused and we NEVER DID LESS than six or seven thousand a month of which AT LEAST 75% was sheer profit.

[regarding Charles Atlas letter that Charles had come across at the Todd-McLean Collection]

Atlas to Liederman: "It is indeed a pleasure to tell you at this time just how fully I appreciate all you have done for me. It was by following your guidance and the course you laid out for me that I have acquired the outstanding physique which I now enjoy.

[Roark note: for those not paying attention, Liederman DID NOT teach Dynamic Tension. He taught weight training]

Also came across an old Jowett ad in which the venerable George Fuisdale claims the following. This excerpt is from a 1936 edition of THE BODY BUILDER. Here we go. Feast your eyes and your cynicism. Junior International Gymnastic Champ. Worlds champion welterweight wrestler. Worlds championship middleweight wrestler. (Gus Kalio or Waino Kettonen would have eaten him up and spit him out.) Worlds champion middleweight lifter. First man in America to lift double bodyweight overhead. The ONLY heavyweight- note that HEAVYWEIGHT- to beat Arthur Saxon's record. He doesn't say which record. Sig Klein told me he had seen Jowett right hand military press a 100 pounder easily.

Regarding David Willoughby:

Not to besmirch his memory, since I knew, and loved him as a brother, Dave, once he was convinced, or had convinced himself that a thing was so, NOTHING or no one could alter his opinion.

Jowett. There WAS a buccaneer for you. But I liked him although he had more than his fair share of the medicine tent man or the tent revivalist in him for my liking. I always got on well with him and he with me. I will say he had the most powerful hands and fingers I have ever entrusted my mitt to. His hand was as thick as a slab of bacon and fingers larger than Polish sausages. He was in his late sixties when I first met him but I knew him before through the pages of his book 'THE KEY TO MIGHT AND MUSCLE'. I think it, despite its hyper super duper language, one of the more inspirational books for bodybuilding beginners I have ever read. He was one of three men Hoffman never dared to mess with, the other two being John Davis, a very quiet man, and Schemansky, an extremely gritty character. All three could have eaten Hoffman up and spit him out again in a brawl.

But in all fairness you should also know that Joe had LOADS of Liederman's articles filed away that Joe HAD PAID HIM FOR. So I see no reason for Joe NOT to use the articles.

At one time, and as noted by Peary Rader in his account of the 1953 Mr. America contest- the one where that CPA made that horrible mistake, Peary mentions that I was writing thirty and forty articles per month. But a lot of these Joe never used, but squirreled away for some nebulous reason or the other. It is also true that I DID often write the entire contents of the magazines, but NOT ALL THE TIME, ONLY OCCASIONALLY.

As for the photos, Joe kept a tight hold on this. He selected the men for the photos, told them to go to Lon or Forbes or whoever happened to be in his good graces at the time and say 'Shoot so and so thus and thus'. I had the free hand ONLY in the drawings by a guy named Peter Poulton and these I think MADE THE MAGS.

York, from what I know and have been told, had to THREATEN XXX with legal action before he returned the material. He DOESN'T KNOW I AM AWARE OF THIS since I know enough to keep my mouth shut and it really is no concern of mine. If and when stuff DOES affect me adversely then you'll hear me shout as loudly as a whore who hasn't been paid. I DON'T speak from experience.

My middle name is Arthur. I was named Charles after my mother's father. By some happenstance I was born the minute he died. I was named Arthur after my father.

By the way. This has been on my mind for some time but somehow kept slipping my memory. Since you live quite close to Homer, Illinois, why don't you start digging into the past of Joe Hise. In my opinion he is the unsung genius, a prophet without honor if ever there was one, of American Weight Training, and for that matter lifters all over the globe owe him gratitude. He has never received his just due for his innovations. Just the other day I read an article in Rader's mag concerning the 'REBOUND PRINCIPLE.' The writer, some cat named Brown, wrote as if it was fairly new. It was HISE who first introduced this with his HOPPER DEAD LIFT. It seems a damn shame to me that today's lifters are so little interested in the history of the sport and the contributions made by those who went before them.

Don't take any notice of assurances coming from the Brooklyn Flash, aka XXX. He is of the same kidney as XXX, although I do think XXX has SOME good qualities. XXX is the type who will swipe anyone's stuff and publish it 'with your leave or by your permission'. He did this with an article a friend of mine, David Gentle, wrote, Just took it right out of another mag. All letters of protest went unanswered.

You astounded me with details of your call to Oliva's gym and the demand that was made for 500 bucks. Who's doing who the favor?

What mag was it that reported XXX had left a wife and kids in Cuba? I'd like to look that up. As I say, Vera and I met XXX in 1969- with XXX and XXX and she didn't think anything of any of them.

Yes, I have met Paul Anderson but I don't have enough info about him to say whether or not he did that 1200 SQUAT. I know he did over a 1000 pounds in what was CALLED a squat in Reno or Las Vegas when he had his pro strong man act. I saw this on TV and wasn't impresses. It was exactly the same as the present POWER SQUAT- that is the upper thighs parallel with the floor. THAT isn't a TRUE OR REAL SQUAT to me. When I did my 500 I went ALL the way down; a la Steinborn. In the old days you not only had to go all the way down but stay there for a count of two before recovering. Look at some of the illustrations in Mark Berry's books and see Steinborn squatting in a contest. Right the way down. So low that if his glutes had closed over a blade of grass he would have never got up.

I have just about written myself out. Dis ist alles. I will now make myself a ham sandwich, look in the ice box and bemoan the absence of any beer and cry into my mug of water. Best wishes to you and yours, Chas.

We will have a special edition of ironhistory.com on Thursday, Oct 17th. And, if time permits, our regular edition the following day. See you then!