Iron History

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10/17/2002 Entry: "Iron History Oct 18-31, 2002"

A man who, in some ways, in the final link between the oldtime strongmen, and the more modern aspect of the iron game has a birthday in October. He asked me not to reveal the exact birthday, so I will offer only that it is October, and hopefully that will not violate my promise to not reveal the exact date.

To speak on the phone, or in person, to Vic Boff, is to hear a 'tape' of history. Vic was at many of the famous gyms in the old days, knew virtually all of the American strongmen of his day, and watched some famous lifting. He was not, like many of us, a distant student, he was on-the-spot!

To read Vic's articles on this subject is not at all the same as speaking to him because whereas space limitations for print material dictate borders, when he chats on the phone his recall is remarkable, and one detail causes him to remember other details and he has many details to recall. And, more than once, I have thought how wonderful it would be to have someone ask the right questions to get some interesting behind the scenes tales of life in his youth, all of this as the tape recorder is rolling.

Finding dirt on people in this sport has never been a goal of mine, but had it been, it would have been thwarted by Vic, who becomes rubberman when trying to think of something nice to say about someone, or at least stretches every which way to avoid saying anything negative. He actually looks, with a spotlight, for the best in everyone.

So, Vic, you have honored many people through the years, and for keeping the flame alive, we thank you. Happy birthday this month!

[I feel it should be added that Vic does not want his specific birthday revealed out of modesty, and of not wanting to be the center of attention. He is not at all one of those who is afraid to have people know his age. My policy here is to honor his wish because I respect him. No longer do I ask permission to reveal a birthdate that has been published, but in Vic's case, even had it been published, and he asked me not to reveal it, I would have honored his request.]

Vic has been in charge of the Olde Timers' get together since its inception, and, so far as I know is planning to hold another next year.

FIRST MR. AMERICA DIES:

Thirty minutes after midnight, early a.m. of Oct 3, 2002, Roland Joseph Essmaker went to his Maker. From the eleven months spanning Jun 1939 thru May 1940, three contests which have come to be known commonly as Mr. America, were staged.

On Jun 10, 1939 Bert Goodrich won, on Jul 4, 1939, Roland won, and on May 25, 1940, John Grimek won. Because Bert's victory was in a contest that allowed professionals to compete against amateurs, the first AAU Mr. America contest involving only amateurs was the one won by Roland. For many years this was acknowledged in the York publications, but eventually, John took over that appellation and Roland's letters of protest to officials went unanswered, Roland told me.

When he became Mr. America, Roland was age 23, and with the zest of youth, the day after the contest he approached Bob Hoffman to ask if Strength & Health magazine would be shooting a pictorial on him-if so, he could be available. The answer Roland told me he received was basically, no, run along, you won't be needed for any photos. How ironic that S&H in Sep 1962 offered, "By his own admission, the first AAU Mr. America is 'the least photographed of all the Mr. Americas'" Three years before that statement, S&H had reminded readers that "Too few bodybuilder fans are acquainted with the fact that Roland Essmaker won the very first of the AAU Mr. America contests back in 1939."

But by the early 1980s Roland wrote to Grimek "I am sorry to have to submit another gripe to you, but it seems the true history of the AAU Mr. America contests is becoming a bit clouded. I am referring to Bob Crist's article HISTORY OF THE AAU MR. AMERICA CONTESTS in the June '82 issue of MD" [Muscular Development]. He continued "I still have the trophy which reads- THE BOB HOFFMAN TROPHY AWARDED TO MR.AMERICA 1939." Roland ended by "I would like to have a chance to write an article of rebuttal."

To Crist, Roland wrote to correct Crist's statement that the first official AAU Mr. America had been stage in Madison Square Garden- meaning the 1940 contest won by Grimek. He asked "Let's get this straightened out and give the true history of the AAU Mr. America contests. It is not something that can be 'conveniently forgotten'".

Roland received no replies.

On Monday, Oct 7, 2002 at a graveside service at the San Marcos Cemetery in California, Roland was laid to rest at the very moment I am typing these words.

NEW PHOTOS: Please notice we have posted some new images in the gallery section- a couple that show Curt Bolding with the Inch 152, the Inch 172, and the Millennium dumbell which on my scale weighs 232 lbs- that may be a bit off as they have been cited at 228 also. Curt managed at two hands deadlift with the Millennium, or should I say a two hands 'crotch' lift, because with a bell end fore and aft, one cannot stand erect. Had we posted that photo, ribald comments would have come darting in!

The other photo shows the larger of the two types of cannonball safes- this one probably weighed about 3,200 lbs and is much larger than the 2,300 lbs safe Paul Anderson used in his backlift. Notice how easily by switching two digits, 2300 becomes 3200? Suppose this is how the error began? Perhaps not, as Paul claimed his safe weighed 3,500 lbs. The spec sheet for the type of safe in the photo calls for 3,200 lbs.

Also a reminder that the Jowett 168 lb anvil shown in our gallery is much larger, and shaped differently, than the anvil shown in the famous lift by Jowett. Ever wondered why Jowett is facing different directions in the two stages of the photos? Suppose Mark Henry could have had the Inch 172 lb bell melted down, reduced by four pounds and still be able to clean it by the horn and push press it after having it formed in the shape of the anvil? Suppose Jowett was stronger than Mark? Suppose it is time to correct some of these ridiculous fables?

But websites insist on simply reporting what has been misreported for so long, and those with more yearning than learning about these matters cling with death grips to stories which can be disproved by their own ingredients.

NEWS: You may have seen the recent piece in the New York Times about Weider Publications being for sale. JUMP magazine has already been sold (their mag aimed at the teen audience), as has the mag about golf. Over the years Weider has published more than 30 different titles ranging in topics from muscle, to figure, boxing, wrestling, golf, baseball, animals, and other subjects.

Though I have written for Flex for the past decade, I am hardly an insider�but I do have some contacts. So allow me this guess: So long as Joe is drawing breath, he will publish a magazine concerning bodybuilding. It is his essence of interest. Will he keep only one, and discard either Flex or Muscle & Fitness? Beats me, but guess how I would vote.

He may feel the pressure from his competitors- you know- those people who criticize his every move in regard to contests, but those same people, some of them very wealthy, who never seem to have the cash to put their monies where their mouths are, and who know that criticism comes easier than craftsmanship. At the moment, the names of the other organizations holding bodybuilding contests at the pro level escape me. I'm sure those names will come to me as soon as they exist. Yes, I know NABBA has a pro division. How much does the Pro Mr. Universe winner receive? Seriously, how much?

Please notice that a special, brief, edition of an ironhistory extra was posted Oct 17th. On what would have been Paul Anderson's 70th birthday, we present a list of his most famous, official, lifts.

LIFTER'S LOGIC:

1. Unlike ancient Greece, the original 'raw' athletes, we compete wearing clothing. But because they 'un-suited' up, does not mean we should go to the opposite extreme.

2. The purpose of the clothing is to conceal nudity, absorb sweat, offer a better presentation, and perhaps offer an advertisement.

3. The clothing should be of normal fit, and just as one would not wear clothing 8 sizes too large, one should not wear it eight sizes too small.

4. The clothing should allow for limb freedom, not limb binding. Any body position you can assume undressed, you should be able to assume when dressed ready to lift.

5. Normal breathing should be easily possible when dressed for competition.

6. Regressing to needing someone to dress you should unnecessary.

7. Don't object if bench shirts cause laughter. Clown costumes have always caused laughter.

8. Though you may deceive yourself with extra aids in the form of tight clothing, please allow us the realization that you by yourself did not manage the inflated poundages. You are therefore not as strong as you represent yourself. We know it; perhaps someday you'll know it.

9. Bless the raw lifters.

Oct 18, 1928 Apollon died. Born Jan 21, 1862 I have a bias in favor of Apollon being the strongest of the oldtimers. Not a prejudice, a bias, reached after more than a little research. We will treat Apollon in detail next year when switching to our profile format, but for now, be it remembered that he died in a hotel room from a neglected abscess in his throat, 74 years ago.

Desbonnet elevated only two strongmen to the top level- Apollon and Louis Cyr. For Cyr see Oct 19, 1892 below.

Oct 18, 1966 Don Long born. Champion bodybuilder in the IFBB pro division, who recently received a kidney transplant from his sister.

Oct 18, 1975 Arnold Schwarzenegger guest posed at the Mr. Pacific Coast contest in San Francisco

Oct 19, 1892 Cyr backlift 3,369 lbs at Joliette. Collins wrote a consecutive month four part series on Cyr beginning in S&H Jul 1935, and titling the series 'The Strongest Man Who Ever Lived". 'Ever' includes the future, so it would have been more fitting to say the strongest man yet. But to make that a valid statement it would be necessary to be either ignorant of Apollon's strength, or to ignore it.

Cyr credited on May 7, 1896 with putting up 162.5 lbs overhead- some sources say via a one arm press, other sources say a jerk was employed.

His famous dumbbells: one is now in the York Hall of Fame, another is owned by Ben Weider and reposes at IFBB headquarters. Photos of each appear in the gallery section.

Jowett also wrote about Cyr being the strongest man who ever lived, but in my opinion Jowett's writing in general is similar to boiling down maple suger to make maple syrup- you must boil away 50 gallons of water to net one gallon of syrup. He could say more without saying anything specific than any other writer of his day.

Cyr was also credited by some with a backlift of 4,300 lbs but this was an estimated, not weighed, amount. This may be close to the amount that Paul Anderson actually backlifted, allowing for the miscalculations in components involved in his lift.

Oct 19, 1931 Goerner upright row 286.5 lbs. Compare your best upright row with your best power clean. Then think about this claim.

Oct 19, 1933 Jayne Mansfield born; died Jun 29, 1967. Relevant here because she and husband Mickey Hargitay spoke to the audience at the NABBA Universe Sep 26, 1959. Mickey had won the overall NABBA amateur U in 1955. [Mickey also placed 4th, tall class at Mr. World in 1952, see Oct 25, 1952 below]

Oct 19, 1953 Laura Combes born; died Oct 4, 1989. Female bodybuilding is not my strong suit, but Laura placed 4th in the Ms. Olympia in 1981, and sixth the next year.

Oct 20, 1891 Cyr defeated Cyclops and Sandowe (this was not Sandow).

Oct 20, 1935 Tom Sansone born; died Oct 16, 1974. Feb 20, 1954 won Mr. Intercollegiate, in NYC; Mar 5, 1954 won Mr. Metropolitan, and won the same title exactly one year later. His first foray into the AAU Mr. America resulted in 19th place in Philadelphia, the following year he moved up to 4th place in Daytona Beach as Ron Lacy won (Ron now lives in Kentucky and still trains); After Tom won the Mr. America in 1958 in L.A., he stopped competing until he decided to regain condition by starting again to train on Jan 9, 1963, a process which on Sep 21 that year gained him the title of NABBA Mr. Universe.

Nine years later, on Sep 7, 1974 at a WBBG show in NYC, a moment of silence was observed for Tom who was hospitalized with a liver problem. Five and a half weeks later he passed away.

Oct 20, 1940 Wedding date for John & Angela Grimek. John told me that the first time he ever laid eyes on Angela he knew he had to meet her so he walked over and said, 'Hello, Mary'. John's magic must have worked. You will notice their wedding date is about five months after John had become Mr. America for the first time. A little more than a month after their wedding, John spent nearly a month touring America with the York entourage.

Oct 20, 1945 Wedding date for Gustav & Aurelia Schwarzenegger, Arnold's parents, who were married as John & Angela Grimek were celebrating anniversary #5.

Oct 20, 1984 Sergio Oliva's son born. Talk about genetics!

Oct 21, 1921 Larry Barnholth began the American College of Modern Weightlifting. There are some writers in our field whom I sincerely wish would retire from the effort. On the other hand, there was one writer whom I was hoping would not retire from writing about history, and that was Osmo Kiiha, who published The Iron Master, and in the May 1996 issue an article appeared in that fine publication by Crewell regarding the Barnholth brothers and the ACMWL.

If you are serious about iron history, make every effort to collect the series of The Iron Master. Osmo is declining to republish them so your only hope is to find someone who is willing to part with their set. Not likely.

Oct 21, 1941 Harold Ansorge bent pressed 302.5 lbs at a bodyweight of 220. A friend of mine has been in contact with Harold's sister recently, and hopefully he will write about what he has learned.

Oct 21, 2001 Steeve Neece died; born Dec 2, 1944. Steve began his Muscle Beach newsletter in 1992 and kept it running for 26 issues until Jul 1995. He also wrote for Muscle Mag International and his determination to get facts not fancies reported in his column made it significant. He mangled the measuring of Lee Haney's arm- writing that I did the measuring, when in fact it was Bryan Frederick who taped it cold at 20.5" six weeks before an Olympia one year. But Steve had a passion for details and he demanded proof of certain obnoxious strength claims. Once after a curling contest, he hefted the dumbbells backstage and reported them to 'feel' many pounds less than had been announced. NO! Say it isn't so, Steve! Actually, I miss his input. He died one year ago today while eating in a restaurant.

Oct 22, 1929 Thomas Inch two hands anyhow of 276 lbs. see INCH 101 below.

Oct 22, 1948 John Grimek posed at Yarick's show in Oakland. He was to have competed in the 1948 Mr. USA, but the birth of his fourth child, Robert, altered that plan.

Oct 22, 1952 Wedding date for Reg & Mareon Park. Golden anniversary today!

Oct 22, 1954 Carla Dunlap born at 8:45 pm and won the Ms. Olympia on Oct 22, 1983, on her 29th birthday.

Oct 23, 1899 George Lurich jerked 199 lbs for ten reps

Oct 23, 1937 Edward Aston lifted Apollo's flour sack, though the sack may have been much lighter than the extra heavy sack that Apollo saved for his Friday night shows. Pullum wrote that the sack "was much below the usual weight 'Apollo' lifted". Modern strongmen no longer employ this feat because with the advent of self-rising flour the feat is much easier. [sorry]

Oct 24, 1935 Paul Wynter born. Competed at the NABBA Universe nine times, winning the overall pro title in 1960 and 1966. His Wynter of Discontent came in 1956 when in his inaugural competition in the amateur division of the NABBA U he won his class but not the overall. He placed second the next year, then in 1958 he again won his class, so before switching to the pro division in 1959, Paul never won the amateur title.

Oct 25, 1866 Prof. Theodore Siebert born; died Apr 12, 1961. Sig Klein wrote of the professor that he "actually formulated progressive weight training in a series of exercises, such as the curl, press, squat, etc. before 1900". Siebert witnessed Hack performed 50 reps with 110 lbs in the Hack lift in 1902- and that was when Hack meant Hack-hands behind the back TOUCHING EACH OTHER, bar descending to near the heels (Hacke=heels). The modern Hack lift is often little more than a deadlift with the bar behind the back. Any machine designed for squatting where the bar is above the butt cannot by definition be a hack squat machine- but this error has crept in and lodged for so long that a fight to keep these terms proper is like swimming upstream, and makes a body feel like Salmon Rushdie. [sorry]

The Prof. also believed that a good lifter should be able to jerk about 50% more than he could press. By the time the press fizzled into oblivion in 1972, this ratio had also vanished.

In his later years, he fell on hard times and an appeal was issued in the Chicago Bodybuilder magazine to aid him.

Oct 25, 1948 Ronald Walker died; born Dec 22, 1909

Oct 25, 1952 Jim Park won Mr. World at the Met in Philadelphia. This event was originally subtitled a Mr. Universe in connection to being 'World's Most Perfectly Developed Athlete'. John Grimek guest posed; Frank Stanahan drove light, hollow golf balls into the audience, Paul Anderson squatted with 605 lbs.

Park won the tall class, Roy Hilligenn the medium, and Yas Kuzuhara the short. The overall one would think would have involved those three men, but Jack Delinger who placed second in the medium class scored more points than Yas, so he placed third in the overall.

Often, Yas was spelled Yaz, and I do not know which is correct

Oct 25, 1964 Andreas Munzer born; died Mar 15, 1996. He competed in 17 IFBB contests with his best placing a couple of seconds in both the 1993 Night of Champions and the 1993 German Grand Prix.

Oct 26, 1909 Maxick arrived in London. Before he took this stage name he was Max Sick, hardly a marquee draw for a strongman! He had his eye set on competing against Thomas Inch when he hit foggy London. My idea of having photos of gravesites in the gallery with directions to locations so that respects could be given, is thwarted in many important instances such as Maxick, who was cremated.

Oct 26, 1923 Clancy Ross born. I remember reading all those years ago that Clancy's shoulder width was 36", and I believed it! Actually 24" is extremely broad. He won the 1948 Mr. USA, and around that time appeared in a movie short called "So You Want Muscles". Clancy was also Mr. America 1945.

RED PENCIL HISTORY:

Side note: For many years, Arnold Schwarzenegger's Encyclopedia of Bodybuilding had an incorrect date for Clancy's Mr. America victory. When the book was revised a few years ago, the mistake remained, as did several other factual errors, a situation I pointed out to some people involved.

Word was that Arnold wanted the text correct, and was not pleased that the book had been rushed into print for the Christmas season.

Bottom line: I was hired to correct the history section. So, if you own the hardback revised version and the date for Clancy's Mr. America win is incorrect, you have the edition before correction. If your hardback revised copy has 1945 for his Mr. America win, you have the corrected version. The following soft cover editions are also correct. There are other telltale passages as well but this one point will guide you.

So why does my name not appear on the credits page? When submitting the corrections, I considered suggesting that my name be added to the credits page, but figured, incorrectly as it turned out, that the publishers would do this. They did not. So how do I prove the above paragraphs are true? If it were important enough, I would ask that my name be added, but I do have my copy of the revised text, signed by Arnold thanking me for helping, and I did cash that nice paycheck, after I photocopied it. Now you know the rest of the story.

Oct 26, 1968 Tom Prince born

Oct 26, 1968 Monica Brant born. Fitness model who graced the covers of many magazines because of her beauty and shape.

Oct 27, 1906 Dick Bachtell born; died Nov 27, 1990

Oct 27, 1918 Virginia Stanley born. She would marry Roland Essmaker on Oct 31, 1942, but his death on Oct 3, 2002 stopped them from celebrating what would have been their 60th wedding anniversary.

Oct 27, 1951 A name that appears often in physique competition in the 1950s was Walt Cuzzimano, and on this date he became Mr. New Jersey

Oct 27, 1956 Reg Lewis was named Mr. Olympics.

Oct 27, 1962 Charles Clairmonte born. He may be one of the more underrated bodybuilders in recent years. In NABBA competiton the won the amateur Universe in 1986, and the pro in 1988, 1989, 1990. His IFBB debut was the 1993 Night of Champions, placing 4th- the same year his only four IFBB wins came via some Grand Prix events.

Oct 27, 1963 Charles Jurden won Strongest Man in Oklahoma. He was also the first man to win the Mr. Olympia- though not the IFBB version of the Mr. Olympia

Oct 28, 1933 Sig Klein sets five professional weightlifting records. Weighing 153.25 lbs, he did a two arm pullover and press of back with 288; two arm military press from behind the neck, 206; two arm crucifix with dumbbells, 63.25 left hand, 63.5 right hand, which was done coming down from above in strict style for a total of 126.75 lbs; in the one arm stiff-legged side press, 174.25. Then then final lift performed for ten reps with each arm was the 'see-saw' press with a pair of 100 lb dumbbells.

Oct 29, 1916 Les Stockton born and today celebrates birthday number 86- though doctors earlier this year had told him that his cancer would probably take him about Jun of 2002. Happiest of birthdays to you, Les!

Oct 29, 1929 Goerner two hands deadlift 793.66 lbs- a record which stood until 1969

Oct 29, 1949 Wedding date for Jim Park and Ethel Nichols

Oct 29, 1954 Henry Gray carried the 340 pound Dinnie stone 18 yards, but could not lift the 445 pound Dinnie stone.

Oct 29, 1966 Wedding date for Larry Scott and Rachel Ichikawa

Oct 30, 1892 Charles Atlas born; died Dec 23, 1972

Oct 30, 1948 Sam Loprinzi opened his gym at 414 S.E. Grand Ave in Portland, OR. His early inspiration came from watching a performance of Clevio Massimo. Sam died at home Oct 12, 1996. Four years before that MuscleMag mentioned that he was still working out with his training partner of 60 years, George Pavlich.

Oct 30, 1965 Arnold Schwarzenegger won Jr. Mr. Europe, and met Franco Columbu for the first time.

Oct 30, 1966 Mia Finnegan born. Mia, in addition to be a top fitness competitor, is the grandniece of Sig Klein.

Oct 31, 1930 Bill Pearl born, so today becomes age 72! Bill competed very seldom, but when he did, look out! 1953 Mr. California and 1953 Mr. America and 1953 NABBA Mr. Universe, amateur division.

In 1956 he returned to win the pro Mr. USA, and the NABBA Pro Universe, the latter which he also won at regular intervals in 1961, 1967, and 1971.

In a database that I have not updated in the last couple of years, Bill reappeared on the cover of Ironman after a longer gap than anyone else: Jul 1953, then on the rear cover in Nov 1986.Not sure if that remains the longest appearance gap.

Oct 31, 1942 Wedding of Roland and Virginia Essmaker.

INCH 101: part 20

On Oct 19, 1957 Inch had his bell at the Mr. Universe contest in London He was age 75 then, though the report in H&S says 76, 'This great old timer who has trod the pages of strongmanism for many years got a lot of praise and a good deal of laughter from the appreciative audience. Scottish lifter John Gallacher (sic) got the prize for the best attempt'.

In H&S Oct 21, 1933 page 500 Inch writes to the mag to clarify that the bell used recently at Leeds was NOT the challenge (172) bell, but the competition (140) bell. He further claims that the 172 "for 30 years has withstood every effort of challengers to lift it from the ground.' Other passages from the mags indicate otherwise, of course, but perhaps Inch was banking on what many writers bank on- the ignorance of the reader regarding the history of the situation being discussed. 30 years would indicate that the 172 had been around since 1903. Perhaps Inch was speaking in general terms, because it appears the 172 was not manufactured until circa 1906.

Oct 22, 1929 was the day Inch performed a two dumbbells anyhow of 276 lbs via 220 in one hand and 56 in the other- this at age 47. Also in Inch's dumbell competition, a man named Newman won with four reps in the jerk. This would be the 140 lb bell not the 172, and two hands were allowed to clean the bell. I am uncertain when Inch first retired the 172- it appears to have been 1931, even though he had been holding his competitions with the 140 before that time. And he may have brought the 172 out of retirement during World War II, but that is also vague.

Oct 19, 1957 Now to add confusion comes the 153 lb Inch bell, affectionately known as the middleweight dumbell (are we to infer there were three bells, and that this at 153 was 'midway' from the 140 to the 172? Only rarely does Inch mention his 75 bell hollow bell. Please keep in mind that the 172 had a diameter of handle which was 2.38", but the others may have had 2.47 or 2.5 inches diameter- hardly discernable with the naked eye from a distance of a few feet. I'm rambling- so to the point.

"The Inch middleweight dumb-bell [153 lbs] was then brought on and only two men, John Gallacher [John Gallagher?] and Jacobus Jacobs, succeeding in lifting it off the floor- John lifting as high as the thighs. Later, backstage however, Jacobs lay on the floor, pulled it on to his chest, stood up and then hoisted it over his head. This info from the Reg Park Journal, which shortly thereafter mentioned the weight at 155, not 153 lbs, and said the handle was 2.25". Give me strength! Further, 'The heavyweight [172] Inch dumb-bell is now in our warehouse for all to attempt' Park offered. Also at the warehouse was the Inch practice handle, which remains in the possession of David Prowse to this day.

[please see the photo of Curt Bolding with the three bells in the gallery by clicking on the intro page above. Which bell is the 152- green or black?]

Oct 25, 1910 Inch was among those present to start the formation of the British Weight- Lifters' Association. He was elected chairman of the pro division, and Tom Pevier served in that capacity for the amateurs. For 1911 and 1912 the following were named as the official lifts for amateurs: Right Hand Clean, with jerk or bent press allowed from the shoulder. Same with left hand. And, the Two Hands Clean and Jerk with Barbell. This article in The British Amateur Weightlifter and Bodybuilder also traces the split between the pro and amateurs sections and how the names evolved. By the way, 3 months later Inch was elected Treasurer of the Pro division.

H&S Oct 27, 1928 Inch wrote two articles: A Visit to the CWLC; and, My Great Prize Scheme.

Roark Reference #23:

Oct 4, 1985 Letter from Charles A. Smith to Joe Roark

[about Joe Weider]

He has purchased the huge painting of Sandow by Aubrey Hunt, the British artist and a member of the Royal Academy. It is around eight feet tall. How much he paid for it and how he tracked it down etc etc I have no idea but I have written to ask him. Hunt isn't what one would call a 'Great Artist' but produced a lot of Victorian stuff in which there was a 'moral'. In one of the most sexually corrupt eras of the times, they had to talk about morals- but in those days every picture had to tell a story, or 'point to a moral'.

[regarding Weider's age]

His reply to this- the letter dated SEPTEMBER 13th is- and I quote his exact words- 'REMEMBER CHARLIE I AM SIXTY FOUR TODAY".

Liederman DID have his own mag and guess what the name was- MUSCLE BUILDER. It was where Joe got the name for HIS mag from. I can only assume that Earle let him have the title to the old mag which went out of circulation when Liederman went down the tubes financially.

[about steroids]

I had said that these were in use by a Doctor Voronoff in Europe in the 1920's. I should have said that TESTOSTERONE was the substance used. Synthetic steroids didn't come into being until the late thirties early forties. Sorry and all that.

[about Jowett]

Klein has said that he saw Jowett do a one hand military press with a 100 lb dumbell easily and when Klein says MILITARY, military it WAS. Also I don't think that lifting such a weight [100 pounds] anvil by the horn would be all that difficult. 168 however is an entirely different matter. There is no doubt in my mind that Jowett was, or had been, a very powerful man. He was in his sixties when I met him for the first time. But even them to my skilled and discerning eye he was strong. But we also have the fact that Jowett told a lot of bullshit lies. Frinstance. I once wrote him- was doing an article in which I was quoting various lifters about the 'Greatest feat of strength I've ever seen'. Jowett wrote back about Angus McAskill and his anchor lifting feat and it was told as if Jowett was THERE- which was impossible. Jowett also spoke of meeting Klein's dad-in-law Atilla- which was IMPOSSIBLE. In fact George Fuisdale was the Baron Munchausen of the Iron Game. But be that as it may. In spite of his larcenous and Carnival Barker proclivities, I liked Jowett and he liked me.

Yes, he did have a tremendous pair of hands. I have met but two other men who had hands as big and as powerful as Jowett's- one was Ian Mac Batchelor and the other is a professor at the University of Texas, Charles Umlauf, a world famous sculptor who has tremendous hands and fingers. Umlauf know- rather knew- quite well during my time in law enforcement.

No, I never saw Batchelor bend a railroad spike. ..Another trick he had was to place his hand palm down on a table and let you press down on any finger. He could raise the finger you were pressing down on with all your might, EASILY. [Roark note: this seems impossible]

I am told that XXX is a phony, claiming a doctorate that he obtained from one of those degree mills. Frankly I believe that his claims of doing FIVE ONE ARM PRESSES with 400 is a dolorous dump of donkey dust. How did he do it. When did he do it. Who saw him do it. Who weighed the weights. What sort of apparatus was used. POSSIBLY a BLOCK AND TACKLE. I have heard nothing good about this man�but when it comes down to the 'Let's see you do it before officials' there's always some excuse as to why it can't be done right now etc etc etc. Toe nails or hair achin' or something like that.

[about Robert Kennedy] He admitted- clearly an honest bloke- that he wasn't aware the bench press use was so wide spread. He also asked me to tell him more about Voronoff and said that he thought XXX, XXX, and even XXX use steroids. Kennedy also told me that he was from England originally, from East Anglia, then moving to London and living there twelve years before immigrating to Canada

I will be most interested in what XXX has to say about XXX. Personally I think it is wasted space and, in my opinion, the guy who 'knocks' 'knocks' is the one always on the outside. If ever there was a case of the pot calling the kettle black, you have it here.

Weider has said he will TRY and visit me and Austin this November after some meet in Belgium or some place. I shall believe it when I see it. But he DID keep his promise to visit me some two or so years ago. When he left me he had TEARS IN HIS EYES. HONEST.

Best wishes to you and yours, Chas.

Letter Oct 13, 195 from Charles A. Smith to Joe Roark

As for a copy of Les Rois De La Force, forget it. They are as scarce as virgins in a Hong Kong whorehouse. [Roark note: Actually I have one now. The book, not the virgin]

I have seen excerpts from XXX's latest movie offering. As an actor, the Leaning Tower of Pompous is a fair cook, and he can't cook worth a pinch of donkey dust. But I guess it will be a success since it's the type of garbage fed the public in ever increasing flood these days.

Look up the story of Doug Hepburn being CHEATED out of the Best Lifter Trophy at the Junior Nationals in either 1953 or 1952. As told by XXX it is a complete and utter falsehood and fabrication. How he related it NEVER happened.

Sig Klein and his gym. Yes, I met him there and worked out there. He was always gracious and kind to me, letting me workout there WITH full use, including free towels. The circumstances of our meeting were thus. The cruiser I was on had been badly damaged in the Battle of Crete. For some time after, we were in the Indian Ocean running convoy duty to the Suez Canal area for Australia and New Zealand troops. We were supposed to be repaired in the Singapore dockyard, and, indeed, were in their dry dock in preparation. But the merchant ship bringing out all the supplies and equipment needed to get us back into full and efficient operation was sunk by German commerce raiders, so they finally got us a berth in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

Somehow or other, Ray Van Cleef heard I was in the city- how I never found out- and told Sig who expressed a desire to meet me. I went along to his gym and was greeted like a long lost son. Sig couldn't do enough for me- took me out to dinner and lunch, gave me a couple of his beer steins-something absolutely unheard of by anyone before- and had me workout at his place. ALL FREE OF CHARGE. I met Frank Leight and Santo Leone there and others. Sig made things easy for me at a very difficult time in my life. I had been through a lot of shit and lost a lot of friends. So I can say only good things about Siggie. And, whenever I've been in NYC I have always gone and visited him.

Joe XXX. Never knew him, that is met him, although I knew OF him. I have been TOLD he was a bit of a schmuckler a La XXX in the latter's palmfest days. He would use shots of bodybuilders claiming them as pupils. I have been TOLD he was interested only in what he could make out of the sport rather than contributing anything to it. How strong he was or what lifts he did I haven't the foggiest.

Yes I've met Steve XXX and if I never meet him again it will be too soon. For a Mr. America he was the weakest ever. But I shall say no more until our anticipated meeting.

Gama as great as they say? Was he! There was talk in 1910, when he was over in England to 'wrestle' Zybysco, of matching him with Hackenschmidt. The latter worthy said, 'First let me see him working out'. And did and thereafter just didn't want to know- in U.S. parlance- wanted nothing to do with him.

Charlie Coster. A personal friend. When Joe Weider brought him over to work for him, what Joe didn't know was that Charlie and I were pals and had worked together in the same bank in London � the Midland Bank- as messengers. Charlie won the Mr. Britain contest, had a pretty good build and fabulous calves. Joe brought him over as a 'hedge' against Horvath and I. Charlie is dead. Died about two years ago at the age of seventy. I wrote to his wife, Jean, a couple of times before she finally answered. She told me he had had a heart attack, had been taken to the hospital and seemingly 'stabilized' and then had suddenly popped off. I know he left Weider but have never found out why. Perhaps YOU may know what I don't. [Roark note: Nope]

The so-called 'Doctor' XXX- he also claimed to be a Bishop in some esoteric sect religious- did have a part in writing the Atlas course in company with Charles Roman, Atlas's 'manager'. The STORY goes that there was some discussion as to what apparatus to use when XXX suggested not using any. So someone came up with Dynamic Tension. XXX wasn't a doctor at all, but a sharp Midlands English Tent medicine man. He too is deceased.

As for Hoffman being able to break chains with his chest, this too is a load of puppy poo. This is one of the old time circus strong man fakes and a two or three minute study should be sufficient to prove it CAN'T be done unless a cotton link chain one tenth of a millimeter thick is used.

The weather here is bloody miserable. It is not only hot- up in the high eighties but almost 100 per cent humid too. And here I am without a single solitary beer in the house sweating my glutes off. What a life. Best regards to you and yours, Chas

Next IronHistory will be Nov 1.