Iron History

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01/29/2009 Entry: "1/20/2009 - A Letter from Charles A. Smith to Joe Part One, May 12, 1988"

Letter from Charles A. Smith to Joe Roark,, May 12, 1988, part 1.

Dear Joe,
Thanks for yours post dated May 9th reaching me here yesterday the 11th. Thanks also for the enclosed cutting about which I have some comments including "what a chicken shit thing to do'. Here was a man with his master's degree in exercise physiology, a licensed physical therapist and in doctoral candidate school, pulling off a stunt that any two bit thief and small time crook would have laughed at. Padding a payroll. I had heard a rumor that he had been fired for some sexual peccadillo- flashing at some young co-eds I was told. When I broached the subject with the Reverend, he refused to discuss it saying that 'there were too many rumors floating around as it was'. My feeling is that, in part, the bloke mentioned in the news cutting was another victim of the American drive for money. YOU TOO CAN BE PRESIDENT. YOU TOO CAN MAKE IT RICH. BE A MILLIONAIRE, ROLL IN DOUGH, etc etc. What a pity that a guy with so much talent made such an asshole of himself. Goes to show that education is no guarantee that common sense or integrity comes with a degree.

Re Randall Strossen. I haven't heard from him yet. I don't mind you giving my address to people so long as you are selective- that is exercise some discretion. I wouldn't want it to get into the hands of any Moonbeam From The Larger Lunacy- the Sri Chinmoy crowd. I just don't want to be bothered by these bloody idiots.

I have also heard rumors- did I mention this to you- re MD folding. It seems -so it is RUMORED- that Dietz wants to cut and run, while Johnny Terpak wants to keep the mag going, recognizing and correctly that there has to be a catalogue for York products. Dietz it would seem is all for cashing in his chips and hiking it with no muss no fuss, and live happily ever after- for the short time he has left. I understand his ticker isn't in too good a shape and his health wanting in some respects.

Parington. No, it was PARTINTON*** T. Bowen Partington, who had set himself up as a sexologist of some low sort, have lectures around the country to which ladies flocked with parted lips and heaving bosoms hoping to listen to something real spicy and getting only a double entendre filled act in which lots was hinted at and nothing specific said. By the way, Partington's nickname was 'The Bolton Corner Boy'. Don't ask me why. I'll try to find out. But this is the name he was known by when he was writing for H&S. He wrote, I believe, from the late 20's to Christ knows when. Partington was known as a 'swordsman' of renown, a bit of a sexual athlete. Both Walsh and Clark were part of that ever present seamy side of our sport. We will always have them- out for the buck and to hell with you if you didn't like it. My suggestion to you is that you get the VERY EARLY copies of H&S. It will help you realize how bloody phony the Wanking Wunder, of the Hills that are wooded, is. Some of those old H&S's, circa 1905 to 1910 would show you how wide spread the women's physical culture movement was. They had tennis clubs, cycling clubs, gymnastic clubs, club swinging clubs ad infinitum. AND women's body beautiful contests.

Balik called me over last weekend. I had written to him to suggest that he get Grimek to write a series of articles about building the various body parts, stressing one on calf development and one on posing. In my opinion Grimek would do much betters at this sort of stuff than he would writing about Old Timers. When he does this latter, somehow or the other Grimek always creeps into the article like King Charles' head - read David Copperfield by Dickens and how Mr. Dick tried to write but always got King Charles' head into what he wrote. Thus the stuff was more about Grimek than about this or that old timer.

Bollocks calls and says that was a TERRIFIC IDEA, BUT OF COURSE WE HAD ALREADY THOUGHT OF IT to which I said bullshit under my breath. He also tells me he had been to Woodland Hills and had seen the Wanking Wunder who, so says Balik, was very nice and very friendly. Balik seemed quite cheery and repeated what he has before- that mag sales via subs and news stands are increasing. So my thought is that if he was in any way in trouble, he'd cut his losses with no further ado. All Balik has to do is to mention my name to the Wanking Wunder and say, slyly, 'I'll bet SMITH knows all the secrets and where the bodies are buried' and he'd have no more trouble with the Brothers. The worst thing one can do with them is to show you are afraid or intimidated.

I'd like to see someone TRY and take advantage of me. Remember I have been through the Wanker's mill and I know advantage taking when I see it. It is just being selfish if I have something I don't want, yet rather than give it away, sell it. For chrissakes what can they be worth [Power Digest magazines]. There's really nothing worthwhile in them.

Getting back to Partington. He was always writing about the danger of hand jobs, but stopped short of telling you it would make you blind. He always said a lot without saying anything.

If it isn't generally known that I trained and coached Hepburn to a world title, then either people have bad memories or don't care to remember. But if that Strossen bloke is gonna write an article about Hepburn, then he had better mention the part I played or blood will be on the moon.

continued next week...