Joe Roark's IronHistoryArchives.com
The HUGE library of Iron History compiled by Joe Roark.
Welcome to Iron History with Joe Roark!
Joe Roark has been studying the iron game since 1957, and by 1970 began a systematic gathering of information on index cards. By the time his first computer was acquired, there were several hundred thousand references to be typed into it.
For a few years he published his own newsletter called MuscleSearch: The Roark Report. By 1992 he was appointed as the IFBB Men's Bodybuilding Historian, and began writing about history for FLEX in his column Factoids. For ten years he contributed to Iron Game History from the U of Texas at Austin. Recently he also began writing All Our Yesterdays for FLEX.
His passion has always been the period between 1880 and 1920, with particular emphasis on the oldtime strongmen of that era. Joe will be offering bits of history for Cyberpump once per week, and the text will be relevant to the dates of the calendar for those events of yesteryear relevant to the coming week.
In this column, readers will also be able to ask Joe questions or comment on his posts. Note: The comments are solely for interaction between Joe and the readers only -- not reader to reader.
4/29/05: Pat Casey, Notes on His Career, compiled by Joe Roark
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Pat Casey, notes on his career, compiled by Joe Roark
Born July 15, 1939
Died April 22, 2005 age 65Pat's landmark 615 pound bench press came on March 25, 1967 at age 27 years, 8 months, 1 week, 3 days.
On June 29, 1957 Pat Casey, age 17, placed fifth at the Mr. Teenage America contest held in Berkeley, California.
1. Mike Ferraro
2. Don Watson
3. Bob Jaramillo
4. Freeman (first name I do not know)
5. Pat Casey
One of the physique judges was Bill Pearl, who would become a life-long friend.So far as I am aware that was his only physique competition- and although after his famous career in bench pressing had ended he thought about physique competition again, he did not compete again.
Below are some references from various magazines- some are mere mentions, or paragraphs, some are articles.
Note: # = paragraph(s)
Physical Power magazine:
Jan 1962 p 34 # world record in bench 514.25 on Dec 2, 1961 at the Pasadena YMCAJul 1962 p 26 # photo 517.5 bench press on May 26, 1962
Jan 1963 p 11 # photo heavy bench
Oct 1963 p 30 # photo missing a 550 bench press (made 540)
Ironman magazine:
Sep 1958 p 34 # age 18 weighing 215 benched 450 with a 22" wide gripMay 1959 p 32 A Training Session With Pat Casey, the West Coast Teenage Sensation-Frederick
-photo just failing with 480, but hopes to succeed with 500 before his 20th birthday, which would be July 15, 1959. He did not break 500 in the bench (504) until Feb 9, 1960.
-photo benching 500; he uses a dead stop at the bottom
-photo pulling two 180 pound dumbbells for a set of five reps on incline press
-in the standing press ('military' press) he has made two reps with 280 .
-squats once per week with sets of 425.Dec 1963 p 25 # full page photo
Mar 1992 p 184 Pat Casey's 600 pound Bench Program- McCreary
Lifting News magazine:
Apr 1961 p 8 An inter-gym bench contest Feb 25, 1961 was his FIRST CONTEST, and he won the heavyweight class with a 460 pound bench at 265 pounds bodyweight.
-was just getting over a bad cold and "His style was the best of all the contestants and he narrowly missed 480 twice. His training best is 494 with a two second count."Feb 1962 p 2 He benched 515 while weighing 259.
P 6 At the 1962 Southern California Powerlifting Championships he benched 500 at 261 bodyweight.Apr 1962 p 7 On Mar 17, 1962 in Santa Monica at the Southern California Squat contest he squatted 575. Attempted 600 on fourth attempt, failed.
Jul 1962 p 7 Benched 517.25 pounds at Leo Stern's contest.
Sep 1962 p 4 photo # made 525 bench in training
Mar 1963 p 3 Photo/story at Southern California Powerlifting Championships where he benched 530, curled 200 in perfect style, and deep squatted 580. The bench was a new national record.
Sep 1963 p 6 Recent bench # is new world record of 540
Jan 1964 p 7 #just failed a 560 bench, thinking incorrectly he was trying 550.
Mar 1964 p 3 # recently got 5 singles with 540 in the bench
Jul 1964 p 11 Photo preparing to try 560 bench- did not make it #; is reported doing five or six singles with 540.
Mar 1965 Cover photo
Apr 1965 p 17 # On Apr 17, 1965 at Mr. California contest he benched 570; just missed 580. [Karl Norberg age 75 made 430 pounds!]
Jul 1965 p 13 # photo benching 570, just failed with 580; bodyweight 'over' 280
Jan 1966 p 12 At the Long Beach Powerlifting meet Aug 7, 1965 at YMCA won heavyweight class via 530 - 680 - 645 = 1855 (bodyweight 295) His 530 bench weighed in at 548, and his 680 squat weighed in at 698.75
P 16 Oct 23, 1965 at San Pedro Powerlifting Meet won heavyweight class via 550 - 660 - 650 = 1860 [Osmo Kiiha got 320-410-470 = 1,200]Jun 1966 p 9 # photo benching 552.5 at a meet in San Luis Obispo
Jul 1966 Cover photo squatting 774.5
p 16 # photo bench 571.75, then moments later made 592 "with little trouble"
P 16 On May 21, 1966 he won heavyweight class at the San Diego Invitational Powerlifting Meet via 592 - 774.5 - 635 = 2001.5Dec 1966 p 9 # benched 580, Squat 800 [face value 805], deadlift 650 for 2035 total; almost benched 605
Jan 1967 p 15 Wins heavyweight class Oct 15, 1966 at Los Angeles YMCA at the Los Angeles Invitational Powerlift Championships; two photos: failing with 605 bench, and squatting with 800(?)
Winning via 580 - 805 - 650 = 2035Apr 1967 p 10 # 600 pound bench press and almost 615 in Los Angeles
May 1967 p 7 # in Southern California, benched 615.5 pounds. His back was bothering him so he deadlifted only 650 and squatted 700.
Jun 1967 p 5 pho # benched 600; then moments late made 615
Dec 1967 p 18 # retires from competition; working full time in his Pioneer Health Club
Mar 1968 p 6 # bodyweight 265, will re-enter bodybuilding
May 1968 p 12 # bodyweight 255, can still bench 475
Health & Strength magazine:
Jan 10, 1963 p 46 photo doing dumbbell bench with 200 in each handMuscle Builder magazine:
Feb 1960 p 44 # age 19 stood 6' tall, weighed 240, hopes to bench press 500 before age 21. Has done 480 with close grip, and has benched with a 180 pound dumbbell in each hand on incline for 5 repsOct 1966 p 34 Pat Casey - by Tanny
May 1967 p 36 Larry Trailor Challenges Pat Casey- by Tyler shows photo of Larry benching 500
P 38-39 Five sequence photos 800 pound squat
Sep 1967 p 34 Secrets of Pat Casey's Squat Power- as told to Tanny bodyweight 320; photo squatting 775 while weighing 312. Has recently done 835 in training and is aiming for 900. In 1966 he was intending to drop to 220 for physique contests. Operates the Pioneer Health Club at 15720 Pioneer Boulevard in Norwalk, California.
Muscular Development magazine:
Mar 1964 p 14 "I'm Going to Bench Press 600 pounds"- as told to PearlFeb 1966 p 13 photos attempting to bench 550 and 570, also photo of him deadlifting and squatting
Sep 1966 p 14 Becomes first man to break the 2000 pounds total in Powerlifting-J. Terlazzo
Oct 1966 p 30 Pat Casey sets Powerlifting Records- Mozee
Sep 1967 p 26 Pat Casey Crashes the 600 pound Barrier - 615.5 pounds - by R. Borden
Feb 1960 p 32 photo with his wife Carol
Strength & Health magazine:
Jul 1963 p 30 Pat Casey- King of the Bench Pressers - PearlNov 1965 p 24 Shoulder training for Bulk & Power- as told to Pearl
Dec 1965 p 71 his 'West Coast ' column debuts, featuring bits of news from the west coast iron scene.
May 1967 p 37 photo benching 600, failed at 615
Powerlifting USA magazine:
May 1981 p 28 Pat Casey for the Hall of Fame- VuonoApr 1983 p 70 Pat Casey- Vuono
Apr 1985 p 16 Casey at the Bench, part 1 - Everson
May 1985 p 14 Casey at the Bench, part 2 - Everson
Oct 1990 p 26 More From Ken Leistner on Pat Casey - Leistner
MILO magazine:
Jan 1994 p 16 Pat Casey and the Bench- WilhelmThe Iron Game (book) by David Webster, see page 109
The Super Athletes (book) by David P. Willoughby, see pages 128,129,130,131,133,136,137
The Iron Master magazine by Osmo Kiiha:
Apr 1998 p 28 Bench Pressed 600 in the 1960s - by WeisThe 44 page manual by Bruce Wilhelm: PAT CASEY: King of the Powerlifters, may be purchased from Bruce Wilhelm Exercise Equipment, P.O.Box 2269, Daly City, CA 94017. Price is $15.95 plus $4.50 shipping and handling, but please check first with Bruce for availability.
There are other specific dates and lifts mentioned in Wilhelm's book which any student of iron history will find helpful.
A reminder for those not members of the free forum at ironhistory.com:
Please sign up by using your real name and join in our discussions- if you enjoy my weekly column here, it would be reasonable to think you will enjoy the forum. See you there!Posted by TheEditor @ 09:40 PM CST
4/22/2005: Some lifting contests of Bill March as reported in Lifting News
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Some lifting contests of Bill March as reported in Lifting News: by Joe Roark
Bill March was one of America�s great weightlifters! Here as a handy print-out we present a list of his contests as I have compiled them from the pages of Lifting News magazine. All weights are in pounds.
As always, additions or corrections are welcome!Feb 1960 p 6 Jan 9, 1960 at Philadelphia Open in 181 class, 2nd place
250 � 235 � 315 = 800Feb 1960 p 3 Apr 2, 1960 at Empire State Open at St. John�s Recreation Center, NYC Dept. of Parks in 181 class, 3rd place
230 � 235 � 300 + 765Mar 1960 p 6 Apr 9, 1960 at 10th National YMCA Chps in Philadelphia 181 class, win
255- 230- 315= 800Jun 1961 p 8 Jun 23-24, 1961 Sr. Nationals in Santa Monica, CA. 198 class, win
310- 280- 360= 950Jul 1961 p 5 May 20, 1961 Jr. Nationals in York 198 class, win
315*- 290*- 370*= 975* (* = a new junior national record)Sep 1961 p 3 BAWLA in London 198 class
292- 000- 000= 000Feb 1962 p 5 Jan 13, 1962 Philadelphia Open in 198 class, win
300- 280- 360= 940
p 8 Dec 2, 1961 at Roland Davis Memorial in Washington ,D.C.
at the Central YMCA as an extra lifter
300- 290- 350= 950Mar 1962 p 5 Feb 24, 1962 Canada-USA telephone match 198 class, win
305- 270- 360= 935May 1962 p 8 Apr 7, 1962 at Empire State met, NYC, 198 class, win
310- 280- 360= 950Sep 1962 p 6 Worlds WL Chps in Budapest, Hungary 198 class, 3rd place
325- 297.5- 391.25= 1013.75Jan 1964 p 5 Oct 19, 1963 Trenton, Ontario at North American
Tournament 198 class, win
340- 290- 390= 1020Feb 1964 p 4 Dec 14, 1963 Lone Star Invitational in Dallas 198 class, win
325*- 300*- 380* = 1005* (* = new meet record)Mar 1964 p 4 Jan 25, 1964 Tri-State WL Chps Passaic-Clifton Y in Heavy
335- 000- 000= 000Jun 1964 p 21 Jan 11, 1964 Philadelphia Open Heavy class, 2nd place with 995 total
p 21 Oct 26, 1963 Open WL at Camden Y Heavy class, win 1040 total
p 21 Nov 16, 1963 Young Men's Hebrew Assoc Heavy class, win 1045 total
p 24 Sr. Nationals in Chicago at Lane Tech High School 198 class, win
335- 300- 375= 1010Jul 1964 p 23 May 9, 1964 at Barnegat, NJ, Elementary School Heavy class, win
350- 300- 390= 1040
p 24 Feb 8, 1964 at Jr. Middle Atlantic Chps Heavy class, win 1040
p 24 Mar 7, 1964 at Wilmington YMCA Heavy class win, 1025
Oct 1964 p 20 Aug 21-22, 1964 at Olympic Tryouts in NYC 198 class, win
330.5- 292- 000= 000
[ the Feb 8 event above is listed in Lifting News incorrectly as Feb 22]Dec 1964 p 13 Jul 19, 1964 at Maryland Penitentiary Heavy class, 2nd place
330- 290- 390= 1010Apr 1965 p 21 Mar 13, 1965 at Sr. Middle Atlantic Chps in York Heavy class, win
320- 290- 380= 990Aug 1965 p 15 Jun 11, 1965 Sr. Nationals 198 class, win
340- 290- 390 [395.5] = 1020 (total is new meet record)Jan 1966 p 6 At Worlds WL Chps in Teheran, Iran misses all his presses
p 10 Sep 25, 1965 at Centre Maisonnevve, Montreal 198 class, win
340- 300- 370= 1010Jul 1966 p 22 May 7, 1966 at Region 1 meet Newport News, VA win Heavy
325- 285- 400= 1010Jul 1967 p 17 Pennsylvania State WL Chps in Philadelphia Heavy class, win
325- 280- 360= 965Posted by TheEditor @ 06:46 PM CST
4/15/05: A Reference List of Contests for Chet Yorton
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Chet Yorton's bodybuilding competition history:
A printable reference:
Compiled by Joe Roark
A=arms, b=back, l=legs, mm=most muscular, abs=abdominals, c=chestIn chronological order, winner in brackets:
[cannot verify but have seen mention that Chet won:
?? Mr. Milwaukee
?? Mr. Wisconsin (1961?)
?? Mr. Michigan & mm]Mar 27, 1960 - 2 AAU Mr. Mid States [Ralph Brunhart]
Apr 23, 1961 - 3 AAU Mr. Mid States [Harold Poole] 2 mm
May 20, 1961 - 2 AAU Jr. Mr. America, Midwest [Lou Wolter]
Jun 24, 1961 - 21 AAU Mr. America [Ray Routledge]
Apr 8, 1962 - 2nd place in mm in Mr. Mid States
Jun 3, 1962 - 21 AAU Mr. America [Joe Abbenda]
1963 - Win AAU Mr. San Pedro
Jan 11, 1964 - Wins AAU Mr. Los Angeles a,l,mm,2c,3b,2abs
Mar 21, 1964 - 2 AAU Mr. Southern California [Joe Nista]
May 9, 1964 - 3 AAU Mr. California, a [Joe Nista]
May 16, 1964 - Wins AAU Mr. Pacific Coast, mm
Sep 19, 1964 - 2 in tall class IFBB Mr. America [Harold Poole]
Sep 18, 1965 - 2 in tall class IFBB Mr. America, mm,b,l [Dave Draper]
Sep 17, 1966 - Wins tall class and overall IFBB Mr. America, a
Sep 24, 1966 - Wins tall class and overall NABBA Amateur Universe
Sep 27, 1975 - Wins tall class NABBA Pro Universe [Boyer Coe]
Sep 12, 1976 - 7 in WBBG Pro Mr. World [Tony Emmott]
Jul 23, 1977 guest poses at Chris Devin's PBBA contest in Bloomfield, NJ.
Sep 15, 1979 - 3 in WBBG Pro Mr. World [Tony Pearson]Posted by TheEditor @ 08:52 PM CST
4/8/05: Reference List to Articles and Publications
Thursday, April 7, 2005
Here is a sampling of various, smaller, publications which were mentioned in some of the magazines, as well as when some mainstream mags covered iron topics. Some of these titles are very rare.
SH PUBLICATIONS
Jul 1955 p 65 Walt Baptiste and wife pub "A very interesting
little newspaper called YOU" which concerned
spiritual and mental as well as physical @
Nov 1956 p 50 Aug 1956 TRUE had article "Secret of the sideshow
supermen"
Jun 1957 p 23 Feb 4, 1957 WALL STREET JOURNAL page 1 "Sinew seekers
lift bar bell sales high, bring boom to gyms"
p 23 Feb 11, 1957 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED "A big lift for fitness"
Sep 1957 p 25 May 25, 1957 SATURDAY EVENING POST on Muscle Beach
p 46 July issue of CHAMP highlights Paul Anderson's career
Apr 1958 p 58 Jan 1958 issue of MAN'S MAGAZINE. Harry Kurch's
"What you should know about weightlifting"
Sep 1958 p 54 HUDSON DISPATCH May 2, 1958 Weider promised to
stop publishing JEM and MONSIEUR
May 1959 p 48 MUSCLE BOY- pub in ACE paperback
p 48 March 1959 issue of MAD magazine parodied BBing
Oct 1959 p 45 May 1959 issue of TEEN magazine "Do you dig muscles?"
p 45 May 30, 1959 issue of SATURDAY EVENING POST on
Peter Dawkins
Nov 1959 p 48 The novel MUSCLE BEACH pub by Ira Wallach
p 48 Jun 8, 1959 issue of U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT on
systematic ex
Dec 1959 p 22 Sep 1959 SPORT about Tommy Kono "Strongman from Hawaii"
Oct 1960 p 22 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED article by Pete George (in summer
of 1960, which issue?)
Mar 1961 p 46 Dec 1960 POLICE GAZETTE on Louis Cyr
Aug 1961 p 23 NEW YORK DAILY NEWS May 14, 1961 about Sig Klein's
beer stein collection
Sep 1961 p 49 Apr 1961 AMERICAN VEGETARIAN-HYGIENEST John
McWilliams is on cover
Mar 1962 p 45 Recently featured Hackenschmidt in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
article "Lion in the ring"
May 1962 p 26 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED covered York Barbell Co. and Hoffman
Feb 1963 p 26 book: THE AMAZING SAMSON(ZASS)- by WAP
Sep 1963 p 26 PAGEANT mag cover York
Mar 1964 p 70 GOLF mag Jan 1964 2 pages on isometrics
IM PUBLICATIONS
Jan 1950 p 45 Chet Teegarden's monthly bulletin from YMCA in
Berkely, CA .15 cents
Mar 1950 p 44 March 1950 issue ESQUIRE by Karpovich
May 1950 p 20 @ intended monthly publication for Ironman
Oct 1950 p 45 Another plug for Teegarden's bulletin
Dec 1950 p 33 Ironman now becomes monthly with this issue [ but did
it ever, really, become monthly?]
p 36 VIVACIOUS WOMANHOOD begins as a woman's section of
Ironman mag and feautured Lynn Roebuck:
"...it is our hope that it will grow into a separate
magazine that will exceed in beauty and quality the
best of the men's magazines." Staff includes:
Peggy Gironda, Anne Laurie Willard, Beverly Crowle,
Peggy Redpath
Apr 1952 p 35 Color film: BODYBUILDERS from Spectrum Films Co. of
Cincinnati, OH
Jun 1952 p 35 "Irvin Johnson is now publishing his news bulletin
again"
Jul 1953 p 38 OAKLAND TRIBUNE write-up on John Davis by Alan Ward
Sep 1953 p 33 Pho @ his TV show HEALTHFULLY YOURS
Jan 1954 p 47 John Davis featured in EBONY and READER's DIGEST
May 1954 p 63 annc WEIGHTLIFTING NEWS from Ironman (was actually
titled LIFTING NEWS
Jul 1954 p 5 editorial about LIFTING NEWS- by subscription only
p 32 LIFTING NEWS 'postponed for a month'
Mar 1955 p 35 Dec 1954 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED on Norb Schemansky & Kono
Jan 1956 p 39 "There are quite a few mimeographed publications on
barbell work put out by the various clubs, gyms,
and districts." One was INTERMOUNTAIN WEIGHTING
NEWSLETTER edit by Dick Fowler 2814 Lemay Ave,
Salt Lake City 4, Utah.
p 54 May 1955 TRUE about Louis Cyr; ridiculous claims
Mar 1956 p 38 Barker's pub listed p 43 ad for such
Jul 1956 p 10 Music and lyrics by Hal Raywin of the song MUSCLE
BEACH sand by the Cardinals at Mr. USA
Sep 1956 p 43 May issue of BLUE BOOL mag
May 1959 p 35 George Kirkley, T. Zimmerman, Ben Helgott are to
begin a new strength mag called THE STRENGTH STHLETE
Jul 1959 p 37 Doug Hepburn "How to develop your bench press"
Dec 1959 p 37 News sheet from Lew Dick and Steve RappIM PUBLICATIONS
Apr 1960 p 35 Don Scott, Reg Lewis, and Sam Calhoun made a film
for the Groucho Marx show
p 62 new pub from Waly Marcyan and Tony Terlazzo
Jun 1960 p 31 May 2, 1960 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED on NCAA WL contest
Mar 1961 p 52 PHYSICAL FITNESS bulletin by RVC 1455 West San Carlos,
San Jose 26, California
Jul 1961 p 48 BOOK of STRENGTH by John Day Co. 210 Madison Ave,
NY 16, NY $3.50 192 pages
p 49 Recent issue of HOUSE BEAUTIFUL featured home gyms
Feb 1965 p 28 @ new magazine soon BODYBUILDING ILLUSTRATED by end
of Jan 1965 with Tom Minichiello as editor
Mar 1965 p 34 new magazine BODYBUILDERS by Tom Minichiello
GPO 1330, NY 10001, NY .50 per copy or $2 year
p 19 Ironman's new publication: THE CHRISTIAN CHALLENGER
is due out by middle of Feb 1965,
Box 10, Alliance, Nebr
Sep 1965 p 39 @ Dan Lurie coming out soon with new muscle mag
p 39 Ironman lost $5000 last year by publishing
LIFTING NEWS
Jul 1966 p 40 Tommy Kono's pamphlet on his life: "KONO LA
APLANDORA JAPONESA" from Commercial York, S.A.A.
Morelos No. 87, Mexico 1, D.F.
p 42 THE FLORIDA WEIGHTMAN by Donne Hale Boc 38-21
Miami, FL 33138
Feb 1968 p 44 THE FLORIDA WEIGHTMAN has ceased
Jan 1970 p 49 Bill Penner published BULLETINS
Sep 1972 p 51 Bill Starr's WEIGHTLIFTING JOURNAL P.O. Box 1077
Santa Monica, CA 90406
Sep 1977 p 42 FLORIDA BODYBUILDER by John mese 170 NE 99th St,
Miami Shores, FL
p 42 Bill Reynolds THE BODYBUILDING and POWERLIFTING NEWS
1413 West 215th St, Torrance, CA 90501
Sep 1979 p 36 Doris Barrilleaux SOUTHERN PHYSIQUE ASSOC
P.O. Box 937, Riverview, FL 33569
Jan 1983 p 94 POWER pub by Pete Samra and Clay Quinn
311 S. Osage, Independence, MO 64050, quarterly
Nov 1983 p 55 John Balik BODYBUILDING NEWS 16 pages, 6 issues year
for $12 Box 777 Santa Monica, CA 90406. Will be out
ten days after the contests- except Mr. O
Jan 1985 p 58 Denis Reno's WEIGHTLIFTING newsletter(wrong address
is given)
Mar 1985 p 55 Dennis Reno;s newsletter 30 Cambria Road, West
Newton, MA 02165
Nov 1985 p 43 Newsletter Bill Clark 3906 Grace Ellen Drive,
Columbia, MO 65202-1796Posted by TheEditor @ 08:48 PM CST
