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.

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Iron History Nov 1-14, 2002

Thursday, October 31, 2002

OBVIOUS NEWS: Well, if you are reading this, you realize there has been a major shift in access to many aspects of cyberpump.com, including this aspect. Thank you for deciding to stay with us as a donor. Please understand that those of us who provide words for cyberpump are not being paid with the money you donate- we are donating time and study. Your money is going for site maintenance. For fully ten months ironhistory was provided as a free service, but this can no longer be, because, quite frankly, I am unwilling to pay for maintenance so that I can also work for free to provide a free service. I am selfishly stubborn that way.

Anyway, thank YOU for staying, and be assured there are plans afoot to improve ironhistory, so if you have suggestions, please let us know.

Finally, now more than ever, we need your help in spreading the word about cyberpump. If the donations do not carry the site (coupled with sponsors) then we will disappear faster than my abdominal definition at a buffet table. Although I plan to remain with the site, my hammock is, as we speak, being cleaned and pressed.

NEWS: Dexter Jackson became the 59th man to win an IFBB pro event when he placed at the top of a 22 man line-up in the British Grand Prix on Oct 26, 2002. He now becomes a part of the group, co-incidentally of 22 men who have also won only a single IFBB pro event. These data based on the 1965 Mr. Olympia as being the first IFBB pro event.

RED PENCIL TEACHER: Vicki Baker at Flex magazine has, by osmosis, taught me preliminary editing of articles. Anytime I can send in a column and not have Vicki call me to correct and question a point, I celebrate.

For example, had Vicki been working at MuscleMag when the Jan 2003 issue was being assembled, she would have noticed the text on page 147 where Eddie Robinson was being quoted:

"At my first Olympia I was surrounded by true champions. You remember the names: Lee Labrada, Berry DeMey, Bob Paris."

Vicki would ask that writer, 'is that correct?' Then he would look it up and have to acknowledge that it was not correct. But, since Vicki and I do not work at MMI, the matter could be left there. But, for correctness, Bob Paris did not compete in the first [and only] Olympia that Eddie competed in, the 1990. Picky? Yes, that's why I admire Vicki, whom I have dragged into this story without her awareness.[ Labrada placed second, DeMey was disqualified. ]

CAUTION: Chuck Ahrens name is so spelled- it is not Arens. George Eiferman's name contains only one 'f'. So if you encounter other spellings, please remember this.

Some months ago, someone purporting to be a friend of Ahrens contacted me and asked me if I would be interested in writing a piece on Ahrens. Was Apollon strong? One of the problems with email is that one never knows with whom one is dealing on such a blind contact. So after several back-and-forth relays between me and Ahrens' rep, Ahrens decided he did not want to speak to me about matters. The story fizzled. Of course, I have no way of knowing whether Ahrens was even involved in this situation. Pity. My appeals to trim the fat from stories of his strength and report what he could really lift, fell dead.

Here are some claims for Ahrens' strength feats as reported circa 1958-1959. I am not endorsing these, just reporting them:

A 270 lb one arm overhead erect press; 225 lbs triceps curls (French press) with barbell; get ready for this one: held out 135 lbs with one arm in front of him, then CURLED it; cleaned and pressed a pair of 205 lb dumbbells. Seated dumbell curl with slight swing, 180 lbs.

Logic and reason combine to doubt these. If you can one arm press 270, then French presses using both arms of 225 would be a breeze. The 135 front lateral raise with barbell and then curling the weight in that position is either silliness or represents the single most impressive feat in the history of one arm biceps/shoulder strength. I nod toward the silliness.

POLICY:

Sometimes, people contact me for info, and I provide it with the stipulation that it will lead to a contact such as this. Shame on me. Several times. But no more. Hence, any info I have to offer will be submitted in this column or thru the pages of Flex, unless one of two criteria is met: Either I get my info before I supply yours, or we have dealt before and I can trust you. I have been burned more often than a candle wick.

Of course, brief answers will be offered in my Q+A section at ironhistory.com. But if a subject has been treated in ironhistory, it will not be rewritten for the Q+A section. So please use the Search function first.

INCH NEWS:

Larry Aumann on Manitowoc, Wisconsin, owner of an Inch replica asked his friend Ron Van Os to try to lift it. Ron managed to clear the floor about 5" on three separate tries, but failed with his left hand. No matter that he showed Larry three times how to do it, Larry, no doubt our of total humility, could not 'grasp' the lesson. Sadly, Ron has no interest in pursuing a full one hand deadlift with the Inch.

Nov 1, 1878 Dudley Allen Sargent opened his gym in New York

Nov 1, 1921 Ed Jubinville born; would have become age 81 this year

Nov 1, 1926 Joe Miller bought his first set of weights. Real name was John Henry Miller. Born Jul 8, 1909 and died circa 1983. Was profiled in S&H Dec 1932 -which was the inaugural issue of that mag- and in the Mar 1933 issue.

Nov 1, 1962 Roger Eells' final service as minister at Christ Episcopal Church in Ironton, Ohio. Roger was a friend of Joe Hise, and I have been in touch with Eell's daughter- which brings me to this appeal: If you have any contact info on anyone who formerly was involved at a substantial, public, level in the iron game, please share that info with me if you wish to see that person updated here. This is my payment for writing this column- contacts with the former participants, whether 23rd place in the 1943 Mr. America or the winner that year. Okay, trick statement- winner was Jules Bacon whom I have contacted, and 23rd place did not exist- only 22 contestants.

Nov 1, 1975 Gene Massey died at 12:05 pm; born May 26, 1949. Muscular Development in Sep 1967 presented him at age 17 in Young Strength Stars, and Falcon wrote about him in the Dec issue that year. He won the 1970 Mr. Florida. MuscleMag included the last photo taken of him, in their 2:1 issue p 96 along with a tribute to him.

Nov 2, 1889 Louis Cyr, using a piece of cord and one of his fingers, lifted two dumbbells totaling 440 lbs. This was a form of deadlift from a high starting position.

Nov 2, 1959 Ted Lambrinides born in Cincy. He and P.J. Streit have a personal training facility in Cincy these days.

Nov 2, 1973 This was the date that a copy of Eugen Sandow's death certificate was supplied to Leo Gaudreau. There was no post mortem so the cause of death is not known, but removing a car from a ditch single handedly was probably not the cause.

Nov 2, 1991 Dorian Yates and Debbie Chinn marry. I understand they are now divorced.

Nov 3, 1890 Steve Reeves' grandparents, Steven Boyce and Edith Henderson, marry.

Nov 3, 1903 Charles Rigoulot born in Le Vesinet, France; died Aug 22, 1962. He cleaned and jerked Apollon's railcar wheels, which, of course had a 1.93" diameter bar, or axle, which was nearly 2", and not the nearly 3" diameter that Gord Venables insisted on in MIGHTY MEN of OLD, and in S&H Jan 1938. MIGHTY MEN of OLD is not a publication I would recommend, except for the photos.

By 1939 Rigoulot was a machine gunner on the Maginot line, but the S&H reference in Jan 1941 that he had been 'killed in action' was incorrect

He had become a pro on Oct 6, 1925 when he met Ernest Cadine in a lifting match. Charles' best clean and jerk as an amateur was 355 lbs on Jun 28, 1925. As a pro, he upped that poundage in at least seven steps, culminating on Feb 1, 1929 when he succeeded with 401.25 lbs. Robert Cayeux reported in S&H May 1952 that Rigoulot had managed an unofficial C&J with 407.75 lbs in 1930, but when Moyset writes of the same incident (in S&H Jan 1963) he mentions an accident in connection with the lift.

LIFTING NEWS magazine Nov 1962 mentions that Rigoulot died in St. Joseph's Hospital

Nov 3, 1905 Arthur Saxon two hands anyhow of 445.33 lbs

Nov 3, 1916 Bill Hillgardner born. Last I heard, about a year ago, Bill had advanced Alzheimer's disease, and was in a care facility in south Florida. Bill was born in the Hell's Kitchen Area of NYC. He had trained young people in the way of weights in 1940 in Bombay, India and was trying to help the circulation of Health & Strength magazine. He and his wife Doris had been in India since Jun 1, 1939. David Chapman profiled Bill in Ironman Jun 1995. He won the medium class Dec 1, 1938 at a contest in Schenectady, NY.

Nov 3, 1925 George Eiferman born. He would have been age 77 today. Recently Larry Aumann loaned me 100 issues of the old Muscle Builder magazine. These are mags I once had as a teenage boy, and though I then knew the contents of each page by heart, I did not file the contents, gave the mags away, and never regained copies. In these mags, Eiferman was a major figure, writing articles and being written about. There was no other bodybuilder whose face showcased a smile as naturally and effortlessly as did George's face. I had the honor of meeting him and chatting for a brief time.

Nov 3, 1942 George Eiferman joined the Navy on his 17th birthday.

Nov 3, 1946 Charles Albert Hise died; born in 1874 (was father of Joseph Curtis Hise)

Nov 3, 1984 Lee Haney won the 20th edition of the IFBB Mr. Olympia (NYC). It was the first of his eight consecutive victories at the Olympia. The 20th Olympia was the 60th IFBB pro show, and Haney reigned thru Olympia #27 which was the 123rd IFBB pro event for men.

Haney until recently wrote a column in Muscular Development magazine, but has now switched to Flex.

Nov 4, 1911 Swoboda continentaled and jerked 409.18 lbs

Nov 4, 1932 Goerner curled 242.5 lbs. With his long arms, this is a monumental feat.

Nov 4, 1948 H&S magazine announces the death of Ron Walker on Oct 25, 1948.

Nov 4, 1969 Earle Liederman dies; born Dec 12, 1886. Earle was a skilled writer, but not a skilled researcher, and he admitted hyperbole to the pages upon which he wrote.

I believe he was born Dec 12, 1886 but am not certain of the year; he died Nov 4, 1969. He wrote for Your Physique, Muscle Power (from the inaugural Oct 1945 issue), Mr. America, Muscle Builder, Muscle Training Illustrated, Vim, Mr. Universe, Ironman, Muscular Development. Strength & Health, and in Iron Master a couple of reprints from Your Physique and Muscle Power- that latter piece offering the correct weight of Paul Anderson's safe (2,300 lbs)

Earle's style was intriguing and captured your attention, though sometimes that hyperbole was misleading. Anyway, today we have in our field very few writers who could match his skills as a writer, arranging words on a paper so that your eyes could not leave that paper. As an example of hyperbole. Consider his piece in Apr 1968 "I predict 25" arms will be common"- in Muscular Development mag.

I have read that he was married to Miss Alaska, and I have read that he was not. He was planning on being a partner to Sandow back in 1924-1925 but Eugen's death thwarted that endeavor.

But The Earle of Hollywood had a flow to his style, and when he wrote the gossip sections for Weider, there was a joy to the page, and the reader felt as though he in fact WAS in the weight pit at Muscle Beach evesdropping.

Nov 5, 1948 The Mr. Arizona contest won by Preston V. Deed

Nov 5, 1954 Bill Pearl and Sylvia Frazer wedding. Have since divorced.

Nov 6, 1916 Nordquest pullover and press 363.5 lbs

Nov 6, 1943 Ken Patera born (or Nov 7?)

Nov 6, 1948 Bob Hoffman birthday show

Nov 6, 1948 Alan Stephan won the IFBB Mr. America (it was for the year 1949). Alan remains the only man to have held both the AAU and IFBB versions of the Mr. America. He won the AAU in 1946.

Nov 6, 1955 Maria Shriver born. Last I heard she married some muscleguy named Arnold.

Nov 6, 1971 First World's Powerlifting Championships. PLUSA recapped this event in Mar 1998 when Herb Glossbrenner began his series of recapping the history of the World's Powerlifting Championships. I have seen criticism of PLUSA magazine- that it needs a new look, a new format, that it is tired, and not lively. But it remains THE magazine of record for powerlifting, a veritable index of thousands of contests. And while some may consider it dry, I consider it a wonderful source. The problems in current powerlifting cannot be remedied thru the pages of PLUSA- Mike Lambert, the owner, can only report, not amend the direction the sport has taken, and that direction is away from real lifting into the padded-bra illusions of supportive gear. If the contest was scheduled for 2pm but somehow all the gear had been stolen, the poundages lifted would be the same as with gear, or higher, or lower? I apologize for asking so difficult a question.

Nov 6, 1972 Roger Eells died

Nov 6, 1997 Franklin Page died; born Sep 7, 1909. Several men named Page have written for the mags thru the years, A.F. Page is the man here described- not Bruce Page, or Douglas Page, or Floyd Page. Franklin began writing in Ironman in Jan 1958, in MD in Oct 197, MTI in Mar 1983, in MMI in Sep 1983. The preponderance of his writing was for Ironman for which he penned his final piece in Jul 1986. Most of his work involved profiles of individual bodybuilders.

Nov 6, 2001 At age 14 years, 301 days, Bjorn, stepson to Arne Persson, completely closed the #2 gripper belonging to Mikael Siversson. Held it shut for several seconds.

Nov 7, 1944 Paul Von Boeckman died; born Jan 20, 1871

Nov 7, 1959 Stephan Joseph Stanko born. Son of Steve Stanko

Nov 7, 1993 Lilli Sophia Balik born; daughter of John Balik.

Nov 8, 1948 The Baillargeon brothers visit Sig Klein, and Paul bent pressed the 209 lb Rolandow dumbell on his first attempt.

Nov 8, 1951 Randy Strossen born. Now publishes the magazine/journal MILO

Nov 8, 1963 Anton Matysek died; born Jan 11, 1893

Nov 8, 1968 Sig Klein closed his gym for the first time in 40 years to attend Bob Hoffman's 70th birthday party

Nov 8, 1975 Arnold won the 11th edition of the IFBB Mr. Olympia and then announced his retirement from competition. Came out of retirement to win the 1980 Olympia.

Nov 9, 1898 Bob Hoffman born; died Jul 18, 1985. We will treat Hoffman at a later time.

Nov 9, 1917 Vince Gironda born. Died Oct 18, 1997 at age 79. His first gym was on the first floor at 11262 Ventura Blvd in Studio City, CA. This opened Apr 1, 1946 and he then started a branch in Aug 1949 in Pasadena which his brother ran. There is misinformation about Gironda, who was known as The Iron Guru. Because we will examine Vince at another time, sufficient for now is this rule of thumb: He never won a physique contest. Period. So any texts you encounter that attribute a victory to him should be suspect.

One author even asserts that Vince first competed in 1949, though Vince had placed 6th at the 1941 Mr. California, and he placed second in best chest at that event. [Jack LaLanne won best chest]

Nov 9, 1919 Bob Delmonteque told me at the Arnold Classic that this is his day of birth. Other texts (one by himself) indicate a birthdate of 1926, 1927. Arrgh! And thanks to Larry loaning me those old issues of Muscle Builder magazine, consider this text from the Apr 1959 issue on page 53 from the gossip section written by the editors:

"And while we're on the subject of Bob Delmonteque, here's a question from Ed Tomlinson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Ed asks, 'What is the correct name of Delmonteque, the famous physique photographer? Frequently I hear him called Mike Delmonteque and at other times, Bob.

"Actually, Bob is not a Bob at all�he's a Mike. And neither is he a Delmonteque either�he's a Diaks. Mike Diaks is the real moniker. Delmonteque is just his professional name"

The text then relates that he is from Detroit and is of Polish ancestry.

Nov 9, 1933 Ed Corney born. That famous scene in the movie Pumping Iron when Arnold, watching Corney posing, remarks how great a poser Ed is. Ed & Arnold were part of the Whitney Museum happening in Feb 1976.

Nov 9, 1935 Don Howorth born

Nov 9, 1951 Lou Ferrigno born

[notice how man ironmen were born on Nov 9]

Nov 10, 1946 The Keasbey Eagles Athletic Club Weightlifting team held its first meeting. This is the club which Phil Grippaldi helped make famous.

Nov 10, 1979 Arnold graduated from the U of Wisconsin

Nov 11, 1899 George Bruce born; died in Nov 1973? He was introduced to readers of Ironman magazine in Apr 1953 as George 'Butcherman' Bruce- Developer of Beauty Queens. He wrote for Ironman thru Feb 1971, then 3 years later that mag ran his obituary. He also wrote for Physical Power mag for a couple of years in the early 1960s, and for S&H Nov 1950 thru Nov 1955. For S&H he included more topics and profiles of males than he did for the other mags.

Nov 11, 1918 World War One Ended. In some ways the war caused the demise of the olde time strongman performance.

Nov 11, 1959 Lee Haney born. Still holds, at 8, the most Mr. Olympia victories. Had that tiny waistline and flared lats, the former of which is so missed among the current crop of competitors.

Nov 12, 1891 Selig Whitman received the nickname 'Ajax'

Nov 13, 1933 David Gentle born. Writer from England, and because my collection is missing so many magazines from that country, my info on him is lacking.

He has written for the American mags, of course, and has some series worthy of your attention: Muscular Development in Aug and Oct 1984 presented his two parts of "A Century of Muscles"

His four part series in Health and Strength in 1979 about the "Ever Changing Face of H&S Magazine" is worthy, though I lack the fourth installment.

Happy birthday #69, David!

Nov 13, 1935 Bob Hoffman, Rosetta Hoffman, Frederick Tilney, and George Jowett lunched together in Philadelphia. Tall tales told at that table!

Nov 13, 1948 Bob Peoples deadlifted 719 lbs.

Nov 13, 1949 Armand Tanny won the Pro Mr. America, and Jim Allen won Mr. San Francisco.

Nov 13, 1961 Erika Mes born. She coupled with Berry DeMey to win the 1982 European Mixed Pairs championships. The following year she won the lightweight class at the World championships, but posed for the Belgium (I think) issue of Playboy circa 1987 and was suspended until Oct 1, 1988. Playboy selected her, one suspects, because of her truly beautiful face and a figure that had won the 1980 Miss Bikini at the NABBA Universe. [I have been informed that the issue of Playboy under discussion is the Sep 1987, Dutch/Netherlands version]

Nov 14, 1947 Sig Klein presented his STARS of STRENGTH show in NYC at the Saint Nicolas Arena featuring Steeves Reeves, Pudgy Stockton, Frank Leight, Santo Leone, Ed Theriault, Walter Podolak, John Fritshe, and Jack Kent. Podolak's name was incorrectly spelled as Padolak on the advertising poster.

INCH 101: part 21

Nov 3, 1912 regarding John Grun Marx:

"He gave a strong show of the old type, dumb-bell and bar-bell lifting. He was a huge man, with enormous hands, standing over 6 ft. and weighing over 17 st. He used to challenge anyone to lift his two dumbbells. They had enormous handles, and no one could do much with them. Some said the handles were loose, and that there was some kind of trick. I don't know whether this was so, but I think the weight of them (over 100 lbs. each) and the thick handles were quite enough to safeguard his money without anything else.

Then Inch continues regarding the fact that Marx never tried to lift the Inch bell: "Personally, I don't think he could have lifted it, though I remember Pevier once told me that he [Marx] would have swung it."

Then Inch claims that because Saxon had more hand strength than Marx, and because Saxon failed to lift the Inch, he doubted that Marx would have succeeded. Of course, Inch waited until both these men were dead to make these statements. Perhaps Inch was ignorant of Marx's ability to one hand deadlift, with either hand, a bell outweighing the Inch bell by about 54 lbs, the handle of which was 2.36", so .02" smaller than the 2.38" original Inch. Frankly, anyone who does not think Marx could have increased the handle size by .02" and REDUCED the weight by 54 lbs and still have lifted it, is someone with whom I care not to discuss the situation. That person is free to skip merrily to wherever it is his mind is at peace. And I with clean shaven face and giddy smile will skip in the opposite direction where the facts and figures for forgone physiques foment.

Nov 12, 1921 Inch wrote in H&S Strongmen I have known: Milo, Atlas & Vulcana.

Nov 12, 1953 Inch wrote in H&S Mammouths of the Iron Game.

Nov 13, 1876 Hengler's Circus in Liverpool, opened. There were several Hengler's locations at one time.

Roark Reference #24: Letter to Joe Roark from Charles A. Smith Oct 17, 1985: excerpts:

Don't let it get your bowels in an uproar about the misinformation you got about Mr. A. When info is passed from one to another it is added to or loses and winds up greatly different from the original.

[regarding my former newsletter}: Powerlifting is a growing sport and you shouldn't leave it out. It now has MORE LIFTERS than Olympic Lifting and in my opinion will be included in the Olympics in the not too distant future. Indeed I don't see how they can ignore it for much longer. There has also been talk of EXCLUDING Olympic Lifting from future Games

[regarding a man who wrote to me asserting Barton Horvath was as good as, or better than John Grimek]: As for the remark that Horvath was as good, if not better, than Grimek well-beauty isi n the eye of the beholder- and in this case Barnett must have been blind. I've seen Bart in training gear-and he didn't do too much training as I recall. And so far as I know he NEVER took part in ANY contests. He may have 'appeared', but I think that when I met him for the first time in January of 1950, he had long since put all training beside him. He and I posed once for some wrestling course I was writing for Joe and he looked in good shape, but as for saying he was Grimek's equal, that is laughable. Horvath and Grimek certainly did not meet, and on more than one occasion, the last time being when the law suit between Hoffman and Weider took place and Bart appeared as a witness for HOFFMAN.

I can only Agree with Barnett when he says Grimek WAS YORK. But, sadly Hoffman didn't make full use of him. Can you imagine what WEIDER would have done with Grimek.

By the way, before I forget it, I had a very nice letter from Grimek and wrote him a short reply-only six pages- telling him all I had been into and expressing the wish that we could at long last, become friends.

My files? They are all in my head. I have no other. I should have kept files and am a bloody fool for not so doing. I never even kept copies of all the articles I wrote. Oh how I could revamp some of them and bring them up to date and so make them acceptable for the modern 'crap'- sorry, I mean crop of bodybuilders

Which brings me to two men after [whom[ the California Comet patterned himself-XXX and XXX. XXX I despise. He was a self serving phoney in my opinion, a complete con man who, while he may have inspired millions duped and fooled just as many with his lies and hypocrisy. Any man who would insist that a woman undergo an episiotomy, as he insisted his wife do, WITHOUT anesthesia, is in my book a no good bastard.

But XXX. Shortly I will be sending you an article that appeared in a very old ARENA AND STRENGTH about fifty years ago on the venerable XXX. It was sent to me by one of my vast corps of spies and agents provocateur and is an eye opener.

I had always heard that XXX was a liar and a thief, This article not only proves it but rams it down ones throat. It states cases, instances and examples. It mentions Willoughby and Pullum in it and how XXX shafted both of them, made false advertising claims, used shots of other men's pupils in his ads, even claiming SAXON and HACKENSCHMIDT as his pupils.

I have to have it copies for the Collection and then I'll send it your way. What I have said before is just to get you in the required state of the squitters in anticipation. I also think I shall keep the stuff-say-two or three months before I mail it to you, or even not send it before next Michaelmass or until you send me a life time supply of ice cold door knobs and powdered monkey eyes.

All those medals and contests XXX claimed to have won were but figments of his imagination. He NEVER won them.

Oh well. Just sit and get an attack of the vapors until you get this most interesting and historical piece of material. In fact, it might make a very interesting theme for a Bulletin, except it might upset Vic Boff who adores XXX and who is a thoroughly nice guy [Vic]

Thas was Thas all, warm regards to you and yours,

Chas

Posted by TheEditor @ 06:46 AM CST

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Iron History Oct 18-31, 2002

Thursday, October 17, 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.

Posted by TheEditor @ 07:48 PM CST

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Ironhistory Oct 4-17, 2003

Thursday, October 3, 2002

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!

Posted by TheEditor @ 07:45 PM CST

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