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.
Ironhistory Nov 29-Dec 5, 2003
Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Hopefully your Thanksgiving was a wonderful time packed with happy events!
This is the one week make-up column to carry us thru to next week.
ANNOUNCEMENT: On Jan 4, 2003 in Urbana, Illinois, I will have my wife load up the Inch 152, the Inch 172, and the Millennium 232 so they can be at the Snowman Challenge. Check out the grip board for more details. As yet, no man or woman or child on this planet has performed a one hand, standing erect deadlift with the Millennium. This is not to say the bells will be available for you to attempt (liability unsettled as yet) but it should be a momentous occasion, especially when I come walking in marching to music twirling the 172 in one hand and the 232 in the other hand. Wait, that was a dream.
HELP: In January 2003, I am planning a necrology for 2002, a listing of those iron folks who departed during this past year. The famous and the not so famous, so if you have info to share on someone's passing, please contact me so that person can receive mention. If you could provide the exact date of death, or other specifics, the cause would be helped. Anyone who was written about or featured in the mainstream muscle mags EVER- we wish to mention them, so thanks in advance.
SEARCH: You may have noticed that this column is written curtly, not flowingly. I have tried to type it so that searches are easier. For example, by typing Alyce Yarick died, or Alyce Yarick born, you should be led to that date via the search function. Usually I provide both dates together so you do not have to search twice, finding birth date, and then in another location the death date. The goal this year has been an orderly presentation of facts. Next year, we will be more investigative and profiling in our reports. After the Dec 6 and Dec 20 columns, this basic chronology will be ended. There is much that has not been included, but we have presented several of the highlights.
2003: I have some ideas for next year's text, but if you have suggestions, please contact me with them. Remember we have a Q+A section, which now that we have become a pay site has less traffic than before. I check it once per day, so if you have a question, please post it there. I'll answer if I can, and if I cannot (more modern lifting for example) I perhaps can refer you to someone who can help.
GALLERY: We have posted a couple more photos in the gallery: One is of Bob Hoffman's gravesite, and the other is of a young friend, Zach, lifting Inch 172 off the floor. Zach is a friend of Larry Aumann, who tried to duplicate Zach's lift. Don't become discouraged, Larry, you've got a couple of good years left.
RED PENCIL HISTORY: MMI in the Feb 2003 issue, while commenting on Joe Weider's publishing empire being for sale, offers this bit of incorrect chronology: "Joe started some 60 years ago with Your Physique, which became MusclePower(sic) and then ultimately Muscle & Fitness."
Actually Your Physique began with the Aug 1940 issue and ran for 100 issues, ending with the Jul 1952 issue. In Aug 1953 Mr. America magazine began which incorporated Your Physique. With the Jan 1953 issue, Mr. America 'For the Man with a Future' began, and was NOT a bodybuilding magazine.
In Aug 1953 Muscle Builder began and Mr. America ended. So, it was actually Muscle Builder, not Muscle Power which continued the lineage began as Your Physique. There was a later magazine called Mr. America which morphed into Shape-Up magazine
Muscle Power began back in Oct/Nov 1945. With the Feb 1958 issue, Muscle Power was incorporated into Muscle Builder, which in Jun 1980 changed into Muscle & Fitness. Confused yet? Nutshell: Your Physique did NOT become Muscle Power, Your Physique became Mr. America, which ended in Aug 1953, though there was a later incarnation of it in Jan 1958 (mentioned in the previous paragraph).
Thank you and good night.
Nov 29, 1883 Wilfred J. Diamond born in Liverpool, England; died Jan 28, 1969 in Florida. Wilfred was an historian, but not so well known as Willoughby or Gaudreau in America. He was elected president of the BAWLA in 1933, and that year began writing for Strength & Health magazine in America. Among his offerings for S&H, noteworthy are his 'Memories of an Oldtimer' series which ran in 1933 in Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec and in Jan 1934. In Jan 1935 he offered 'Tales of Great Oldtimers'.
He also wrote for Weider, usually on oldtimers, or on boxing. Here is a letter he wrote to Joe Weider which appeared in the Jul 1965 issue of Muscle Builder mag on page 64:
[I cannot verify some of the info, but here is what is written]
"Dear Joe,
It was nice to hear from you at Christmas. I received 75 cards and 30 letters, which shows that an old-timer like myself is not forgotten. It hardly seems that 70 years have passed since I was on the same bill with John Gruhn Marx at the Palace Theatre, New Brighton, England. I was helping a conjuror, but the performance of Marx set off the spark that led me into the world of weights. I knew most of the great old-timers in the athletic world�Also most of the strongmen, particularly my dear friends, the late Thomas Inch, and W.A. Pullum, and the great pioneer Edward Aston, who is the same age as myself.
"I was responsible for the formation of the BAWLA way back about 1911, and I collected more official records than any other man in the world. Incidentally, I won both the Fenton and the Furness Cups for jiu-Jitsu, wrote the text book of self defense for the London police, and gave a demonstration for Her Majesty, the late Queen Mary of England, at Wembly in 1925.
"I find myself remarkably fit and well at 80, and working harder than ever on literary work. I wrote Health & Strength (the English publication) in 1911, and have been writing ever since. I am the author of two very successful Latin books, and two religious books- 12 books in all, and several ready for a publisher. I have had more experience than twenty ordinary men, and am writing this up as a series of letters.
"How to be young at 80? Cultivate mental, physical, and spiritual harmony! Be at peace with God, with all mankind!
"Sincerely,
WILFRED DIAMOND New Smyrna Beach, Fla."
Page 5 of that issue shows a photo of Diamond with his Furness Cup. Diamond has always been a fascination to me- I know relatively little about him, but plan to change that for a series I have in mind about 'Historians of the Iron Game' which we will present several months from now. So, if anyone has helpful info about Diamond, I would certainly welcome it.
Ottley Coulter wrote to Muscular Development magazine in Jun 1969 to inform us of Wilfred's passing, and mentioned that Wilfred was 'also responsible for the establishment of Diamond City in Canada'. I wonder if Wilfred is buried in New Smyrna Beach?
Nov 29, 1922 Joe Weider born. The year may have been 1921. I'll get back to you on that.
Nov 29, 1947 Mr. Arizona was scheduled for this date but I have been unable to determine details about the results.
Nov 29, 1950 Keith Stephen begins working out at Stern's Gym. Please do not confuse Keith with Al Stephan. Keith was profiled in Ironman Feb 1952 by Leo Stern and called a new superman.
Nov 29, 1958 Cecil Phillips wins Mr. Oregon. Other than his participation in the 1955 Jr. Mr. Northern California, I have nothing on Cecil. Can anyone help?
Nov 29, 1963 Alan Anderson wins Mr. South Dakota. This is the only contest record I have for Anderson.
Nov 30, 1919 Goerner right hand snatch 220.46 lbs
Nov 30, 1930 Harold Wood two hands continental and jerk of 301.25 lbs
Nov 30, 1951 Doug Hepburn became the first man in history to squat with 600 lbs. He was age 25. [born Sep 16, 1926]. Though a case can be made that Hepburn's upper body strength was on par, if not superior to, Paul Anderson's, the side press for reps attributed to Doug was 172.5 lbs for ten reps, witnessed not by some star struck fan, but by Leo Gaudreau, whose attention to detail was remarkable. This was one of many feats Leo documented during Apr and May of 1951. This one hand side press is about 130 lbs LESS than what is attributed to Paul Anderson.
Willoughby in Your Physique Jul 1952 in an article entitled: 'Doug Hepburn: Is He a Second Louis Cyr?' concluded that Doug was on pace to match Cyr's strengths.
Because of a problem with his calf, cleaning weights was difficult for Doug, but he power cleaned 350, and in the summer of 1954 took 400 pounds off the rack and pressed it four reps. He was also credited with jerking 500 off the rack in 1954.
Even Rader offered in Lifting News Dec 1954 'Just as Hepburn is the top example of overhead pushing power so Paul Anderson might be classified as the leading example of lower body pushing power'. At the time that statement was written, Paul had not yet peaked, and was in fact in fourth place among American/Canadian weightlifters in the heavy class, whose totals were: Schemansky 1,084, Hepburn 1,040, Bradford 1,034 and Anderson 1,030.
As I recall, Doug was credited with about 760 in the squat, though in the Steel Spiel interview on cyberpump.com he presented before he died, he averred that he had done 800, in swimming trunks. He also claimed a 220 lb right hand MILITARY press, which, of course, allows no bending of the trunk.
Nov 30, 1952 Mickey Hargitay won Mr. Indianapolis. His first victory had been in 1951 in the Mr. Mid States. His third and final win would be the 1955 NABBA Universe.
Nov 30, 1961 Tony Scrivens born. Tony will be in Urbana, Illinois to compete in the fourth Snowman Challenge contest on Jan 4 next year. Also there will be an Inch 152, an Inch 172, and a Millennium dumbell which weighs about 232 lbs. He has deadlifted the 172, so the 232 sits smiling in anticipation.
Nov 30, 1967 Roland Cziurlok born
Dec 1950 issue of Strength and Health, for the first time, presented a photo on the inside of the front cover- it was George Eiferman
Dec 1, 1913 Emile Bonnet born. Coverman on S&H Feb 1939, Nov 1941.
Dec 1, 1940 Bob Hoffman, John Grimek, Tony Terlazzo headed west on a trip. Gracie Bard also went along. Here is their agenda:
Dec 1 Departed from York, PA.
Dec 2 at Columbus, Ohio, YMCA
Dec 6 Denver
Dec 12 Boise, Idaho
Dec 13 Spokane, WA
Dec 15 at the Portland, Oregon Multnomah Athletic Club- this was the only show during the trip in which Grimek did not lift.
Dec 17 Watsonville, CA Civic Auditorium
Dec 20 San Francisco YMCA
Dec 22 Los Angeles Athletic Club
Dec 23 San Diego YMCA
Dec 24 Santa Monica at Vic Tanny's Gym
Dec 27 Phoenix, AZ at the YMCAFor those wanting more info: In the announcement in S&H Dec 1940 p 49 an approximate schedule was outlined and Gracie Bard and Steve Stanko mentioned. For changes to the itinerary, see S&H Jan 1941 p5, 50. A series of stories about this trip were presented in S&H Feb 1941 p 23, Mar 1941 p 22, Apr 1941 p 18, May 1941 p 18, Jun 1941 p 12, Jul 1941 p 12, Aug 1941 p 12, Sep 1941 p 24, Oct 1941 p 18, and Nov 1941 p 12.
[getting ahead of ourselves a bit here: During this trip, elsewhere in the strength world, G.W. Rolandow died on Dec 6]
Dec 1, 1949 WGN televised the first ever physique American contest so broadcast, the Mr. Tavern Pale which Leo Lederer won
Dec 1, 1963 Paul Anderson Youth Home in Vidalia, Georgia, opens. By this time, Paul had tried to be a professional strength athlete, a pro boxer, and a pro wrestler. There was no market for the first, no temperament for the second, and no endurance for the third.
Dec 1, 1969 Bob Hoffman, Joe Dube, Bob Bednarski and John Terpak meet with President Richard Nixon in the White House
Dec 1, 1970 Jouko Ahola born
Dec 2, 1938 At Klein's Gym, although he almost succeeded on some of his 14 attempts at bent pressing the Rolandow dumbell, Aurele Veilleau did not accomplish it.
Dec 2, 1944 Steve Neece born; died Oct 21, 2001 of a heart attack. Steve had an extensive background behind the scenes in the iron game, make book on that. From 1992 thru Jul 1995 he published The Muscle Beach Newsletter which included bits too juicy for the news-stand mags. There was some solid material in his newsletter as well as some topics that seemed way off key, but the factor that caused me to respect Steve's place in the sport was that he did not rattle when it came to asking for verification of claims feats. He was not impressed that the lifter was famous. Famous does not lift.
He also wrote the Muscle Beach Column for MMI magazine, which began as Venice Calling, one suspects, for MTI magazine in Nov 1989. We spoke on the phone Sep 5, 1991 when he told me that he would be switching to MMI soon, and soon was the Dec 1991 issue when he debuted Muscle Beach Gossip and it ran until Jan 2000.
For Iron Game History from the U of Texas, he offered in May 1998 recollections of ten famous strongmen including Merjanian, Ahrens, Kee, Coleman and six others.
Steve did not suffer fools gladly, and he was particularly disturbed by some of the claims made for Paul Anderson, and wrote a piece in MMI Jul 1992 titles 'Paul Anderson: No! His claims are exaggerated! MMI also offered a rebuttal to his arguments.
In May 1993 in MMI David Dearth thru Steve told the inside story of the WBF (World Bodybuilding Federation) which turned out to be anything but Worldwide or bodybuilding. It was, however, a federation.
In Apr 1995 thru MMI he offered $5,000 to Manfred Hoerberl if Manfred could in fact, as some claimed, curl 440 pounds for reps. Do I need to tell you that the challenge was never accepted?
Steve was an asset to the sport, at least in regard to keeping matters on the up and up. I miss his late evening calls when he would ask for clarification on certain facts, and when I in turn could ask him first person stories about behind the scenes current happenings.
He died while eating at a restaurant.
Dec 2, 1973 Beth Horn born in Chicago. Won the 2000 NPC Nationals Fitness contest, to earn her pro card, and in her pro debut in 2001 at the Arnold Classic Fitness International she placed dead last, but has been placing much better more recently.
Dec 3, 1927 Sig Klein one arm clean and jerk 190.5 lbs. This was four years before he began publishing Klein's Bell. His body weight was probably about 150 lbs.
Dec 4, 1905 Joseph Steinbach jerked 380.5 lbs for two reps
Dec 4, 1943 Kurt and Clare Saxon had to flee their burning home at 4am. They lost everything.
Dec 4, 1955 Bill Pearl's daughter born
Dec 4, 1991 Alyce Yarick died; born Apr 18, 1916. I spoke to her son Bart after she passed. He was planning to move into her house with his family. Alyce, he said, had traded in the weights for long walks with her dogs, and she and Ed (her husband) would also jog. The two of them presented shows of physical culture, one was Apr 11, 1953, and Ed, of course, was instrumental in helping Steve Reeves train.
Dec 5, 1943 William Bush won Mr. Ohio
Dec 5, 1943 Bill St. John born. In the 30+ contests I have filed for him, his victories include 1964 Mr. South Jersey, Mr. New Jersey, Mr. Most Muscles, and Mr. Philadelphia; 1968 Mr. East Coast, Mr. Delaware Valley; 1969 Mr. Chesapeake Bay. His attempts at the AAU Mr. America yielded these results: 1964-14, 1966-10, 1968-6, 1969-4, 1970-4, 1971-3, 1972-4, 1974-12
Letter from Charles A. Smith to Joe Roark Nov 14, 1985 excerpts:
Do you enjoy these letters? Takes my two fingers a while to type them, so if you would rather the space have some other text, use the comment button and let me know. If I do not hear from you, I will blindly follow my merry instincts.
[please remember, I am putting XXX where some names are because Charles believed what he was writing, but I have no way of proving some of his statements, and in case he was mistaken, the identities of those persons is shielded. The XXX may refer to different identities even within the same paragraph, or from paragraph to paragraph]
[Joseph Curtis Hise] our call last night did reveal some exciting news and may do a lot to clear up the mystery of what exactly happened to Joseph Curtis Hise. So much guff is, and has been, written about the greats of the past that it sometimes makes me feel like going out and ordering a dish of powdered monkey eyes. Frinstance, got a letter from Fred the other day in which he expounded at length about JCH, telling me a lot of stuff that I didn't know about him. But one bit of info he imparted was way out of line. He mentioned that Hise was probably buried somewhere in Colorado in a potter's field, that he also had a lady friend names Mrs. Abernathy to whom he, Fred, had written. Also mentioned that Hise had come to see him a month before he died, that he, Fred, had begged Joe to go see a doctor because of his poor physical condition. Among other things, Joe was suffering from emphysema, heart problems and diabetes and could only sleep while sitting up. That he had been found sick by some of his workmates, had been taken to a hospital where they had 'reduced' him from around 300 to 150 in a few months, thereby Fred opines, killing him. Your discoveries shed an entirely different light on what really happened and the kind of man Hise was. Since I had always got the impression from his letters-and I had been writing to him for more than twenty years- that he was asexual and had little or nothing to do with women, this might be one point for you to investigate. What a Tom Tiddlers ground lies before you.
My opinions about Hise are that he is the unsung genius of modern lifting and bodybuilding, that he was the one who first saw that glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel that led to Weightlifting daylight. Without Joe modern lifting and bodybuilding never would be in the position it is in today. Fred seemed a little miffed at me. I had written him saying that one day I wanted to write the definitive article about JCH and he replied that hadn't he already done so. I tried to explain that what I wanted to do was not only explain the man but also why the man was who he was. Hise was an iconoclast, a truly free spirit and an American original in the same mold as McFadden but without that latter con job man's make up, Joe's range of general knowledge was amazing. No matter what you wrote him about, he knew ALL about it. I believe I have already mentioned the case of the 'Archer's paradox' to you. That was just one of the instances.
[Roark note: Hise is buried in his hometown, Homer, Illinois, in a standard grave. Where the info about him being buried our west in a potter's grave came from was somewhere other than good research, and indicates that any 'definitive' article on Hise coming from such a researcher in unreliable.]
John XXX in his letter to me, written a month to six weeks before he died, he said he had already disposed of all his possessions and had given away his truck. He was born out of wedlock, had never been baptized, and was so before he died. It would be interesting to see if his former wife Louise, a nice girl, attended the funeral, or who did.
Had a nice letter from Reg Park. How he finally found out where I was and what had been happening I don't know, but suspect that David gentle told him. He isn't a good letter writer-never was- but he seems to be doing well. He had three grandchildren and must be around 55 years of age and says he gets up at 5:30 AM to workout. Crazy,
XXX NEVER put out any Fag Mag. He, so far as I remember, started out with one name for his mag but MAY have changed it for another a little later on. After I moved to Austin, sometime around 1961 or 2, he tried to get me to go in with him financially. But I smelled an ethopian in the fuel supply and said him nay. Shortly after then it demised. XXX was NEVER involved in any fag mag deals. Strictly bodybuilding. I had a few copies of his mag and gave them- woe is me- to the collection. There was nothing to go into ecstacies in their body content. Just rehash of the stuff that XXX had previously written.
I personally think that Dr. XXX is a big bullshit artist, one in the same mold as Jowett and Hoffman and McFadden. Anything for publicity. We have some pretty juicy material on him here at the collection and I will try and see if I can pry it loose from TT and get a Xerox copy made for you.
Horvath knew that Willoughby and Coster were dead because I wrote and told him. He seems to be totally dis-interested in the Iron Game and in fact when Weider recently sent him copies of all his mags, wrote to me expressing extreme disgust with them and sighing for the 'good old days'.
I met XXX a couple of times at shows etc etc and we talked well together. He seemed a nice, easy to get along with chap, but other than this, I had little contact with him, except for the rumor-alleged-that he gave Mae West a flesh injection in the back of her car on the way to her show in Reno or Las Vegas or somesuch place.
Best to you and yours, Chas
Letter from Charles A. Smith to Joe Roark Nov 23, 1985
[regarding an offer I had received to write a brief column in a [non-Weider] mag, which had a reputation for not paying promptly]:
Re payment. The very first time you DON'T GET WHAT WAS PROMISED. ASK FOR IT BUT DON'T SEND ANOTHER COLUMN UNTIL YOU GET PAID FOR WHAT HAS BEEN PUBLISHED. And I'd try, in a polite, diplomatic way to make this known to XXX.
As for Mrs. Abernathy in the life of Hise-XXX may be able to fill you in there. It was he who mentioned it to me. Bet old XXX will pee his lace trimmed panties when he hears of your discovery.
[Roark note: I corresponded with Abernathy, and her letters are, shall we say, enlivening]
I have read XXX's potboiler and as is the usual with all these modern Weight Bonzes, it is the same old rehash, the same old meat with a more savory sauce poured over it, much like sawdust sprinkled over a pile of dog shit to hide the mess and smother the smell.
Do tell me all about sweet Carlin. I am eager to know of the might of the man who at 53 can do one rep hand presses with 400. Dreams, Ah Dreams.
A Pullum Patent Bar was Bill's 'tried at version' of the Berg Hantel. It used ordinary PLATES and was slightly smaller in diameter than an ordinary exercise bar or Berg Hantel. And it had loads of whip. It also had brass revolving sleeves around the bar. The story is told that Pullum got the idea for his Patent Cambered Bar when Lurich bent of Pullum's Patent Bars. Lurich had a trick of jerking a heavy weight overhead then letting go of the bar and catching it across the back of his neck. On this occasion he dropped 245 and the bar curled up around the feet of Lurich. Bill could only partly straighten the bar out so it was left with a camber. When it was loaded up for squats-yes Aunt Gertrude they DID do squats in those far off days- he found the bar 'Sat' more comfortably across the shoulders. He also discovered that when he tried a one hand deadlift, it, the bar 'stayed' in his hand easier and didn't tend to roll out of it and thus was the cambered bar born. Get that alliteration?
When I mentioned PLATES in those far off days I wasn't referring to LOADABLE PLATES or plates that had a loading hole for shot to be put into them. I was referring to PLATES such as we know them today, and for which today's Muscles by Mail Moguls take the credit for inventing. Plate barbells were being used way back in the 1800's and, I SUSPECT globe barbells were purely cosmetic rather than, like the plates, utilitarian.
As to that story of you know who trying to trap a man of unstable mind into signing a contract for thousands. How reliable is your source. I always reserve judgement(sic) until I can prove or deny-part of my police training I guess. BUT I KEEP MY GUARD UP. I tag along until I find I am being done dirt and then-as I did with XXX I tell them to piss off. And that is what I'll do if and when you know who tries any tricks
And so to bed as good old Sam Pepys used to say. Best to you and yours, Chas.
[This installment of one week is a filler column- I was too busy to work on three weeks last time. See you Dec 6 for our penultimate installment for 2003. (Had to use that word to confuse those who think penultimate means final)]
Posted by TheEditor @ 07:20 PM CST
Iron History Nov 15-28, 2002
Thursday, November 14, 2002
A Personal Note: I was willing to provide ironhistory.com for free. But when so many declined to contribute money to the mechanics of keeping cyberpump online, and thus maintaining a site for ironhistory.com, something clicked in me.
To research these columns takes me about 16 hours each. TheEditor asked for $10(not per hour but per YEAR) from each person to offset costs caused by the popularity of cyberpump's many aspects. This was met by more balking than at a drunken baseball game. So to those of you who are reading this, and thus have contributed, thank you. I am not being paid, nor are other contributors, and I think we all enjoy sharing. But I will add this. I have told TheEditor that if he causes ironhistory.com to become freely available to non-contributors, then he can find someone else to write it. I work cheap, they can subscribe cheap.
There are those who say the site is doomed because not enough people will support it. They may be right. In the meantime, we will uphold our end of the deal, and if it fails, then the marketplace has so decided, and I will have about four more free days per month.
VIC BOFF Oct 22, 1915 in Red Lion, PA. to Nov 9, 2002 in Cape Coral, FL.
(I am absolutely positive of the year of birth as being what Vic told me on the phone. But I have also seen 1917. At the moment I cannot explain the dilemma)
Even with the firewall of hope entrenched against the unwelcome news, the news arrived anyway: Vic Boff, the first-person historian, wonderful human being, and flat out nice guy, had on, Sat Nov 9, 2002, stopped being able to 'carry on' as he always urged others to do.
Vic died on Bob Hoffman's birthday. Hoffman, by all fair accounts, was instrumental in furthering weightlifting in America, and Vic was instrumental in showcasing that nice guys can finish first. Like Ed Jubinville, Vic had no detractors worthy of attention. Vic, with the calm assurance that accompanies being right and righteous, went about his business of running the Association of Olde Time Barbell & Strongmen, a title that off- put many younger converts to iron who sought size via ingestion or injection rather than intensity. But Vic remained on target by honoring those whom he considered worthy of lifetime drug free participation.
Strength magazine had announced the beginning of The Association of Bar Bell Men in Jul 1927, when Vic was an adolescent. One suspects he knew of this and may have later patterned his organization's title after it. Bar bell used to be two words and was on occasion seen as bar-bell. Vic's organization held 19many dinners on the east coast, and in the early 1990's there was an effort on the west coast to hold something similar, headed up by Leo Stern and Russ Warner- that effort lasted only a couple of years.
Clouded in vague references and early articles about 'Tissue Drugs' in the early 1960s, word began spreading about steroids entering the mindset, then the bodies of lifters and bodybuilders. As much as this bothered some of us, it bothered Vic more. He had seen what real men could accomplish and maintain without the thermometer effect of 'peaking'. He had known strong guys who could lift what they claimed they could lift. It was a difficult adjustment for Vic to realize that the essence of physical culture was absent from a whole generation of falsies. Asking some of these bodybuilders how they gained such muscularity was similar to asking someone on cocaine how he manages such a cheery disposition. Same for lifters who explained progress under the mask of isometrics. Vic went to his grave cherishing the purity of a physical culture that ended about forty years ago.
Over the years, Vic and I would chat on the phone. If I needed a phone number or an address, Vic was THE source, and he would provide it if the person sought had not indicated the info was private. Sometimes Vic would call me to get specific dates and titles for those whom he was planning to honor. Within the past few weeks he called to chat about the sport, and about holding another honor dinner for the AOBS, and then I would drill him for memories of his buddies with old time iron people.
He had an aversion to honoring anyone in the 'Weider' group. He never came out and phrased it this way to me but it was obvious when he commented to me that the list of those appropriate to honor was growing shorter, and I suggested there were several worthy people. I mentioned some names, and they happened to be folks that had previously been connected to Weider, he danced around the topic and I did not pursue it because it was his organization and his call, but I never did understand the logic of how some of those who have been honored are more 'honorable' than some others.
Here is a note he sent May 6, 1991 responding to my query about the whereabouts of the famous 209 lb Rolandow dumbell, "Called Mrs. Klein re Rolandow bell etc. she didn't know anything concerning whereabouts of same- Also spoke to Grimek-no knowledge of its owner, etc. Will keep searching. Take care, keep in touch; carry on, Vic"
Sometimes in the evening the phone would ring, and thirty minutes later I would hang up and my wife would ask, 'Who was that?' I'd reply, 'It was Vic Boff'. 'Oh, what was on his mind?' she would ask. "Nothing in particular, he just wanted to talk."
Vic had known virtually every- understand this- virtually every strength star in America who was his contemporary. Based in New York, he was situated where many performers were drawn, and he knew them, worked out with many of them, saw their performances, and visited with them. He knew Sig Klein personally, and told me that Mrs. Klein was upset when Sig passed away that newspapers paid scant notice to the position he had held in his field. He told me how fascinated he was to have watched George Jowett stack 50 pound scale weights atop each other as though they weighed much less than 50 pounds.
I asked him about Warren Lincoln Travis, who in regard to standard bell lifting was of no note so far as I could see, though he had considerable fame for heavy, short range lifts such as harness or back lifts. He told me that he was once in a car with Travis and another lifter and it was decided that they would detour to a gym and try some standard bell lifting. Travis agreed, but appeared uneasy, and as they neared the gym he suddenly remembered he had elsewhere to be for an appointment�
He also saw Jowett clean an anvil by the horn-though not the 168 pound one that everyone associates with Jowett- it was more like 100 pounds. [We have shown via photos that the anvil Jowett was 'shown' lifting is not the 168. If, as is reported elsewhere Jowett could clean and press EASILY a 168 lb anvil, then what was his limit- probably as unlimited as are the tales about his strength?]
Years ago, Vic waited a few days after Prof Schmidt passed away and then stopped by to ask the widow Schmidt if he could purchase some of the professor's weights. Oh, she said, they have been carted off to the junk. His consideration for a mourning period had cost him some famous artifacts. But, such was Vic's way- show respect and settle for what life offers you. One wonders now what will become of Vic's collection.
I could not drag a disparaging comment out of Vic's mouth. Even when I knew he was unhappy about something and wanted him to express those feelings (such as some behind the scenes events at the most recent AOBS dinner), he was cautious in his phrasing, putting aside personal feelings to brighten the emphasis for the overall furtherance of the sport. Perhaps this attitude was why he lived to be 87.
The cancer that had been his unwelcome companion for the past six years finally won its battle, and the Grand Old Man of Lifting has left us.
A memorial service is planned for 10:00am Friday, Nov 15, 2002 (this morning) at 2430 Diplomat Parkway at the Hope Hospice Chapel in North Fort Myers, Florida.
Vic wrote for several of the magazines, here is a short sampling:
British amateur Weightlifter & Bodybuilder from Jun 1952 thru Oct 1952
S&H: Dec 1962 about Joe Greenstein; Nov 1980 mentions that he was selected as an historical consultant for the York Barbell Hall of Fame
MD: May 1969 Anibal Lopez; Oct 1978 Joe Bonomo; Jun 1983 tribute to Willoughby
MTI: Jul 1966 thru Jan 1968, and in the Jul 1989, a story about the passing of Milo Steinborn
Ironman Sep 1985: Vic Boff- Physical Culture Way of Life- by Ciola
Jul 1986 The Mighty Atom returns(about Slim Farman)
Jan 1987 epitaph for Mac Batchelor; Jul 1987 Tony Sansone obit; Sep 1987 Sig Klein obit; Aug 1994 Dennis Rogers
The Bodybuilder: Jan, Jul, Sep 1980
Muscle & Bodybuilder Nov 1980, Jul 1981, Mar 1984
Muscle-UP: Oct 1979 thru Aug 1984, including Feb 1980 on Breitbart
Natural Physique which later became the still current Natural Bodybuilding Apr 1991 thru May 1998, including Aug 1991 about Grimek's 50th wedding anniversary celebration; May 1993 about Sig Klein; Aug 1994 about Dennis Rogers. I do not have the most recent years of this magazine, so Vic may have written after these noted sections.
Iron Game History: four articles.
MILO Oct 1993, July 1995
Iron Master: Jan 1996 Steinborn; May 1996 Farnam & Mighty Atom
This is not a complete list but should give the serious student some places to find info about Vic. If there is a gym in heaven it is less likely named Gold's than Golden Gates, but on a clear night you can look up and see Vic juggling that kettlebell he was so fond of tossing about.
Also, for a list of the 19 dinners (remember there was none in 2001 because of 9-11) see ironhistory for Jul 5-18, 2002 in the archives. We have listed those who were honored and locations of the dinners etc.
May Vic have rest and peace, and may we continue to honor him as we 'carry on', trying to restore the grandeur of the iron game as he remembered it.
ANOTHER PASSING: John Pettitt, 55, suffered a heart attack and died Nov 11, in, I think, Plano, Texas. John was a judge at powerlifting contests and he wrote for PLUSA staring in the Mar 1978 issue about the Collegiates Powerlifting championships- a subject he covered the following year for PLUSA also in the Apr and the May issues. In 1981 he offered a couple of article on how to run meets; in 1985 a piece on how the 'World's Came to Be".
For Muscular Development he wrote in 1973, 1977, 1978, 1979 usually contest reports and the same for Ironman 1974, 1978, 1979.
I will try to get more info for the next column. If anyone has a comment, or a memory about John, please share thru the comment button, or email me.
Relevant to this: We will mention the passing of anyone who was connected to the history of iron, but, we must be made aware of the passing to mention it. So if you encounter an obituary or know of one, please contact me and I will pursue it. I once had a chat with a magazine editor who told me 'Our readers do not know who that person was" (meaning they would not care to read about him). He was right. But HERE, whether or not readers care, I DO, and will mention it. So please share.
HELP! If anyone knows how to contact either of Leo Gaudreau's two children, please share that info with me.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Apparently, there was a Mr. Olympia (non IFBB) in 1961 and it was won by a man named as Tony Monday, whom I suspect is Tuny Monday. The search continues.
RED PENCIL HISTORY: Noticed one web site asserts that Health & Strength magazine was purchased by Bob Hoffman who changed the name to Strength & Health. This same website has more errors than Bill Gates could track. Sufficient for now, Hoffman never bought H&S, and S&H is an entirely different magazine, which ran concurrently with H&S for several decades. Some of these sites off information more off-track than a betting parlor.
Nov 15, 1898 Edgar Mueller born- the man who is credited with writing the book on Hermann Goerner, though, as you may have noticed in the letter we posted from John Dawe to me, John claims to have written the book and put Mueller's name on it to give him some publicity. IF, Dawe wrote it, then when the text refers to the author as a witness in PERSON, which person, Dawe or Mueller?
I have a very rare, and I think, never published, hand printed, text by Mueller from 1950- it contains wonderful history on the evolution of weight equipment and on some lifters. We will be posting it as an Extra in the coming weeks. It gives names of early barbell companies etc. Good stuff.
Nov 15, 1922 Roy Hilligenn born. As Muscle Builder Nov 1961 noted, Roy is a native of South Africa. Many other sources offer details about the contests he won in the 1940s in South Africa before he came to America. Only one source that I have seen- much more recent- asserts that he was born in America.
Nov 15, 1937 Clarence Bass born. Will he get RIPPED on his 65th birthday? He has been ripped for years as the titles of his books indicate. MMI serialzed some section of his book RIPPED beginning in Jan 1981.
First mention I have noticed of Clarence in LIFTING NEWS was Apr 1956 while when competing in the 181 lb class at the Teen Nationals weighing 179.25 lbs he managed to press 200, snatch 220, and C&J 290 for a 710 lb total. He is a lawyer by trade, hence the title of Denie's Apr 1979 piece in MTI referring to Bass as bodybuilding's Clarence Darrow. [whatever happened to Denie?]
Bass's Q&A column in Muscle & Fitness began with the name change from Muscle Builder, Jul 1980 and ran thru Jul 1996.
Nov 15, 1951 Mike Mentzer born in Germantown, Pennsylvania. Mike was at once a brilliant man, and bodybuilding's Descartes. He thought therefore he was. On Jun 10, 2001 he died suddenly.
He was first mentioned in S&H in Aug 1971 page 50 where a photo accompanies his victory at the 1971 Mr. Pennsylvania. Five years later he won the American Bodybuilding Championships on Oct 2, 1976. After the 1980 Mr. Olympia which was won by Arnold, Mike was never the same because of what he considered the ultimate injustice of the event. But I am told, shortly before he died he and Arnold spoke on the phone and put the matter behind them.
In 1983 he worked for Arthur Jones and Nautilus for six months, and then from Dec 1984 thru Oct 1985? Was involved with the mag WORKOUT for FITNESS, which was aimed at the general fitness market, not the muscle crowd.
His titles include 1977 IFBB Mr. North America, and in 1979 his only pro win in the IFBB, the Southern Pro Cup. After the 1980 Olympia he declined to compete. In his last years, personal training and writing composed his income.
Nov 16, 1936 Isaac Berger born. One of America's better weightlifters, whom S&H reported as a member of the Adonis Health Club in 1953. His featherweight skills caused one to wonder just how strong he could have been had he weighed 198 or so. Some of you more aware of modern lifting than I may need to correct this- but did he not hold the C&J record at 336 lbs for more than a decade?
Nov 16, 1958 Roger Eells was ordained a minister at Christ Episcopal Church in Ironton, Ohio.
Nov 16, 1959 John Grimek's sixth child, John Darryl Grimek born
Nov 16, 1973 Jan & Terry Todd wedding. So, this is anniversary #29.
Nov 17, 1903 Dudley Sargent measures Pierre Gasnier
Nov 17, 1994 Brother Bennett died
Nov 18, 1910 John Fritshe born; died Dec 31, 1976. Name is so spelled. Fritshe's Health Center 22-24 West Cheltan Ave in Philadelphia (what is there now?) offered 'Body building, corrective exercise and reducing for men and women". His lifetime in the health field brought him honors at a dinner in Philadelphia on Nov 2, 1975. He helped in the training of three men who won Mr. America: Jules Bacon, John Farbotnik, and George Eiferman.
On the final day of 1976, sadly, he was found dead in his gym.
Nov 18, 1950 Charles Glass born. This appears to be his birth date counting backwards from certain references, though I understand he asserts 1952 to be the correct day. Known more as a personal trainer in recent years, I think his first victory in bodybuilding was Aug 21, 1976 at Mr. Compton. In 1983 he captured the middleweight at the IFBB World Amateur Championships. His most recent competition was the 1995 Masters Olympia where he placed 4th.
Nov 18, 1980 Charles A. Smith's grandson, Christopher, born
Nov 19, 1949 Armand Tanny won Pro Mr. America or Nov 13? Have seen a reference for both dates.
Nov 19, 1955 Robert Walker won Jr. Mr. Los Angeles, and Lynn Lyman became Mr. Apollo. Actually I was planning to call Vic Boff and ask if Walker is still living, and ask about Arthur Harris. Anyway, both these men deserved to win some titles that attitudes about their dark skin prevented them from winning, in my opinion.
Walker won his first contest, the Mr. Val Verde in 1956, and in 1957 won Mr. YMCA, Mr. Apollo, Mr. Pacific Coast, Mr. Southern California, and Mr. California.
If you have Muscle Builder magazines, check Oct 1957, May 1959, Sep 1961, Nov 1962, and Jun 1965 for info on him.
[ I realize many of you do not have these mags but this column is written as a reference effort in case you ever acquire these mags or if a friend might have them. I further realize some of this makes for dry reading, but my purpose to write toward information, not flowingly.]
Nov 19, 1994 Brother Bennett's funeral
Nov 20, 1897 Hans Beck continental and pressed 278.75 lbs for 3 reps
Nov 20, 1934 Tony Terlazzo and Vivian Soubier marry
Nov 20, 1937 The inaugural weightlifting competition for John Davis. At the French Sporting Club, 349 West 48th Street in NYC. He placed 3rd in the 181 class via 220-215-260 for a 695 total.. At the same venue two months later he won the heavyweight class via a total of 735. Things got better from there, so that on May 13, 1950 he received a trophy for being "The Greatest Weightlifter of the Century". This of course predated some other lifters for the final half of the century, but some of these awards are not worded corrected so that in retrospect they lose meaning.
Davis was a superlative lifter who was so well known that when a letter sent to him from Surrey, England was addressed simply, "Mr. John Davis World Hvy WL Champ, USA" it was sent to York, PA., and arrived thence to him.
In 1938 he began winning weightlifting contests and did not lose until Norbert Schemansky defeated him on Jan 17, 1953.
In his later years he worked as a prison guard, among whose inmates unfortunately was not the person who had broken into John's residence and stolen all his medals and trophies.
His obituary was carried in the Albuquerque Journal Friday July 20, 1984 page E7.
Nov 20, 1948 Leo Stern vs Walt Marcyan contest.
Nov 20, 1991 Gripmeister David Horne's son, Alexander, born
Nov 20, 1998 John Carroll Grimek died; born Jun 17, 1910. Middle name so spelled according to what he told me, "two r's, tw l's".
Nov 21, 1972 Ed Corney, master poser, won the IFBB Mr. Universe in Baghdad
Nov 21, 1981 Boyer Coe won the IFBB Montreal Grand Prix
Nov 22, 1931 Eddie Silvestre born in San Diego; died Jun 8, 2000. He married Doris Feldman on Jan 9, 1965. Twins Iliana & Lorena, and Elena came from the marriage. Eddie graduated from UCLA and spent five years at Brown Military Academy.
I have seen references to him winning several more contests than I have been able to verify, but here is what I can verify: Won Mr. Mexico in 1952, 1953, 1954. Won the Mr. Americas in 1957 (this was not the AAU America); won the IFBB Mr. Universe in 1959. He enjoyed a lengthy film career, and sent several sheets of paper to me outlining the film titles and his other achievements.
Nov 22, 1980 Mae West died; born Aug 17, 1892 (maybe). She had a traveling troupe of musclemen including Mickey Hargitay. The current issue of FILMFAX magazine has an interview with Hargitay, and he speaks some about West, and how when Chuck Krauser slugged him it was pre-planned for publicity.
Nov 22, 2000 Doug Hepburn died at age 74. born Sep 16, 1926
Nov 23, 1878 Lionel Strongfort born in Berlin, Germany. Died circa 1967. His real name was Max Unger.
Though he purportedly could bent press about 300 lbs, experts believed it closer to 225 lbs or so. He weighed about 180. See Willoughby's Super Athletes for a good summary on him.
THE STRONGMAN May 1924 offered this from William A. Pullum: "To anyone who can accomplish Strongfort's feat of lifting with one hand overhead a dumb-bell weighing 312 lbs- [he] was previously known as Max Unger." Was not actually a dumbell, bar was 'at least 4" thick, and liberally smeared all over with vasoline. Albert Attilla said 'It might have weighed an ounce or so over 190 lbs, but not a fraction more.'
A 4" diameter bar would be 12.56" circumference, and smeared with vasoline would preclude, I would guess, cleaning it, so the test was probably rocking the bell to the shoulder, which of course was always done with a barbell not a dumbell, so frankly, I do not understand the technique used here.
Strongfort also could perform the Tomb of Hercules with about 3,200 lbs but he advertised it as 7,000 lbs. Hey, what's a few pounds among friends! Warren Lincoln Travis witnessed Strongfort bent press 179 lbs for 4 reps before Lionel had reached his full strength levels.
Finally, Strongfort claimed to tear in half not one deck of cards, not two decks, but FIVE DECKS of cards at once. He used the Betty Crocker method, baking the cards in the oven beforehand.
Muscle Power May 1946 informs us that a portrait of Strongfort was hung in the Berlin Art Gallery by Kaiser Wilhelm the Second.
In 1924 he was advertising STRONGFORTISM at Dept 1376 in Newark, New Jersey. [if anyone knows his exact date of death, please share]
Nov 23, 1913 Orin Heller born; died Jul 29, 1996
Nov 23, 1963 Don Howorth won Mr. West Coast
Nov 23, 1968 Fred Lowe and Maureen McBride wedding
Nov 23, 1992 Jack Delinger's son John Errol Delinger, died of a cerebral hemorrhage.
Nov 24, 1904 Arthur Saxon bent pressed 331 lbs. Earle Liederman, writing in Muscle Builder Jun 1960 offered 'I saw Arthur Saxon Lift' and this amount is, while not a playpen weight for Saxon, it most certainly was an amount he could do most of the time 'on the spot'.
Nov 24, 1924 Abe Goldberg born. By 1954 he was running at gym in New York City at 80 Clinton Street. His photo had appeared in the Nov 1946 issue of Your Physique, but it was a photo of him at age 15. On May 28, 1948 he was at the Central Opera House in New York City bellowing out a victory in the Mr. Northeast America. S&H back in Aug 1943 presented his story.
Nov 24, 1930 Vera Coleman born (would later marry/divorce Al Christensen), Vera is perhaps most remembered for her S&H column 'To The Ladies' which ran from May 1956 . She contributed to S&H for three decades.
Nov 24, 1956 Cory Christensen born on his mother Vera's 26th birthday
Nov 24, 1991 Peary Rader died; born Oct 17, 1909. Was it Leo Gaudreau who indicated that the past should be re-visited, not re-lived? Those current moaners missing Rader's version of Ironman must be unaware that in its final years, Ironman's circulation was indeed ready for the nursing home. When John Balik bought it, he was wise enough not to continue it's downward trend, so changes had to be made. Would Rader approve of those changes? Don't know. Mabel is still living, and one suspects, based on their comments when they owned the mag, that she would probably prefer not to see so much, if any, cheesecake.
But the Rader era of Ironman was golden. In an odd way, even while you were reading some of it you KNEW it was probably not going to work for you, but it had apparently worked for whoever submitted the article. It was this potpourri of articles that gave Ironman its patina.
Peary loved the iron- and whatever lift or exercise you could do with a bell- he was interested. His mag was a mixture of bodybuilding/Olympic lifting/powerlifting, and an occasional gain weight drink recipe tossed in from someone who had managed to add a few pounds by liquefying peanut butter and drinking it. Or somesuch.
There are those who say that old issues of Ironman are the best mag collectibles in our field. I would offer Your Physique as my favorite, or VIM (the Eell's mag), or some of the British Amateur Weightlifter and Bodybuilder. But, this is opinion, and is the choice of the collector. I seek history, others seek other aspects.
Nov 24, 1996 Dr. Richard You died at age 79; born 1916. Circa late 1964 his new downtown Honolulu building was completed. He is credited with helping Tommy Kono is in his lifting career- don't know if that is fact. Relatively Little (nine articles) are in my files as appearing in the mags I have filed, although after his Dec 1968 letter to S&H praising Bob Hoffman, the Apr 1969 issue countered with a 'Hats off' tribute to You. Most known for his nutrition endeavors.
Nov 25, 1907 Montell Torbit born; died Oct 11, 1989
Nov 25, 1969 Dexter Jackson born in Jacksonville, FL. Dexter became the 59th man to win a pro IFBB contest when he topped the field of physiques Oct 26 this year at the British Grand Prix.
Nov 25, 1979 Women's National Bodybuilding Championships in Canton, Ohio
Nov 27, 1897 Harry Barton Paschall born; died Sep 24, 1957. Known as HBP, he began writing for S&H in Sep 1934, and, of course, was an artist- creating the character of 'Bosco'- the likes of whom we have not since seen- a recurring character who often lambasted 'boobybuilders'- a not so indirect slap at Weider. Bosco debuted Jan 1954 and the 45 installments ended in the Dec 1957 issue. There were half-hearted attempts to revive Bosco by involving Duke Schneider, Tony Chikes, and 'Hector'- and in my files is a letter from Hector offering some 'behind the scenes' info. That is for another day.
Bosco also appeared, at least eight times in the British Amateur Weightlifter and Bodybuilder, 1953-1954.
HBP also wrote 'Behind the Scenes' for S&H which debuted in Mat 1945 and ran thru the Jan 1958 issue for a total of 135 installments. His heart attack Sep 24, 1957 was the behind the scenes reason Bosco stopped.
Nov 27, 1952 Gregory Paradise died age 50
Nov 27, 1980 Doris Barrilleaux was elected Chairwoman of IFBB Women's Comm.
Nov 27, 1991 Peary Rader funeral at Bates-Gould Chapel. Larry Cripe officiated, burial in Alliance, Nebraska, cemetery
Nov 28, 1912 Monte Saldo became the first Britisher to swing one handed more than bodyweight when he lifted 150 lbs. He invented the method of loading the rear end of the dumbell heavier for the swing, and used this method.
INCH 101: Part Conclusion.
Rather than repeat arguments from previous editions of ironhistory.com here, please use the search button via 'Inch101'.
Conclusion:
Sometimes the most innocent looking data can be very revealing. In Health & Strength Nov 15, 1913 p 510, there appeared the Official List of Professional Weightlifting Records in England. Edward Aston held 12 of those records, E.C.Smith one, J. Watson, one, and Thomas Inch held two.
Put your thinking caps on. Aston's one hand clean record was 243 lbs. When the lift turned into a one hand clean and jerk, his amount dropped to 199-1/2 lbs.
Inch, in regard to his two lifts did not have to one hand clean the weight. His right hand push record was 163-3/4 lbs, and when more strictness was demanded, his right arm military press amount descended to 106 lbs. and 10 ounces.
See a problem yet? Many years after this, Inch would claim that the full feat of lifting the 172 lb Inch bell was one hand clean and then overhead. He would further reflect that he had mastered this since about 1906. Well, here we are in 1913, after, according to his version, he had been putting the 172 overhead, at will, on dozens upon dozens of occasions. Now the problem with the 172 of course was the thick 2.38" diameter handle. But if all Inch could push overhead with one hand in 1913 was about 8 lbs less than 172, how are we to accept the cleaning of the 172 by Inch AND PUTTING IT OVERHEAD for the past seven years? Even if he could clean it, he lacked the strength, according to the record books, to push it overhead. Please do not mention bent press- Aston held that record at the time as well, and Inch NEVER even claimed to bent press the 172. Also, remember that a couple of years before this, Inch was down to a strength level that allowed only a 170 pound clean on a REGULAR diameter bar- which strength level would preclude clean two pounds more on a thick handled bar.
Further, as we now know from the scattering of Inch replicas around America, many men who can clean 172 lbs on a standard size barbell handle CANNOT in many cases even get the Inch replica off the floor, or at best manage a deadlift. ANYONE (read Mark Henry) who can clean the Inch replica, would certainly surpass Inch's one hand push record, and in spite of the bodyweight differences between Henry and Inch, actually because of that bodyweight difference, we are coming to understand that Inch had no basis upon which to make his claims in regard to the 172.
Inch asserted that Aston was unable to clean the Inch, indeed even clear the floor with it, but Aston held the one hand clean record of 243 lbs, not Inch. Could the thick handle make that much difference to Aston who, again, in the one hand clean and jerk managed the record of essentially 200 lbs?
Inch, in my view, and I no longer call it an opinion, because one must be a dunderhead not to read the facts as they have been preserved- not as they were presented, but preserved, and sitting around for years in yellowed magazine pages waiting for someone to thoughtfully read and compare all the variations. Frankly, this I have done, and without arrogance may I remind students of the Inch 172, that until the research performed here at ironhistory.com and the discussions on the grip board, no one, to my knowledge had ever asserted in print the conclusions we have revealed this year. Oh- there had been rare whispers about Inch switching bells, but the supposition seemed to prevail that had push come to shoving it overhead, he could have cleaned and put overhead the 172. I think we have presented facts and analysis to thwart that position.
Further, though certain websites and other sources may continue to assert that Inch was able to do what he claimed, they seem to make this assertion based on faith without study. But just as in working out with weights where progress is not made by simply repeating what is easy, so it is with the study of old time strongmen and feats of strength. To simply cull unchecked facts and format new articles from them continues the original disservice of laziness. To those who bemoan that their sacred cows have been slaughtered, perhaps some other readers will acknowledge that it is rare in our medium that well done research yields such a meal of truth to enjoy. I began this study accepting that Inch was able to do what has always been claimed. Facts guided me to the opposite conclusion.
Oct 23, 1985 letter from Charles A. Smith to Joe Roark, excerpts:
[please note, I have not deleted some of the vulgar terms. The only editing is in regard to names where XXX replaces a name. Someone recently said to me that XXX must certainly refer to Weider. Hardly. XXX refers to different folks even within the same paragraph. Also keep in mind that these were the views that Charles held fast- they may prove to be right or to be wrong, but they were his views, not mine]
I didn't care for the Charlton publications anyway and they always did bear the imprint of the publisher being in 'it' for what he could get out of it. Just my opinion. They seemed to be cheaply produced and as cheaply edited.
[Leo Gaudreau] He said that Liederman probably knew more than anyone else about the private life of Sandow, that he, Leo, was sick and fed up with what was nothing more than hero worship of the great Eugen. Also remarked that there was a lot of discord in the Sandow household, that Sandow liked the ladies a lot to which, naturally, Blanche objected stenuously, as women will do. But I always say that if you get a good meal at home, you don't need to go to a reataurant. Leo also told me that dear old Joe had offered to send him to Europe to do an in depth study of Sandow's life, but he had refused. Says he wish (sic) he had gone now. Also remarked that there was something 'queer' in Sandow's relationship with a 'pianist' who lived in the Sandow home. That once Schwarzenegger had written to him suggesting that - NO, Arnold had PHONED HIM- suggesting that they get together on a movie of the life of Sandow. Leo says he said 'Nay' to this and told Arnold outright that first, his, Leo's knowledge of Sandow had a limit and two, that he, Arnold, wasn't the Sandow type, which must have pleased the Leaning Tower of Pompous more than somewhat.
I see that there was a mention of a HALL OF FAME in the latest edition of S&H with a triple category, including one for writers- and a remark to the effect that appointment will be NON political. I wonder if I will be appointed before I shuffle off this mortal coil. Speaking as a completely unbiased observer, I can think of no one more deserving than I.
XXX a 'nice' guy-sheeeeit. I know all about his first wife, her name, how they met and even what happened on their wedding night. But that's a story for your visit. He was, so far as I am concerned, a loathsome bastard. I met him a few times and there is no doubt that he was one of the most good looking men I have ever seen, the sort that girls go goo goo eyed over. His physique was also great, but his personal life- as I say, that's a story for your visit
Thanks for XXX's address. I shall write to him and see what is going on. I think he deserves it, he and I got along real well since we both likes our drop of the Oh be Joyful at the time. XXX's cheerful attitude. I'd say it was laughing on the outside but crying on the in. You might not believe this but XXX is and was a very sensitive character and things personal affected him a great deal. His only daughter whom he loved did him real dirt and it just about broke him up.
So far as I know, XXX never wrote under any other name- too egocentric for that- and his 'Doctor' was a phony diploma mill type. He DID write the Atlas course as I may have mentioned to you. XXX was born-I believe- in or around the city of Norwich-pronounced NORRICH- in East Anglia, England and came to this country around 1920. He appeared to be pussy mad, and was always writing to XXX about kissing 'titties'. I used to get a big laugh out of it since I have always regarded the business of love as a 'With' not a 'to'.
Harry Paschall. He tossed quite a few knocks my way with what he considered to be barbed wit. But he sent me all his books with a very friendly inscription and once wrote a letter-which I never kept- sad to say, to the effect that while I rib you I still think a lot of you and your writing. He was on his way to take an issue of S&H to the printers when he keeled over and died at the wheel of his car of a heart attack. Very sudden.
Did I ever have a chance to meet Alan P. Mead - Did I. I was a member of the gym he ran when I was barely seventeen years of age. Mead was one of the so called 'Upper' classes in England, a barrister, or as they say here, an 'Attorney' and had a fairly bust and lucrative practice, but somehow or the other got into weight training. It may have been the result of his losing a leg in World War 1. Quite a handsome man like Liederman, but MUCH taller and with a definition that was out of this world. In an early edition of IRON MAN is a story about him with one glaring error. It presents TWO photos, one of Mead in his usual white trousers to hide his prosthesis, and another purporting to be Mead BEFORE he lost his leg. This FALSE. Though the two men look a bit alike, the two legged shot was of Charles 'Ras' Back, who worked at Mead's gym and ran it for him.
Mead had his gym in Greville Street in the High Holborn district, business, of London and I joined it when I was around 17 and well into swimming, making the British National team in 1931. Mead's gym was the most advanced of its time with tiled walls- light tan color and I do mean TILES- with insets of tropical fish taks. It makes me smile and curse to see todays implications that weight machines, a la Nautilus type didn't see the light of day before Art Jones came into the picture. Mead had them by the dozens for working any muscle of the body you can name and some you can't. Ron Walker used to train there.
Mead was married, wife's name was Jane, a long haired tall 'arty' looking gal. There used to be a tall story we all spread around about Mead to the effect that he obtained his his amazing definition by subsisting on a diet of lettuce and champagne. No truth to it of course.
We all called him 'Mr. Mead.' NEVER Alan or Al.
And so I leave you with warms regards to you and yours, Chas.
Letter from Charles A. Smith to Joe Roark Nov 7, 1985
Don't-PLEASE- call this 'Christian.' That I ain't, and don't believe in 'christianity.' I am an atheist, but believe that to do good, or to help someone else, you don't have to be what is termed a Christian. I know several of these. I call them 'once a week religionists.' They think that by attending church on Sunday, that sets them all right with the world and the first thing they do getting out of church is to utter bigoted words about niggers and Mexicans and Yids, And there's too much evil going on in the world for me to believe there is a 'God.' If there is, he ought to be listening to peoples' prayers and do something about it. Enough, enough. Sorry.
[Roark note: this argument is never used in reverse: When something good happens to people, others do not say, 'Well this proves there is no devil-otherwise he would not allow good things to happen.]
I had a letter from Horvath recently- did I tell you- my memory is getting so bloody poor. Bart seems to be doing OK. He too has had a hip replacement- or so he tells me
I once talked with Tilney about writing an article on him and when I got to 'Where did you earn your Doctorate, Doc, and in what discipline?' he clammed up. The article never did get written.
Incidentally I came across a VERY significant piece of history when I was raking through scads of Coulter correspondence the other day. Otley was writing to Gay Ng - promouned ENG and what a character, likeable. In one letter Otley starts to talk about the contest McFadden held to determine the world's best built man-sunsequently won by Charles Atlas. Otley remarked that he and Anton Matysek were also entered in that contest. Two or three weeks PRIOR to the contest, Otley heard rumors that Atlas would win. He knew that Doc had written a course for Atlas. THEN Atlas started, about ten days BEFORE the contest, to distribute brochures describing his course. Atlas won. Otley though Antone Matysek should have won, that he stood head and shoulders over Atlas. Otley then somewhat tartly remarked that 'I guess the judges liked Atlas's OVER DEVELOPED PECS.' He also said the judges did didn't consider him, Otley, because 'He is TOO muscular.' Now, immediately AFTER the contest, Atlas began extensive advertising in McFadden's mag. It is also rumored that McFadden had a piece of the Atlas action-course.
[famous woman] XXX. Cock hungry. If she had as many men's members sticking out of her as she had stuck into her she'd have looked like a porcupine. She is said to have screwed anyone and everyone she could hold still for a few seconds. XXX is RUMORED to have had a piece of her in the back of a car on the way to Las Vegas or Reno or someplace.
Someone asked her- in my presence- what she thought of sexual intercourse, and she replied, completely dead pan, 'The sensation's sublime, the movements ridiculous.'
All the best to you and yours, Chas.
I have been busy. So rather than posting three weeks of material to take us to Dec 6 for the next regular column, you will notice only two weeks are covered in this post. We will post a one week column on Nov 29, and then get back on track with the first and third Friday schedule. I say 'we' because without TheEditor you would not be reading this.
Posted by TheEditor @ 07:26 PM CST
