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Getbig Bodybuilding Boards => History - Stories - and Memories => Topic started by: chris73 on February 02, 2011, 12:35:48 PM
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If anybody knows somebody who trained in Sig Kleinīs gym in New York City....
- how did these guys train, did they train to failure?
-do you know any funny stories from there?
-did Sig buy modern equipment lets say in the 1970s or 1980s?
-did he change his training philospophy when training science progressed?
thanks a lot to anyone who can contribute
Chris
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never trained there but heard it was one of the smallest commercial gyms ever. will give more detail when more time.
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Klein's book here: http://ditillo2.blogspot.com/2009/02/sig-klein-chapter-two.html , scroll to the bottom of the page the rest is there and in advancing months.
An interesting thing was the Sig Klein Clean and Press Challenge, which was to take two #75lbs dumbbells and c/p them, starting from the floor, 12 times. It doesn't seem like a lot at first glance, but Klein was a small man and those dumbbells combined were close to his bodyweight.
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also klein opened his nyc gym in 1924 -12 years before jack lalanne's gym.
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dan lurie gave a good profile of sig's gym in his who's who of bodybuilding mag recounting how sig invented the in-klein bench as well as talking about the day montogomery clift karl malden and reg park were all working out on the same day in sig's 30 by 40 foot gym.
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Hello, I just found this topic and would be glad to answer any questions about Sig Klein's Gym. I trained there from 1963 to 1973 when it closed. I knew many famous people in show business and some of the old time bodybuilders and strong men. So again if any questions just ask.
Tom67
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Hello, I just found this topic and would be glad to answer any questions about Sig Klein's Gym. I trained there from 1963 to 1973 when it closed. I knew many famous people in show business and some of the old time bodybuilders and strong men. So again if any questions just ask.
Tom67
better yet tom share some stories of your experiences in sig's gym. what kind of guy was sig? did he still train heavy at this point in his life? was it a friendly gym or one with a hostile feel to outsiders? who were some of the famous guys who trained there? did sig keep up with the latest trends in equipment? tell us more.
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Sig was a modest man always well dressed. He ran the gym strictly by that I mean no just hanging around and talking. He would say your here to work out not talk. A favorit expression would be "Get busy." It did not matter who you were Sig would even tell the best known actors to "Get busy". Part of the reason was that the gym was very small.
The gym was open to all as long as they behaved. If you were a trouble maker you were gone.
Sig did not train heavy. He did train three days a week lasting about 1/2/hour. Usually doing 15 reps per exercise and only one set per exercise. This certainly kept him in shape. At the end of his routiine he would give a quick posing routine. I was impressed by how naturally he flow from pose to pose unlike what I had seen by top bodybuilders of my day.
Sig gym was composed of the old style shot loaded globe barbells. He had a good supply of barbell plates al the way up to one hundred pounders. He had two squat racks which were used for squating and bench pressing. One rack could be fitted with a leg press device. He did not ever consider to my knowledge any modern equipment. Some of the guys suggested he get a couple of Nautilas machines. He would not even consider that idea ( three machine would have taken up most of the gym). However on one occasion a gym member bought the gym a 300 lb. Olympic Set as a present, which had to be put together and taken apart due to lack of space.
Well, I think that is enough for tonight. More tomorrow.
Tom
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thanks tom, waiting for the next installment. by the way what brand were the plates sig had in the gym? weider, york, lurie or?????
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There were no big name bodybuilders that trained at Sig's gym. However, older strong men did take a work out a Sig's when in town such as Bill Smith who was a well known TV actor at the time. Bert Elliot, Jack La Lanne Olympic lifter Lou Riecki and others I'm sure.
Let me tell a quick story about Jack La Lanne. One afternoon Jack was visiting Sig. They talked in Sig's office for almost an hour. Then Jack went into the locker room to change for a workout. Sig came out of his office and walked toward me and said " Tom jack is going to workout, he may come over to you and tap you on the chest and say you look in good shape follow me around and do what I do. Well guess what, after about twenty minutes Jack did walk over to me and ask me to work out with him (minus the chest tap). I said OK and worked out for about 1/2 hour but had too much trouble keeping up with him so I excused myself and went back to my workout. He worked very fast, he pulled on a towel he kept around his neck between sets. About a year later I worked out with him again. It went about the same as the first time. Sig said you didn"t have to do that. I said I didn't mind. Tom
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thanks tom, waiting for the next installment. by the way what brand were the plates sig had in the gym? weider, york, lurie or?????
The only brand name plates I recall were York. He had many plates large 100 lbs. plates but I never looked at the brand. He had two 50 lb. plates that were unmarked except for a small incused 50. They were completely without any other markings. Both were permantely used on the bench press which with the bar made up a basic 125 lbs. I might add they were the diameter of a dinner plate, but about 2 1/2 to 3 inches thick.
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Correction. I posted Sig had 100 lb. plates he didn't they were 50 lb plates.
Some more info about Sig's gym. He also had a calf machine, a rope which he used occassionaly, he climbed with hands only with little effort, dipping bars, incline board, chinning bar, wrist roller, roman chair. Also on the front wall was a large painting of Professor Attila, below were kettlebells, two 80 lbs globe dumbells ( which I used for incline presses). There was also a large thick handled barbell of 180 lbs. I asked Sig if I could lift it. He said no. He was worried I would not get a proper grip on the thick bar and drop it. Remember the gym was above a beauty parlor. I believe the barbell was the Rolandow Barbell, but I am not sure.
Sig always said after a workout, "Thats another one I don't have to do again."
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did you ever see him doing the handstand pushups[tiger bends ???] he was famous for.
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tom, were you aware of the 1946 contest when sig won pro most muscular man in america contest over dan lurie and walter podlak??????
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Funny you mentioned handstand press up! Well here is the two times I saw Sig do them.
On Saturday mornings I would get to the gym before it opened and wait for Sig down stairs. You could not miss him as he walked down 7th Ave. Dressed in a three piece suit, bow tie, and hat with a feather. He stood out in a crowd. We would both go upstairs and open the gym. The first thing Sig would do is take off his hat and jacket turn on one light the walk over to a bench and say to me I do this every morning befor I do anything else. With that he gracefully stretched out his arms and gazed as if looking at a audience. He then bent forward graping the side of the bench and slowly lever up into a handstand and then do 15 press ups chin going below the bench. He then levered slowly down and again arms to sides as if acknowledging the audience. He the turned to me a said ok thats all now lets get to work. Then all the lighta came on. That a showman!!
Tom
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The second time I saw Sig in a handstand was one evening near closing time. There were only three or four of us left on the floor when one fellow said Sig, can you still do a handstand on the handle of a barbell? Sig just looked said nothing and turned around took a globe barbell out of the rack and placed it on the floor. He gazed into the distance slowly bent forward and grasped the bar levering his leg slowly up to a perfect handstand.. He the proceeded to roll the bar about 5 or 6 feet on the floor. Thenhe slowly levered down stood erect. He said nothing and then put the bar back in the rack. And yes we did applaud. Sig then said now lets go its getting late.
Tom
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I never saw Sig do tiger bends but I know he did them when he was younger.
I don't recall reading anything about the 1946 contest. Could this be the one in NY were Lurie showed up and fully dressed claiming ingury and would not be competing?
Also I have a guestion. I have only seen potos of Sig Klein's Gym from the early years. Never from the mid fifties on! Has any one seen a photo of the more modenized gym?
Tom
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The second time I saw Sig in a handstand was one evening near closing time. There were only three or four of us left on the floor when one fellow said Sig, can you still do a handstand on the handle of a barbell? Sig just looked said nothing and turned around took a globe barbell out of the rack and placed it on the floor. He gazed into the distance slowly bent forward and grasped the bar levering his leg slowly up to a perfect handstand.. He the proceeded to roll the bar about 5 or 6 feet on the floor. Thenhe slowly levered down stood erect. He said nothing and then put the bar back in the rack. And yes we did applaud. Sig then said now lets go its getting late. ;D good stories, some fine memories of a great man right there. not many gyms like that around anymore.
Tom
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I never saw Sig do tiger bends but I know he did them when he was younger.
I don't recall reading anything about the 1946 contest. Could this be the one in NY were Lurie showed up and fully dressed claiming ingury and would not be competing?
Also I have a guestion. I have only seen potos of Sig Klein's Gym from the early years. Never from the mid fifties on! Has any one seen a photo of the more modenized gym? ;D
Tom
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The pictures you posted were very old, long before he modernized the gym. I am beginning to think there are no photos available. I remember at one time someone in the gym took some photos of Sig. One was with me and another member with Sig in the middle standing behind the bench press bench. They were for private use as I never got a copy.
You might want to know how the members address Sig.
Sig or Sigmund
Mr. Klein
Professor Klein
One guy called him Sigamundo
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One early afternoon I was in the gym and two members were by the window shouting down toward the street. I went over to see what was going on. They were shouting to Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was dressed as Hercules and in a chariot with one or two white horses. I shouted with the other two don't know why they were loud enough. Arnold was facing away from us but a assistant saw us and pointed up, Arnold turned around and waved but did not come up to the gym. Sig came over to see what was going on, so we explained, he shrugged and said get back to work. No surprise there.
PS Arnold was filming his first movie, Hercules In New York 1969.
Tom
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I don't no if you have seen the following by Sig Klein. If not it is worth reading. It is about Sigs first 25 years in the iron game. The heading is called " The Tight Tan Slacks of Dezso Ban January 2009" It is 17 chapters. Includes his early life and many early strongmen he met in those 25 years, how came to acquire Attila's gym.. Well worth the time to read.
Tom
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Well know bodybuilder of the day I have seen at Sigs. Freddy Ortiz, John Grimek, Hugo Labra, Peter Lupos, Lou Reicke. Most of the men who visited Sigs spent an hour or more talking to Sig. I don't know what was discussed. Peter Lupos only came to look around. Sig came out of his office but did not say anything to Lupos and just nodded. About a minute later he left. Sig looked at me and shrugged. I asked Sig if he knew who he was and Sig said no. I told him that was Peter Lupos. He played in the TV series Mission Impossible ( the original series). Sig looked at me for a second and said I never watched that, and walked back to his office. Not an easy man to impress.
Tom
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Well know bodybuilder of the day I have seen at Sigs. Freddy Ortiz, John Grimek, Hugo Labra, Peter Lupos, Lou Reicke. Most of the men who visited Sigs spent an hour or more talking to Sig. I don't know what was discussed. Peter Lupos only came to look around. Sig came out of his office but did not say anything to Lupos and just nodded. About a minute later he left. Sig looked at me and shrugged. I asked Sig if he knew who he was and Sig said no. I told him that was Peter Lupos. He played in the TV series Mission Impossible ( the original series). Sig looked at me for a second and said I never watched that, and walked back to his office. Not an easy man to impress.
Tom
seems like sig had a little of vince gironda in him.
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Sig was not a easy man to impress. He was not impressed with the actors in the gym and treated them as anyone else.
On another occasion Freddie Ortiz came for a visit. He spoke with Sig in his office for a bit and then Sig asked Freddie how big are his arms Freddie said 20 inches. Freddie had a short sleeve shirt on with slit on the under side. I wonder what that as for. Sig asked if he could measure his arms and Freddie said ok. Sig took out his tape and put It around Freddie's flexed arm, carefully get perfectly even and then pulling it snug. It measured 19 3/4 inches. Sig was impressed. I cannot recall another time seeing Sig that impressed.
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Hugo Labra stopped in one afternoon and spoke with Sig in his office. Sig told me after he left that he was concerned that he was finding it hard to train heavy. He was afraid he would loose muscle and his conditioning. His was in his forties at that time. Sig said he should cut back abit and that would still keep him in good shape. Sig was proof of that. I wonder if he took Sigs advise.
Lou Reicke was in town for meet or something Iam not sure. If it was a meet I think he would look for a gym that had Olympic lifting. But he did take a workout some pressing, squats and some other lite exercises. Sig never said why he stopped in. Maybe he was sent by gang in York to spy on Sig. Thats another story I'll have to get to.
Tom
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John Grimek stopped inthe gym one saturday and like the other guests spend ahour or more talking to Sig in his office. When they came out Sig put a block of iron on the floor. It was used to test grip and finger strength ( guess thats what they talked about).The block weight about 45 lbs. about 8 or 10 inches long 5 or 6 inches wide with tapered sides, also it had a ring in the middle. John showed how to lift it using finger grip. He also lifted it by the ring five times using a one finger thru the pinkey. I could not lift it using all my fingers tho it did come of the floor a bit. I don't remember if Sig gave it a try. I asked John if he could pinch grip two 45 lb olympic plates. He said get them out. We put them together with smooth side facing out. John then gripped them and in a second or two he lifted them off the floor and held them for 2 or 3 seconds. Every one was impressed with his gripping strengh.
Tom
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John Grimek stopped in the gym on another saturday and again talked with Sig for about 2 hours. John didn't perform any strength feats that day. After he left I was talking to Sig and he motioned me to his office. He said you know why John was hear? I said no. Sig said Hoffmann sent him to see why I didn't come down to York for his birthday picnic. Sig explained to John that he has a gym to run. John understood. Sig was a bit anoyed with Hoffman almost ordering him to show up. To my knowledge Sig never in future went to York while he operated his gym. Sig and John were life long friends and it probably pained John to have to deliver this message.
Tom
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I guess everyone here knows Sig collected Beer Steins. Well here is a little more info. The steins were displayed in his gym above the weight and around three walls. Sig also had many steins at his home. He also stored steins in a closet in the gym, but infortunately one night there was a break in and the burglars broke open his closet and destroyed many of the steins 20 or more. No steins were broken that were displayed fortunately. Sig removed the unbroken steins from the closet and took them to his
home.
When I went into the army in1965 Sig and I correspondered a bit. I later was sent to West Germany and Sig asked if I got the chance to be on the lookout for steins and let him know. I did find a couple of shops that sold steins and I wrote to Sig with the name and address of the shop. I also told the owners that Sig Klein was a big collector.When I got home I asked Sig if my leads were of any use, he said that he could not make any deals.
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In my last post i mentioned that the gym was broke into. Another incident was one evening near closing I had just taken my shower and when I stepped out of the shower I notice someone going thru the jackets and pants of the members. At first I didn't realize what was happening then the thief turned a quick look at me and went out the window It was a hot summer evening. I shouted out SIG and came in the locker room and I told him that had happened. Sig checked his jacket and said his wallet was missing which contained various important cards and papers. He was upset and mad. Three days later Sig gets a call from someone who said he found his wallet in the trash on 7th Ave. only about three blocks from the gym. Sig asked if he would bring the wallet to the gym and he did. Fortunately nothing was missing. On another occasion the radio by the entrance was suddenly gone. Someone had come to the gym entrance and unplugged it and it was gone.. There was a alot of crime in those days, mostly junkies.
Tom
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Now, a few funny moments from the acting community. Zero Mostel, Walter Matthau, Sir Laurence Olivier, Ben Gazzara, Rip Torn. There were many lesser known actors who trained there also.
One evening I was doing sets of curls, when I noticed out of the corner of my eye Zero Mostel was walking toward me. I said to myself what now. When he got in front of me he stopped and turned his head toward me but was looking at the bar going up and down moving his eyes only he then rolled his eyes and shook his head as if I were crazy. I then heard Sig voice holler out ZERO that are you doing? Zero walked away like a kid caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
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Another incident with Zero and Sig was more damaging.
Zero was standing near Sig's office listening to the conversation inside. Sig had a pontenial new client. The new client asked Sig if their was any danger of getting a hernia from lifting weights? Sig said no, I train you properly and there is no danger of a hernia. Zero turned his head to me and gave me a evil grin. He then grab his crotch and ran into Sig's office hollering I did it again, I did it again Sig. The new cliet looked at Zero and Sig and got up and walked out of the gym. Sig had a holy fit he was screaming at Zero. I don't blame Sig he just lost a client and income. Zero was laughing, he thought it really funny. When you think about it he should not have done it. You never know what Zero Mostel might due.
Tom
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Walter Matthau was a very funny guy. He was mostly quite but friendly. One evening Walter was standing close to where Sig and I were talking. Sig kept looking at Walter and not hearing what I was saying. Sig suddenly said Walter you have been talking for ten minutes picked up the weight and do something. Walter said in a comical voice and moving his arms outward ok Sig. He then looked right and left and said to Sig wheres the 55 lb. bar. Sig looked at him and said in an annoyed voice, its behind you Walter. Walter then looked right and left again and then with a surprise look said oh there it is. Everyone laughted except Sig who just shook his head. Walter had that funny lisp in his voice which made it even funnier.
Tom
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One evening I was talking to a friend when a fellow we called Tommy terrific came over to us and said he was going to be an actor. He was very animated in his speech. He said he was going to be a big actor and was going to acting school. We said thats nice. We also point to a gentlemen in the gym and told Tommy he was an actor. Tommy looked surprised and said he is? He then walked over to the actor an said you an actor? The actor said yes. Tommy said he's an actor too. He went on saying he was going to be a big actor and was going to acting school. I though we had caused a problem but the actor looked at us and smiled. Sig was watching and told Tommy to get busy. The actor looked at us again and shook his head and laughed. The actor was Sir Laurence Olivier, probably the greatest actor of the 20th century. The joke was Tommy had no clue who he was talking to.
Tom
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The friendliest of all the actors at Sig's gym was Ben Gazzara. He always had jokes and funny stores to tell the members. Ben drew a crowd when he was in the gym. Sometimes it would take Ben a half hour to change clothes and get out on the floor. Sig would often come into the loker room and break up the party. One evening Ben came in and started to talk and tell a joke before he got to the locker room. Sig came out of his office and looked at Ben and said "alright Ben everybody has seen the suit now go change your clothes." Ben took it as a joke and just laughted.
One saturday I was doing my doorway curls when I saw Ben comeing up the stairs and said to myself I"am going to finish the set, Ben will have to wait. When Ben saw me he smiled and called into the gym saying "Sig is it so crowded in there that your making them work out in the hall?" Sig quickly came out of his office to see what was going on.. Ben was having a good laugh.
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When my first son was born I took a box of cigars to the gym. Of course I gave Sig one and shook his hands and his congralations. I went into the locker room and was giving cigars to four or five fellow gym member when I hear the booming voice behiind me saying whats going on in hear? it must be a party. I turned around and said hey Ben have a cigar my wife delivered me a son. Ben took the cigar put it in his mouth wrapper and all. He shook my hand said congratulations and slapped me on the back. We all spent a few minutes laughing an kidding around when guess what happened? Thats right Sig came in and broke up the party. I wonder what took him so long?
Yes, Ben Gazzara was the nicest, most fun and friendliest of just about all the members.
Tom
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John Grimek stopped in the gym on another saturday and again talked with Sig for about 2 hours. John didn't perform any strength feats that day. After he left I was talking to Sig and he motioned me to his office. He said you know why John was hear? I said no. Sig said Hoffmann sent him to see why I didn't come down to York for his birthday picnic. Sig explained to John that he has a gym to run. John understood. Sig was a bit anoyed with Hoffman almost ordering him to show up. To my knowledge Sig never in future went to York while he operated his gym. Sig and John were life long friends and it probably pained John to have to deliver this message.
Tom
hoffman was known to be a very vain and vindictive guy. he is said to have cut john grimek out of his will.
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hoffman was known to be a very vain and vindictive guy. he is said to have cut john grimek out of his will.
;D hoffman's relationship with grimek seemed to be a lot like weider's was with dave draper years later.
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Didn't know that about Grimek and the will. Must have happened after 1973. If before
Sig would have said something.
I asked Sig at one point if all the record lifts Hoffman claimed were true. Sig gave me a strange answer. He shrugged and said I guess so. He didn't speak further. I dropped the subject.
Tom
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One evening a very nasty incident took place between Sig and a person who I will not name.This person had a habit of using Sig's business phone on Sig's desk. He would ask if he could make a call and Sig yes. This happened day after day after day, it escalated to three and four calls a night last more than half an hour. Sig said ------ lets stop all the calls and work out. ----- said one more call. Finally Sig told him no more calls, well an argument occurred and ------stormed out of the gym. A few days later -----came back and walked into Sig's office sat behind Sig's desk and slammed a fist full of dimes on the desk and picked up the phone. Sig screamed at ----- and he walked on to the gym floor with Sig following, fists clenched ready for a fight. Two fellows held Sig back with both screaming at each other. ----- then walked out of the gym. Three months later he came back and Sig laid down the rules and there was no more trouble.
There were many actors both well known and others not so well known who trained there all well behaved and friendly. Mr.----- was very sullen all you could get from him was a reluctant hello.
Tom
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Didn't know that about Grimek and the will. Must have happened after 1973. If before
Sig would have said something.
I asked Sig at one point if all the record lifts Hoffman claimed were true. Sig gave me a strange answer. He shrugged and said I guess so. He didn't speak further. I dropped the subject.
Tom
a lot of hoffmans lifts are questionable, he was a large in staure man , so who knows. he always claimed to be the world's worst presser claiming a weak 135 lb lift. i know some of his other documented [pics] sometime the barbell looked drawn in [before photoshop] i read one article where guys seen him turning a hose on himself then running around his house and telling them he just finished a long run not knowing that they saw himself hosing.
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;D hoffman always billed himself as the world's healthiest man reports negated his assertions.
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Looking at that picture of Hoffman bent pressing 290 lbs makes me wonder if it actually weighed that much. I would think he would need a really strong grip on the bar. Looking close he does not appear to have the necessary grip, but who knows.
Tom
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When the gym was not to crowded usually late evening Sig would suggest a couple of us try some of the old lifts. The floor press was one. Sig showed me how to do it with the olympic bar. using my legs to get it into position ( the oldtimers used a globe bell and did a pullover to get into press position). Once in position I had no trouble pressing it. Getting it down I brought my legs up and lowered the bar to my legs sliding it to the floor. I did 250 first and Sig said want to try 300 I said yes and did it easily. I asked Sig what the record was and he said about 370. I said lets try that and Sig said NO.
Tom
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Looking at that picture of Hoffman bent pressing 290 lbs makes me wonder if it actually weighed that much. I would think he would need a really strong grip on the bar. Looking close he does not appear to have the necessary grip, but who knows.
Tom
the globes of the barbell were probably empty thus giving a much lighter weight to lift, but still would look impressive.
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When the gym was not to crowded usually late evening Sig would suggest a couple of us try some of the old lifts. The floor press was one. Sig showed me how to do it with the olympic bar. using my legs to get it into position ( the oldtimers used a globe bell and did a pullover to get into press position). Once in position I had no trouble pressing it. Getting it down I brought my legs up and lowered the bar to my legs sliding it to the floor. I did 250 first and Sig said want to try 300 I said yes and did it easily. I asked Sig what the record was and he said about 370. I said lets try that and Sig said NO.
Tom
pretty impressive lifting what were some of your other lifts? at what bodyweight?
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I did not consider myself really strong compared to others I read about.
Bench Press 300 three reps, 325 one rep. all done strictly (touch and go).
Squat 325 on rack with sleeves The problem was once you get to three hundred lbs. the sleeves would rub causing friction. I asked Sig with 325 on rack how many more pounds would be added. He figured about 45 lbs.
Deadlift 500 lbs ( my bodyweight at that time was 160 lb. I was in the army then)
Olympic lifts were 225 press, 175 snatch (squat style) and 250 clean and jerk (power clean)
I did wide grip chins with a 60 lb dumbell, sets of 8.
also dips with 80 lb dumbell also sets of 8. In the army I did one dip with 160 lbs at 160lb bodyweight.
Curl 200 lbs. yes, with cheat to start it moving
These were all done at 193 lbs bodyweight. I was 5' foot 8".
Tom
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I did not consider myself really strong compared to others I read about.
Bench Press 300 three reps, 325 one rep. all done strictly (touch and go).
Squat 325 on rack with sleeves The problem was once you get to three hundred lbs. the sleeves would rub causing friction. I asked Sig with 325 on rack how many more pounds would be added. He figured about 45 lbs.
Deadlift 500 lbs ( my bodyweight at that time was 160 lb. I was in the army then)
Olympic lifts were 225 press, 175 snatch (squat style) and 250 clean and jerk (power clean)
I did wide grip chins with a 60 lb dumbell, sets of 8.
also dips with 80 lb dumbell also sets of 8. In the army I did one dip with 160 lbs at 160lb bodyweight.
Curl 200 lbs. yes, with cheat to start it moving
These were all done at 193 lbs bodyweight. I was 5' foot 8".
Tom
not bad lifting considering the times.hoffman was a lot like weider used to like to put his noggin on top of someone elses body. in weider's case usually clancy ross or robby robinson.
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To add to my last post I practiced occassionally the following under Sig suggestion and supervision.
Bent press with lite weight to perfect style.
Push press. Two hands anyhow.
Military press. Sig suggested I practice this lift often. Being that I could press 225 I started with 170. Sig said much to much, he was right. Idropped the weight to 140 still to much. Ifinally started with 120. Sig showed me the correct position, heels touching, bar below shoulders, look strait ahead. I pressed it Sig said the lift was no good ( looked at the bar). Finally I got the nack and Sig said good. He showed me another variation which was he would point his finger at the bar and I had to move the bar at the same speed he moved his finger ( very tough). Eventually I could do 140 lbs and eventually I made 170 lbs. Both acceptable to Sig.
Tom
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Another lift Sig suggested one evening was the two dumbell clean and press. Today it is called the Sig Klein challenge. I did dumbell pressing with palms pressing forward, but the clean and press was done with palms facing your head. I practiced the movement with lite weights just to get the feel of it. I then went to fifty lb dumbells and did 15 reps a far cry from Sigs 75 lb for 12 reps, which equalled his bodyweight. For me to equal Sigs lifts I would have to use the 100 lb dumbells. That would not happen.
Tom
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One of Sig's clients was a very well built bodybuilder who wanted to speed up his workouts. He had an egg timer that he set for one minute rest between sets. It worked well he saved alot of time. Then one evening someone set the timer to go off every 30 seconds. It would surprise this fellow how fast a minute would go. He worked out more than half hour with the 30 second intervals, and did not understand why he felt so out of breath. We all wondered when he would figure it out. A couple more sets and he inspected the time and realized what happened. He figured he made the mistake. We
never told him the truth.
Tom
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One night I was leaving the gym and going down the stairs. Just ahead of me was Rip Torn dressed in his full motorcycle outfit helmet, leather etc also sporting a full beard, ahead of him was another member dressed in an expensive suit. As I passed the beauty parlor one floor below the gym two young women were in the doorway. They motioned me over to them and asked if the gentlemen in the suit was an actor, I hesitated for a second and said no. I then continued down the stairs and though to myself they didn't ask about the guy in the motorcycle outfit. I guess it shows how people expect an actor to be dressed.
Tom
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Sigmund Klein's Gym closed in 1973 not because Sig wanted to retire, but because the rent tripled. It was the time of high real estate all over the city. Sig would have to triple his monthly fees and probably get more people to join his gym.
He sold his equipment benches, weights etc. His beer stein collection went to his home. Sig did take some of the weights to his home for workouts and probably a bench also. He also gave away old magazines he had for years to the members. He gave me his postal cards from people who wrote to him when on vacation. I collected stamps and he though I would appreciate them. I wanted to buy his 80 lb globe dumbells, but decided not to because I was living in a small apartment with wife and son. One item he gave to me was a advertisement for his gym which also advertised a barbell and dumbell set for beginners. The dumbells could be attached to the barbell with some small plates for additional weight. Sig wanted to get a pattern for the design, but was discouraged at the pattern office because the pattern officer showed his thousands of similar designs.
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I mentioned in the previous post that Sig gave me many postal cards from members etc. One interesting card was from Bert Elliott. The picture on Bert's cards always had medievel suits of armor. He was a collector of medievel armor especially helmets. Also on the writing side along with his message Bert would draw a picture of his face and bald head and below he wrote "Kraft Heil" which in german means Salute Strength.
I saw some of Sig's barbells at a west side modern gym that I decided not to join for a number of reasons.
Tom
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On that final evening at Sigs we all wished each other look luck and shook hands and left the gym for the last time. When I shook Sig's hand there was a feeling of great sadness in both of us, I could see it in Sig's face and am sure he could see it in mine. It was a great ten years I learned alot and meet many interesting people that I would never have met if not for the gym. As the saying goes, "All good things come to an end."
Tom
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Another incident I recall was when one member had just put two dumbells on a bench. One dumbell rolled off and struck him on the foot. He grabed his foot and started to hop on one leg toward the large windows, not uttering a sound. Lucky for him two other fellows saw him and grabbed him before he got to the window. Two more hops and he may have gone thru the window. I remember that two other members took him home in a cab. I don't know if he ever came back to the gym again. Sig then reminded every one to always cross your dumbells when on a bench.Good advise.
Tom
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Sig told me of a incident that occurred at an earlier date. It went like this. A new member was doing bench presses when Sig noticed he had no spotters. He told the fellow to ask a couple of guys to spot him in the future. The new client said he didn't need spotters because if he can't get the weight up he will just dump the weights of one side and then the other side. Sig told him "NO YOU WON'T" You use spotters or you cannot work out here. Remember this is a small gym and I would not want to be standing near him if he dumped weights. Also there is a beauty parlor one floor below.
Tom
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was just reading in an old MD that in 1940 frank leight mr america performed 100 reps in the situps with a 60 lb barbell behind his neck he performed said feat at sig's gym.
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was just reading in an old MD that in 1940 frank leight mr america performed 100 reps in the situps with a 60 lb bar behind his neck he performed said feat at sig's gym.
;D
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Didn't know that about Frank Leight! We use to tell Sig he should write a book about all the characters and incidents in the gym over the years, but he just shrugged and smiled.
Your mention of situps reminded me of another incident. I walked into the gym one evening about five PM and noticed a fellow off to the side doing situps. I changed my clothes and came out of the locker room and he was still doing situps. I asked Sig about him. Sig said he came in about ten this morning and said he wanted to do 25,000 situps. Sig said OK that will be five dollars. He has been doing situps all day none stop. I took my workout and about seven o'clock I changed to go home, he was still doing situps. Sig told him he had to stop now the gym was closing. He stopped and spoke to Sig a few minutes and left. I asked Sig how many did he do? Sig gave his customary shrug and said I don't know. As I said in a previous post, Sig was not and easy man to impress.
Tom
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One Saturday afternoon a couple of guys were having a discussion about who would win a wrestling/boxing match if the wrestler wrestled and the boxer boxed. Sig overheard the discussion and said let me tell you a story. George Hackenschmidt came to America many years ago and Sig and another strong man meet him as he departed the ship. They did the usuall things, lunch, getting Hackenschmidt a hotel room etc. Then they went to Sig's gym. Sig asked Hackenschmidt the question of boxer vs wrestler. Sig then described what Hackenschmidt said with his hand motions and in a German accent. Hackenschmidt said I would dive at his legs knock him to the ground and tie him up in a knot, he could do nothing. So ends that debate from the greatest wrestler of the times.
Tom
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In November of 1965 there was a major blackout in NYC and most of the northeast. I was in the gym at the time when all of us noticed a dimming of the lights outside in the street and the gym. We thought it was something minor and would end. It got worse with the light going dark and then coming back on and dark again. I remember one guy was doing bench presses and every time the light would dim or go out he shout out to Sig that he was going blind. He did that thru his whole set. Finally it went dark and stayed that way. Sig came out with a flashlight in each hand and we continued the workout. People would call Sig to shine the light here and another would say I can't find the 30 lb dumbell, and still another would say over here Sig. It was getting out of hand so Sig said enough, I'am closing the gym, get dressed. Now Sig had to shine the flashlights in the locker room so we could find our clothes. What a night that was. I didn't get home to the next day, went back to my office to sleep.
Tom
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Tom, these stories/accounts are GREAT!!!
I'm really enjoying them, and I hope you'll be adding more! I don't think I've ever heard a single story about George Hackenschmidt on Getbig!!
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Thank you, Montaque for your kind comments. Iam glade you enjoy them. I will try to relate other incidents from the gym but it was along time ago and I don't have many notes on the day to day goings on. I wish I took the advice we gave Sig and written daily diary of events.
Tom
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Tom, these stories/accounts are GREAT!!!
I'm really enjoying them, and I hope you'll be adding more! I don't think I've ever heard a single story about George Hackenschmidt on Getbig!!
x's 2
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Thank you, Montaque for your kind comments. Iam glade you enjoy them. I will try to relate other incidents from the gym but it was along time ago and I don't have many notes on the day to day goings on. I wish I took the advice we gave Sig and written daily diary of events.
Tom
Absolutely!
I have a background in professional ("fake") wrestling, and I'm also a HUGE mark for Walter Matthau...any stories regarding such will be GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!!
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I related a story about Walter Matthau in an earlier post. Walter was basically quite but when he spoke he had that lisp in his voice that made everyone smile, much like you would hear him in his movies like Grumpy Old Men, and the Sunshine Boys. You would really have to be there to appreciate the humor when he spoke. A simple greeting like "hello how are you today" came across as funny and made you smile.
In another post I described Sig's workout and his posing routine, but forgot to describe what he did at the very end. He flexed each bicep one at a time and made the muscles move, he then kissed each bicep at the end of posing.
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A few words on Sig's diet. He said he eats very lite meals I never asked what he ate, but I know he always ate a salad for lunch in the gym. On saturday night he would go to Luchows in downtown NY for a good meal and some German beer. He had his own table there.
Once a month I would buy the various bodybuilding magazines and bring them to the gym. When I came in the gym I would go into Sig's office and drop them on his desk. Sometimes I would say your in this one. He would just shrug. Sig would look at them and later return them to me in the lockeroom. I would say well, what did you learn from them this month? He would look at me and roll his eyes.
Tom
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Great stuff, always a pleasure to learn about the history of lifting or anything else for that matter.
Did Sig give any special instructions for training the abs, obliques and lower back?
Read once that some men, getting ready for the NYPD academy, would train at Sig's. Believe they had to DB press a 100lbs and other such lifts to pass the physical part of the police test.
Thanks again for all the stories about back in the day.
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Great stuff, always a pleasure to learn about the history of lifting or anything else for that matter.
Did Sig give any special instructions for training the abs, obliques and lower back?
Read once that some men, getting ready for the NYPD academy, would train at Sig's. Believe they had to DB press a 100lbs and other such lifts to pass the physical part of the police test.
Thanks again for all the stories about back in the day.
i read that article too, i think the passing grade was 40 lbs one arm db press and 80 was a perfect score along with other strength and speed tests.
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question for you tom. i was just on the ironhistory.com site, and they were discussing if sig klein actually had barbell plates with his name on them, and if he did were they for sale on the retail market. the stark center actually has some klein plates they came in sizes 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 lbs. ??? ??? ???
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Great stuff, always a pleasure to learn about the history of lifting or anything else for that matter.
Did Sig give any special instructions for training the abs, obliques and lower back?
Read once that some men, getting ready for the NYPD academy, would train at Sig's. Believe they had to DB press a 100lbs and other such lifts to pass the physical part of the police test.
Thanks again for all the stories about back in the day.
Glade you like my comments. I will be seventy this year and I was one of the youngest members of the gym. Most others were ten or fifteen years older and probably not with us now. I am trying to keep the memory of the gym alive and dispel any miscomceptions.
Sig trained his new comers with a the standard exercises including sit ups, leg raises, and side bends. No direst lower back work that I ever saw.
I don't remember seeing any police men training for the police academy. Maybe he did train them before my time. I have a brief story about a member who became a policeman while training at Sigs.
I'll write about him another day.
Tom
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question for you tom. i was just on the ironhistory.com site, and they were discussing if sig klein actually had barbell plates with his name on them, and if he did were they for sale on the retail market. the stark center actually has some klein plates they came in sizes 2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 lbs. ??? ??? ???
No not during my 10 years at Sigs. May have been years before. In fact when the gym closed Sig cleaned out his storage closets and no plates came out that I saw. If I saw them I would have asked Sig if I could buy one. What a great souvenir that would have made.
Tom
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Sig told me a incident the happened at noon time. I husky fellow came in to the gym and asked Sig if he could take a workout. Sig said OK and charged the appropiate fee. The fellow said he worked construction and decided to workout on his lunch hour. Sig said I hope you didn't eat lunch. The fellow said don't worry about it working out is not any harder than construction. Well, he worked out for about twenty minutes when Sig saw him sitting on a bench very pale,sweating and shaking. Sig quickly ushered him into the bathroom where he promply thre
w up. Ashort time later he came out without his attitude and left the gym. I guess he had lunch. He was refered to as 'throw up guy".
Tom
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At one point a Sigs i was talking to a fellow who worked for NYC as a social worker. He was telling me about his job and the problems he was having. He said he was sick and tired of being abused and even physically attacked across his desk. He had enough. He said I am going to be a cop so I can carry a gun. I was surprised at this. He was gone from the gym for a couple of months but when he returned he was a cop. I don't know were he took his strength test to become a cop, but it was not at Sig's gym. Ah, of course he already was strong he trained a Sigs! I should mention one other thing about this fellow. After twenty years as a police officer he retired. On the day he retired he saved a couple of people from a burning building. His picture and an article praised him in a New York newspaper.
Tom
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One evening Sig was interviewing a possible new client in his office. After the interview Sig called me into his office and said did you see the person that left. I said yes. Well he said at the end of the interview I leaned across my desk and said "tell me one thing are you a man or a woman?" The person said can't you tell? Sig said "no". The person said "I am a woman." Sig said I am very sorry but I don"t have accomadations for woman. The person left without a problem. All I can say is, this is New York City you never know what to expect.
Tom
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One evening Sig was interviewing a possible new client in his office. After the interview Sig called me into his office and said did you see the person that left. I said yes. Well he said at the end of the interview I leaned across my desk and said "tell me one thing are you a man or a woman?" The person said can't you tell? Sig said "no". The person said "I am a woman." Sig said I am very sorry but I don"t have accomadations for woman. The person left without a problem. All I can say is, this is New York City you never know what to expect.
Tom
He, ha...
These days, a business owner will get sued for something like that!!
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One evening I walked into the gym and before I could walk ten steps Sig came out of his office hands on hips, looking a bit angry and said in a annoyed voice where were you this afternoon? I looked at him surprised wondering that did I do. I said calmly I was working. Sig replied I needed you here today. He then explained the boys from York were here to do an article on finger and hand strength. I would have used you to demonstrate hand gripping as an excercise. I said if I new that I would have taken a day off. Sig replied he knew they were coming but not what day. Sig used another fellow name Jerry. Jerry a very nice guy would at times run the gym for Sig if he had other business.
I guess I missed my big chance for fame. Oh well.
The article was in Muscular Development April 1965 with a lot of good hints for building finger and hand strength. Also with 7 photos of Sig demonstrating various exercises.
Tom
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Another client of Sig's gym was a fellow who wanted to loose some weight. He wore a loose fitting rubber full body suit. The idea was to induce sweating. It worked and he was about to prove it. He was talking to another gym member when he pulled the suit away from his ankle. Sweat flowed out like a faucet all over Sig,s carpet. Sig saw that he did and had a fit. He told him to get the damn suit off and never use it here again. He also told him to take it off in the shower. Some members started to laugh and had to walk away before Sig saw them.
Tom
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Well, I'am running out of funny happenings at Sigs gym. However there were many amusing incidents that took place over the years that were minor but not real standouts in my memory. You would have to been there to appreciate them. However one incident I will relate now.
A minor broadway actor named Alex worked out there. He was absent from the gym for a few months at one point. When he returned I said long time no see. He replied in his rich voice I'm working again. Alex now had long hair and a bushy black beard. He also had a habit of practicing his stage lines out loud. He would stop his exercise and practice his lines and then continue his set. This really annoyed Sig. Sig would holler loudly for Alex to shut up. Alex would ignore Sig until he completed his lines and then would just laugh. He did have a wonderfull voice.
Tom
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One evening I walked into the gym and before I could walk ten steps Sig came out of his office hands on hips, looking a bit angry and said in a annoyed voice where were you this afternoon? I looked at him surprised wondering that did I do. I said calmly I was working. Sig replied I needed you here today. He then explained the boys from York were here to do an article on finger and hand strength. I would have used you to demonstrate hand gripping as an excercise. I said if I new that I would have taken a day off. Sig replied he knew they were coming but not what day. Sig used another fellow name Jerry. Jerry a very nice guy would at times run the gym for Sig if he had other business.
I guess I missed my big chance for fame. Oh well.
The article was in Muscular Development April 1965 with a lot of good hints for building finger and hand strength. Also with 7 photos of Sig demonstrating various exercises.
Tom
now you went and made me look it up. it was on page 38 of that issue stan brice was on the cover. fellows name was jerry pelto.
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now you went and made me look it up. it was on page 38 of that issue stan brice was on the cover. fellows name was jerry pelto.
Jerry was a very nice guy and always seemed to be there when Sig needed him. He was familiar with the operation and everyone liked him. Oh, by the way did you read the article?
Tom
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Another actor named Mike Baseleon worked out at Sigs. He was known as the golden greek. He always had a great tan. Let me tell you of a interesting incident between Mike, myself and Sig.
Besides working out at Sigs I worked out at a midtown YMCA. I went there to practice some Olympic lifting. On one occassion at the Y Mike saw me and came over and said don't tell Sig you saw me here. I said I won't. A week or so later Sig said to me why are you going to the Y? I was very surprised he knew. I told him the reason and he was very concerned I would leave his gym. I explained I had no intention to leave and he seemed satisfied. I never told Sig that Mike also was at the Y. I though about how Sig found out. Did Mike tell him? No, Mike didn't want Sig to know either. I then thought there must have been a third party at the gym who saw me. I never tried to find out who told Sig. He probably would not have told me anyway. The whole incident was forgotten and life went on as usual. Mike was as friendly as ever and I did not want to change that.
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Jerry was a very nice guy and always seemed to be there when Sig needed him. He was familiar with the operation and everyone liked him. Oh, by the way did you read the article?
Tom
no, but i will now that you called me on it. pics were good though. showed sig doing beam holds from the ceiling and other innovations to develope the grip.
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never trained there but heard it was one of the smallest commercial gyms ever. will give more detail when more time.
Here is another gym about the same size as Sig Kleins gym. Loloyd's Gym, San Diego, about 20x40 feet. See Mr. America, May 1963, page 74.
Tom
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Sig would sometimes ask a client who was making progress if he could take some measurment. Well, actualy he would say come over hear I want to measure you. So he said to me one day. Sig would take his tape and first lay it on a yard stick to make sure it did not shrink over time. He then told me to flex my arm and he would slip the tape around, adjust it to get a precise measurement. He then pulled it snugly around my arm and said what the hell. The measurement was almost 20 inches! I smiled and started to laugh. At first he didn't see I had slipped two fingers inside the tape. He then pulled the tape off and said lets do it again the right way. I was going to put three fingers between the tape this time, but thought better of it. Now he got the true measurement of 17 1/4 inches. He was satisfied.
Tom
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On another post I talked about Sig's beer stein collection. I recalled a conversation I had with Sig one day about his collection. He said most people think the large steins were the most valuable, but most people would be wrong. He pointed to a very small grayish stein and said that is the most valuable and favorite one in his collection. He said he would never sell it and planned to take it home when he retires. If you want to see it there is a photo of Sig in Muscle Builder Nov. 1963 page 7. Sig is hoisting a large stein as if drinking, in front is a table of many steins with the small one in front of the others. When the gym closed Sig did take that stein home with him along with many others.
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;D
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That is a great photo of Sig and his steins. Many of them I don't remember seeing in his gym. The photo I mentioned in above post I only saw in Muscle Builder, Nov. 1963, page 7. I looked on the net for the same photo but no luck. I do not see the small stein in question in the above photo.
Tom
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An incident involving Sig, myself and my mother. Yes, fellows my mother!
One day Sig showed me a rubber mat that we would use to prevent slipping when doing squats etc. The mat was well worn and crumbling. Sig was down to his last couple of mats and could not find them in the stores in his area. I said my mom uses them in the house to kneel on. Sig said really! Could your mom buy them for me I will gladly pay for them. A few days later I arrived at the gym with about a dozen new mats. Sig was pleasantly surprised and promptly paid for them. He said to convey his thanks to my mom. Mom said he was very welcome. Leave it to moms to come thru in a pinch, even for the gym!
Tom
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An incident involving Sig, myself and my mother. Yes, fellows my mother!
One day Sig showed me a rubber mat that we would use to prevent slipping when doing squats etc. The mat was well worn and crumbling. Sig was down to his last couple of mats and could not find them in the stores in his area. I said my mom uses them in the house to kneel on. Sig said really! Could your mom buy them for me I will gladly pay for them. A few days later I arrived at the gym with about a dozen new mats. Sig was pleasantly surprised and promptly paid for them. He said to convey his thanks to my mom. Mom said he was very welcome. Leave it to moms to come thru in a pinch, even for the gym!
Tom
Ha, ha...
That's great, man. Mother really does always know best!
Glad to see you're still on the board, Tom!!
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I recall another occasion Sig was talking to three members about his time on stage. He said he would bend spikes and throw them out to the audience. Well one time he said someone in the audience was straighting them out and throwing them back. I made a smart remark at that point and said maybe Grimek was in the audience. That drew a stare from Sig so I shut up and just listened. Sig said from then on he would close the spikes as much as he could and then with one in each hand squeeze them so nobody could get his fingers between the closed spikes. Then he would throw them to the audience. Problem solved. He also mentioned that when he met Hackenschmidt he told him he had the same problem and solved it the same way.Must have been a problem for all strongmen back then.
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I recall another occasion Sig was talking to three members about his time on stage. He said he would bend spikes and throw them out to the audience. Well one time he said someone in the audience was straighting them out and throwing them back. I made a smart remark at that point and said maybe Grimek was in the audience. That drew a stare from Sig so I shut up and just listened. Sig said from then on he would close the spikes as much as he could and then with one in each hand squeeze them so nobody could get his fingers between the closed spikes. Then he would throw them to the audience. Problem solved. He also mentioned that when he met Hackenschmidt he told him he had the same problem and solved it the same way.Must have been a problem for all strongmen back then.
That's funny!
Sig and Grimek were friends, correct? But, John spent most of his time at Hoffman's?
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That's funny!
Sig and Grimek were friends, correct? But, John spent most of his time at Hoffman's?
grimek was hoffman's right hand man, reports say hoffman thought of grimek as a son, but wrote him out of his will at the last minute.
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grimek was hoffman's right hand man, reports say hoffman thought of grimek as a son, but wrote him out of his will at the last minute.
That's funny!
Sig and Grimek were friends, correct? But, John spent most of his time at Hoffman's?
Yes Sig and Grimek were friends and close friends in my opinion. They went to many meets together and Grimek visited Sig at his gym on many occasions. Grimek was Hoffman's deliver of messages to Sig not all freindly messages. i got the impression Grimek was afraid of Hoffman. Maybe because he was in Hoffman's will. Just speculation on my part.
Tom
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I remember one fellow member in Sigs gym. He had 18" arms powerful shoulder and a good chest and back. One problem was he had very poor legs. He never did squats! He could bench press 405 lbs. but not in good style. The one part of his body that stayed in contact with the bench was his upper back. He got the weight up with a good bounce off his chest and a big arch. I don't know what he could do if he stayed in contact with the bench and used the touch and go method. Another interesting thing he did which surprised me was he would take cigarette breaks.. He would go in the locker room a couple of times during his workout and sit by the open window with his cigarette!! I mentioned this to Sig and he smiled and shrugged. I was surprised Sig allowed this!
Tom
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An odd incident happened one afternoon at Sig's Gym. A 77 year old man and his 40 year old son came in. The son wanted to workout, so Sig explained the rules. The son was mentally challenged and the father never workout before. Sig said OK and charged them a day by day fee. The father said the son could at times be very disagreeable. Sig was now concerned. He said the father had to be there when the son worked out to calm any situation. The son said to me one day can I get big and strong as you? I said yes, but you must do as Sig says. The son said he would. Sig heard the conversation and smiled and winked at me. The father while watching the son tried a pair of tenlb dumbells on a bench. He sat down with them. I paid no attention to him for a few minutes, then noticed he had not moved, dumbells still on his knees. I looked at Sig and pointed to the father. Sig went over to him, bent over looked at his face. He was asleep! Sig woke him and said he cannot sleep in the gym and that the dumbells could fall on his feet. Father and son were gone in about a week. I felt sorry for both father and son. Tom
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I recall a incident silly, annoying and became funny. A member had the habit of forgetting how many sets he had done. He would talk to himself and count on his fingers his sets. It got to the point he would ask other members if he did three or four sets. People would smile and say they didnot know. This went on for some time. Then one evening Sig came out of his office with a pencil and small pad and said write down each set as you complete them. Sig turn to go back to his office and as he passed me he rolled his eyes and said something that I didn't quite catch. I guess all gyms have there characters.
Tom
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I remember an actor named Jay Gerber who would use lines from a movie an apply them to something or someone was doing in the gym. One evening Jay saw a member doing situps on the incline board. He went over to him and put his hands over the guy doing situps and recited the lines from a old mummy movie. "Rise Kharis rise Kharis seven tana leaves gives you life." He said this three or four times and the fellow doing situps never laughed, but kept doing his situps. Everyone else was laughing tho. Sig watched with a smile shook his head and walked away! Unusual for Sig!!
Tom
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I've talked about a lot of other people in Sig's Gym. Now a little about me.
One evening I was in the locker room weighing myself on the scale Sig was behind me looking at my weight and said "you gained alot of weight." I explained I was bulking up. Sig said it was too much weight for my frame and height. I then said I am drinking four quarts of milk a day. Sig said one word "WHAT." He then said that is much too much. I explained that I would stop and reduce my weight when I gained more strength. Well I went up to 201 lbs. and was huffing and puffing going up the subway stairs. I then reduced to 193 lbs and felt much better. I didn't gain much strength at 201 and retained my gains at 193. I could never loose the weight that gathered around my middle.
and I received the nickname little budda for obvious reasons. I am now 70 and weigh 170 lbs and still the nickname would apply. And yes I still lift weight 4 days a week.
Tom
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I've talked about a lot of other people in Sig's Gym. Now a little about me.
One evening I was in the locker room weighing myself on the scale Sig was behind me looking at my weight and said "you gained alot of weight." I explained I was bulking up. Sig said it was too much weight for my frame and height. I then said I am drinking four quarts of milk a day. Sig said one word "WHAT." He then said that is much too much. I explained that I would stop and reduce my weight when I gained more strength. Well I went up to 201 lbs. and was huffing and puffing going up the subway stairs. I then reduced to 193 lbs and felt much better. I didn't gain much strength at 201 and retained my gains at 193. I could never loose the weight that gathered around my middle.
and I received the nickname little budda for obvious reasons. I am now 70 and weigh 170 lbs and still the nickname would apply. And yes I still lift weight 4 days a week.
Tom
Ha, ha...
That's awesome, friend!
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Questions for tom67: I see in photos of Sig Klein's Gym that he had a Roman Column there. Was it still there in the 1960s, and did you, or anyone else, use it? Did Sig Klein have any exercise routines for the Roman Column, and if so, can you tell us what they were, or provide a link to a source of that info? Great stories Tom, thanks for the posts. Very informative, as so much of the Physical Culture past has been forgotten. Thanks again.
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Questions for tom67: I see in photos of Sig Klein's Gym that he had a Roman Column there. Was it still there in the 1960s, and did you, or anyone else, use it? Did Sig Klein have any exercise routines for the Roman Column, and if so, can you tell us what they were, or provide a link to a source of that info? Great stories Tom, thanks for the posts. Very informative, as so much of the Physical Culture past has been forgotten. Thanks again.
No Roman column in my time. It would have been used for ab work tho. I cannot find any photos of Sigs gym for the 60's. During my time Sig had a Roman chair, which was used by many patrons as a place to rest out of the way of others, that is when Sig was not sitting on it.
Tom
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Thank you tom67. I heard that Sig Klein got rid of the Roman Column at some point, just don't know when. During the late 1950s, early 1960s, the country in general became much more litigious. Sue the bastard became the rule. As more unskilled, out of shape, people hit the gyms to only pretend to exercise and were basically screwing around, they were bound to get hurt. The Roman Column was a tort lawyers dream.
Thanks again Tom.
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After posting about the Roman Column I was thinking about it and realized that there was a device in the gym that probably was the Roman Column. It was a metal (probably iron) column bolted from floor to ceiling with what looked like steps on each side. It had small round balls on the ends of each step. When I was there it was used as a lat pulldown machine. I didn't think any more about it. I rarely used the lat machine as I prefered chins with weights. I remember a incident that involved this devise and will relate it now. One member was using the lat machine, he was adding weight and had to reach around the back. When he stood up he hit his head on one of the steps causing a huge bump on his head the size of a egg. It went up and down. Sig put ice on it and said no more exercise today. The member recovered and was back to the gym in two or three days. I believe this was the Roman Column.
As far a law suits in the gym, I never heard Sig speak of one or any rumors of such.
Tom
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Yes, Tom, that sounds like the old Roman Tower was converted, by Sig, to a less dangerous piece of equipment. That post would have been on the left hand side of the gym if you were standing looking out the front windows of the gym.
I wasn't saying Sig was sued, just that gyms everywhere in the country started to get sued in the late 1950s to early 1960s. Before then it was considered your risk if you went somewhere, such as a gym, where you paid to be there. About that time tort lawyers started claiming the owners were negligent, by not making it a safe environment, and therefore had liability. Many gym owners didn't even have insurance, so they started getting rid of risky equipment and exercises. Vince Gironda banned back squats, as so many people were getting hurt, as the weights used increased for weight lifting contests.
I doubt that even one percent of the gym goers today could use a Roman Column without getting injured. That was a real old school device, that won't ever again be in a gym opened to the general public.
Thanks for the extra thoughts Tom.
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Beautiful!!!
8) 8) 8)
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The preceeding photo is from Muscle Builder Nov. 1963, Vol. 13, page 7. I have never seen this photo anywhere online!
Sig told me that the small mug in front of the others was his favorite and the most valuable and he would never sell it.
The mugs above Sigs head are a reflection of some of the many mugs displayed around the gym.
This picturewas taken before I became a member, but remained the same until the gym closed in 1973.
Tom
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Beautiful!!!
8) 8) 8)
And yes Montague it is beautiful.
Tom
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sig w a lopez and vic boff..
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That is a great picture. Sig looks like he was in his eightys. Do you know on what occasion this was taken?
Tom
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On the above picture of Sig and friends. This was Sigs 80th surprise birthday party held on March 27 1982 in Queens NY Many notables attended including Grimek and Marvin Eder. I learned of this occassion many years later on the internet. I was shocked to see it was about a mile from where I was living at the time. If I had known then I would have gone there and see if I could have said hello to Sig. I still regret not knowing today. :(
Tom
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On the above picture of Sig and friends. This was Sigs 80th surprise birthday party held on March 27 1982 in Queens NY Many notables attended including Grimek and Marvin Eder. I learned of this occassion many years later on the internet. I was shocked to see it was about a mile from where I was living at the time. If I had known then I would have gone there and see if I could have said hello to Sig. I still regret not knowing today. :(
Tom
correct i asked anibal lopez he said that was the first of the aobs dinner meetings. they still go on today, last one was a few weeks ago.... i think it was in newark nj
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Respectfully, what year did Sig leave us, and how old was he?
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Sig Klein was born Aug 10, 1902 and died May 24 1987. He was 85 years old.
Tom
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Sig Klein was born Aug 10, 1902 and died May 24 1987. He was 85 years old.
Tom
Tank you.
Are you aware of what happened to much of his equipment and memorabilia?
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When the gym closed Sig took some light weight dumbells and a bench to his home. He said he was going to keep in shape for as long as possible.
His Beer stein collection was also take to his home.
Other equipment was sold to members and probably other gyms. I saw about a dozen of his globe barbells at a health studio on57th street the west side of Mahattan when I was looking for another place to workout. These barbells were scattered about on the floor in one room. I wondered why the studio bought them if only left on the floor in what appeared to be a unused room.
Tom
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When the gym closed Sig took some light weight dumbells and a bench to his home. He said he was going to keep in shape for as long as possible.
His Beer stein collection was also take to his home.
Other equipment was sold to members and probably other gyms. I saw about a dozen of his globe barbells at a health studio on57th street the west side of Mahattan when I was looking for another place to workout. These barbells were scattered about on the floor in one room. I wondered why the studio bought them if only left on the floor in what appeared to be a unused room.
Tom
Interesting.
Thanks!!
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Two other items owned by Sig were the painting of Professor Attila ( Sigs father in law) and a painting of Sig posing as Mercury. The Attila painting was in the gym and taken to Sig's home. The Sig posing as Mercury was not in the gym but kept in Sig's home.
For more info. on these I refer you to IRON GAME HISTORY article " Siegmund Rejoins the Professor." I found it very interesting.
Tom
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Tom,
Did you remain in contact at all with Sig after his "retirement?"
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Tom,
Did you remain in contact at all with Sig after his "retirement?"
No. I was 29yrs. at the time Sig was 71. I had a family wife and son, was looking to buy a house, and working one job and part time on another. I even stoped training . Didn't start to train again until I was 47 yrs. and been at it ever since.
Tom
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;D sig klein getting the leg press machine started. this was borrowed from the original tomb of hercules vaudeville stunt.
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Never knew that about Sig and the Leg Press Machine!
Sig had a leg press device that attached to a squat rack. It was about 40 lbs in weight and had a large board attached to the squat bar with metal clamps. It was a pain in the neck to attach and needed two people to attach it properly. Once attached you would lower the the apparatus to your leg position and start pressing. I used it only once and found it hard to use and to long to set up. I had only seen it used one other time in my ten years at Sig's Gym.
Tom
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this piece was recently rescued from the junk heap..... did you ever see this piece tom????? it weighed 90 lbs.....
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What a great find, however it was not one from Sig's gym. Sig had a rack of barbells that weighed from 90 to 150 lbs. Two of each weight. I am 5'8" and the barbells tops were up to my eyes. Also there were no knobs on the ends. Having said that it could have belonged or used by Sig for the photo. I wish I could say it was the type in use at Sig's Gym but I cannot.
Who found this barbell and where is it now, hopefully in a good home or a museum.
Tom
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What a great find, however it was not one from Sig's gym. Sig had a rack of barbells that weighed from 90 to 150 lbs. Two of each weight. I am 5'8" and the barbells tops were up to my eyes. Also there were no knobs on the ends. Having said that it could have belonged or used by Sig for the photo. I wish I could say it was the type in use at Sig's Gym but I cannot.
Who found this barbell and where is it now, hopefully in a good home or a museum.
Tom
found by a member of ironhistory.com. it's suprising what these guys come up with.... i'm glad when i find a lurie plate :D :D :D :D
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What a great find, however it was not one from Sig's gym. Sig had a rack of barbells that weighed from 90 to 150 lbs. Two of each weight. I am 5'8" and the barbells tops were up to my eyes. Also there were no knobs on the ends. Having said that it could have belonged or used by Sig for the photo. I wish I could say it was the type in use at Sig's Gym but I cannot.
Who found this barbell and where is it now, hopefully in a good home or a museum.
Tom
The owner put it up on eBay for 5K just to see what happens... He is a collector, but only of certain things...
http://tinyurl.com/lznj2y2
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:o
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:o
Never saw that before. Sure would love to have that hanging on the wall in my home gym.
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Never saw that before. Sure would love to have that hanging on the wall in my home gym.
I have a original brochure in my collection. It is a fold out with Sig on cover, two pages of how to set up various combinations of barbell, dumbells and plates . Also some advise on diet The last page has a photo of Sig's Gym. It also has business card with the brochure prnited in black, green and red. Sig also told me that he tried to have his invention patented. He also said that at the patent office he was told they have thousands of ideas for different kinds of barbell, dumbell sets. Don't know if he ever got a patent. Tom
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I have a original brochure in my collection. It is a fold out with Sig on cover, two pages of how to set up various combinations of barbell, dumbells and plates . Also some advise on diet The last page has a photo of Sig's Gym. It also has business card with the brochure prnited in black, green and red. Sig also told me that he tried to have his invention patented. He also said that at the patent office he was told they have thousands of ideas for different kinds of barbell, dumbell sets. Don't know if he ever got a patent. Tom
IN YOUR time at sig's did abe goldberg ever make an appearance???? his pics in a billard training manual got me started lifting when i was 8 or 9 years old...
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IN YOUR time at sig's did abe goldberg ever make an appearance???? his pics in a billard training manual got me started lifting when i was 8 or 9 years old...
I don't recall Sig ever speaking of Abe Goldberg, but many famous people at one time or other visited Sig's Gym. I became interested in strength at about 9 or 10 years of age by watching the big boys in the park do tricks on the high bar and parallel bars. They even used me as a weight to do their chins and dips. They also taught me to do some tricks on the bars. I learned many different tricks over the years thru high school. At 14 years of age I wanted more strength so I sent for a 23 page bodybuilding ad by George F, Jowett. It showed many of his pupils of the day and exercises using a chair and free hand. I then decided I needed some weights which I purchased from my friends who had lost interest. I also worked out in a high school gym evenings. I started to gain enough strength to lift my friends over head both with one hand and two hands. I asked the girls first to try the tricks but they did not like the grip I would used, so I picked the smallest boy to use. to be cont.............
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..........After high school I went to work fulltime in Manhattan and after work I would go home to workout. By the time I got home I was tired and many times skiped the workout. I decided to look for a gym in Manhattan an saw a ad in Strength & Health Mag. Yes you guessed it . It was Sig's Gym and only 4 blocks from my job. I went there the next day. When I walked in I looked around and was inpressed with what a nice place, but a bit small. Sig came out of his office and said hello and shook my hand.He had quite a grip. I told him I was interested in working out. He said come in to my office. We talked and I signed up. and the rest is history for the next ten years.
Tom
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:D
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Things you may not know about Sig Klein.
Sig Klein was a very good roller skater!
Sig could tear a deck of cards into quarters!
In New York City a restaurant named a special sandwich after Sig Klein!
Tom
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this piece was recently rescued from the junk heap..... did you ever see this piece tom????? it weighed 90 lbs.....
bar refurbed...... pristine.
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:o
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;D
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:o
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Looking at the pictures of Sigs gym the barbells are the same as the one sold on Ebay. I just did not remember the knobs on each end. I recently found a picture of myself using two 80 lb. dumbells on the incline board. The board was attached in the barbell rack shown in the pictures above. These dumbells I believe are the same ones seen in many pictures on the net that Sig is lifting. I have read that they weighed 75 lbs. but Sig said they were 80 lbs. Sig had 75 lbs. dumbells already in the dumbell rack. So 80 lbs make sense. The next pair of dumbells were 100 lbs, abit to heavy for me on the incline board, but not on the flat bench.
Tom
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More things you may not know about Sig Klein and his gym.
John Grimek one arm military pressed 135 lbs in the early thirties at Sigs gym. A world record for the time!
Paul Plourde lifted the Rolandow barbell (175 lbs) at Sig kleins gym in 1939. He weighted just 126 lbs.
Sig Klein had most of his photos taken by well known photographer Edwin Townsend of New York City.
Tom
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(http://)
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Tom, great pic, thanks!
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(http://)
thanks tom ,nice pic. put more gym pics on if you got them...
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thanks tom ,nice pic. put more gym pics on if you got them...
[/quot e]
That is the only picture I have and it took a month to remember where it was. It was taken by another gym member who took a number of pictures of various members. One picture he took was of four members and Sig including myself. We were standing behind the bench press which was in the middle of the room. You can see it in the mirror above my head. I think it was given to Sig. The dumbells I was using were 80 lbs each and were in the front of the gym , not far from the entrance. The Rolandow barbell was also in that location along with a oil painting of Sig.
I was 21 years old in that picture and was recovering from a illness that put me in the hospital for 9 days
about 12 days later I went in the army. What a year!
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Here is something interesting at Sig's.
Bill Raisch trained at Sig's and every Saturday afternoon Sig and Bill would go through a drill of 100 different exercises with a 100 lb. barbell in a couple of hours. Bill later became a movie stunt man. He later played the one arm man in the TV series "The Fugitive" (the 1963-1967 version). Bill lost his arm in the Navy 1945. In "Spartacus" Bill played a soldier who had his arm hacked off in battle.
Tom
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From "The New Bodybuilders Magazine" Summer 1964 Vol 1 No. 2.
"Did you know that Sigmund Klein was one of the first to introduce the now-popular Chin Bar in his gym? He called it the Grip-Chin"and it was in the year 1931."
I didn't know that! and I bet Sig didn't know that either.
Tom