Muscle Beach History - by Stuntmovie

[stuntmovie]

WOW! GREGZS! Thanks for posting those 'videos'. I'll be looking at them later this evening when this house settles down a bit.   (Weekend company!)

MB... DOUG BRIGNOLE!!! Right!  Doug was involved in something important at that time but I have forgotten the exact details..... might have been something about a Hollywood acting role but that's a wild guess.

[njflex]

WOW! GREGZS! Thanks for posting those 'videos'. I'll be looking at them later this evening when this house settles down a bit.   (Weekend company!)

MB... DOUG BRIGNOLE!!! Right!  Doug was involved in something important at that time but I have forgotten the exact details..... might have been something about a Hollywood acting role but that's a wild guess.

great pic doug b ,great teenage,prime and older as u could see bber,,always liked his build,,class act,,,

[stuntmovie]

Can someone reprint the caption that is under the Erik Pedersen behind the bars photo.

It arrived on my computer kin of blurry and slightly unreadable, but appears to be interesting and something I've never heard of before.

I understand that at one time he lived in Las Vegas and collected bad debts for the casinos.

Any help with that photo caption would be appreciated.

[Thespritz0]

GREGZS!!!! THANKS! I corrected that error earlier as shown above.

I stupidly made a mistake and mistook Roger Collard for Denny Gable.

ANd I gotta apologize for that dumb error!

^^
Here's Roger's interview with Ric Drasin, there are several parts:

[funk51]

MB… Here’s my recollection of the good ol Pearl’s Pasadena Gym days.

I’ve know Bill throughout the years for a good long time and as far as I am concerned, he’s one of the very few and last remaining ‘good guys’ within  the bodybuilding world.

I have totally forgotten the dates but I do remember some of the members  so you might possibly be able to solve this date puzzle if you  can recall any of the following:

Harry Pearl ….. I never did meet Harry . I think Harry arrived on the scene later but I do recall some of the members saying that he was a damn tough individual, so he must have been there before I arrived..

I was on active  duty at that time and was invited to spend a week or so with a good friend of mine who trained at Bill’s and was a good friend of Bill’s and Judy’s and Judy’s sister if I recall correctly. At that time Bill had a home directly behind the gym which was vey convenient even though the SO Cal traffic was nothing like it is today.

My good friend was a bodybuilding competitor by the name of ROV JOHNSON) who had just been released from 4 years in the US Navy and moved to Pasadena to train under Bill’s guidance.

The first day ROB arrived in Pasadena he made an appointment to meet with Bill and to join the gym.  

Rob had great potential and Bill told him to get a job and a place to stay first …. And then to come back in for some serious training.

Rob followed Bill’s advice and within that first week he found a job and a place to stay and then joined the gym and became something like a family member with Bill and Judy, etc.

Rob also became a close friend with SOLO EL FENZY who eventually worked with and for Bill in the gym. I thin k he eventually managed it.

A young kid by the name of WAYNE BOUVIER was a shot-putter for USC (UCLA??) and he was huge and did a lot of powerlifting exercises. I’d help him load the plates and we eventually became good friends until he passed away at a very young age.

Wayne was big (huge) but he always rode a very small motor scooter and when he road it down the road it simply appeared that he was moving very fast without moving his legs. It was always a funny sight and very funny to see Wayne hop on that scooter and ‘scoot away’.

Then there was a real young kid who had won some teen age bodybuilding contest who came in when the gym was relatively empty. I forgot his name but there were some posts about his a short while back.

Judy used to reserve the gym or a part of the gym for the ladies a few days each week as those were the days when men and women trained separately.

Now here is where I need your help…..

There were two exceptionally great bodybuilders who trained at Bill’s and were planning  to compete in the Mr America contest that was being promoted by Gold’s Gym in Santa Monica (Ken Spregue) and they felt that it might be to their advantage if they competed as Gold's Gym members, but they had been Bill’s Pasadena Gym members for a good long time and did not want to offend Bill.

So like the good gentlemen they were ….. they went into Bill’s office to explain the situation and immediately after explaining it, Bill said that it was a good idea and there would be no problem if they did so.

At that time one of the guys was well known for his vascularity and eventually attended a flight school and got his pilot license.(Can you name him? Most likely still well known today, but I have forgotten.)

That same weekend we received an invite to attend an afternoon pool party which was a send-off and best-wishes function for BOB BIRDSONG whom I had met a year or so earlier. Bob was competing in the IFBB Mr International Contest the next day in Tiajuana. (He won it easily/.)

This send-off event was held in a very upscale Hollywood area in a private community of very expensive homes with a common pool and garden setting and over 100+ members of various gyms throughout the LA area came to wish him well.

They also came to say congratulations to Jim Morris who had just won the Mr A.

Could you have possibly been there or even possibly attended that contest in Tiajuana when Sergio constantly challenged Arnold to a posedown?

Can you recall any of the above?

larry jackson?

[funk51]

Can someone reprint the caption that is under the Erik Pedersen behind the bars photo.

It arrived on my computer kin of blurry and slightly unreadable, but appears to be interesting and something I've never heard of before.

I understand that at one time he lived in Las Vegas and collected bad debts for the casinos.

Any help with that photo caption would be appreciated.

it says that he was arrested for auto theft  and he was 18. that and he was mr calif in 47 and almost won mr a aau under the name of eric pedersen. he was useing another name when he got caught putnam plus he gave his address which turned out to be a bowling alley.

[funk51]

it says that he was arrested for auto theft  and he was 18. that and he was mr calif in 47 and almost won mr a aau under the name of eric pedersen. he was useing another name when he got caught putnam plus he gave his address which turned out to be a bowling alley.

[Mr. MB]

Harold (Harry) Pearl would be 85ish. Bill assigned Harry to be my trainer in April 1980. Within the year he went to a small gym in Montrose, Ca. 5 miles west of the Pearl Pasadena Gym. I joined Harry and became his WO partner for the next 3 years. The best years in my 60 years of training.  I can tell you the history of Harry. He was happy to work in the shadows of his brother around the gym. Managing, training. He loved to attempt strength firsts such as riding a unicycle down Manchester Blvd. doing military presses with 135#, picking up a 10# plate with his pecs, and an iron cross on the rings at a body weight of 300. Tore his delt on that one. I was one of the few men who ever saw Harry buff, out of his time worn sweat shirt. He was 55 at the time, 235 and scary ripped. Caught him washing/polishing his Mustang in 95 degree L.A. summer heat.

Word had it that once while managing the Bill Pearl Manchester gym a memeber burst into his office shouting,"A guy is beating the crap out of (don't recall the name) gym member down the street at the bar. It's real bad Harry." Harry jumped up, ran down the street, entered the bar and pulled off the attacker, took a punch himself, then in defense returned one horrific punch. Lets just say the guy was...er...well....ummm. ..hurt very bad. Harry served 5 years.

Harry returned working at his brothers gyms. I know for a fact that he worked close with Bill on 'Keys to the Inner Universe'. Harry never got any credit and confided he was bitter. However when Bill dropped by and trained with us Harry was only a loving brother.

Harry once told me "You never see a real old cogger unless he is fit and skinny. One day Bill you will have to step away from the gym and live out your life with only cardio." The last time I saw Harry he was 175 pounds and servicing his road bike that he rode 200 miles the day before. He was in his early 70s.

6 months ago I stopped lifting. My arthritis and asthma were too much at a body weight of 215+. I am now 190 and feeling much better. I hike the 7,000' White Mountains in AZ 5-6 days a week.

[stuntmovie]

FUNK, Nope not Larry Jackson.

And thanks for clarifying the caption under the Pedersen in jail picture.

I never heard that story before. Any idea of the location in which this occurred?  Smart kid with the bowling alley address.

His most recent and last know  address was supposedly in Las Vegas where it was said that he collected bad debts for the casinos. That could have been during those years when the mafia was in control.

MB .... Thanks for your post regarding Bill's Gym and his brother, Harry.

I believe Harry was spending his five years of incarceration when I got there and I can recall a few stories about how tough he was.

Thanks for the input.

[Slik]

where do u get these pix?  U have one hell of an impressive collection. And u must have them categorized pretty well to retrieve them so quick.

Is that bill pearls gym in the pic?  That's awesome. I saw brignole in the post later. That kind of looks like his old gym from what I remember of it.

[Slik]

Another great series of ol time photos! Thanks, Funk.

Time for a TEST .... WIthout naming them, how many people can you ID in this photo (just give a number).

And have any of you GetBiggers met any of them personally?

5

[jpm101]

I receive some misleading information, years ago, about Harold (Harry) Pearl,the older brother, with what I'm reading about him on GB. Glad MB cleared it up. Glad what I heard many years ago may be BS.

Heard this story about Harry, for a older man who was a guest of the California prison system, at the same time as Harry (same cell block), in San Quentin. Harry was a CHP officer and was involved in manslaughter  of his than wife, or her boyfriend in norther Cal.. Can't recall which. This was the period that Cal had weight training equipment. Harry was much bigger, stronger and meaner than Bill, it's been told.  And use to bully and beat Bill quite often, in Oregon  when they were boys growing up. Some America Indian's are naturally big and powerful.

Sounds like Harry had gotten his life back together, as MB suggested. Or if that story was true at all about the manslaughter charge.  Once you agree to the terms of parole and have a good family member sponsor, you can pretty much start over again. This gentleman, who said he knew Harry Pearl quite well, was saying that his bench went up very fast with help from Harry.

Can't vouch for any off this, just repeating another prison yarn, from a gentleman, who the last I heard was back doing joint time.

[stuntmovie]

ROGER COLLARD …. Out of the Golden Age of BB and into the movies, TV, etc.

Actor (28 titles) and a great Hollywood career since 1973!!!!

Race to Judgment (pre-production)
Hoyt Pike
 
Foxcatcher (post-production)
Chopper Pilot
 
Love and Honor
County Sheriff
 
Thank You, Good Night
TV Carpenter
 
Luck of the Draw
Fed #1
 
Walker, Texas Ranger (TV series)
Slater

Absence of the Good (TV movie)
Evans
 
Dollar for the Dead (TV movie)
Will (uncredited)
 
Team Knight Rider (TV series)
Driver
 
Virtually Yours
Coast Guard Commander
 
Geronimo: An American Legend
Sgt. Mulrey
 
Parker Lewis Can't Lose (TV series)
Andy

 
Renegade (TV series)
Sonny Wilkins
 
Sneakers
NSA Agent (uncredited)
 
Nails (TV movie)
Bodyguard
 
UHF
Conan the Librarian
 
Twins
Granger Son #2
 
Red Heat
Pytor Tatomovich
 
Hunter (TV series)
Jilly
 
Hollywood Beat (TV series)
Jake

 The Beach Girls
Muscles
 
Charlie's Angels (TV series)
Ron Gates

 A Man Called Sloane (TV series)
Jeff Morton
 
Barnaby Jones (TV series)
Driver / Garrison's Driver

Sextette
Javelin Thrower (uncredited)
 
Wonder Woman (TV series)
Bill
 
Stay Hungry
Bodybuilder in Blue Shorts (uncredited)
 
World's Strongest Man
Weightlifter/Kawaski

[funk51]

where do u get these pix?  U have one hell of an impressive collection. And u must have them categorized pretty well to retrieve them so quick.

Is that bill pearls gym in the pic?  That's awesome. I saw brignole in the post later. That kind of looks like his old gym from what I remember of it.

i took most of them off the computer knew what to look for, i have practically every muscle magazine from 1966 to 1982 a few newer ones, and some older ones i picked up along the way. i think that's one of bill pearl's gym not 100 percent on that though. it was said that harry and bill used to get into fistfights into their early 40's at which point bill convinced harry to give that practice a rest.

[funk51]

I receive some misleading information, years ago, about Harold (Harry) Pearl,the older brother, with what I'm reading about him on GB. Glad MB cleared it up. Glad what I heard many years ago may be BS.

Heard this story about Harry, for a older man who was a guest of the California prison system, at the same time as Harry (same cell block), in San Quentin. Harry was a CHP officer and was involved in manslaughter  of his than wife, or her boyfriend in norther Cal.. Can't recall which. This was the period that Cal had weight training equipment. Harry was much bigger, stronger and meaner than Bill, it's been told.  And use to bully and beat Bill quite often, in Oregon  when they were boys growing up. Some America Indian's are naturally big and powerful.

Sounds like Harry had gotten his life back together, as MB suggested. Or if that story was true at all about the manslaughter charge.  Once you agree to the terms of parole and have a good family member sponsor, you can pretty much start over again. This gentleman, who said he knew Harry Pearl quite well, was saying that his bench went up very fast with help from Harry.

Can't vouch for any off this, just repeating another prison yarn, from a gentleman, who the last I heard was back doing joint time.

i think we covered harry's problems with the law on the history thread but don't remember exactly where it is located.

[funk51]

 

[funk51]

  the first time as ever saw a preacher [scott] curling  bench.

[stuntmovie]

Speaking about BILL PEARL .... I've met most of the old-timers in this game including all of the magazine owners and publishers since the late 1950's and most of them I hold in high regards, but I gotta says that BILL is at the very top of that HIGH-REGARDS  list.

I don't see BILL often but I am glad that I can call him a friend.

I'm working on a short list of those individuals in the game who impressed me the most over all those good old years and I hope to post a condensed version on this board soon.

NOTE: "In the game" refers to anyone who was involved in the game while it was growing up  since the 1950's.
That includes competitors (male and female), officials, editors, publishers, photographers, coaches, and fans.
.

[stuntmovie]

FUNK, Can you post the names of the individuals in those old photos you posted? It woujd be helpful for the  "new kids on the block" and for myself as well.

ANd thanks again for posting these old time pics!

[stuntmovie]

Having a difficult time keeping up, but I want to thank everyone who has been contributing to this topic.

It's bringing back a lot of old time memories.

 

[funk51]

FUNK, Can you post the names of the individuals in those old photos you posted? It woujd be helpful for the  "new kids on the block" and for myself as well.

ANd thanks again for posting these old time pics!

the three guys standing there are vern weaver, jon tristam,and steve merjian pic'd above. bob birdsong who i actually met in person and the planet of the apes dudes zabo seymour kienig steve m again.

[BIG AL MCKECHNIE]

Word had it that once while managing the Bill Pearl Manchester gym a memeber burst into his office shouting,"A guy is beating the crap out of (don't recall the name) gym member down the street at the bar. It's real bad Harry." Harry jumped up, ran down the street, entered the bar and pulled off the attacker, took a punch himself, then in defense returned one horrific punch. Lets just say the guy was...er...well....ummm. ..hurt very bad. Harry served 5 years.

Good story about Harry Pearl but the fact is he killed a woman after performing a botched abortion.

People v. Pearl
211 Cal. App. 2d 783

 [Crim. No. 3332. Third Dist. Jan. 14, 1963.]
THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. HAROLD PEARL et al., Defendants and Appellants.

COUNSEL

Rudolf Binsch and Richard A. Case, under appointment by the District Court of Appeal, for Defendants and Appellants.

Stanley Mosk, Attorney General, Raymond M. Momboisse and Richard Lee, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.

OPINION

SCHOTTKY, J.

Defendants, Harold Pearl and Robert Kennedy, appeal from judgments of conviction entered after a jury found them guilty of the crimes of abortion and murder of the second degree.
Full story here :

http://law.justia.com/cases/california/calapp2d/211/783.html

[BIG AL MCKECHNIE]

Found a pic of the brothers Pearl.

[Mr. MB]

Wow. OK Big Al. That shows that if you repeat a lie often enough it is believed. The story I told was the one floating around So Cal in the early 80s.

The photo you posted is the one I have been searching for. Thanks.

BTW you are one amazing source.

[Mr. MB]

BTW Big Al. So Harry only served a year? Conviction 1963, pic above happlily in front of gym 1964.